Faculty of the Week: Pilar Pérez Serrano

By CARLY CANSECO, ELLINA KIM, and KEVIN THANT

Organic vegetables, herbs, and flowers blossom and thrive under the abundant sun on Late Bloom Farm. Employees carefully tend to the crops, which undergo seed propagation, watering, and harvesting. Here, a section of the Academy’s English 310 students roam the fields, learning about cultivating harvests, owning a farm, and managing land. As they conclude their adventure, the students munch on apple cider and donuts while discussing what they learned throughout the trip. Around the makeshift Harkness table, they are led by Instructor in English and Modern Languages Pilar Pérez Serrano, who has shared her love for gardening by connecting it with her fall term English 310 section’s reading, “The Grapes of Wrath” by John Steinbeck, a novel incorporating a story of a tenant farmer during the Great Depression.

Pérez Serrano’s commitment to her students, as shown by the field trip she arranged for her past English 310 class, is further exhibited in the joy she derives from teaching. “I love when in a student’s face, there’s just this moment of “ah-ha,” an epiphany or a realization about something,” Perez Serrano said. “I’ve had students in a language class studying a topic, and then they cross over something they learned somewhere else, like in a history or a philosophy class. I love that the students can make those connections, and the beautiful interdisciplinary nature of Exeter enables that.”

Pérez Serrano is no stranger to the world of teaching. A 20-year teaching veteran in college, Pérez Serrano taught Spanish literature, language, history, and culture at Gordon College for 19 years. Her journey to Exeter began when her college department closed. “I wasn’t sure if I wanted to start again from the beginning at the college level, so I started to look for schools, and Exeter showed up.” Serrano shared.

Chair of the Modern Language Department Fermín Pérez-Andreu described her application as “caída del cielo,” a Spanish expression for someone exceptionally kind or good, whose perfectly timed arrival feels like a gift from providence.

“Ms. Christoph, the department chair at the time, had told me after checking enrollment for the following year that we needed to find a Spanish teacher,” Pérez-Andreu shared. “Dr. Pérez Serrano sent us her information, and we learned about her excellent teaching trajectory. Ms. Christoph and I looked at each other and said, ‘She is exactly what we need! She is wonderful! Let’s hire her!’”

Despite being involved in both the English and Modern Language departments, Pérez Serrano’s presence has been extensive. “Dr. Pérez has been incredibly warm and welcoming since my arrival to Exeter,” Instructor in English Sahar Ullah said. “Even though we’re not in the same department, we don’t teach classes together, and we are not on the same floor, she welcomed me, which is very meaningful to new faculty. Over the years, that welcoming person I didn’t know has become a colleague I go to seek advice and a friend who has offered support, even when she doesn’t have to.”

“Pérez Serrano is a friend and colleague who, though we teach mostly in different departments, remains an inspiration as a human being,” Instructor in English Todd Hearon said. “She is a brilliant scholar and writer, an example of an academic still deeply in touch with her humanity.”

Instructor in Modern Languages Ellen Glassner agreed, describing Pérez Serrano as “an ideal colleague: generous, collaborative, creative,” and as a person, she is “intelligent, good-natured, humble, and kind.”

Outside of her affability, Pérez Serrano’s extensive experience in teaching makes her an integral part of the modern language department. “She is very open, flexible, and creative; the type of colleague who helps department conversations flow toward finding ways to move forward and explore how to improve our teaching,” Pérez-Andreu said.

Although not present in dorms or advising, Pérez Serrano has profoundly impacted her students. As a teacher in the modern language department, she constantly pushes her students to improve their reading and writing skills while emphasizing the importance of speaking the language. 

Prep Faye Yang highlighted Pérez Serrano’s teaching style, which integrates the complexities of language with games that keep students engaged. “We play many games that encourage us to speak a lot in Spanish.”

Lower Artur Novaes Ferreira had a similar experience, describing how she helped to improve his Spanish-speaking ability. “I had to do presentations and act out plays all in Spanish,” he said.

Yang added, “I like her teaching style. We switch between different learning tactics like reading books and playing games. I’m always able to contribute to the conversation.”

Prep Ava Kruttschnitt also appreciated Pérez Serrano’s willingness to allow students to take the lead. “She’s always nice and creates a good class environment and community. She makes us talk a lot to each other in class, so I have improved my speaking.”

Pérez Serrano also emphasized the importance of strong student-teacher connections and recalled a memorable moment that exemplified this. “A few days ago, it was my mother’s birthday, and she is 93,” she said. “One student suggested we call her and sing her happy birthday in Spanish. So we called her, and the whole class sang ‘Happy Birthday’ to her. She was so happy and that thoughtful gesture made my day.”

  “I like sharing my life with students when they can see me beyond the table and the classroom,” Perez Serrano elaborated.  “I think that makes really strong connections. In my short time here at Exeter, I have met students who have graduated and still keep in touch while at university and beyond. That happened when I taught college, too, and many of my students then are lifelong friends now. Some are in their 30’s and 40’s! They call me, write messages, and share their lives with me. I love that about teaching. It’s so rewarding.”

Ferreira highlighted her caring nature. “A favorite moment with her was when she went over my English narrative with me one-on-one to make sure I understood where I could improve. She cared about each student learning as much as possible from their writing, so I appreciated that.”

Beyond room 503 in Phillips Hall, Pérez Serrano engages in several endeavors. Caring for her family of four (and her mother-in-law), cooking, hiking, and writing occupy most of her free time. “These things slow me down, they center me and ground me” she said. 

But while these things slow her down, she also understands the importance of humor in life. “I like laughing a lot,” she shared, and one way she achieves this is through dance. 

“I’m a funny dancer. I love dancing but don’t like organized dancing. I can’t do salsa dancing because I can’t let anybody tell me what to do,” Pérez Serrano explained. “So I do my own dancing; I like ‘80s music, jumping, and doing my own thing.”

Pérez-Andreu shared a core memory exhibiting Pérez Serrano’s free spirit and humor. “​​A great moment with Dr. Pérez Serrano was when we danced a flamenco type of dance from Spain at a party at her house. We weren’t very sure about the dance steps, but we danced no matter what. We laughed so much, and those who watched us dance were exposed to a fun cultural experience. Dr. Pérez Serrano, as I said, has an excellent sense of humor.”

Whether she is facilitating a game of “Jeopardy” on the fifth floor of Phillips Hall, designing engaging experiences for her English students, or dancing flamenco with her colleagues, Pérez Serrano brings warmth, endless kindness, profound intelligence, and a deep appreciation for her students and fellow teachers. She has already left a lasting legacy on Exeter, and she is sure to continue doing so in the years to come.