Hello again, everyone. I am pleased to be able to welcome you to another edition of our bi-annual newsletter News Travels from the Department of Foreign Languages and Cultures at WSU. 2015 has been a year of challenge and triumph for the DFLC. Amid a time of budgetary difficulties and other worries, the DFLC actually added three languages and grew its coursework in almost all areas. Working closely with Senior Associate Dean V.S. Manoranjan, the department added Arabic, Italian, and Korean language instruction. Plans are under way to connect these beginning language programs with other opportunities offered on campus and abroad, bringing our total of languages taught at WSU from 6 to 9.
DFLC professors have achieved many milestones this year some of which you will see highlighted in this edition of News Travels. Our faculty have presented at prestigious conferences, published in top-tier journals, and received grants and stipends both internally and externally, representing WSU at premier scholarly venues across the United States and around the world. Among milestones was Dr. Christopher Lupke’s receiving the Lifetime Membership Award for Excellence in Leadership and Service from the Rocky Mountain Modern Languages Association. Additionally, the MLA accepted Dr. Vilma Navarro-Daniels’ work for publication in Approaches to Teaching the Works of Federico García Lorca. These are prime examples of the successes of DFLC faculty and the recognition they are receiving for their endeavors.
The DFLC has been very busy in the area of creating programs and working with strategic partners around the university. We have been working with the Office of International Programs to create programs in Asia, Europe, and South America. These programs are aimed at helping students complete language requirements for the Honors College, finish minors/majors, and promote cultural competency. Congratulations on a merit well deserved!
News Travels is an important part of our ongoing outreach program, through which we are working to connect with alumni, future students, parents, and interested Cougs everywhere. Feel free to connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. We are working on a new website for the department, which should also serve to keep everyone up to date on important departmental news. The newsletter, social media platforms, and website are important factors in presenting the top-level research, teaching, and service performed by our faculty members.
In conclusion, thank you for your support of the DFLC. I hope that I have the chance to meet many of you in the coming semesters. It is truly amazing to work with such capable and inspirational people. Thank you again for all of your encouragement and dedication to the Department of Foreign Languages and Cultures at WSU.
Go Cougs!
JT Hughes