Concepcion Coll Martinez: World views

	Concepcion Coll Martinez has traveled the world but says she has many more places to visit, including Africa.

Concepcion Coll Martinez, lecturer in UNT's Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures, has traveled the world and expanded her world with her studies — impressing her colleagues and leaving an impression on her students.

"Connie," as her friends call her, was born in Lisbon, Portugal. She has lived in or traveled to many nations throughout Europe and the Americas, including Canada, Cuba, Mexico and Brazil.

After coming to the United States in 1960, she avidly read Mark Twain and books on architecture, newspapers such as the New York Times and magazines such as The Economist and Time. She claims that no subject bores her. In fact, she has a special fascination with things she knows little or nothing about.

"I love to learn new things — anything, everything," she says.

Martinez, who graduated from high school at age 16, once considered a career in what was primarily a man's field: engineering.

"I loved science and chemistry, machinery and architecture," she says.

Her husband's job in international communications technology took them to South America before she began work on the engineering degree, but her knowledge of Spanish and Portuguese kept her services as a translator in demand.

When the Martinezes eventually settled in Texas, she earned her bachelor's degree in humanities at the University of Texas at Dallas and got her high school teaching certification. She received her master's degree in Spanish from UNT in 1995 and taught as an adjunct in the department before being hired full time in 2000.

"Teaching other languages and cultures, particularly Spanish for UNT, is my newfound career," she notes. "I love it."

She also loves her students, who often call or come by for her help in translating and sometimes for her advice.

"Students love her and her classes," says Jiyoung Yoon, assistant professor of foreign languages and literatures.

Jeffrey Oxford, associate professor of foreign languages and literatures, says Martinez keeps students interested and motivated.

"Connie is definitely one of the highlights of the department," he says.

Martinez and her husband, Emilio, have four children: Maria, who earned a degree in architecture; Emilio Jr., an economist; Peter, a mechanical engineer; and Karl, who is earning a doctorate in physics.

Martinez spent many years taking additional jobs as a translator to pay "the four mortgages of our house and three dormitories."

"I had three kids in college at once," she says.

She continues to translate and enjoys her work as a teacher. Though she has no plans to retire, she says despite her years of living and traveling abroad, she still has many places to go and things to see.

"China, Australia and New Zealand," she says. "And Africa."

BY ROBIN FLETCHER ucmedit1@unt.edu

Other featured articles in this issue

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• Latest UNT IDs serve as debit and ATM cards
• E-trans offers many benefits
• Holiday giving continues on campus
• Winter weather brings possibility for closures
• UNT creates Center for Psychosocial Health
• Council focuses on daycare
• Women's Studies Program sponsors new book club
• UNT Moot Court teams take first, second place at statewide tournament
• TAMS students honored in science competition

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