Volume XV – Academic Year 2010-11 Editor: Dr. Beverly J. Evans

Department of Languages and Literatures

http://go.geneseo.edu/languages_and_literatures

Inside this Issue:

⚫ Letter from the Chair

⚫ Alumna Spotlight

⚫ Student Accomplishments

⚫ Department News and Events

⚫ Student Organizations

⚫ Study Abroad News

⚫ Alumni News

⚫ Faculty News

⚫ Tell Us about Yourself

⚫ Please Donate

Photo by Paula Bill

Seated, left to right: A. Alcántara, J. Tang, B. Evans, K. Adabra, F. Brea; Standing: I. Salas, S. Baker, C. Klima, R. Delgado, L. Bernard, J. Gómez, R. Ptak,

A. Betts, R. Vallejo, A. Alvès-Hebbelinck, J. Huang, M. Drouet.

Dear Alumni, Students, and Friends:

It is always a great pleasure to greet alumni, students and

friends through this newsletter and to update you on what’s been

happening at the Department. It’s been a very busy year, with many

developments and events to report.

Our students have had an exceptional year of accomplish-

ments (page 2). Many of our students appeared on the Dean’s list,

were recognized as Presidential Scholars, or received scholarships

and international recognition such as induction into Phi Beta Kappa

or teaching appointments from education departments abroad. We

are especially proud of graduating senior William Labate (page 3)

who received the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence.

Our undergraduates also are increasingly undertaking far-reaching

research, with several presenting at G.R.E.A.T. Day (page 5) and

completing Honors theses under the direction of Department faculty.

Our majors and minors continue to participate vigorously in study

abroad opportunities (page 8), now enhanced by recently established

agreements with Argentina and Senegal institutions.

Learning about our alumni’s accomplishments makes us

equally proud (page 10). We celebrate the achievements you share

with us each year and urge all former students to keep in touch. Of

course, we also would be delighted to welcome you back on a personal

visit to the Department.

This year our faculty team bade farewell to Dr. Edward

VanVliet who retired (page 4), and enthusiastically welcomed Dr.

Kodjo Adabra (page 5). As our faculty fulfills the mission of our

department in guiding our students to achieve their academic goals, I

am continually amazed at the dedication of my colleagues who in

addition to a full teaching load, directed studies, Masters and Honors

theses, study abroad programs, student advisement and college-wide

responsibilities, also contribute dynamically to the development of our

discipline’s scholarship and, like Professors Bernard, Evans and

Klima, even hold prominent positions among professional

organizations. I take this opportunity to reiterate my heartfelt thanks

to Lori Bernard for capably serving as interim chair during my fall

semester sabbatical. Moreover, this year we also formally

acknowledged that our Department’s accomplishments have been

facilitated by Paula Bill’s exceptional administrative skills and

steadfast support (page 6).

Noteworthy this year was the national recognition (with

some conditions) conferred to our FL Adolescence Education program

by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education

(NCATE)—a coalition of teacher organizations, educators, content

specialists and local and state policy makers committed to raising the

bar in the quality of teacher preparation programs. This recognition

enhances the credentials of our graduates and is a solid first step

toward our programs’ full accreditation.

And just as this newsletter was going to digital press, we

were overjoyed to learn from the College Advancement office of Mrs.

Suzanne Gouvernet’s $100,000 gift to establish the Dr. Gérard

Gouvernet Endowed Fund for French Culture. Starting in 2012, Mrs.

Gouvernet’s generous donation will celebrate and sustain the legacy

of our dear colleague who passed away two years ago by providing

funding to deserving Department students pursuing a summer abroad

experience that is defining to their career. Merci, Mrs. Gouvernet!

Consequently, I regret having to conclude this letter on a

somber note and with an urgent plea. As you may know, the current

economy and New York State’s recurrent budget cuts have resulted in

greater utilization of—and scarcer donations to—our department’s

Geneseo Foundation account. FYI, this account is exclusively used by

the Department to help fund student-related activities not financed by

State monies; these include student club socials, field trips, guest

speakers, film purchases, professional performances, open houses at

the Foreign Language Maison and Residencia, and modest scholar-

ships. I take this opportunity to beseech you to make a donation—any

amount will be valuable!—to help the department continue supporting

these culturally enriching activities. Instructions for ensuring that

your welcome contribution is specifically allocated (“restricted”) to

our department are found in this newsletter’s last page.

In peace, in unity, in any language,

Yours truly,

ALUMNA SPOTLIGHT:

Meghan Fitzgerald

A SUNY Geneseo alumna (’03, B.S. in General and Special

Education with a concentration in Spanish), Meghan

Fitzgerald holds an M.A. in

Learning Disabilities from

City University of New

York – Hunter College with

a specialization in

education for gifted

students.

In 2006, Meghan joined Uncommon Schools as Director of Special Education, offering professional development and resources to schools in the Brooklyn area and throughout Uncommon Schools’ four network

regions. She supports schools in “providing students with disabilities, English language learners, and students at-risk of failure high quality and effective interventions to maximize their achievement and ability to access post-secondary outcomes.” She is working with Uncommon

Schools to establish collaborative support systems for principals, teachers, and therapists to maximize student achievement.

Prior to working at Uncommon Schools, Meghan served as a Special Education Coordinator at InterActive Therapy Group, where she was responsible for providing special education instruction, coordination, and consultation for over 15 charter schools in New York City. While working at InterActive Therapy Group, she authored a series of compliance and instructional resource manuals for charter schools in New York City and New York State.

Meghan has presented workshops on best practices on special education in charter schools for the California Charter School Association, Building Excellent Schools, New York State Charter School Association, New York City Center for Charter School Excellence, the Chicago Renaissance Schools Fund, and the Denver Public Schools.

Meghan has been returning to Geneseo for Alumni Weekend each spring since graduation. On April 29, she gave an informational chat about Uncommon Schools’ approach to special education (preparing students to enter, succeed in, and graduate from college), and its record closing the achievement gap. Co-sponsored by the Department of Languages and Literatures and the School of Education, the standing-room-only presentation was attended by Geneseo students, faculty and staff.

Megan Fitzgerald’s presentation

STUDENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS

2011 Graduates

The Department of Languages and Literatures presents heartfelt congratulations to its majors, minors, and Education concentration students from the class of 2011! We wish them all the best in their future pursuits and look forward to hearing from them regularly with news of their latest achievements.

Rose Bachem Alent Awards for Outstanding Senior in International Relations went to Amanda McLaughlin (Spanish) and Justine Porter (French).

The 2011-2012 Spanish Alumni Scholarship Award has been granted to Kenisha Newsome who will use this support to develop her Spanish skills abroad. The award went to Ellyn Jameson in 2010-11.

The Rose Alent Scholarship was awarded to Jessica Gilbert who will be studying in Paris, France, in Fall 2011. Rachel Scott was the 2010-11 recipient.

Erinn Kehoe (French, Spanish) received the Sylvia Haseltine Award for Excellence in French and the Sylvia Haseltine Award for Excellence in Spanish. Last year’s French awardee was Hannah Huhr; Spanish awardees were William Blevins and Marissa Evarts.

Erinn Kehoe (French, Spanish) and William Labate (French, International Relations) were 2010-11 Presidential Scholars. Next year’s designees are Donna Hanrahan (French, International Relations), Kristina Licatese (Spanish, Adolescence Education), and Rebecca Meissner (Spanish, Mathematics).

William Labate (French, International Relations) was a winner of the Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence.

Jennifer Wachunas Memorial Scholarships were granted to Robert Briwa (French, Geography) and Julia McDaniel (French) who received monetary awards for academic excellence and their commitment to the community. Jennifer, a language enthusiast and honors student, lost her life in an automobile accident the day after she graduated in May 1996.

Five French majors were offered teaching assistant positions by the French government and will be spending 2011-12 in France: Catherine Bijur (suburban Paris), Philip Gagnon (suburban Paris), Erinn Kehoe (Bretagne), Lindsey Martin (Picardie), Justine Porter (Réunion).

Honor Societies

On April 20, the Alpha Phi chapter of Phi Sigma Iota, International Foreign Language Honor Society, held its yearly induction ceremony and reception at The Big Tree Inn. The ceremony was presided over by Chapter President Emily Borghard, Chapter Secretary Andrew Nicholson and Faculty Advisor Dr. Rose McEwen. Inductees were Erin Bonthron, Heather Bristol, Steven Carlson, Megan DiBartolomeo, Meredith Doyle, Margaret Fogg, Suzanna Friedman, Emily Genco, Lindsay Gips, Calla Goeke, Alicia Goodwin, Erin Kehoe, Rebecca Meissner, Julia McDaniel, Elyse McNamara, Andrew Nicholson, Cladia Plantin, Jade Plaschka, Tanya Schoock, Amanda Thur, Shelby Tompkins, and Laura Watson. Honorary members, this year selected on account of their extraordinary service to the Department of Languages and Literatures, were Willard “Bill” Heller, Dr. Ronald Herzman, and Wes Kennison.

Phi Sigma Iota Induction

The following students were initiated into the Tau Zeta Chapter of the Sigma Delta Pi, Spanish National Honor Society, in November: Heather Bristol, Elen DeOliveira, Molly Dingley, Sean Douglas, Sarah Dziekonski, Sara Ertel, Kevin Felter, Veronica Foley, Suzanna Freidman, Sarah Keib, Sarah Kosloski, Jessamyn Perlus, Robert Potter, Justine Rubi, Jaclyn Slovic, Josh Weiss, and Brianna Zimmerman. Dr. Lori Bernard, Chapter Advisor, officiated.

Sigma Delta Pi, left-right: Heather Bristol, Molly Dingley, Sara Ertel, Jessamyn Perlus, Justine Rubi, Veronica Foley, Brianna Zimmerman,

Sarah Keib, Suzanna Freidman, Sarah Kosloski, Sarah Dziekonski, Elen DeOliveira, Dr. Lori Bernard, Kevin Felter, Sean Douglas, Robert Potter,

Josh Weiss, Jaclyn Slovic

The Mu Iota Chapter of Pi Delta Phi, National French Honor Society, inducted these undergraduate members in April: Catherine Bijur, Robert Briwa, Caroline Carlson, Olivia Derella, Marissa Fariello, Jessica Fiore, Jessica Gilbert, Tara McGarry, Kathryn Nottke, Laura Preston, Michael Sterling, Emily Webb. Adeline Alvès-Hebbelinck and Marie-Alexandra Drouet, teaching assistants from the Université Paul Valéry-Montpellier 3, France, and new faculty member Dr. Kodjo Adabra were named honorary members. Student members Cladia Plantin and Olivia Occelli, along with Chapter Moderator Dr. Beverly Evans, officiated. Likewise in attendance were faculty members Drs. Lori Bernard and Cynthia Klima, Rosette Ptak, and several parents.

Pi Delta Phi, left-right: Adeline Alvès-Hebbelinck, Emily Webb, Jessica Gilbert, Marie-Alexandra Drouet, Olivia Derella,

Laura Preston, Dr. Kodjo Adabra.

The following Department majors were inducted into Phi Beta Kappa: Catherine Bijur (French, Philosophy), Donna Hanrahan (French, International Relations), Erinn Kehoe (French, Spanish), Alex Kovolosky (French, Spanish), William Labate (French, International Relations), Amanda McLaughlin (Spanish, International Relations), and Dustin Rabideau (French, Mathematics).

Douglas Weber was recognized by the Department for Exemplary Organization and Leadership of the German Club.

Michael Hereth and Sean Heyneman were recognized by the Department for Exemplary Organization and Leadership of the Slavic Club.

Sean Heyneman was awarded national recognition by the American Council of Teachers of Russian. Sean received the Post-Secondary Russian Scholar Laureate Award for embodying enthusiasm for, and love of, all things Russian.

Sean Heyneman with Dr. Cynthia Klima,

Associate Professor of Russian, who nominated Sean.

Robert Viglietta has received a Critical Languages Stipend from the US Department of State to study intensive Turkish language in Summer 2011.

Hannah Birdsall (Spanish) spent the academic year as a Fulbright English teaching assistant at the I.E.S. Maxima Tueba High School in Madrid, Spain. She was the first Geneseo student to receive a Fulbright award in more than a decade. Hannah also studied on Geneseo’s program at Universidad Nacional in Heredia, Costa Rica.

Department News and Events

Professor Van Vliet Retires

Dr. Edward R. “Richie” Van Vliet recently retired after 30 years at the college. He came to Geneseo from Elizabethtown College, PA, to serve as department chair, a position he occupied until 1992. Throughout his career, Professor Van Vliet taught a wide array of courses, ranging from his specialty in Romance linguistics to elementary and intermediate French, Latin, and Italian. When computer-assisted learning was in its early days, he devised instructional materials coordinated with Wheelock’s Latin. He also played a major role in developing the college’s teacher certification programs in French and Spanish. His commitment to the training of

future educators extends to his ongoing work as a lead reviewer for ACTFL/NCATE Program Reports and a member of the NY State Education Content Revalidation and Content Review Committee for the NY State Teachers Certification Examinations in Italian.

An expert in French linguistics, Dr. Van Vliet’s most recent research resulted in a book-length manuscript, Typology of French: An Agglutinative Language. As Professor in the Department of English and American Studies of the Center for International Education at Kansai Gaidai University in Osaka, Japan, from 1994-97, he published a number of articles in the Journal of Intercultural Studies and the Journal of Inquiry and Research: among others, "English & French Zoomorphism: Idioms with Animal Expressions," to "Phonologie générative des Dialectes de l'Occitan," to "Japanese Phonology: an Alpha-Beta Approach.” He is a jurist for the biennial Zerilli-Marimò Prize for Italian Fiction. On site in Geneseo, Dr. Van Vliet directed the compilation and electronic publication of students’ G.R.E.A.T. Day presentations for the whole college.

Figure skaters and aficionados will remember Richie Van Vliet fondly for the enthusiasm and skill he brought to his association with the college’s Figure Skating Club and his accomplishments as an ice dancer and judge on the local, national, and international levels. We wish him a smooth rink for his retirement skate and a successful long program ahead in whatever arenas he performs.

Thank you for your many years of service, Dr. Van Vliet!

Bienvenue, Dr. Kodjo Adabra!

We are very pleased to announce the addition to our faculty of Dr. Kodjo Adabra, a native of the West African nation of Togo. A graduate of the University of Tenessee (Ph.D., French), North Carolina State University (M.A., French) and Université de Lomé, Togo (M.S. and B.S., Management

Sciences), Dr. Adabra’s dissertation explored the effects of three decades of exile on the literary work of francophone African writer Mongo Béti.

Dr. Adabra is an active scholar and author who has presented extensively on Francophone literatures. Living in exile since 2001, he also has published two novels (including L’Exilé, Syracuse Press: 2007) that examine, eloquently and in depth, the African diaspora experience from an insider’s point of view. A third novel will be released this fall.

Since his arrival to Geneseo a year ago, Dr. Adabra has prepared two new course proposals, one on Contemporary Francophone civilizations (already approved and scheduled for this fall) and the other on studies on Francophone literatures. With the endorsement of our department and of the Office of International Programs, Dr. Adabra is also organizing a study abroad program to Senegal, to take place every other summer starting in 2012. His proposal to create the program in Senegal to explore contemporary francophone civilizations was one of nine outstanding proposals in the SUNY system selected to receive the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Internationalization for the 2011-2012 academic year.

In the brief time he has served at SUNY Geneseo, Dr. Adabra has already become one our department’s most assiduous and productive members and has earned the respect of his students and colleagues.

Welcome to our department, Dr. Adabra!

Languages and Literatures Represented at G.R.E.A.T. Day On April 12, SUNY Geneseo held its annual G.R.E.A.T. (Geneseo Recognizing Excellence, Achievement, and Talent) Day symposium. The following students represented our department with distinction: Meredith Doyle discussed Nicaraguan poet Rubén Darío’s “Los

Department presenters and faculty sponsors, left to right: Meredith Doyle, Fiona Harvey (English Dept.), Dr. Bernard,

Dr. McEwen, and Amanda McLaughlin.

Motivos del Lobo por Rubén Darío: Una Traducción y un Análysis Crítica Desde una Perspectiva de Study Abroad” and her original translation of this celebrated poem (faculty advisor: Dr. Lori Bernard); Erinn Kehoe presented a summary of the research she conducted on the “Concurrent Languages in Southern France and Catalonia” in fulfillment of her Honors thesis (faculty advisor: Dr. Beverly Evans); Elizabeth Maguire discussed her Honors thesis on the debilitating illnesses that affected the Spanish House of Habsburg in “Las Enfermedades de la casa de Austria” (faculty advisor: Dr. Bernard); Amanda McLaughlin summarized the research and interviews she had conducted in Morocco and Nicaragua for her Honors thesis on the role of “Women and Development” (faculty advisor: Dr. Rose McEwen). Dr. Evans also sponsored with Dr. Mary Mohan (Communication) Collette Spagnolo’s (Business, Communication) poster “Poetic Legacy of Flanders Fields: Memorials Across Time from the 21st Century,” based on the 2010 trip to World War I sites during Western Humanities II in Paris.

The Road to Santiago de Compostela, Spain

In October, an exciting exhibit on the Camino de Santiago Pilgrimage came to campus. “Sacred Steps” (http://www.sacredstepsinspain.com/) had been dis-

played at different locations throughout the country over several years and Geneseo’s Milne Library was the final stop on its tour. Dr. George Greenia (The College of William & Mary), an expert on the

Pilgrimage, visited campus to join in the festivities surrounding the exhibit. An acclaimed scholar of Medieval literature and a former editor of the journal La corónica, he also serves on the Executive Committee of Phi Beta Kappa. While on campus, Professor Greenia presented a talk on “Art and Memory: Pilgrimage in Spain” that was well attended by students, staff, faculty, and community members. He participated in a workshop for Dr. Lori Bernard’s students in Spanish 303.

Photos courtesy of Tracy Paradis, Milne Library.

Paula Bill Receives “Geneseo Pride” Award

At the Annual College Service Recognition Luncheon on May 4, Department Secretary Paula Bill received the “Geneseo Pride” Award acknowledging her significant

contributions as a non-teaching, full-time employee in “advancing the goals and mission of SUNY Geneseo.” In bestow-ing this honor, President Christo-pher Dahl cited Ms. Bill’s deep respect for all cultures and her ability to work in harmony with a wide variety of students

and faculty. Ms. Bill’s nomination was individually endorsed by every member of the Department, whose letters to the Committee described the multiple ways in which she exemplifies Geneseo’s shared values of excellence, innovation, community, diversity, integrity, and tradition. Congratulations to Ms. Bill, whose wisdom, efficiency, and kindness make such a big difference to everyone.

Field Trip to NYC

Sponsored in part by Department faculty donations, Geneseo Foundation funding and a generous contribution from the College Union and Activities’ Upstate Escapes program, 28 Department students and faculty took a 24-hour field trip to New York City March 26-27 to see a live performance in Spanish of La casa de Bernarda Alba staged by the world-renowned Repertorio Español. Organized by Irene Salas Garrido, Rocío Vallejo and Rose

McEwen, the outing included a stop at The Museum of Modern Art where Picasso’s “Guitars” collection is exhibited, and a paella dinner accompanied by live flamenco dancing.

Students and faculty, thanking their sponsors, at Repertorio Español’s entrance

Farewell Party for Teaching Assistants

On May 4, Department students, staff, and faculty prepared a brunch to bid farewell to the visiting foreign language Teaching Assistants who worked and studied at Geneseo this academic year. Adeline Alvès-Hebbelinck and Marie-Alexandra Drouet arrived through our university’s exchange program with the Université Paul Valéry - Montpellier 3, France; Irene Salas Garrido came to Geneseo through our exchange program with the Universidad de Cádiz, Spain.

Seated, left-right: L. Bernard, F. Brea, J. Gómez, P. Bill; standing, left-right: R. Vallejo, R. McEwen, M. Drouet, C. Klima, J. Huang, I. Salas

STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS

Le Cercle Français Under the leadership of Olivia Occelli and Cladia Plantin, and the advisement of Dr. Beverly Evans, the French Club organized many events, offered regular conversation

hours throughout the year, and provided peer tutoring to students in elementary- and intermediate-level courses. During a very successful National French Week in November, club members dined at Simply Crêpes Restaurant in Pittsford, held a French snacks and games night in Ontario Hall, sponsored the screening of a film, and enjoyed cultural presentations by our French teaching assistants and exchange students from Montpellier. Major highlights of the week were a presentation by alumna Jennifer O’Meara ’07 on her recent Peace Corps service in Burkina Faso and the first-ever French Spelling Bee, planned by Dr. Kodjo Adabra and club members. Spring semester brought the “French Kisses” Valentine’s Day fundraiser in the College Union, a karaoke night at the Knightspot, and a trip to Montréal. As always, the club continues to consume plenty of Nutella! Follow us on Facebook: SUNY Geneseo Le Cercle Français or write to frenclub@geneseo.edu for the latest news.

Megan Eichas,

National French Week Spelling Bee

La Casa Hispánica The Spanish Club was very active this year. Members met every other week and also engaged in volunteer tutoring of other students in need. Additional activities included an evening with guest Flamenco guitarist Ryan Carey, a dance workshop in collaboration with LSA (Latin Student Association), discussions of study abroad options, and several weeks of presentations on featured countries, such as Chile, Spain, Peru, and Guatemala. A dinner and party at advisor Dr. Joaquín Gómez's home brought together Casa Hispánica members, as well as other students and faculty. During the holiday season, the club bought items for a needy family through the Adopt-a-Family program and joined with Lambda Alpha Upsilon (Latin Fraternity) in a drive for Foodlink, collecting over 250 pounds of food to be distributed to the less fortunate in the area. A T-shirt design contest was held in the spring, with club members taking charge of producing the shirts and distributing orders. Near the end of spring semester, there was a trip to the Rochester Public Market, with its delicious "Empanada Stop," followed by an afternoon at The Little Theatre to view the Spanish-language film “Biutiful”. Finally, everyone enjoyed an end-of-year potluck with

students and professors and a trip to a Mexican restaurant in Mt. Morris.

Spanish Club members (left to right): Natalia Gottschalk, Megan

DiBartolomeo, Laurel Brown, Brandon Shufelt, Emily Thomas, Molly Ancello. Kevin Marriott, Katelynn Imagna, Silvia Roma, Martina

Kunar, and Erin Bonthron.

Der Deutsche Verein The German Club went to Canandaigua in the fall to eat authentic German food. It held an Oktoberfest Evening during which club advisor Dr. Cynthia Klima spoke on the historical background of this festival. Eating of sausages and drinking of (root) beer ensued. In addition, the club sponsored a showing of the film "The Baader-Meinhof Complex.” Todd Goehl (History) provided a great introduction to the movie by explaining the circumstances surrounding the creation of the Red Army Faction in Germany. This spring, Der Deutsche Verein returned to Canandaigua for a German dinner and also sponsored the film “Das weisse Band” (“The White Ribbon”).

The Chinese Culture Club Under the enthusiastic guidance of Jasmine Tang, students from her classes performed during Splendor of China night at Monroe Community, College, Rochester, in April. This event, which attracted an audience of over 400, featured folk dances, traditional and contemporary Chinese music, qigong demonstrations, and a fashion show highlighting traditional and imperial costumes. Also noteworthy is that several of Ms. Tang’s students went to study at universities in Beijing, Nanjing, Sichuan, and Shanghai: Jared Dorman, Lawrence Heath, Ben Jay, Emily Jennings, Anders Korn, and Tessa Pham.

The Slavic Club The Slavic Club met throughout the year and discussed various themes of Slavdom in Europe. One night entailed discussion of the Moscow subway system and its ability to serve as a bomb shelter. The club was also involved in the annual Geneseo Intercultural Dinner, where the members performed a play they had written on Serbian and Croatian

relations. A Slavic dinner was held in April with authentic Russian food prepared by the club and volunteers who assisted in the endeavor. Members continued to learn Slavic dances and enjoyed performing during meetings.

Slavic Club enjoying Intercultural Dinner

STUDY ABROAD NEWS New Study Abroad Program in Argentina The Department is pleased to announce its new partnership with Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Argentina. Under an exchange agreement signed fall of 2010 by UNC’s Rectora (or president) Dr. Carolina Scotto and Geneseo’s President Christopher Dahl, students from Geneseo can enroll in undergraduate- and graduate-level Spanish and language pedagogy courses offered by our partner’s Facultad de Lenguas (School of Languages) as well as in all UNC’s departments and schools. Kevin Felter and Dana Fitzpatrick are participating in the spring 2011 program. Our campus is looking forward to welcoming the first exchange student and a teaching assistant arriving from UNC this fall. The program’s coordinator is Dr. Rose McEwen.

Left to right: Brian Whitney, Lindsay Gips, Matthew DiMicelli,

with a UNC friend

Cádiz, Spain

Our exchange program with Universidad de Cádiz, coordinated by Felisa Brea, has been experiencing increased popularity and registered record enrollments this past year.

Spring semester Cádiz participants (left to right):

Deirdre Kelly, Ted Gartner, Laura Darmstadt, David Alliger, Michael Hereth, Megan Paolone

Cuzco, Perú The Spanish language program established in 2009 at Academia Latinoamericana, continues running short-term and semester-long programs summer, fall and spring. This year, these Geneseo students participated in the program, which Dr. Rose McEwen coordinates: Patrick Daniels, Alice Donahue, Stephanie Edwards, Carl Eppers, Kevin Felter, Alicia Goodwin, Rebecca Gottfried, Ellyn Jameson, Sarah Kosloski, Kenisha Newsome, Mary Nicholas, Hunter Rainford, Benjamin Sapadin, and Aaron Schwartz.

Students participating in the

Summer 2011 Cuzco program, left to right: Lisa Larkin, Alicia Goodwin, Andrea Clark, Sarah Kosloski

Heredia, Costa Rica

Located in the colonial city of Heredia, the Universidad Nacional program offers a large selection of courses in language, literature and linguistics to students with advanced proficiency. Geneseo students who participated in this program this academic year were: Amanda Champlin, Kelsy Cocozzo, Jordan Kirkpatrick, Eleanor

McGrath, Ryan Oertel, Jessamyn Perlus, Erin Pipe, Courtney Turcer, and Kelly Young. The program is currently coordinated by Dr. Rose McEwen.

Jessamyn Perlus (far left) and Amanda Champlin (center), with their respective host families

Montpellier, France

Established in 1998, our exchange program to the Université Paul Valéry-Montpellier 3, continues to be a popular study abroad choice for majors and minors who wish to experience total immersion in classes with native speakers or to take courses for international students on this beautiful campus in the south of France. This past year’s Geneseo participants were Emilei Cantrell, Rosamond Doran, Donna Hanrahan, Marissa Konieczko, Justine Porter, Nolan Powers, Laura Preston, Laura Savary, Rachel Scott, Leah Tallman, and Rachel Taplin. Dr. Beverly Evans serves as advisor.

Montpellier students Laura Preston, Justine Porter,

Kathryn Nottke, Emilei Cantrell visiting the Roman Amphtiheater in Nîmes

Paris, France The Cours de Civilisation Française at the Sorbonne provides students the opportunity to perfect their language skills while learning about French culture and literature in one of the world’s most exciting cities. Students may also enroll for courses in an immersion setting at other universities in Paris. Kathleen Comando, Philip Gagnon, Alie Gilbert, Mara Mercer, Sarah Miller,

Kara Szamborski, and Marianne Wiebicke went on the program this past year. Dr. Beverly Evans serves as advisor.

Class with site director Céline Garelli in the

Jardin du Luxembourg, Paris

New Study Abroad Program in Senegal Dr. Kodjo Adabra, Assistant Professor of French, has established a study abroad program in the port city of Dakar, Senegal, one of the more successful post-colonial democratic transitions in Africa. Dakar blends modern amenities with the rich cultures and traditions of diverse ethnic groups, while Senegal has played a significant role in the politics, arts, and culture of West Africa. During the four-week program students, who reside with Senegalese families, will take a course on Contemporary Francophone African Civilizations and will be introduced to basics of Wolof language to better connect with the community. The program will run every other summer, starting in 2012.

Photo from Senegal Program’s brochure

Western Humanities II in Paris Summer 2010 marked the fifth year for this overseas section of Humn 221 offered by Dr. Beverly Evans

(program director) and Dr. Mary Mohan (instructor, Communication). Nineteen students spent a month based primarily in Paris. In addition to course-related trips within the city, the group visited Ypres and Bruges, Belgium, Versailles, the World War II landing beaches in Normandy, the Mont Saint Michel, and the Bayeux Tapestry.

Western Humanities students (left to right)

Kristine Szalkowski, Sara Pacer, Bridget Neary, Daina Bouquin and Lydia Cappadonia at Notre-Dame Cathedral, Paris

Western Humanities II in Prague Dr. Cynthia Klima and Dr. Lori Bernard led a Humanities 221 class of 20 students in Prague, Vienna, and Budapest in May-June 2011. The group visited scientific Renaissance libraries, the Prague Jewish Quarter, the Dohany Jewish Ghetto in Budapest, and Sigmund Freud's apartment in Vienna. In addition, they toured a crystal factory, the Schoenbrunn Castle in Vienna, and the Terezin concentration camp outside of Prague. They also visited Franz Kafka's grave and the Museum of Communism in Prague. The program included a trip up the Danube River via hydrofoil between Vienna and Budapest.

Western Humanities students on Buda Hill in Budapest

ALUMNI NEWS

2011

Amanda CHAMPLIN (SPAN) is working as an administrative assistant with Centra Financial Group while waiting to start a Masters in Translation program at Costa Rica’s Universidad Nacional.

Margaret FOGG (FREN) will enter the George Mason University School of Public Policy to pursue a Masters in International Commerce and Policy.

Ellyn JAMESON (SPAN), while studying in Cuzco, Perú, established the NGO Abre Puertas (Open Doors) in Coya,

30 minutes from Academia Latinoamericana. Jameson’s community center provides educational opportunities to children, adolescents and adults. Less than a year old, Abre Puertas already serves an average of 30 children per day.

William LABATE (FREN) will be attending Vermont Law School and focusing on environmental issues.

Kerry (“Maggie”) MORRIS (SPAN M.Ed.) is teaching Spanish for Letchworth High School in Gainesville, NY. She received a NYSAFLT scholarship to study at Cemanahuac Educational Community in Cuernavaca, Mexico.

Dustin RABIDEAU (FREN) has been accepted to graduate school in Biostatistics at Harvard University.

Kara SICILIANO (SPAN M.Ed.) is teaching seventh and eighth grade Spanish for the New Lebanon Central School District.

Kristine SZALKOWSKI (FREN) will begin studying at the Simon Graduate School of Business, University of Rochester, in the fall.

Joshua WEISS (SPAN) will be pursuing a law degree at the University of Buffalo’s School of Law.

Brian WHITNEY (HIST/SPAN) will be teaching English for the Spanish Government in the school system of Haro, La Rioja, Spain.

2010

Dmitry AZAROV (FREN) is in the Master of International Law and Economics program, World Trade Institute, Bern, Switzerland.

Souleymane BA (FREN teaching assistant) continues work toward his doctorate at the Université Paul Valéry-Montpellier 3. This past spring, he taught English in a middle school near Toulouse, France. Hannah BIRDSALL (SPAN) will pursue a master's program in deaf education at the Rochester Institute of Technology when she returns from Spain.

William BLEVINS (SPAN) taught English in Provincia de Murcia for eight months as an English Teaching Assistant appointed by the Government of Spain’s Ministry of Education.

Jillian CAPEWELL (FREN) taught English in Evreux, France, in 2010-11 under the French government’s teaching assistant program.

Rachel CRANE (FREN) worked for World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF) in France this year.

Marissa EVARTS (SPAN) taught English in Provincia de Andalucía for eight months as an English Teaching Assistant appointed by the Government of Spain’s Ministry of Education.

Joseph GERMICK (SPAN), who received SUNY Geneseo’s “Student Employee of the Year” award before graduating, is now pursuing a Masters in Community Counseling at the University of Scranton, PA.

Hannah HUHR (FREN) taught English in Toucy, France, in 2010-11 under the French government’s teaching assistant program.

Marc JOHNSON (FREN) is a graduate student in Philosophy at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Allison KORNBLATT (SPAN) is working as a nanny in Madrid, Spain. Amanda MOON (FREN) is preparing an M.S.Ed. in Reading and Literacy B-12 at Geneseo.

Rosa PILLCURIMA (SPAN) is pursuing an M.A. in Spanish at Iona College in New Rochelle, NY.

Danielle RELYEA (GERM) has been accepted to the Boston Conservatory of Music to study opera (voice).

Deanna RICHARDS (FREN) is a student at Case Western Law School.

Kimberly RUGG (SPAN) teaches high school Spanish for the Webster (NY) School District.

Mark SIMEONE, Russian Laureate (via American Council of Teachers of Russian) and recipient of a State Department Language Award to study Russian, is now working for his Master's in Russian and Eurasian Studies at Georgetown University. He also minored in Central and Eastern European Studies.

Breana SULLIVAN (FREN/SPAN) is teaching French at the Mynderse Academy of Seneca Falls (NY) High School.

2009

Karima AZ ZEKRAOUI (FREN teaching assistant), started KeepSmart Institute, a languages and after-school center in Marrakech, Morocco, where she teaches

French, English and Arabic to children and adults and also helps students develop their academic skills.

Andrew BUTTRAM, who studied French at the advanced level, taught English in Lyon, France, in 2010-11 under the French government’s teaching assistant program.

Evan IACOBUCCI (FREN) is a graduate student in Philosophy at the University at Buffalo.

Dean McGEE (GERM) is at St. John's University, Queens, New York, studying law.

Phil MOGAVERO (SPAN) is pursuing a Masters in Translation, with a specialization in Spanish, at Kent (Ohio) State University where he is also serving as a Spanish Teaching Assistant.

Liza MUGNOLO (SPAN) received a scholarship from Bowling Green State University to conduct graduate studies at Mexico’s Universidad Veracruzana de Xalapa.

Joy SUTERA (SPAN) is moving to Kanab, Utah, to work for Expedition Therapy, a wilderness therapy organization that

works with young adults to help them increase self-esteem and self-efficacy.

2008 Eric DAWSON (FREN/SPAN) completed his second year at Fordham Law School where he has been involved with Universal Jurisdiction, a student group that traveled to Nicaragua during the Winter Intersession to work with NGOs involved in human rights and community development work.

Kerri EAMES (SPAN) is an International Student Advisor at Walden University’s headquarters in Baltimore, MD.

Tanya FARNUNG (SPAN/FREN) is a Teaching Assistant at Temple University, where she is completing a Ph.D. degree in Spanish. Ariane BAER-HARPER (FREN, M.S.Ed.) teaches French at Williamson (NY) High School.

2007

Debi COMINS (SPAN) has entered the order of the Little Sisters of the Poor and will be serving throughout the world.

Emily DRAKE (SPAN) is pursuing an MBA in Luxury Management at the International University of Monaco.

Kathleen O’CONNELL (SPAN) served two years as an Admissions Counselor for SIT Study Abroad, working specifically with SIT’s programs in Latin America. Kathleen is now pursuing a degree in Andean Studies (anthropology, linguistics, archaeology and history) at Pontificia Universidad Católica in Lima, Peru.

Jennifer O’MEARA (FREN) will begin working for Teach for America in eastern North Carolina in fall 2011.

Aaron STEPHAN (SPAN) is pursuing a Masters degree in ESL at SUNY University at Buffalo, NY.

2006

Kathryn ORTENZI (SPAN) served two City Year commissions in Washington, D.C., through AmeriCorps. Kate was one of six Corps members, chosen from across the City Year network of 1,500 candidates, to organize and participate in a service day in Naples (FL) for international executives of Aramark, the company that supplies food and support staff for most US colleges and many other institutions. After AmeriCorps, she taught English for one year at an all-girls’ technical school in La Serena, Chile. Kate recently received a Clinton Innovation Award grant to build a community development program within the Washington, D.C., school system; with that funding, she designed an after-school curriculum focused on introducing environmental science,

healthy eating, and community gardens to D.C. schools and communities.

2005

Shannon (Baker) CIRCE (SPAN) has successfully completed the coursework and general exams of her doctoral degree in Spanish Linguistics at SUNY University at Buffalo.

2004

Mercedes PIATT (SPAN) completed a Masters in Spanish Adolescence Education at Elmira College and received professional certification from the State of New York’s Department of Education.

2000

Marcia RANIERI (SPAN M.Ed.) is on leave as principal of West Genesee High School while pursuing a doctorate degree at Syracuse University in the Department of Education: Teaching, Leadership and Social Justice.

1998

Camille HOTTLET (SPAN) has been working as a translator in a law firm in France for the past six years.

1996

Emil LOU (FREN) completed the 3rd and final year of Oncology fellowship at Memorial Sloan-Kettering. In July he will begin a one-year Neuro-Oncology fellowship and residency at Duke University (Durhan, NC) in its Brain Tumor Center.

FACULTY NEWS

Dr. Kodjo Adabra initiated and organized the first French Spelling Bee as part of Geneseo’s National French Week in November. He developed a 4-week summer study abroad program to Dakar, Senegal, that will run for the first time in summer 2012. In connection with this endeavor, he was granted a SUNY-wide Chancellor’s Award for Internationalization for 2011-12. In addition to his regular teaching schedule, Professor Adabra offered three directed studies on African topics, plus a new course in the spring on francophone literature of sub-Saharan Africa, the Maghreb, and the Caribbean. In October, he presented “Problématique du français en Afrique francophone noire: à la recherche d’une deuxième indépendance” at the 60th annual Mountain Interstate Foreign Language Conference in Virginia as well as “L’engagement littéraire de la diaspora francophone à travers l’œuvre journalistique: cas de Mongo Béti dans Peuples noirs, peuples africains” at the 17th annual Carolina Conference on

Romance Literatures at UNC Chapel Hill. His third novel, La bêtise humaine, is forthcoming. In March, Dr. Adabra introduced the film “Faat Kine” by Senegalese filmmaker Sembene Ousmane as part of this year’s Alan Lutkus International Film Series on campus. He has received a Presidential Summer Research Fellowship for 2011 to fund his project on author Mongo Béti in Cameroon.

Dr. Lori Bernard, who served as interim Department Chair in fall 2010, played a major role in bringing the “Sacred Steps” exhibit on the Camino de Santiago to campus in the fall. She attended the Camino Consortium in February at Georgetown Univeristy where she worked with other national and international scholars on developing a Camino de Santiago Study Abroad Consortium. While there, she attended the U.S. premiere of the film “The Way.” Martin Sheen and Emilio Estevez, who both act in this movie, and the Infanta Cristina, Duchess of Palma de Mallorca of Spain, were likewise in attendance. Professor Bernard presented “What is Medieval Spanish Drama Anyway?” at the 46th International Congress on Medieval Studies in Kalamazoo, MI, in May. She worked with students on G.R.E.A.T. Day presentations, sponsoring Elizabeth Maguire’s paper and discussion on the diseases ailing members of the House of Austria, and Meredith Doyle’s analysis and discussion, from a study abroad perspective, of Nicaraguan poet Rubén Darío’s “Los motivos del lobo.” In summer 2010, she accompanied the Geneseo Women’s Soccer Team on their trip to Spain as a cultural ambassador.

Felisa Brea served as faculty coordinator for the Cádiz Study Abroad Program and will be going to Cádiz in July where ten students are currently studying. She attended a Spanish Language Teaching Workshop at the Instituto Cervantes in New York City in March. She is a faculty advisor for the Spanish Tertulias, and a member of the Academic Affairs Committee. She spends time as a translator for area schools, and as a consultant for the BOCES Migrant Center. Dr. Beverly Evans, recently recognized for 25 years of service to Geneseo, completed an article on Michel Tournier’s Vendredi, ou les limbes du Pacifique for The Literary Encyclopedia in addition to a review of a new edition/translation of Christine de Pizan’s Debate of the Romance of the Rose for Women in French Studies. She presented "Détresse and Enchantement: Stories of Growing up Female in the Francophone World” at the 2010 Women in French conference at Wagner College and “Simone de Beauvoir and Friendship: une raison d’agir, une raison de parler” at the 2011 Northeast Modern Language Association convention at Rutgers University. For the fifth year, Professor Evans was North American bibliographer for Encomia, the annual publication of the International Courtly Literature Society. She continued to serve as Northeast Vice President of Pi Delta Phi National French Honor Society and installed a new chapter at Gettysbury College, PA, in April. During the Pi

Delta Phi annual board meeting, she was named Executive Director, effective fall 2011. In February, she attended the annual convention of the Association of College Honor Societies in Jacksonville, FL, to represent the organization. As advisor to the French Club, Dr. Evans participated in numerous activities and was instrumental in planning Geneseo’s National French Week observance in November. Also advisor to the college’s chapter of Pi Delta Phi, she arranged this year’s induction ceremony. Professor Evans supervised an honor’s thesis, co-sponsored a G.R.E.A.T. Day poster, and was program director of Western Humanities II in Paris for four weeks in July-August.

Dr. Joaquín Gómez has been researching Salvador Távora and his theater group La Cuadra. He was on the department’s Personnel and Academic and Affairs Committees and served as library representative. He continued to be the advisor of the Spanish Club, helping orchestrate many club activities, including the annual Open House he hosts at his home.

Dr. Cynthia Klima continued to advise the Central and Eastern European Studies and the German minors. In addition, she advised the Slavic Club and the German Club, both of which were very active this year. In April 2011, she presented her work on "The Image of the Jew on the Prague Stage" at the Modern Austrian Literature and Culture Association conference in Washington, Pennsylvania. Throughout the year, Dr. Klima worked intensively on organizing her Western Humanities II trip to Prague, Vienna, and Budapest, where she, Dr. Lori Bernard and 20 Geneseo students spent 4 weeks May-June 2011. She is active with State Department language programs and had a student accepted to study Turkish as a recipient of a Critical Languages Award. Another student will study German philosophy for one year at the University of Leipzig, Germany. She is currently Executive Secretary of Geneseo’s chapter of United University Professions (UUP), for which she also serves as a delegate. Her book review of "Heimat im Wort" was recently published in the Journal of Austrian Literature.

Dr. Rose McEwen continued serving as Department chair, coordinator of the Latin American Studies program, and co-coordinator of The Alan Lutkus International Film Series. She directs study abroad programs in Argentina, Costa Rica, and Peru, and is currently exploring an exchange program with a Chinese institution. While on sabbatical the fall semester, she worked on Así es la vida… y la muerte, a collection of 10 short stories that she has authored, and on various articles on immigration and migration issues, giving two presentations on the subject at area organizations. She is directing an Honors thesis and mentored a G.R.E.A.T. day presentation. She successfully submitted grant applications to the Fulbright Foundation that led to the appointment to the Department of Teaching Assistants in Arabic and Russian, and to the confirmation that a Fulbright Scholar in Residence specializing in Arabic and Middle East Studies will teach for the

Department and for International Relations next year. In response to foreign language program eliminations within the SUNY system, she established the SUNY Foreign Language Department Chairs group this spring and co-organized the first meeting hosted by SUNY Cortland.

Rosette Ptak continues to be an inspiration to students and faculty alike. She has encouraged many of her General Education language students to major or minor in French and has faithfully attended Pi Delta Phi chapter induction ceremonies and National French Week events.

Jasmine Tang published the textbook Taking Off with Chinese (Singapore: Marshall Cavendish, 2010) which focuses on materials drawn from daily life. She was selected to be International Exchange Director of the American Society of Shufa Calligraphy Education during the 7th International Calligraphy Education Conference in 2010. She serves as Demonstration Director of the ASSCE/CLTA (Chinese Language Teachers’ Association) booth at the annual ACTFL (American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages) conference. She took students to attend the ACTFL conference in San Diego, CA, in 2009 and the ASSCE conference in Beijing, China, in 2010.

Ma. del Rocío Vallejo Alegre conducted the “Tertulias” conversation hour with Irene Salas, teaching assistant from the Universidad de Cádiz, and was a chaperone on the trip to New York City for the department’s “One Day in Spanish” event. During the spring, she enjoyed teaching Composition and also explored various cultural and historical aspects of works by Hispanophone writers with a group of students outside of class.

Jennifer Huang and Marie Drouet, Chinese and French language teaching assistants,

helped celebrate Carnival at La Maison Française and La Residencia Hispana, our foreign language residences in Ontario Hall

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