"The Senegalese writer and thinker Felwine Sarr shone at the Salon du livre africain in Paris, winning two prestigious awards. He was awarded the Grand Prix Afrique de la nouvelle for his collection “Le bouddhisme est né à Colobane” (Buddhism was born in Colobane), a work composed of seven short stories exploring universal themes such as love, life, death, detachment and wisdom.But that's not all. Through Jimsaan, the publishing house he co-founded with Boubacar Boris Diop and Nafissatou Dia, he was awarded the Prix… read more about Felwine Sarr winning two prestigious awards »
Less common doesn’t mean less impactful. Learning Turkish wasn’t just an academic pursuit for Erin Dickerson — it was a personal journey to connect more deeply with her identity. Now, she’s preparing for a career in U.S. diplomacy AND embracing the language she always longed to study. Didem Havlioglu knows that language study offers students more than just classroom learning — it fosters a deep, personal connection with different cultures. Reflecting on her experiences of learning… read more about Languages Less Traveled »
Discover how student-driven demand is expanding ASL (American Sign Language) courses at Duke University. Learn about the vibrant classroom environment, the cultural connections made through ASL, and the growing opportunities to study this expressive language. Watch to see how ASL is bridging communities and inspiring students. read more about American Sign Language: Why Do You Study That? »
By Tina QianFebruary 13, 2025 | 12:00am ESTOn Friday, Jan. 31, “Orlando: My Political Biography” was screened at the Ruby’s Film Theater as part of Duke’s annual French Film Festival. The film premiered at the 73rd Berlin International Film Festival, where it took home the Teddy Award for Best Documentary Film. The film is inspired by Virginia Woolf’s biographical novel “Orlando,” which documents the life story (which spans over 300 years) of the main character Orlando, who transforms from a man to a woman and… read more about Others after Woolf: Orlando and their political biography »
By Sonya LasserFebruary 7, 2025 | 12:00am EST On Jan. 30, Screen/Society kicked off their 2025 French Film Festival with “Anatomy of a Fall,” Justine Triet’s Palme d’Or-winning 2023 courtroom thriller. The film was introduced by Anne-Gaëlle Saliot, Associate Professor of Romance Studies, who talked about her love of all the films selected for the two-and-a-half week festival and her work ensuring multiple female-directed films would be shown.At the end of the film, there was a Q&A with Professor Anne-Gaëlle Saliot… read more about 2025 Screen/Society French Film Festival: 'Anatomy of a Fall' »
By Nik Narain, Class of 2025Orlando: My Political Biography is a 2023 French experimental documentary directed by Paul B. Preciados. The film is a modern expansion of the 1928 Virginia Woolf novel Orlando: A Biography in which the main character becomes a 36-year-old woman mid-way through the story. Preciados casts 26 trans and nonbinary individuals from around the world to play the role of Orlando. Together, they interpret Woolf’s original work, weaving their own narratives of transition and identity… read more about French Film Festival Reflection: Orlando: My Political Biography »
Seven Trinity College of Arts & Sciences faculty members have been awarded funding from the Undergraduate Program Enhancement Fund. Backed by Duke’s Provost’s Office, the fund supports innovative proposals that enhance undergraduate experiential learning.Owen Astrachan, Professor of the Practice of Computer Science, will design a course called AI, Algorithms, and APIs: Great Ideas of Computer Science (Redux). He envisions the course as an alternative introduction to the major, with the goal of making it the one course… read more about Seven Trinity Faculty Awarded Funding to Enhance Undergraduate Programs »
How do we foster collaboration in a divided world? Duke faculty are exploring innovative ways to bridge gaps — through sociology, international youth camps and cultural partnerships in Durham. (Design by Shaun King/Trinity Communications) In an increasingly divided world, the need for civil discourse and strategies to bridge perspectives has become a central topic of discussion — not only at Duke but worldwide. At Duke, several current initiatives aim at fostering inclusive… read more about Fostering Connections Across Differences: Three Faculty Explore Unlikely Collaborations »
https://today.duke.edu/2024/11/michele-longino-leading-scholar-french-studies-dies read more about Michèle Longino, Leading Scholar of French Studies, Dies. »
Michèle Longino, professor emerita of Romance Studies at Duke, died after a brief but valiant struggle with cancer at Transitions Hospice in Raleigh on Nov. 21. She was a valued participant in the intellectual life of the university, an exacting and inspiring mentor to her graduate students, and ground-breaking scholar in the field of 17th Century French studies.Longino was born in Paris, and raised in the United States, primarily New York City and Washington, DC, and in Europe, primarily France and Italy. She… read more about Michèle Longino, Leading Scholar of French Studies, Dies »
What Would You Do to Make Your Dream Come True?What would you sacrifice to pursue your dream?This is the question that the women in “By The Way, Meet Vera Stark,” Duke Theater Studies’ Fall 2024 Mainstage production, must grapple with as they struggle to forge careers as actors in 1930s Hollywood. Breaking into the movie business is challenging under any circumstances, but it was particularly difficult for Black actors in the early 20th century. The compromises they had to make, and the consequences of… read more about Romance Studies second-year graduate student-Unglid Paul starring in a play “By The Way, Meet Vera Stark,” at Duke »
Anne O’Neil-Henry received her B.A. in French and Spanish from the University of Pennsylvania before pursuing a M.A. in Spanish at Middlebury College and her Ph.D. in French through the Department of Romance Studies at Duke University. Her dissertation focused on positivism in Paris through mid-nineteenth century novels such as those written by Honoré de Balzac, Paul de Kock, and Émile Zola. Upon graduating in 2011, she accepted a position at Georgetown University where she is currently an… read more about Alumni Profiles Series: Anne O’Neil-Henry written by Abby H. Shepherd Ph.D. student, Romance Studies »
In Duke Romance Studies, classes focused on history and culture shed light on the complexities of the human experience. Students not only learn the nuances of Romance languages, but also explore the global impact of cultures through diverse lenses like art, critical race studies, gender and sexuality.Three new faculty who are joining the department this fall, Eric Disbro, Katryn Evinson and Angélica Serna Jeri, are global cultural innovators whose interdisciplinary work engages with some of today’s most pressing social… read more about Global Cultural Innovators Join Duke Romance Studies »
Mina García is a professor of Spanish in the Department of World Languages and Culture at Elon University. She holds two Ph.D. degrees, one in Spanish Language and Literature from the Universidad de Málaga, Spain and a second one in Romance Studies from Duke University. Her research focuses on the role of the “Other” in early modern Spanish transatlantic studies and is particularly concerned with themes related to social justice, injustice, and inequality. She is the author of numerous publications, including … read more about Alumni Profiles Series: Mina García written by Anna-Paden Carson Ph.D. candidate, Romance Studies »
Now in its second year, the Duke Climate and Sustainability Teaching Fellows (CAST) held a weeklong workshop for 11 Duke and DKU faculty this spring to explore the connections between climate change and sustainable solutions, using a ‘systems thinking’ framework of examining multifaceted challenges. The CAST Fellows Program is dedicated to increasing the prevalence and quality of climate and sustainability concepts in academic courses across all departments at Duke. It supports instructors who are interested… read more about Incorporating Climate & Sustainability into Classes Across Duke »
One of France’s national myths, the heroic Roland embattled in the combat with Arabo-Muslim warriors, has become a matter of mystery again. Why has the sword made out to be Roland’s gone missing? The plot thickens in the context of the French elections between the pro-immigration New Popular Front and the anti-Arabo-Muslim Far Right. read more about Helen Solterer Featured in "Mythical Sword’s Disappearance Brings Mystery to French Village" »
Last month, scholars from across the United States, Haiti and Romania gathered on Duke’s campus to celebrate the career of Walter Mignolo, the William Hane Wannamaker Distinguished Professor of Romance Studies, Literature and Cultural Anthropology. During more than 30 years at Duke, Mignolo became a leading theorist of the connections between modernity and the colonial system. In over a dozen acclaimed books, including “The Darker Side of the Renaissance,” “Local Histories/Global Designs” and 2021’s “The Politics of… read more about Walter Mignolo Retires After 30 Years as Leading Theorist of Decoloniality »
"Ciro is interested in students and students are interested in him because of his lively and relatable teaching style, the welcoming and inclusive environment he creates, and his keen attention to individual student needs." March 19, 2024 Ciro Incoronato Dean’s Award for Excellence in Teaching Ph.D. Candidate in Romance Studies Bio Ciro Incoronato is a Ph.D. candidate in romance studies under the supervision of Faculty Advisors Michael P. Hardt and Roberto Dainotto. Before coming to Duke, he received… read more about 2024 Dean's Award: Ciro Incoronato »
Bethzaida Fernandez, senior lecturer of Romance Studies, is a long-time faculty member with Duke Service-Learning and regularly teaches SPANISH 313, Bridging Cultures: Latino Lives and Experiences in NC, and in the Duke in Costa Rica summer study abroad program. Recently, she led a tour of the Durham Green Flea Market for Duke faculty, staff and students as part of the Duke Service-Learning Context & Connections series. In Fall 2023, she was recognized for undergraduate teaching through the Richard K. Lublin… read more about Congratulations to Bethzaida Fernandez for receiving 2024 Alden Award for Excellence in Service-Learning! »
Ben Davies is a graduating senior with majors in Italian Studies and Theater Studies and has served as a Trinity Ambassador for the Department of Theater Studies. Trinity Ambassadors are student volunteers, nominated by their departments, to serve in this unique and important role. We asked a few of the ambassadors from the Class of 2024 to share their favorite memories from Duke. The below interview has been slightly edited for clarity. What was one of the most impactful classes you took… read more about Class of 2024: Ben Davies »
The Department of Romance Studies is proud to present awards to four graduating seniors. The undergraduate winners are voted on by the faculty in Romance Studies, and will be formally presented at the department's commencement celebration. Congratulations to all the winners! The Paol Keineg Prize for an Honors Thesis Written in a Language other than English Brianna Rose Cellini Brianna Cellini, originally from Durham, NC, will graduate from Duke University with a Bachelor of Arts in Neuroscience and French, as… read more about Romance Studies Departmental Award Winners »
