Columbia College–Lake of the Ozarks faculty Q&A with Cinda Muruato

Columbia College–Lake of the Ozarks faculty Q&A with Cinda Muruato

Muruato has been an instructor at CC-Lake of the Ozarks for four years

Columbia College–Lake of the Ozarks faculty member Cinda Muruato does what most people consider impossible. For the past four years, she has done an amazing job of teaching and refreshing student’s knowledge of the Spanish language … in only eight weeks. She studied at Universidad Complutense de Madrid and is also a teacher at School of the Osage while making most of her own clothes and some jewelry. Read more about the world traveler in the latest Lake campus faculty Q&A:

Name:  Cinda Muruato

Alma Mater, Date of Graduation:  BSE Northwest Missouri State University, 1975; M.Ed. Lincoln University 2001 with studies at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid

Muruato lists "Gone With the Wind" and "Dancing with the Stars" as her favorite movie and television show

Family members: husband Enrique, son Tony, daughter Cecilia

Years at Columbia College–Lake of the Ozarks: 4

Hobbies:  I love to do handwork. I sew and make most of my clothes. I knit and crochet. I like to make jewelry.  And I do all of these while I am listening to Latin music or watching old movies on TV. I also love to read.

Favorite Movie and/or TV Show:  “Gone With the Wind” and “Dancing with the Stars”

Favorite kind of music/favorite artist/song:  I mostly listen to Latin pop. My favorite singer is Alejandro Fernandez. He sings mariachi and pop. My favorite song of his is, “Me Dedique a Perderte.”  Roughly translated, that means ‘I Had to Work at Losing You.’

Favorite Book:  I have too many favorite books to list them.  My favorite author is Isabel Allende, and my favorite book of hers is “The House of the Spirits.” I also like the Sue Grafton letter series and the Janet Evanovich number series.

Favorite Food:  Everything except bananas!

Favorite subject in college:  Spanish, of course.

When I was 10 years old, I wanted to be a _____?  Nurse. Then I found out I faint at the sight of blood.

What is the best part about working at Columbia College–Lake of the Ozarks?

The best part about working at Columbia College–Lake of the Ozarks is the people. I am constantly amazed by the students who have families and jobs and yet manage to make time to study and learn trying to advance themselves. The faculty is great, too, and I love working with such caring people.  And my students are so gracious and seem to think I’m great!

What moment in your life are you the proudest of?

There are many. Getting A’s at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid ranks very high on my list, but being asked for help by Colombian and Uruguayan students was even better.

What piece of advice would you impart to a student prior to graduation?

Take advantage of everything that comes your way and keep your eyes, ears and heart open to all of the things that life can teach you.

Talk about your journey and what lead you to Columbia College–Lake of the Ozarks:

My journey has been very circuitous. It probably began when I went to Mexico as a part of my undergraduate work at NWMSU. After graduating from NWMSU and teaching high school Spanish and English in Missouri for about six years, I went to Mexico to do missionary work at Ninos de Mexico, a Christian children’s home. I tutored elementary children who were often slow learners and who had many emotional problems. While I was there I met my husband, Enrique, who had grown up in the children’s home.  When he finished his law degree at the University of Mexico, we moved with our two children to Chihuahua in northern Mexico, where I worked on a translation of a Bible commentary and also taught in private schools. In 1995 Mexico’s economy took another severe downturn, and we decided it was time to try our luck in the U.S. I found a job teaching high school Spanish at School of the Osage. While there, I began work on my master’s degree at Lincoln University. For the Spanish part of that degree, I decided to go to Spain and study at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid, one of Spain’s premier universities. What a privilege and what an experience! When I completed my master’s, I told Gary Carrender that I would like to teach Spanish at Columbia College. Carrender remembered me when the position opened, and here I am!