Danny Brunette serves as Professor of Spanish and Department Head of Spanish & Hispanic Studies in Howard Payne University’s School of Humanities. With 30 years of experience teaching Spanish, including service at HPU since 2011, Brunette brings a strong background in language instruction, Spanish literature, cultural studies, and student mentorship to his work.
Brunette teaches Elementary, Intermediate, and Advanced Spanish, and he especially enjoys teaching Spanish literature. Through his courses, he helps students develop language skills while also introducing them to the histories, traditions, perspectives, and literary works of the Spanish-speaking world. He sees language study as much more than vocabulary and grammar; it is also a way for students to better understand people, cultures, and identities beyond their own experiences.
One of the aspects Brunette values most about teaching at HPU is the university’s close-knit community. Small class sizes allow him to know students personally, mentor them more intentionally, and observe their growth in both confidence and learning. He appreciates the university’s supportive environment and mission, which make his work feel meaningful and allow him to have a positive influence on students beyond the classroom.
Brunette’s passion for teaching Spanish is closely connected to his own Mexican-American heritage. From a young age, he was taught to value bilingualism as a source of pride and to recognize language as an important part of culture and identity. Teaching Spanish gives him the opportunity to share that perspective with students while encouraging them to appreciate the diversity of the Spanish-speaking world. He hopes students leave his courses with stronger communication skills as well as a deeper respect for cultures different from their own.
Brunette earned both a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts in Spanish Studies from Michigan State University. He later earned a Ph.D. in Spanish Literature from the University of Arizona. His scholarly work includes publications on Lazarillo de Tormes, anticlericalism, skepticism, and the religious climate of the Renaissance and Reformation.
Outside of the classroom, Brunette enjoys traveling, reading great works of literature, and learning about different languages and cultures. He also enjoys raising goats on his ranch, working on tractors, and building. Most importantly, he values spending time with his family and sees those relationships as an important source of balance and meaning in his life. He is a member of St. Mary’s Queen of Peace Catholic Church in Brownwood.
A favorite phrase that reflects Brunette’s outlook is the medieval Latin expression Operibus credite et non verbis—“believe in deeds, not words.” Through his teaching, scholarship, leadership, and example, he seeks to help students grow in knowledge, cultural understanding, confidence, and respect for others. His office is located in TAC 203.
