Russian Senior Lecturer Bella Ginzbursky-Blum interviews new colleague Robert Mulcahy about his research and teaching. Prof. Mulcahy just started teaching at William and Mary in the Fall of 2014.
Embracing the Horror: Japanese Studies Alum Mike Crandol (’07) talks about his current work
January 20, 2015 by
This past October, William & Mary alum Mike Crandol (’07) returned to campus to share with us what he’s been up to since he left. After graduating with a major in East Asian Studies, Mike entered the graduate program at the University of Minnesota, where he’s now finishing up his doctoral degree. Mike’s research concerns… Read More
Introducing Italian Professor Monica Seger
January 20, 2015 by
Professor Monica Seger is our new faculty member in Italian Studies. In this interview, Professor Seger talks about her research, courses she’s teaching, and how her passion for the environment breathes life into both.
Testimonies of Trauma, Mourning & Remembrance: the Cádiz Memory Project
January 20, 2015 by
In the summer of 2014, Hispanic Studies majors Michael Le (Class of 2015) and Robert Bohnke (’17) worked as research fellows with Professor Francie Cate-Arries, supported by a generous grant by the Weingartner Fellowship for International Studies. Cate-Arries’ historical memory project seeks to record and digitally archive testimonies gathered in the province of Cádiz, Spain… Read More
Prof. Bruce Campbell Discusses His New German Detective Fiction Book
January 19, 2015 by
In 2014, Prof. Bruce Campbell came out with a new book which he co-edited and wrote an article for. The volume, entitled Detectives, Dystopias, and Poplit: Studies in Modern German Genre Fiction, is a study of what Prof. Campbell describes as denigrated genres of popular fiction. Below is his discussion about the production of the… Read More
French Prof. Magali Compan’s Students Speak Out About New Course
January 19, 2015 by
In the Fall semester 2014, Prof. Magali Compan taught a new course in the French section, a Freshman seminar entitled “Francophone Women Writers”. The course examined texts by women from around the Francophone World (Mauritius Island, France, Haiti, Guadeloupe, Reunion Island, Sénégal, Tahiti, Algeria). During the course of the semester, students examined how women from… Read More
Visiting Professor of Chinese Jennifer Lee on Teaching and Research
January 19, 2015 by
Professor Jennifer Lee arrived at William and Mary in the Fall and has jumped into her duties in the Chinese program. Below is an interview with Prof. Lee about her teaching, research, and life at the College.
Iron Chef Katsuya Fukushima Cooks for the Arabic House
January 19, 2015 by
Chef Katsuya Fukushima, owner of Washington, DC ramen restaurant Daikaya and two-time winner of Iron Chef America came to William and Mary in the Fall to teach a class on Arabic cooking. Chef Fukushima cooked for students of Prof. Stephen Sheehi in the Arabic House, taught them about Arabic cooking and then answered some questions… Read More
Teaching at a bilingual school in Costa Rica
December 7, 2014 by
Phi Beta Kappa scholar Kate Wessman (HISP ’13) is currently teaching 4th and 5th grade Mathematics, Science, and English at the bilingual Escuela Cristiana El Puente in Quepos, Costa Rica. After graduating with a major in Hispanic Studies, she went on to earn an MA in Elementary Education with endorsements for Spanish (preK-12) and English… Read More
John E. Pence (’12) co-authors study on the history of corporate law in Brazil
December 6, 2014 by
Currently a J.D. candidate at the Indiana University Maurer School of Law, Hispanic Studies alumnus John E. Pence (’12) has recently co-authored a study on the history of corporate law practice in Brazil. His research, “Legal Elites and the Shaping of Corporate Law Practice in Brazil: A Historical Study,” is forthcoming (2015) in Law and… Read More
Katie Brown (’13) publishes article on Libro de buen amor
December 4, 2014 by
Hispanic Studies alumna Katie Brown (’13) recently published an article on orality and performativity in the 14th-century Libro de buen amor by Juan Ruiz, Archpriest of Hita. The article appears in the latest issue of the e-journal eHumanista. Journal of Iberian Studies: “La voz performativa y el voluntarismo en el Libro de buen amor“. eHumanista 28… Read More
Teaching English in Chile
November 26, 2014 by
Since graduating with a double major in Hispanic Studies and Linguistics, Kristin Giordano (’14) has been teaching English at the Liceo (High School) Pablo Neruda in Temuco, Chile. A Phi Beta Kappa Scholar who worked as a Teaching Assistant for the Hispanic Studies program, Kristin’s deep interest in the way language shapes our lives and… Read More
In Flux: A Conversation on the Art of Translation
November 20, 2014 by
Traduttore, traditore (roughly, ‘translators are traitors’) is a phrase frequently invoked when discussing the art of translation. Why would the act of translating be considered analogous to treason? What lies behind the act of translating? Can we speak of an ‘original’ and a ‘subservient translation’ or ‘copy’? What are some of the challenges a translator… Read More
Public Talk: An Army for the People
November 20, 2014 by
Dr. Tomoyuki Sasaki, History, Eastern Michigan University Japan’s postwar constitution renounces war as a sovereign right and stipulates that land, sea, and air forces will never be maintained, yet the country today possesses a large and powerful military. Join us as Dr. Tomoyuki Sasaki, of Eastern Michigan University, traces the development of Japan’s Self-Defense Forces… Read More
Farmworker Culture, Social Justice, and Hispanic Studies
November 10, 2014 by
Since graduating in May 2013, Kate Furgurson has been trying to ameliorate the lives of farmworkers in North Carolina. A double major in Environmental Policy and Hispanic Studies, Kate joined Student Action with Farmworkers (SAF) in order to work on helping farmworkers access health care services. Her proficiency in Spanish (which she uses on a… Read More
The Camino de Santiago and the Forging of Galician Identity
October 26, 2014 by
Since the Middle Ages the Camino de Santiago has been a major goal of pilgrimage in the Christian West, but its role in shaping a distinct Galician identity in our age is still a matter of research. Thanks to the generous endowment of the Philpott-Pérez Award, professor George Greenia and Hispanic Studies major Ryan T…. Read More
La Plata, Argentina: A Student’s Experience
September 29, 2014 by
When she was 17, Sarah Caspari (’15) decided she would apply to William & Mary and spend a semester abroad in La Plata, Argentina. During the fall semester of 2013, Sarah was finally able to realize her dream. She prepared herself as much as she could taking several classes in Hispanic Studies and Latin American… Read More
Mack ’15 awarded Gates Scholarship
May 9, 2014 by
Terrence Mack ’15, a double major in German studies and international relations, has been awarded the Gates Scholarship for study abroad, generously donated by Chancellor Robert M. Gates ’65 and his wife, Rebecca. Mack will study abroad this summer in Potsdam, Germany, with William & Mary’s faculty-led program there. For Mack, a Hampton (Va.) High… Read More
The Best Worst Experience Ever: Finding my niche in Italy
May 9, 2014 by
I would have never guessed as a Freshman at William & Mary how much of an impact studying Italian would have on my life. I began college wanting to double Major in Hispanic Studies and Business, however after taking my first Italian class and spending so much time in the Italian House even before my… Read More
Kinyo Prize Awarded for Excellence in Japanese
May 9, 2014 by
The Japanese section is pleased to announce the recipients of this year’s Kinyo Prizes for Excellence in Japanese. The Kinyo Prize has been established through the generous support of Mr. Kazuo Nakamura of Kinyo Virginia, Inc., to recognize the hard work and achievement of the top student at each level of William and Mary’s Japanese program…. Read More
Eight Inducted into Japanese National Honor Society
May 9, 2014 by
Congratulations to the eight new members of the Japanese National Honor Society! Among this year’s graduating class, eight students have been inducted into the society. The inductees have met several demanding criteria: completion of five semesters of Japanese language study (or their equivalent), all taken for a grade (rather than audited or pass-fail); a grade-point… Read More
Kinyo Prize Awarded for Excellence in Japanese
May 8, 2014 by
The Japanese section is pleased to announce the recipients of this year’s Kinyo Prizes for Excellence in Japanese. The Kinyo Prize has been established through the generous support of Mr. Kazuo Nakamura of Kinyo Virginia, Inc., to recognize the hard work and achievement of the top student at each level of William and Mary’s Japanese… Read More
Japan Studies Seniors Present Research at AMES Conference
May 5, 2014 by
Student presentations at a conference on April 12 showcased a wide range of interests in Japanese culture and society, as well as the possibilities for student research at William and Mary. Graduating seniors in the Asian and Middle Eastern Studies (AMES) Program presented the results of year-long research projects at the AMES Undergraduate Student Conference. … Read More
Russian Studies: An interview with graduating senior Sophie Kosar ’14
May 5, 2014 by
Sophie Kosar is a graduating senior with a Russian and Post-Soviet Studies major, who had very rich and fulfilling experiences both at William & Mary and in her studies abroad. Over the course of her studies she published two articles about history and modern day urban development of St. Petersburg. One of her articles appeared… Read More
Preston Heinlein (’14) speaks about his experiences as a major in French & Francophone Studies
May 5, 2014 by
Preston Heinlein transferred to W&M at the beginning of his junior year. He knew that he wanted to study linguistics and the French language in particular. He spent a summer in Montpellier, taking courses at the Université Paul Valéry and working on an independent research project about the local LGBT community, which he then presented… Read More
German Studies: The Language of Film is Universal? – Teaching Language through Film
May 5, 2014 by
Is there such a thing as a universal language of film? The students in German 206 “Intermediate Composition and Conversation, team-taught by Visiting Assistant Professor Jennifer Gülly and German House Tutor Carolin Wattenberg, ” were about to find out: thirteen movies covering almost 100 years of German and Austrian film history. Thirteen movies, that’s thirteen… Read More
Chinese Students Show Their Research Skills
May 5, 2014 by
In fall 2013, seniors majoring in Chinese took Prof. Calvin Hui’s course CHIN 428 Advanced Seminar in Chinese, which focused on fashion, media, and consumer culture in post-socialist China. By the end of the course, they did research and produced a paper relating to the course’s major concerns. They also presented their research outputs in the 2014… Read More
Congratulations to this year’s French prize winners
April 28, 2014 by
The French & Francophone program has just awarded three graduation prizes: The St.Onge prize is awarded annually to the student in French & Francophone Studies who shows the most promise for graduate-level work. It was established in May 2010 to honor Professor St.Onge’s forty years of dedication to the College. This year the St. Onge prize goes to Preston… Read More
Sophie Kosar ’14 Wins MLL Outstanding Achievement Award in Russian Studies
April 17, 2014 by
Russian Studies Program of the MLL Department is happy to announce that The 2014 MLL Outstanding Achievement Award in Russian Studies (formerly MLL Russian Book Award) goes to Sophia Kosar. The award seeks to recognize a graduating Russian Studies major for her contributions in research and language studies. Congratulations Sophie!
Jessica Parks and Hannah Kitchen Win RPSS Excellence Awards
April 17, 2014 by
The RPSS Executive Committee is happy to announce that the RPSS Excellence Awards for the year 2014 went to Jessica Parks and Hannah Kitchen. The RPSS Excellence Award seeks to provide recognition for the best Russian Studies senior majors and minors who made a major contribution to the Russian Studies program in the areas of… Read More
Sierra Barnes awarded Austrian Government ETA for 2014-2015
April 10, 2014 by
Sierra Barnes (German Studies and History ’14) has been awarded an English Teaching Assistantship by the Austrian Ministry of Education and Women’s Affairs and Austrian-American Educational Commission (AAEC), sponsored and administered by the Fulbright Commission, for the academic year 2014-2015. This award includes travel expenses and a substantial monthly stipend to teach at two schools… Read More
Congratulations to Elisabeth Bloxam, McCormack-Reboussin Scholar for 2014-2015
April 10, 2014 by
Congratulations to Elisabeth Bloxam (’15), the latest recipient of the McCormack-Reboussin scholarship in French & Francophone Studies! Starting this summer, Elisabeth Bloxam will research an honors thesis entitled ”Le Mythe et la Mémoire : Les séquelles de la deuxième guerre mondiale en France à travers ses monuments nationaux.” This research will focus on the lasting effects… Read More
Congratulations to our graduating seniors!
April 10, 2014 by
Congratulations to Preston Heinlein (’14) for his election to Phi Beta Kappa! And congratulations to our many seniors who have been selected to teach English in France through the French Embassy’s TAPIF program: Laura Bolger (’14) and Emily Eyestone (’14) have been placed in Bordeaux Samantha Fansler (’14) will be going to Lille Preston… Read More
Intercultural Competence: A Conversation with Hispanic Studies Alums
April 1, 2014 by
Following in the steps of a successful Career Panel held last year, Hispanic Studies majors and students welcomed our successful alums back on campus for a conversation. On March 24, Ben Boone (HISP ’07; Ph.D. Candidate, Dean of Students Office at W&M), Maybelline Mendoza (HISP ’07; MBA Candidate), and Sarah Parks (HISP ’03; Master in… Read More
Terrence Mack (German Studies and IR, ’15) receives Robert Gates Scholarship
March 31, 2014 by
German Studies and IR student Terrence Mack has received the prestigious Robert Gates Scholarship for Summer Study from the College. Terrence will spend the summer studying German language, literature, and culture at the Universitaet Potsdam. Upon hearing the news, Terrence said this: “The Robert Gates Scholarship news was amazing. When I applied for it and… Read More
Sierra Barnes (’14) receives Scholarship for Helix Project
March 29, 2014 by
Sierra Barnes (German Studies and History, ’14) has been accepted to the Helix Project Yiddishkayt for the Summer of 2014. This four-week intensive program begins in July with an intensive course of cultural and language education in L.A. Then Helixers spend two weeks exploring the heart of Jewish Europe, learning and discussing with two leading… Read More
Second Annual Russian Language Olympics
March 12, 2014 by
The event will be held on Saturday, March 22nd, 12:00 -4:00 pm, McGlothlin Street 20. The Russian Language Olympics are a newly born tradition at the College of William and Mary. It gives an opportunity to students taking Russian to demonstrate their language skills in both an engaging and creative atmosphere. Level 1 students will… Read More
Guest Lecture “Taxes and the Modern Citizen. How Taxes in Russia, the USSR, and the World Shaped Governments, Peoples, and Persons in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries”
March 12, 2014 by
Professor Yanni Kotsonis (Department of History, New York University) will give his presentation on Thursday, March 20, 4:00-5:30 pm, Washington Hall 201. Taxes secure revenue but taxes are equally tools that reshape societies. In Russia this was a movement away from regimes of privilege where only the lower orders paid, to systems of income and… Read More
Pr. Russel Zanca talk on “Nationalism and the Myth of Turkic-Muslim Unity in Central Asia”
March 11, 2014 by
Professor Russel Zanca (Northeastern Illinois University) will give a talk on Thursday, March 13th, 5:00pm, Tucker 127A.
Rachel Faith ’14 wins 2014 National ACTR Post-Secondary Russian Scholar Laureate Award
February 24, 2014 by
Our congratulations to Rachel Faith who has been awarded the 2014 National ACTR Post-Secondary Russian Scholar Laureate Award. Way to go, Rachel!
2014 William & Mary French & Francophone Film Festival
January 14, 2014 by
The William and Mary French and Francophone Film Festival brings every year award-winning french language films. The program starts this year on Friday January 31 and will run until February 28. For more details about the program, consult the festival website (wm4f.wm.edu). You can also watch the trailer:
Cuban Film and Culture at W&M
October 29, 2013 by
The Hispanic Studies program hosted the U.S. premiere of two films by Oneyda Gonzalez in October. “The Elf” and “Waiting for the Wild Boar to Fall” were screened in the Botetourt Auditorium. The newly reconfigured space was filled to capacity. Students had several opportunities to meet with the Cuban filmmaker, scriptwriter and poet during her… Read More
Handbook of Fashion Studies, Regina Root, co-editor, hot off the presses
October 29, 2013 by
The first handbook of fashion studies and a work that has been heralded as “essential” reading by folks at some of the top design schools, among others, is hot off the press. At almost 700 pages, it can be added to the list of books published by members of our department. This project began in… Read More
Tyler Bembenek (International Relations and German Studies, ’15) receives first Gates Scholarship for Summer Study Abroad
October 22, 2013 by
German Studies and International Relations major Tyler Bembenek (’15) has been awarded the first Gates Scholarship for Summer Study Abroad. The scholarship, made possible by William and Mary Chancellor Robert M. Gates (’65) and his wife Rebecca, is a merit-based award that enables outstanding W&M students to pursue their field of study during the summer…. Read More
Raft Debate ’13: Hispanic Studies Prof. John ‘Rio’ Riofrio Defends the Humanities
October 7, 2013 by
Hard sciences the ‘natural’ choice in annual Raft Debate Dressed as Charles Darwin and armed with an erupting bottle of “science juice,” Dan Cristol scored a victory for the natural and computational sciences on Wednesday night at William & Mary. The biology professor was this year’s winner of the annual Raft Debate, held on Oct…. Read More
Cate-Arries honored for ‘broad scope’ of professional achievements
September 25, 2013 by
Francie Cate-Arries was just about to leave the stage after giving a lecture at the College of Charleston on Sept. 12 when she was stopped by Mark Del Mastro, the executive director of the National Collegiate Hispanic Honor Society. He had an announcement to make, he told the audience: Cate-Arries, a member of William &… Read More
Japanese Program Graduation News
August 11, 2013 by
1) MLL Book Prize in Japanese The prize is awarded to a student who has shown overall excellence in Japanese studies. This student is often an East Asian Studies major. This year’s award goes to Soyoung Kim. Soyoung Kim was born and raised in South Korea. She started learning Japanese in high school, and continued… Read More
Russian Olympics
May 14, 2013 by
On Saturday, March 23rd, students and faculty of the Russian Language department congregated for the first ever Russian Language Olympics at the College of William and Mary. The games, held in honor of Russia’s hosting of the 2014 winter Olympics in the city of Sochi, were the site of fierce, but fair, competition by Russian… Read More
W&M Alum, Chris Bubb, Passes Top Level on Japanese Language Test
May 14, 2013 by
Hi, everyone. I’m Chris Bubb, a 2010 graduate of the College and former W&M Japanese student. Recently, I was excited to have passed the Japanese Language Proficiency Test top level N1 exam. Below I share some of my experiences with the Japanese language at W&M and post-graduation, as well as suggestions for improving your Japanese… Read More
(Ful-)Brightening Students’ Futures in German Studies at W&M
May 14, 2013 by
Students of the German Studies Program at William and Mary have had remarkable success in winning major international fellowships over the last decade. This year, Judd Peverall (German Studies and Philosophy, ’13) and Libby Hennemuth (Hispanic Studies and Government, ’13) were awarded the highly prestigious Fulbright ETA Fellowship to Germany, and Brandon De Graaf (German… Read More
Hispanic Studies Career Fair
May 13, 2013 by
On February 25, 2013, the Hispanic Studies Program hosted a career-panel for majors and potential majors. The panel, which was the result of engaged dialog between the Cohen Career Center and faculty in Hispanic Studies, featured four outstanding Hispanic Studies alums: Sara Gilmer (State Department), John Cipperly (National Center for State Courts), Jennifer Primeggia (physician)… Read More
Senior Forum Highlights Student Research about Science in China
May 13, 2013 by
Science has played a key role in Chinese conceptions of what it means to be modern. Inspired, dazzled, and even threatened by the West’s scientific revolution and its pivotal role in spurring industrial modernity, Chinese thinkers sought to bring the concepts and methods of Western science into Chinese society, industry, and statecraft. The insistence upon… Read More
Dr. Jennifer Gully to join German Studies in Fall
May 9, 2013 by
Jennifer Gülly received her Magistra from the University of Vienna, Austria, and her PhD in Comparative Literature from UCLA. She has previously held positions at Pomona College, Carnegie Mellon University, and the University of South Florida before coming to William and Mary. Her research lies at the intersection of language policy, translation theory, and literary… Read More
Lecture: “Young people in Germany and Experiences of Discrimination and Racism,” Wednesday April 10, 3:30, Andrews 101
April 4, 2013 by
The Sociology Department, German Studies, and Charles Center are pleased to sponsor a lecture by Prof. Rudi Leiprecht, who is a professor of Diversity Education at the Universitaet Oldenbourg in Germany. Currently, he is Public Policy Scholar at the Woodrow Wilson Center in Washington DC. Professor Leiprecht will present a lecture entitled “Young People in… Read More
Judd Peverall (German Studies and Philosophy, ’13) and Brandon De Graaf (German Studies and History, ’13) have received Fulbright ETAs
April 3, 2013 by
Judd Peverall (German Studies and Philosophy, ’13) and Brandon De Graaf (German Studies and History, ’13) have all received Fulbright and Austrian English Teaching Assistantships respectively for 2013-2014. Both will be placed in a >Gymnasien where they will serve as teaching assistants in the English programs of the schools and assist in curricular and non-curricular… Read More
Evan French (’13) receives DAAD RISE Paid Internship in Hamburg
March 14, 2013 by
Senior Evan French, currently in Professor Leventhal’s GRMN 202 class, is headed to Hamburg. Evan scored a DAAD RISE paid internship with a software engenieering firm for six months beginning in June 2013. Congratulations, Evan!
WM Celebrates Chinese New Year
February 13, 2013 by
In the run-up to Chinese New Year, producers and reporters from Chinese Central Television came to William and Mary to report on New Year’s festivities celebrated by WM students. The students displayed their impressive language skills, practiced calligraphy, wore traditional Chinese outfits, and even sang in Chinese! The reports were aired on the news program “Morning News” (Zhaowen tianxia) on CCTV… Read More
Fête de la Recherche
November 15, 2012 by
An annual “Fête de la Recherche” (faites de la recherche!) features the student research that takes place at the core of the French & Francophone Studies program. Students often present projects from their studies abroad in Montpellier, France, as well as longer papers written in association with I.F.E internships in Paris, Bruxelles, and Strasbourg. Other talks frequently showcase independent Monroe… Read More
Japanese: Loretta Scott (’10) named “Next EDU Guru” by YouTube and Khan Academy
November 5, 2012 by
William and Mary ’10 alumna Loretta Scott was named “Next EDU Guru” by YouTube in October, 2012. Loretta Scott, an English/Japanese bilingual “edupreneur”, recently joined an international panel of 10 individuals known as the “Next EDU Gurus”. Loretta was chosen for her YouTube channel “KemushiChan: Bringing You Some Japan”, where she shares her tips and… Read More
French and Francophone: Students scholars tackling the world. How the McCormack-Reboussin scholarship is transforming the lives of French and Francophone Students.
November 5, 2012 by
Research is at the center of the French & Francophone Studies program. Students are able to conduct research projects in many different ways, as the annual Fête de la Recherche demonstrates: short projects done while studying in Montpellier; longer projects conducted while studying and doing an internship through the I.F.E program in Paris, Strasbourg, or Bruxelles; Monroe projects; and honors theses…. Read More
Italian: An Unexpected Passion
November 1, 2012 by
When I came to William and Mary I never imagined that by the time of my senior year I would be completing a research paper in Italian. I took only the bare minimum required by my high school, and as a result was required to complete 4 semesters at the College. At first, it was… Read More
German: The Spirit of Giving: The J. Richard Guthrie Scholarship in German Studies
November 1, 2012 by
J. Richard Guthrie believed strongly in the undergraduate study of German language, literature, and culture. As part of his estate, he endowed a scholarship fund to assist undergraduates to carry out semester or summer research in German Studies. Because of this generous endowment from his estate, the German Studies Section at W&M is able to… Read More
Russian: A Graduate Student Gives Back (video)
October 30, 2012 by
Erin Alpert graduated from the College in 2007 with a degree in Russian and Post Soviet Studies. During her time at W&M, she studied abroad in Russia thanks, in part, to a scholarship she received from the Reves Center. “One of the highlights of my college career was definitely my summer study abroad in St…. Read More
Bellini Colloquium Talk: Thursday 4th, October. 3.30pm. Washington 315. Pr.Giulia Pacini “Invaluable Trees, or how and why trees and wood mattered in the long eighteenth century.”
October 3, 2012 by
Thursday 4th, October at 3:30pm in Washington 315 Throughout the eighteenth century, trees stood at the intersection of numerous and often competing discourses of value. Across Europe and North America, they were viewed both as precious commodities and as ‘the true monuments of nations’, as Bernardin de Saint-Pierre noted in 1784,underscoring the imposing and inescapable… Read More
Russian: Profile: Erin Alpert ’07, Russian and Post-Soviet Studies
September 26, 2012 by
The time I spent at the College greatly influenced both my career path and who I am as a person. The people I met there, both friends and professors, continue to be a significant part of my life. I think it’s important for alumni to remain connected to the College and to help foster those… Read More
Japanese: Julian Oreska ’09 speaks Bandai’s language
September 26, 2012 by
The following story originally appeared in the summer 2012 issue of the William & Mary Alumni Magazine – Ed. Many come to the College of William & Mary to pursue degrees that they think will lead them to careers. Julian Oreska ’09 didn’t think his education would someday lead him to designing toys on… Read More
TRIP survey: East Asia more strategically significant, say IR scholars
July 24, 2012 by
A community of 3,466 international relations scholars from 20 countries believes that East Asia is the world’s region of greatest strategic importance to their nations today. That was a key finding from the 2011 TRIP survey, published recently by the Institute for the Theory and Practice of International Relations (TRIP) at the College of William… Read More
Eleonora Figliuoli ’12 – R. Merritt Cox Fellowship in Hispanic Studies
May 14, 2012 by
Eleonora plans to become a Hispanic Studies professor, having been accepted to Spanish programs at UVA and American and having been shortlisted at Johns Hopkins. Last spring she won the undergraduate research prize for her paper on Martín Fierro and the poetics of suffering which she subsequently presented at the Middle Atlantic Council of Latin… Read More
Student Profile: Casey Swann ’12 (Video Feature)
May 14, 2012 by
Casey Swann ’12 spoke to me a few days before graduation this May about her self-designed Italian Studies major, her study abroad research in Rome, Italy, and about her plans for after graduation.
Student Profile: Kelly Houck ’12 (Video Feature)
May 14, 2012 by
Kelly Houck ’12 sat down with me a couple of days before graduation to talk about her experiences in the Arabic program at the College, her study abroad in Morocco, and what her plans are after graduation.
Student Profile: Bridget Carr ’12 (Video Feature)
May 14, 2012 by
Bridget Carr, one of our graduating seniors in French and Francophone Studies, was kind enough to sit down and talk with us right after she defended her Senior Honors Thesis on French relations in Senegal. Prof. Nicolas Medevielle and I talked to Bridget about her study abroad research, how she used that research to develop… Read More
Graduation 2012 Photo Gallery
May 14, 2012 by
Modern Languages and Literatures and Global Studies Graduates celebrated with family, friends, and faculty on Saturday and Sunday, May 12 and 13, in graduation ceremonies at Phi Beta Kappa Hall (Global Studies and International Relations) and on the Wren Lawn (Modern Languages and Literatures). Here is a selection of photos from the events.
William and Mary Students Present at UVA Slavic Forum (March 2012)
May 14, 2012 by
On March 17, four Russian Studies students – along with professors John Lyles, Alexander Prokhorov, Elena Prokhorova, filmmaker-in-residence Jes Therkelsen, and Russian House Tutor Viktoria Kim – participated in the Third Annual Slavic Forum at the University of Virginia. For the past few years, the Slavic Graduate Program at UVa has held student-organized conferences designed… Read More
Student Profile: Jacob Lassin ’12 (Video Feature)
May 13, 2012 by
Jacob Lassin recently won the American Council of Teachers of Russian’s (ACTR) Post Secondary Russian Scholar Laureate Award. This award, according to the ACTR newsletter, “honors those students who embody a love for and dedication to things Russian that is unparalleled among their peers.” Each college or university where Russian is taught may nominate one… Read More
Sarah Salino (Independent Major, German Studies Minor ’12) awarded Fulbright in Germany
May 9, 2012 by
Sarah Salino, who designed her own major at the College and will graduate with Honors Sunday, May 13, has been awarded a Fulbright in Germany for the academic year 2012-2013. Although she has not yet been placed yet, Sarah will be teaching at a Gymnasium, working with students and other teachers and providing curricular support… Read More
Grace Brennan (German Studies and Psychology, ’12) receives Fulbright to Berlin
May 9, 2012 by
German Studies and Psychology Major Grace Brennan (’12) has received a Fulbright Teaching Assistantship to Berlin for the academic year 2012-2013. Brennan is one of two Fulbrights to Germany this year. Grace is also being inducted into Phi Beta Kappa on Friday, May 11, as a result of her stunning academic achievements at the College… Read More
“Writing on the Wall” – Understanding Today’s German Society through a Study of the Representations of the Berlin Wall in Literature, Art, and Music
May 7, 2012 by
In November 1989, pictures of jubilating East and West Germans dancing on the Berlin Wall went around the world. Chanting “We are the people”, East Germans had demanded their freedom and finally brought down the authoritarian GDR regime during the Peaceful Revolution. The Fall of the Berlin Wall, which led to the reunification of Germany… Read More
After the Quake: Student Research on the 2011 Japanese Earthquake
May 6, 2012 by
On March 11 last year, northeastern Japan was struck by a threefold catastrophe—a massive, 9.0 magnitude earthquake, a devastating tsunami, and level-seven nuclear meltdowns at three reactors. Sixteen thousand people perished in the disaster, and the country sustained economic losses equivalent to $235 billion, making it the most expensive natural disaster in world history. The… Read More
Finding Opportunities: Sara Caudill
May 6, 2012 by
From her first semester at William and Mary, Sara Caudill threw herself into the study of Japan. “I had wanted to study language for many years before college,” she recalls. “I lobbied for on-line course in high school, but it didn’t happen. William and Mary gave me the opportunity.” Sara has since taken full advantage… Read More
William & Mary opens Confucius Institute
April 16, 2012 by
by Beth Stefanik and Megan Shearin The College of William & Mary officially opened its Confucius Institute on Monday, April 16, with a day-long celebration of events involving William & Mary faculty and administrators, as well as delegates from Beijing Normal University (BNU), the Office of Chinese Language Council International (Hanban) and the Embassy of… Read More
‘Gojira,’ Not ‘Godzilla’
April 8, 2012 by
On Saturday evening, we will screen the classic Japanese film Gojira (dir. Honda Ishirō, 1954), better known to Americans in the very different version released here as Godzilla. The screening will include introductory remarks placing the film within the context of Japan’s nuclear history. The screening will be followed on Sunday by a student conference… Read More
After the Quake: Japan Responds
April 8, 2012 by
Join us Sunday, April 15, for a conference on the response to the catastrophic earthquake, tsunami, and on-going nuclear crisis that hit northeastern Japan on March 11th last year. Students will present research papers in two panel and in a bilingual poster session. Following this, Alex Bates, Assistant Professor of Japanese at Dickinson College, will… Read More
Guest Lecture: “Tolstoy in Eden”
February 9, 2012 by
Professor David Herman, Chair of the Slavic Department at the University of Virginia, will be giving a lecture about Tolstoy and his fiction on February 17th at 3 pm in Washington 315. His lecture is titled: “Tolstoy in Eden.” Here is a brief description of the content of the talk: ”Virginia Woolf famously called Tolstoy the… Read More
“Tekkon Kinkreet” Screening
January 16, 2012 by
The theme of this year’s Global Film Festival is Film and the City, and the Pre-Festival series kicks off Wednesday night with a award-winning animated feature from Japan, directed by American Michael Arias: Tekkon Kinkreet (Tekkon Kinkurīto, 2006). Two young brothers, Black and White, roam through the streets and soar across the canopy of the… Read More
A Russian Animation Character Supports the Movement for Honest and Transparent Elections
December 24, 2011 by
(Moscow, 24 Dec., 2011) Today we went to Andrei Sakharov Avenue to participate in the rally for fair and just elections. About 100000 people came to the rally. It was the biggest political manifestation since the demonstrations of the early 1990s. We saw people of all walks of life and political preferences: from those who… Read More
The Politics of Quechua: student research in Cusco, Peru
November 30, 2011 by
During the summer of 2011, Hispanic Studies major Katherine Brown (’13) travelled to Peru to study the political uses of Quechua in the construction of national, regional, and class-based identities in present-day Peru. Under the auspices of the Christian-Ewell Scholarship granted by the Charles Center, Katie spent seven weeks in Cusco and Lima studying Quechua… Read More
The Wall-Jumper: Student Research in German Studies
November 29, 2011 by
Students in Jennifer Taylor’s Freshman Seminar, “The Berlin Wall,” are researching cinematic and literary depictions of life in the former German Democratic Republic and finding some surprises. Many texts they are reading paint a bleak picture of oppression and state control behind the iron curtain that is familiar to readers in the post-Cold War era…. Read More
Homecoming 2011 Photo Gallery
November 28, 2011 by
We had a great time at the Modern Languages 2nd Annual Homecoming Reception this year, which was once again held in the Reves Room at the Reves Center for International Relations. The turnout was good, with plenty of alumni, many faculty members and some of our best current students to round out the party. I… Read More
The Virtual Library of Freedom
November 28, 2011 by
A new project at William & Mary is the Virtual Library of Freedom, a group started by William & Mary alumna Hannah Thornton ’10. Melissa Woods, a student at William & Mary, writes: The Virtual Library of Freedom (VLF) is a student organization founded in 2010 that aims to promote cross-cultural discussion online between American… Read More
The Arab Spring at William & Mary
November 28, 2011 by
The Arab world has witnessed a series of political upheavals this past year which would have been difficult to imagine in past years. The events have affected the faculty and students of the Arabic section in many different ways. Several students found themselves in Egypt or Syria as the revolutions were getting underway, and had… Read More
Fostering Student Research in French & Francophone Studies
November 28, 2011 by
Students of French & Francophone studies have done original research for years. In order to recognize students who embarked in such projects and inspire other students to do the same, the French & Francophone studies section decided to create an annual Student research conference in 2010. In this video interview, Stephanie Kumah, a senior (French… Read More
My Internship in Rome, Spring 2011
November 28, 2011 by
by Cassie Prena Last Spring, I spent an unforgettable semester abroad at John Cabot University in Rome. Although my courses at the university and my daily life in a foreign country allowed a certain level of immersion, I was nevertheless determined to experience the more intimate aspects of Italian culture. I decided that an internship… Read More
Visualizing St. Petersburg: Research Through Documentary Filmmaking Abroad
November 28, 2011 by
by Jes Therkelsen The documentary filmmaking process requires a tremendous amount of patience, discipline, creativity, and flexibility. You need to deal with people, but know how to troubleshoot technology; you must be organized, but open to spontaneity; you should be prepared for everything, but comfortable working in the unknown. For the eight students who studied… Read More
Poetry: A Tool for Literacy & National Identity in Nicaragua
November 9, 2011 by
by Leslie McCullough | November 7, 2011 Nicaragua is often thought of as “a nation of poets.” National poets such as Rubén Darío and Ernesto Cardenal have made significant contributions to world literature. Less known but also significant is the transformative role poetry has played in educating Nicaraguan youth in resource-scarce schools and in adult… Read More
Teaching palette refreshed with cultural insights
October 17, 2011 by
by Leslie McCullough | October 17, 2011 Kranbuehl Travel Award In late 2009, Chemistry Professor David Kranbuehl established a charitable remainder trust to support travel for Modern Language’s continuing faculty who teach introductory language courses. “I believe in the importance of international studies, and I wanted to reward the people who teach language courses,” says Kranbuehl… Read More
Lauren Shaw, German Studies ’09, scores job at German Historical Institute
October 6, 2011 by
Lauren Shaw has been going places lately– Slovenia, the Baltic States, Carinthia/Austria — and returning to the DC area. After finishing a two-year Fulbright ETA in Austria, Lauren (German Studies, ’09) has returned to the United States and taken a job at the German Historical Institute in Washington, D.C. as a paid research assistant. At… Read More
Potsdam, Germany Summer Study Abroad Program Completes Third Year
August 31, 2011 by
The Potsdam, Germany Summer Study Abroad Program 2011 June 8-July 23 was an immense success. The W&M Potsdam, Germany Summer Study Abroad program is an intensive 7 week German Language and Culture program. Students attend intensive German Language classes in the mornings from 9-12:30 and a GRMN 290/390 German Culture class in the afternoons. This… Read More
Katherine Kulick wins Aceto Award
June 15, 2011 by
Story by Megan Shearin, June 10 2011 Associate Professor of French and Modern Languages Katherine Kulick is once again being lauded for her service and governance to William & Mary. Kulick has been selected as the first recipient of the newly created Shirley Aceto Service Award, an honor to be awarded annually to a member… Read More
2010-2011 Awards & Scholarships
May 11, 2011 by
The Department of Modern Languages and Literatures is proud to announce the 2010-2011 graduating student awards and scholarships: Dr. J. Richard Guthrie Scholarship in German Studies Anna S. Kim Judson R. Peverall Kai I. Simenson Elaine M. Vega Elsa S. Diduk Scholarship in German Studies Judson R. Peverall Dobro Slovo Scholarship in Russian Studies William… Read More
Monika Bernotas and Suzanne Reed Win Honorable Mention Certificates at the 12th National Russian Essay Contest (May 2011)!
May 9, 2011 by
Congratulations to the winners of the Twelfth Annual ACTR National Post-Secondary Russian Essay Contest. This year two William and Mary students win honorable mention certificates: Monika Bernotas and Suzanne Reed. In this year’s contest, there were 1,139 essays submitted from 59 universities and colleges across the nation. Each essay was ranked by three judges in Russia.
