Congratulations to Professor Joan Clifford and Professor Deb Reisinger on the publication of their book with Georgetown University Press, "Community-based Language Learning: A Framework for Educators", which will be released in November, 2018. Community-based Language Learning offers a new framework for world language educators interested in integrating community-based language learning (CBLL) into their teaching and curricula. CBLL connects academic learning objectives with experiential learning,… read more about "Community-based Language Learning: A Framework for Educators" Professor Joan Clifford and Deb Reisinger »
An anonymous donor gifted an endowed professorship to French and Francophone Studies in honor of Anne-Marie Bryan, one of the first women professors in the Department of Romance Studies at Duke. Bryan, who passed away in 1999, was known for inspiring her students, and the Anne-Marie Bryan Distinguished Professorship in French and Francophone Studies will make it possible for the Department of Romance Studies to add another innovative and inspiring faculty member to their ranks. For more information,… read more about Anne-Marie Bryan Distinguished Professorship in French and Francophone Studies »
Romance Studies PhD candidate, Nicolas Sanchez discusses his experience in the GS810 course, Grant and Fellowship Writing in the Humanities and Social Sciences, its practicality, and its differences from the usual research writing that graduate students do. Watch the video on the Duke Graduate School web page to learn more! read more about Romance Studies PhD candidate, Nicolas Sanchez participates in Grant and Fellowship Writing in the Humanities and Social Sciences »
Professor Anne-Gaëlle Saliot gave the lecture, "Jean-Luc Godard and the Nineteenth Century: Archives of a Modernity" on March 29th, 2018 in Paris as part of the international conference "Archives and Future Images", organized by Université Paris-Diderot and the Cinémathèque Française. An exciting symposium commemorating the 10th anniversary of the conference, "Archives and Future Images" gathered ninety participants, teachers, researchers, and students in cinema and media studies. … read more about Jean-Luc Godard and the Nineteenth Century: Archives of a Modernity »
Dr. Alán José and the inTransit group were featured in the February 2018 travel issue of the Raleigh based, Walter Magazine. The article, Far and Wide, written by Catherine Currin, discusses the "art pathways" that will be on display on Duke's campus and in the downtown Durham area until February 2019. Art exhibitions, film screenings, seminars, and courses will be offered in connection to inTransit, and examine how, as Dr. Alán José explains, "In the history of… read more about Dr. Alán José and Duke's inTransit featured in Walter Magazine's Travel Issue »
A colloquium in honor of Margaret Greer will be held at Duke in Madrid Headquarters: Calle Fuencarral, 123 (Metro Bilbao) on Thursday July 5th through Friday July 6th. The July 6th itinerary includes a workshop hosted in the Sala del Patronato where treasured items from the collections of the Biblioteca Nacional de España will be available for viewing. For more information, please visit, Manos Teatrales, Culturas Materiales: Los Itinerarios de Investigacion de Margaret Greer … read more about Manos Teatrales, Culturas Materiales; Los Itinerarios de Investigación de Margaret Greer »
Duke University Press announced the launch of a new book series called On Decoloniality. The series is edited by Catherine E. Walsh, and William H. Wannamaker Professor of Literature, Romance Studies, and Cultural Anthropology, Walter D. Mignolo. On Decoloniality: Concepts, Analytics, Praxis is the first book of the series and is written by Walsh and Mignolo. The introduction of the series states, "The series' goal is to interconnect perspectives, expressions, thought, struggles,… read more about Launch of Book Series: On Decoloniality, Co-Edited by Romance Studies Professor, Walter D. Mignolo »
Professor Dubois and students of the course "Soccer Politics" were featured in the article How the World Cup and Soccer Helps Build World Unity in Duke Today on June 13th. The course examines the ways in which soccer has expanded in the U.S. and been a globally connecting force. The article includes a video featuring students in the class who talk about the personal and global impact of the sport, along with the important role it plays in facilitating cultural connections through fandom… read more about Professor Dubois and Students Featured in Article on "Soccer Politics" Course »
Professor Valeria Finucci has already published two important pieces of scholarship this year. The first is Mirtilla, A Pastoral. A Bilingual Edition, which Professor Finucci edited. The book was translated by Julia Kisacky and published as part of The Other Voice in Early Modern Europe: The Toronto Series. The second publication is a special issue of the Journal of Medieval and Early Modern Studies that Professor Finucci edited. She also published an article in the issue entitled “Vesalius and the Languages of… read more about Two New Publications for Dr. Finucci »
Assistant Professor of the Practice Dr. Deb Reisinger’s work as Director of Cultures and Languages Across the Curriculum (CLAC) continues to be recognized for the important role CLAC is playing in promoting cultural literacy. This article by Duke Global Health Institute discusses how CLAC’s latest partnership with the Fundamentals of Global Health course engages with members of the public to identify challenges and solutions in the speakers’ communities. Duke’s Romance Studies faculty are key contributors to CLAC as many… read more about Romance Studies Helps CLAC Promote Cultural Literacy »
In honor of the opening of Duke's Rubenstein Arts Center or "The Ruby," Romance Studies Associate Professor Esther Gabara was quoted in this article on the rise of art at Duke. Professor Gabara's work on the forthcoming exhibit Pop America, 1965-1975 will showcase the significant contributions of Latin American and Latino/a artists during that time period. The exhibit has already won prizes and will be an important part of Duke's art scene in 2019. read more about Dr. Gabara quoted on Duke's "Art Renaissance" »
Romance Studies graduate student Rendon Foy has already formed close ties with the Durham community. Foy serves as a volunteer for the Durham Literacy Center, teaching students in the earliest ESOL levels. As a second-year graduate student, Foy is currently teaching elementary Spanish at Duke and she has been able to use the pedagogy learned in the Romance Studies program at Duke as well as her own experiences learning foreign languages to connect with the students there. This is one of several volunteer projects Foy has… read more about Rendon Foy Educates Local Community »
The migration of hundreds and thousands capturing public attention is cast as today's crisis. The inTransit research group has come together to investigate the opposite view: migrants have been defining and enriching cultures over centuries - those of the 'Old' World as well as the 'New'. Our work addresses the arts and politics of migration in major regions of the globe where Romance languages are spoken: Europe, North and South America, North & West Africa. The inTransit… read more about inTransit »
The the poet, Olvido García Valdés, invited by the Poetics & Translation Lab, spoke with a group of undergraduate students at the Duke University in Madrid Center. García Valdés has published several books, including Exposición, which won the Ícaro Literature Prize in 1990 and Ella, los pájaros, which won the Leonor Poetry Prize in 1994. More recently, she won the National Poetry Prize for her book titled, Y todos estábamos vivos. García Valdés has also translated works such as La religion… read more about Poet Olvido García Valdés Visits Duke in Madrid Center »
A project of the Franklin Humanities Institute (FHI) at Duke University, Humanities Futures is a multi-faceted exploration of the states and directions of the humanities, in light of the interdisciplinary developments of recent decades. Supported by a generous grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, Humanities Futures is a 3.5-year initiative running from Fall 2014 through Fall 2017. The centerpiece of Humanities Futures is a series of events and projects organized by Duke… read more about Humanities Futures »
The Health Humanities Lab, run by the Franklin Humanities Institute, is an initiative that bridges the humanities, Duke Health, and the Duke Global Health Institute. Launched in Fall 2016, this FHI Lab is associated with the departments of Romance Studies and Cultural Anthropology at Duke University. It is co-directed by faculty members Deborah Jenson and Neil Prose. The FHI Health Humanities Lab takes an inventive, interdisciplinary approach to understanding the health of populations… read more about Health Humanities Lab »
Fifth year graduate student David Dulceany merges his diverse interests, including Caribbean literature, diasporas, and digital humanities into numerous projects at Duke. Dulceany is a Romance Studies graduate student, focusing on Spanish and French studies. He has also been awarded a scholarship to study Haitian Creole this year. Dulceany attributes his decision to study at Duke to his ability to make connections between his numerous interests while here: “I decided to come to Duke because of the emphasis on and… read more about David Dulceany Makes Interdisciplinary Connections »
Karla Beltran, one of Romance Studies’ senior French majors has just published an article in Le Confident, the most serious newspaper in Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic. Beltran completed this work as an independent study this semester, working with Professor Deb Reisinger and journalist Geraldine Smith as part of the Borders Project through the Forum of Scholars and Publics. The article appeared in two parts on May 30 and May 31. The newspaper Le Confident was founded in… read more about Beltran's Article on Local Refugees Finds Audience in Africa »
Class of 2017 Romance Studies graduate Lydia Bradford is being recognized for having written the first Honors Thesis in Haitian Creole at Duke (and possibly at any university in the United States, according to her thesis advisor, Deborah Jenson). Haitian Creole is taught at Duke as part of a consortium with the University of Virginia, Vanderbilt, and UNC-Chapel Hill on lesser-taught languages. Here in the department, professors Laurent Dubois, Deborah Jenson, and Jacques Pierre helped Bradford complete her studies in… read more about Bradford Writes First Thesis in Creole »
The Romance Studies Department wishes to recognize and congratulate the following graduating seniors on their awards: Emily Aarons - The Richard L. Predmore Award for Excellence in Spanish Benjamin Brissette - The Richard L. Predmore Award for Excellence in Spanish Rinzin Dorjee - The Guido Mazzoni Award for excellence in Italian Chi Dat (Daniel) Lam - The Robert J. Niess/Alexander Hull Award for excellence in French Benjamin Mirman - The Robert J. Niess/Alexander Hull Award for excellence in French … read more about Romance Studies Class of 2017 Awards and Distinctions »
Several Romance Studies department undergraduate students have been included in this year’s Senior Stories piece on Duke’s Class of 2017. Among them are Spanish and Public Policy major Osasenaga “Kelly” Aghayere, French and International Comparative Studies major Ashan-Wa Aliogo, and Spanish minor Lauren Blanchette. A diverse group of interests characterizes the three featured students, from student ministry to fashion to community development; showing the vast potential for language study to shape numerous educational… read more about Romance Languages Help Shape Senior Stories »
Helen Solterer, Professor of Romance Studies, has been selected by the French government to be a member of L'Ordre des Palmes Académiques, a French honorary society that recognizes academics and educators for their contributions to the teaching and dissemination of French language and culture. Her selection marks the sixth current or emeritus faculty member of the department to receive the prestigious honor, an indication of the department’s international stature. Other Duke members of the order include emeriti professors… read more about Dr. Solterer named Chevalier of L'Ordre des Palmes Academiques »
Faculty member Lamonte Aidoo, an Andrew W. Mellon Assistant Professor in the Department of Romance Studies, has been named one of ten Nancy Weiss Malkiel Scholars for 2017 at the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation. Funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the Malkiel Scholars Award supports junior faculty whose research focuses on contemporary American history, politics, culture, and society, and who are committed to the creation of an inclusive campus community for underrepresented students and scholars. The… read more about Dr. Aidoo Named a 2017 Nancy Weiss Malkiel Scholar »
Two members of the Portuguese faculty in the Romance Studies Department have been awarded named professorships for the 2017/2018 academic year. Dr. Lamonte Aidoo has been reappointed as the Andrew W. Mellon Assistant Professor of Romance Studies and Dr. Gustavo Furtado has been newly appointed as the Andrew W. Mellon Assistant Professor of Romance Studies. Professor Aidoo’s research weaves together the histories and cultures of the African diasporas, sexuality studies, and the lettered worlds of law and literature.… read more about Professors Aidoo and Furtado awarded Mellon Professorships »
In a report released yesterday, the Academy of Arts and Sciences calls for increasing foreign language learning capacity. America’s Languages: Investing in Language Education for the 21st Century is the American Academy’s response to a bipartisan request from four members of the United States Senate and four members of the House of Representatives to examine the following questions: How does language learning influence economic growth, cultural diplomacy, the productivity of future generations, and the… read more about New Report Calls for More Learning of Foreign Languages »
Romance Studies Professor of French and Italian, Dr. Michèle Longino has been awarded a two-month Brown Foundation residential fellowship at the Dora Maar House in Ménerbes, France. The fellowship provides residencies for professionals in the arts and humanities to concentrate on their fields of expertise. Professor Longino is an early modern specialist on the French Classical age and will be working on a project focused on French fables and fairy tales. Congratulations Professor Longino! read more about Dr. Longino Awarded Brown Foundation Fellowship »
The Program in Latino/a Studies in the Global South at Duke University (LSGS) invites applications for a one-year postdoctoral fellowship, renewable for a second year, to begin in August 2017. We seek interdisciplinary scholars with a comparative, innovative, and transnational approach, trained and solidly grounded in U.S. Latino and Latina History. Research interests may include any––or a combination––of the following areas: historical agency and memory; ethnoracial formations; gender and… read more about Deadline Extended - Latino/a Studies in the Global South at Duke University Seeks Post-Doc »
Romance Studies Department 3rd year graduate student Pietro Bianchi has just published his first book Jacques Lacan and Cinema: Imaginary, Gaze, Formalisation. Prior to coming to Duke, Bianchi studied at the University of Bologna and at the University of Udine in Italy as well as at the Theory Department of the Jan Van Eyck Academie in Maastricht (Netherlands). His background is in philosophy and film studies, with a strong emphasis on French psychoanalysis and in particular on the thought of Jacques Lacan—the… read more about Pietro Bianchi Publishes First Book »
Romance Studies Professor Deb Reisinger and her students continue to gain media attention for their work with local refugees. The News & Observer is running a feature on articles written by the students through January. This project stems from Professor Reisinger’s service learning course on French, global displacement, and working with refugees. The fall course had 16 students helping local refugees with English and adjusting to life in North Carolina. You can read some of their… read more about Refugee Work Featured in The News & Observer »
Romance Studies Department Professor Walter Mignolo has been featured in Duke Today for his latest achievement. Dr. Mignolo, William H. Wannamaker Professor of Literature and director of the Center for Global Studies and the Humanities at Duke, received an honorary degree (Dr Honoris Causa) in the Humanities from the Facultad de Filosofía y Letras, National University of Buenos Aires, on Nov. 23 in Argentina. The university cited Mignolo for his scholarship and teaching at Duke and elsewhere and… read more about Dr. Mignolo Awarded Honorary Degree in the Humanities »