SLLC Graduates Winter 2020

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I have enjoyed my profession as a German teacher for the past 15 years and look forward to continuing in this field. My time as a doctoral student in Germanic Studies at the University of Maryland College Park was very rewarding and enriched my profession. I appreciate the guidance and mentorship from the faculty and my Doktorvater, Professor Peter Beicken. Fulbright Scholar in Salzburg, Austria 2007-2008, MA degree from the Universität des Saarlandes (2011), German Teacher in Fairfax County, VA (2011-2016, 2017-present) and Anne Arundel County, MD (2016-2017)

Jocelyn McDaniel PhD: Germanic Studies

Jungjung Lee-Heitz / 李蓉蓉

Yuli Wang / &nbsp;王玉立

Dr. Minglang Zhou / 周明朗

Dr. Andrew Schonebaum / 宋安德

Agnieszka Edyta Bieganowska Pamela Kay Gouws

Chunlian Valchar Major: Chinese

I enjoyed my time with the Chinese program a lot. All of my Chinese teachers were pleasant, fun, and supportive. My love for the language grew stronger over time and I hope to continue studying it. Future plans: I plan to go to graduate school so that I can pursue my career in helping my future students just as my teachers did for me. I also hope that I get the chance to teach abroad.

A Master's Degree in Spanish and Latin American Literature has given me the tools to reflect on social and cultural issues through literature, such as immigration and identity. It has allowed me to understand where I come from and to know where I am going. It has given me tools to amplify my voice and to look into literature through a different lens. I'm so grateful to my family and my husband for their support during these years, especially my parents, for surrounding me with books since I was a child. Without that and them, I don't think I'll be here today. Language House Spanish Mentor Future plans: Write my novel

Ofelia Montelongo MA: Spanish Latin American Literature

Dr. Valerie Anishchenkova

Dr. Peter Glanville, Program Head

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Language House Living &amp; Learning Program Graduates&#160;

Matthew Bicknell - French Stephen Coyne - French Elissa Dallimore - Arabic Sienna Fouse - Spanish Marisa Fried - Spanish Mary Gumerov - Russian Erin Reilly - Russian

Arabic is a tough language to study, but a rewarding and powerful tool to have post-graduation. Whether your career will be in the government or a private business, Arabic can take you a long way and the great teachers at Maryland will prepare you! Future plans: Currently living in Israel, continuing Arabic and working

Tamir Stahler Major: Arabic

The French department at UMD is the essence of a true joie de vivre. Having the opportunity to study abroad in Nice reminded me of why I love and have always loved learning the French language. Merci mille fois to Madame Scullen and Dr. Cefalo for creating a fun and inspiring learning environment. What I have learned thus far will only continue, and I am so grateful to have been a part of this program. UMD in Nice - Spring 2019 UMD in Montpellier - Summer 2018 Future plans: Working as a research assistant with the Global Mental Health and Addiction Program

Abigail Carolyn Hines Majors: French Language and Literature, Community Health

Valerie Medina Major: Spanish

Quisiera agradecer al Departamento de Español por hacer de esta experiencia la más gratificante. Como alguien que quisiera ser una futura educadora, puedo decir con mucha emoción que este programa me ha dado el necesario impulso para redefinir mi pasión por enseñar. Este otoño, fui dada la magnífica oportunidad de trabajar con ARHU en el Undergraduate Technological Apprenticeship Program, en colaboración con la Dra. Ana Patricia Rodríguez. Mi sincero aprecio irá a la Dra. Rodríguez por siempre creer en mí y en mi potencial además de proveerme con los mejores consejos profesionales y de vida. Siempre guardaré las mejores memorias al ayudar con el proyecto. Quisiera también honrar a la profesora Laura Demaría por hacer de mi último semestre lo más enriquecedor posible además del resto de profesores que han contribuido hacia mi aprendizaje. Espero hacerlos orgullos como una futura maestra de español en proceso. ¡La escuela de graduados será mi siguiente paso! I’d like to thank the Spanish department for making this experience the most rewarding. As someone who aspires to become a future educator, I can wholeheartedly say that this program has given me the necessary leverage to redefine my approach to Spanish education and pedagogy. This fall, I was given the one of a kind experience to work with ARHU’s Undergraduate Technological Apprenticeship Program in collaboration with Dr. Ana Patricia Rodríguez. My sincere appreciation goes to Dr. Rodríguez for always believing in me and providing me frequently with your encouraging advice. I have some of the best memories from working on this project. I’d also like to express my further gratitude to Professor Laura Demaría for making my last semester as an undergraduate the most enriching as a student as well as through all the brilliant professors I’ve had the opportunity to learn from. I hope to make every single one of you proud as a Spanish teacher in the making. Graduate school will be my next step!

I want to thank my family and my fiancé for helping through this journey. I have made friends that I cherish and have gotten to know wonderful professors. My love for poetry has only gotten stronger and I’m happy to be able to know much more about my own culture. I look forward to starting a new chapter and have my love for culture and people lead me to my future job. Future plans: I would like to work abroad.

Silvana A Sanchez-Nakata Major: Spanish Language &amp; Literature Minor: Latin American Studies

Three and a half years is both so long and too short. What a joy it’s been - a big thank you to Mme Scullen, Professor Valerie Orlando, Professor Herve Campagne, Conrad Zeutenhorst, and Dr. Wegmann (and Dr. Cefalo)! Il faut que je voyage encore à Nice! Pi Delta Phi (National French Honor Society); Nice, France Study Abroad Spring 2019; Terry Margulis Dunlap Memorial Drama Scholarship for Excellence in Theatre; Mulitz-Gudelsky Family Scholarship for Excellence in Theatre Future plans: I'm sticking around UMD one more year to finish my MS in Supply Chain Management!

Beth Ellen Rendely Majors: French, Theatre

Dr. Michele Mason, Department Head

Video message from Kumiko Akikawa

おめでとうございます！

I have enjoyed my years as an undergraduate student at UMD while pursuing a Dual Degree in International Relations and Persian Studies with a minor in Middle Eastern Studies. I have always had a strong interest in multi-cultural and multi-linguistic politics and UMD provided me with a wide variety of opportunities to explore my curiosities and to nourish them. Through the Persian Flagship Program at UMD, I had the privilege of connecting with excellent faculty and staff in the program and am graduating with a high professional level of proficiency in the Persian language. I am incredibly thankful for everyone who was a part of my journey and am excited to utilize my acquired experience and knowledge in the real world. Persian Flagship Program Certificate Future plans: Planning on working at the U.S. Department of State using my International Relations and Persian skills before potentially returning to graduate school for Master's. In addition, I am interested to do volunteer work with underprivileged women in developing countries.

Golab Darab Majors: International Relations, Persian Studies

Stefania Amodeo

Dr. Maria Beliaeva Solomon

Dr. Mercédès Baillargeon

Dr. Hervé-Thomas Campangne

Letter from Dr. Beicken, Graduate Advisor

It is my great pleasure to congratulate Dr. Jocelyn Rae McDaniel who is graduating today having completed her degree requirements this Fall and is being awarded the Ph.D. in German Studies. Jocelyn joined our Program in 2013 with a Master's degree from the University of Delaware. Having completed all course work and passed her Comprehensives, she defended her dissertation proposal in 2019 receiving helpful input from Professors Baer and Koser who were part of the examining committee. Since then Jocelyn worked endless hours diligently with research-orientation and analytical and critical focus on her thesis entitled: “SCHWEIGEN ALS HERAUSFORDERUNG”: SILENCE AS A GENERATIONAL CHALLENGE IN THE POST HOLOCAUST WORKS OF EAST GERMAN JEWISH AUTHORS JUREK BECKER AND BARBARA HONIGMANN”&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Jocelyn made very good progress and defended her 280 page-dissertation successfully on October 30 with great readers on her committee: Professors Hester Bear, Julie Koser, Josh Alvizu and Marsha Rozenblit as Dean's Representative who all offered valuable suggestions for final revisions.&nbsp; As her advisor (and Emeritus since February of this year) I am very happy that she finished her degree in this crisis year of pandemic challenges, and I wish her well in her position as an educator and administrator in the Anne Arundel high school system.&nbsp;

Dr. Elizabeth A. Papazian

Dr. Anastasia Selemeneva

School of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures

I have really enjoyed my last four years in the French program at UMD, and I am so glad to have made life-long connections with such amazing faculty and friends both while in College Park and in Nice! This program has made me even more confident not just in my ability to speak another language, but in the knowledge that it will be incredibly useful for me in my future career. Thank you to the French Department for this experience! University Honors Citation, Nice Study Abroad Spring 2019 Future plans: Attending law school in the Fall of 2020

Adamandia Frantzis Majors: French, Public Health Science

Second Language Acquisition Graduate Program Faculty

Dr. Mike Long

Gilma is the first in her family to attend college, obtaining an associate's degree in 2018 from Montgomery College in Language and Humanities. During the Spring of 2019, she became a member of Adele H. Stamp Chapter of Mortar Board National College Senior Honor Society, The National Society of Leadership and Success, as well as Sigma Alpha Lambda National Leadership and Honors Organization. From an early age Gilma had a passion for education and a desire to instill her love of learning in others. Following her childhood ambition, she will graduate in the winter of 2020, and plans to pursue her master's degree in Spanish, and become a Spanish professor. Gilma would like to express her deepest gratitude to her family, my friends, and the faculty at SLLC for your support, encouragement and love. Spanish message: Nunca dejamos de aprender, la educación es un hermoso camino largo que nos enseña cada día a ser más sabios.

Stephen Coyne is graduating with a double degree in French Language and Literature and Mechanical Engineering. During his time at UMD, Stephen has been an active member in the Ballroom at Maryland club sports team (taking on the role of Team Captain this past year), and has been inducted into the Phi Kappa Phi, Pi Delta Phi, and Tau Beta Pi honor societies. During the 2018 fall semester Stephen studied abroad in Nice with the Maryland-in-Nice program – his favorite memory from the experience is the “victory lap” at the Christmas Market at the end of the semester. Since then, he has been active in the Language House program – true fans may recall “Le Bayou” from past Progressive Snacks or “Comment Devenir Francais” from this year’s Film Festival. This February, Stephen will be starting work at Epic Systems as an EDI Engineer at their Intergalactic Headquarters nearby Madison, Wisconsin.

I never would have imagined that I'd major in Japanese. I fell in love with the language and culture in a way I didn't think was possible. Through Japanese I've had so many amazing experiences and made friends with some of my closest friends. I was able to discover and experience Language House, JASA, Soran Bushi, and so many other events and activities that defined my college career. None of it would have been possible if I never signed up for JAPN101 freshman year. Gilman Scholar, Language House Japanese Cluster Future plans: Seeking work where I can utilize my passion for Japanese, like localization or editing. Either here in the States or abroad. And of course continuing my journey of learning Japanese.

Jared Ordonez Major: Japanese

Department Head, Dr. Julie Koser

Dr. Peter Beicken

Second Language Acquisition &amp; Application

Buthainah M. Al Thowaini Ph.D. Marion Lindstrom MA. Ching-Yu Du MA.

Adele H. Stamp Chapter of Mortar Board, Latin American Studies Certificate Future plans: Graduate School

Gilma Chavez Major: Spanish

Message from the SLLC Director, Dr. Fatemeh Keshavarz

Spanish/Portuguese Languages and Literatures

Benjamin John Davidson Celia Harris Steven James Jennings

I'm so thankful that I got to spend my college years with great people, studying the language I'm passionate about. Being in the Russian program has directly prepared me for the career I will have following graduation. Language House, Middlebury Summer Language Intensive

Erin Reilly Major: Russian

Congratulations to our graduates! Winter 2020

I am so thankful for the wonderful memories I have made in the Language House as well as on my study abroad experience in France. The French program at UMD has helped me grow and prepare for a career in translation and I'm excited to see what the future has in store. À bientôt Maryland ! Maryland in Nice 2019-2020 school year Language House - French Cluster 2018-2019 school year, Fall 2020 After graduation I plan to apply for an M.P.S in translation at the University of Maryland.

Matthew Joseph Bicknell Major: French Language and Literature

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE GRADUATES! Arabic Jefri N. Aalmuhammed, Tamir Stahler, Elissa Dallimore Chinese Chunlian Valchar, Noah Lee-Shapiro, Jennifer M Nam, Grace Margaret Reichardt, Jessica Kimberly Rhoades Germanic Studies Jocelyn McDaniel, PhD French and Italian Matthew Bicknell, Stephen Coyne, Adamandia Frantzis Abigail Hines, Susannah Outhier Beth Rendely, Emma Walz Japanese Jared Ordonez, Liliana Rosario Persian Studies Golab Darab Second Language Acquisition &amp; Application Kyoko Kobayashi Hillman, PhD Spanish and Portuguese Gilma Chavez, Sienne Fousse, Marisa Fried Valerie Medina, Ofelia Montelongo, MA Silvana A Sanchez-Nakata Russian Mary Gumerov, Erin Reilly

When I began my studies at the University of Maryland, I did not plan on double majoring in French. I took one class with Dr. Wegmann to fill a requirement, and after that, I was enamored with the language. Now I have studied in France and will be working in a bilingual organization. I am so grateful for the joy and purpose I have found in French. Honors Humanities Keystone Award, Maryland in Nice Program Future plans: Press Assistant at the Embassy of France in the US

Susannah Outhier Majors: Journalism, French

My favorite French-related memory has to be going to the Christmas market in Nice - it was at the end of the study-abroad program, so it felt like a spiritual "victory lap" after a semester of classes and learning. Future plans: My post-graduation plans are to move up to Madison, Wisconsin to work as an EDI Engineer for Epic Systems!

Stephen Coyne Majors: French, Mechanical Engineering

“Never give up … No one knows what’s going to happen next.” --- Dorothy in The Patchwork Girl of Oz It was a wonderful journey, exploring myself through the SLA program. At the end, I am very pleased to be an UMD Terp. Future plans: Continuing to teach Japanese as a lecturer at the Department of Asian Studies in the University of British Columbia

Kyoko Kobayashi Hillman PhD: Second Language Acquisition

Jefri N. Aalmuhammed Majors: Arabic Studies, Religions of the Ancient Middle East

One's academic engagement with the Middle East and North Africa [MENA] may be impelled by a desire to work in government, international business, with NGOs, or the private sector; or simply due to intellectual interest in or curiosity about that area of the world...&nbsp;&nbsp; The SLLC Arabic program's challenging and innovative assortment of courses, supplemented by optional clubs and additional activities, imbues the diligent student with a firm and substantive grounding in the Arabic language, literatures, and cultures of the MENA region...&nbsp;&nbsp; Congratulations to the Arabic program graduates and other SLLC graduates, and thanks to the helpful faculty and SLLC administrative staff!

Chunlian Valchar Noah Lee-Shapiro Jennifer M Nam Grace Margaret Reichardt Jessica Kimberly Rhoades

Joining the Japanese program was one of my biggest challenges and simultaneously my favorite part of my UMD experience. I felt like I found a place where I belonged on campus, and I learned a new language along the way! For that, I’m very grateful I could be a part of SLLC. Kanagawa Internship Future plans: Teach at an elementary school

Liliana Rosario Majors: Communication, Japanese

My favorite French-related memory from UMD is definitely my time living in the Language House and all of the Amazing friends I met there. Particularly, one year we decorated our apartment like a Swiss Chalet and served hot chocolate and fondue to the rest of the Language House. Future plans: After graduation, I will be working with the USFWS at one of their National Wildlife Refuges. I hope that spending some time with the Service will open me up to more international opportunities&nbsp;in the future. An area of particular interest to me is biodiversity in sub-saharan Africa.

Emma Walz Majors: Biodiversity and Conservation Biology, French

Spanish and Portuguese Program Faculty

Dr. Carmen Benito-Vessels

Dr. Hernán Sánchez de Pinillos

Dr. Ginette Alomar Eldredge

Dr. José María Naharro-Calderón

Dr. Juan Carlos Quintero-Herencia

Dr. Ana Patricia Rodríguez

Thank you, UMD Spanish Professors and SLLC, for teaching me to love Spanish literature and for the chance to meet some of my best friends in the Language House. The Spanish skills I gained as an SLLC student made it possible for me to study abroad in Spain, form lasting friendships in Guatemala, and backpack with Language House friends in Argentina. Gracias, ‘ta luego, que les vaya bien, y chau! PULSAR Language Science Certificate Language House, Spanish Cluster 2019-20 UMD Short-term Study Abroad in Spain (Salamanca and Barcelona) Summer 2019 Philip Merrill Presidential Scholar 2020-21 ARHU Dean’s Senior Scholar 2019 Future plans: Montana Conservation Corps 2021

Marisa Fried Majors: Spanish, Linguistics Minor: US-Latino Studies

Congratulations to the French Graduates of the Class of 2020! We are proud of your individual and collective accomplishments—not the least of which is completing a degree in the midst of a global pandemic.&nbsp;Given your studies and in-depth knowledge of French, your experiences abroad, and all that you have discovered about how different cultures and peoples have interacted with and made sense of the world across the centuries to produce enduring works of literature and art, we know that you are uniquely positioned to make an important contribution to the complex and interconnected global world we inhabit. Be fearless, continue to cross borders, seek new adventures; but do not forget the places that have shaped you and the people whose paths you have crossed. We will miss you. Félicitations !&nbsp; --Mme Scullen and the entire French and Italian Faculty

Dr. Mary Ellen Scullen, Department Head

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