To the Princeton University Board of Trustees, the Faculty Advisory Committee on Appointments and Advancements, and the Department of Spanish and Portuguese:

It was with great frustration and disbelief that we, the undersigned, recently learned that Princeton University has initially denied tenure to Dr. Nicole Legnani of the Spanish and Portuguese Department. As students and colleagues of Dr. Legnani, we know that she is a world-class scholar who possesses all the qualities that any academic institution would require of a tenured professor. We write this letter to accomplish three things: 1) to express our unwavering support for Dr. Legnani in light of this decision; 2) to proffer testimony as to why we disagree with the denial of her tenure; and 3) to call for the launch of an appeal process so that her case may be reconsidered fairly.

Dr. Legnani has already achieved global repute as a respected and prolific scholar. Her book, The Business of Conquest: Empire, Love, and Law in the Atlantic World (2020 Notre Dame University Press), has met with strong praise and acclaim, and has served many students of Indigenous and colonial Latin American literature, culture, and history in their own work. Highlighting the originality of Dr. Legnani’s book, Dr. Alberto Villate-Isaza, Associate Professor of Spanish at the University of Georgia, writes that The Business of Conquest “contributes a new framework for assessing the colonization of the New World.” Dr. Juan Vitulli, Associate Professor of Spanish at the University of Notre Dame, affirms that the book “combines scholarly sagacity, historical knowledge, and innovative theoretical models to give us a revealing and pristine image of the Atlantic world through the looking glass of its economic and cultural foundations.” Dr. Fernando Rodríguez Mansilla, Associate Professor of Spanish and Hispanic Studies at Hobart and William Smith Colleges, calls the book “solvent, piercing, and well-researched;” while Dr. Rachael Ball, Associate Professor of History at the University of Alaska Anchorage, appraises it as “a fascinating study of early modern discourses.” Dr. Víctor Sierra Matute, Assistant Professor of Early Modern Global Hispanophone Studies at Baruch College and the City University of New York, focusing on the wide-reaching appeal of Dr. Legnani’s scholarship, predicts that The Business of Conquest “will be of great relevance not only for readers who are specialists of colonial studies, but also for members of the public interested in the persistence of coloniality in our present moment.” As these comments show, Dr. Legnani’s robust scholarly engagement with Indigenous Latin America is indispensable to advancing the field of Latin American Studies. This denial of tenure also represents a significant loss of academic attention to Indigeneity at Princeton, and in humanistic studies more broadly.

As a scholar of poetry, Dr. Legnani brings a careful eye to classical allusions and literary figures while also weaving in the themes of resistance that tie this work to her next book project, Resistance, Heresy, and Insurgency in 1560s Peru: The Dispossessed, which is already under contract. Her articles “Finger-pointing (Painting) in Neuter” and “Penelope and the Minyades” examine Sor Juana’s lyric voice and subjectivity as expressed, respectively, through deictic or pointing words and through tropes of weaving and the transgressive Minyades. Incidentally, she has also incorporated early editions of Sor Juana’s works recently acquired by the Princeton University Library in her teaching. Dr. Legnani regularly organizes sessions at conferences, and has become a board member of the Society for Renaissance and Baroque Hispanic Poetry (SRBHP). In her capacity as board member, when presenting, and in the classroom, she embodies an infectious enthusiasm for early modern poetry, along with the collegial, generous, welcoming spirit towards graduate students and early career scholars for which the SRBHP is known. 

Dr. Legnani teaches in a way that is engaging and lively, and as a pedagogue she is a shining example on Princeton’s campus. Her seminars, both graduate and undergraduate, are widely sought after by students. She goes out of her way to make ample time for meeting with students to talk about their projects and goals, both academic and professional. Dr. Legnani’s passion for, exhaustive knowledge of, and talent for teaching the study of Indigenous and colonial Latin American literature and culture are unparalleled. In her seminars, students read a variety of primary sources—ranging from maps and diaries to legal documents and relaciones—alongside theoretical texts that allow them to explore how the Conquest of the Americas was (and still is) performed, resisted, and understood in Latin America, the Caribbean, and beyond. Not only are the classes dynamic and stimulating; the diversity of the materials also mirrors the multifacetedness of Dr. Legnani’s methodology. For example, students have had the opportunity of interacting with archival manuscripts in Firestone Library’s Special Collection, which Professor Legnani has used as a means to train them in how to decode colonial literary artifacts according to their material qualities. Moreover, Dr. Legnani coordinates and leads visits to contemporary art exhibits in and out of Princeton, in an effort to help students trace the pervasiveness of colonial structures and ideologies in present-day issues, such as migration, racism, queerphobia, and cultural imperialism. Lastly, her working relationships have afforded students the privilege of meeting renowned artists and specialists of the field of colonial studies, who she invites to class.

Professor Legnani’s support to graduate students has likewise extended beyond the space of her classroom. For instance, she has served as a faculty sponsor for several symposia, referring students to potential guest speakers, actively participating in their planning discussions, and assisting them with the financial and administrative aspects of the projects. Furthermore, some graduate students have had the privilege of teaching a course with her, either in the capacity of Assistants in Instruction (AIs) or that of Co-teachers. From designing syllabi and inviting guest speakers to planning lectures and grading assignments, they have divided the work equitably, which demonstrates her trust in them as colleagues, while testifying to her generosity as a collaborator who is willing to embrace texts and topics of their personal interest. Lastly, multiple students have included or are planning to include Professor Legnani in their dissertation committees, as they value her wide-ranging scholarship and passion for colonial and Latin American Studies, just as much as they do her disposition to serve as an interlocutor for projects that do not squarely fall within her period and area of expertise. She is always available to discuss readings, theoretical and methodological approaches, and primary archives, not to mention that she’s already provided students with constructive feedback and letters of recommendation for internal and external fellowships.

We reiterate our support for Dr. Legnani and call for the launch of an appeal process that will allow the University to reconsider its decision, therefore reaffirming its commitment to excellence in both scholarship and teaching. 

Sincerely,

The undersigned