By Caylee Dial and Georgia Jackson, College of Arts and Sciences
The College of Arts and Sciences named David Arbesú the 2026-2028 Edward DeBartolo Endowed Chair, recognizing the tenured professor of medieval and golden age Spanish for his active scholarship and engaged teaching.
As DeBartolo Endowed Chair, Arbesú will advance interdisciplinary connections and collaborations between departments, schools and colleges; provide faculty support; create opportunities for graduate students; and support community outreach efforts.
He will also organize and host a conference on early Florida history and literature at USF.
“Dr. Arbesú boldly embodies the spirit of our college through his insightful research on the colonization of Florida,” said Elizabeth Spiller, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. “As the DeBartolo Endowed Chair in Liberal Arts, Dr. Arbesú will take an active role in advancing interdisciplinary collaborations and expanding community outreach.”
Arbesú, whose research on medieval Spanish manuscripts and early Florida history depends heavily on archival work, will use the position to pursue ambitious, long-term projects and travel to archives located in Spain, Mexico, Portugal and across the U.S.
“Dr. Arbesú is a renowned scholar of medieval and Golden Age Spanish literature and the author of multiple highly regarded editions,” said Anne Latowsky, professor and chair of the Department of World Languages. “He will be an outstanding ambassador for the humanities at USF, and the Department of World Languages is honored and proud to see him recognized with the DeBartolo Endowed Chair.”
Without this support, Arbesú said much of the work — including two major scholarly editions of a recently discovered medieval Spanish document — would not be feasible.
“These projects will bring new historical materials to light and offer fresh perspectives on important moments in Spanish and Florida history,” he said. “The generosity makes possible research and public programming that would otherwise be difficult to sustain, and I am deeply grateful for that confidence and support.”
Previously held by Meredith Johnson of the Department of English, the position will also allow Arbesú to connect with students and create opportunities for learning and growth across campus.