Feature Story
Saying Yes to Spanish: How One Student’s Mission Opportunity Led to Academic Publication
Jacob Feldman (‘26) didn’t set out to publish academic research. He was simply trying to write a strong paper for his Spanish class. That paper, focused on the life of a 17th-century nun and writer, has since been accepted for publication in The Kennesaw Tower—a prestigious, double-blind, peer-reviewed undergraduate research journal.
Set to appear in the journal’s upcoming issue, Feldman’s paper, titled “El feminismo, los místicos y la crítica política: radicalidad en El divino Narciso,” began in a Spanish class centered on the works of Sor Juana, a scholar of “New Spain,” now modern-day Mexico. Taught by Professor of Spanish Iana Konstantinova, the class examined how Sor Juana navigated controversial religious, social, and political ideas during the height of the Spanish Inquisition, when a single misstep, like using a wrong word, could result in censorship or punishment.
“Sor Juana was considered very radical for her time,” Feldman said. “Many literary critics identify her as one of the earliest feminist voices in literature. She was writing poems and plays that challenged traditional roles of men and women way back in the 1600s.”
In his paper, Feldman analyzes one of Sor Juana’s plays to identify three ways her work was socially and politically radical: deconstructing gender roles, incorporating controversial mystical ideas, and defending mixed-racial and Indigenous populations.
“These ideas were definitely not popular at the time,” Feldman explained. “Indigenous populations were at the bottom of the caste system and didn’t have the privileges of the Spanish upper class. Sor Juana consistently defends them through her writing.”
Written during the fall semester of 2024, the paper’s journey to publication required patience and persistence. Encouraged by Professor Konstantinova, Feldman submitted his work to Kennesaw Tower in February 2025. After months of reviews and a conditional acceptance pending revisions, the final draft was formally accepted for publication in October 2025.
“I signed the publication contract just before Christmas, and it still feels a little surreal,” Feldman admitted. “It’s been nearly a year of waiting, so it was a relief to finally have an answer. I’m working on my senior paper now, and I’m already thinking of submitting that for publication too.”
Feldman’s interest in languages began well before his college coursework. A native of Lexington, Virginia, he developed his passion while serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Idaho. Originally assigned to work in English-speaking areas, he was asked if he would learn Spanish to meet local needs. He said yes and never looked back.
That decision changed his academic path. Feldman is now fluent in Spanish and Portuguese and actively learning Italian and French.
At Southern Virginia University, Feldman serves as co-president of the Spanish Honor Society Sigma Delta Pi, works as a campus Spanish tutor, serves as a consultant at the Writing Center, and competes on the university’s men’s tennis team. He credits SVU’s tight-knit environment for creating opportunities he may not have found elsewhere.
“The fact that I have a paper being published as an undergraduate shows how supportive the professors are here,” said Feldman. “Professor Konstantinova encouraged me during the entire process. Without that support, this never would have happened.”
Feldman plans to graduate in May and pursue a career in teaching. However, the publication of his research has opened new possibilities. He is now considering continuing his studies and developing his love of languages, potentially pursuing a PhD with the goal of becoming a university professor or a multi-language interpreter.