Category: Graduates 2018-2019

As both a Japanese minor and German student and teacher’s assistant, I have witnessed firsthand the usefulness and value of a learning new languages. My knowledge as a linguistics major about both languages and their cultures, as well as language learning, use, and structure in general, has been highly informed by my experiences in these courses. Additionally, these departments have provided me with some of the best friends and experiences I have had in college, such as living in the Japanese House for nearly two years and studying abroad in Potsdam, Germany, in addition to applying later to the Fulbright programs in Austria and Germany. The modern languages department at William and Mary has influenced not only my path at the College but also afterward, and I will carry what I have learned here with me always.

The highlight of my 4 years at William & Mary was my study abroad at Keio University in Tokyo, Japan, which was only possible with the guidance and instruction of the fantastic faculty of the Japanese Studies department. I’ll never forget traveling 5 hours with friends from around the world to see Mount Fuji encircled by thousands of flowers in bloom, or kayaking through quiet canals to see the city bathed in the light from Tokyo Skytree. I intend to take my wonderful memories of Japan with me as I pursue a career in advertising, and as I prepare to travel to New York this summer to be McCann Worldgroup’s Global Strategy Intern. I am so thankful for the time and effort that my professors invested in me, and I fully intend on bringing their teachings with me as I continue to build a global business perspective.

My involvement with the Hispanic Studies department at William & Mary has been one of the most gratifying and enlightening journeys of my undergraduate career. From courses on grammar and vocabulary to more intensive seminars on the Francoist regime in Spain, the Hispanic Studies discipline has challenged my abilities and exposed me to new perspectives. Outside of my major, however, I have also been able to explore a plethora of different interests by taking classes in the Arabic department. Further, W&M’s Modern Languages department has provided countless ways to directly engage with foreign cultures. I have had the distinct pleasure of traveling to the Basque Country, Andalucía, Morocco, Havana, and the Sierra Maestra in Cuba all through the department. On the domestic front, I’ve had the opportunity to teach Arabic language classes and publish journalistic articles. Thanks to the opportunities afforded to me by the department, I look forward to utilizing my experiences next year as a master’s student at the Fletcher School of Law & Diplomacy and in my future endeavors..

First, I must thank my family, Mom, Dad, and Jonny, for being my inspirations. Thank you also to Brenna, Zoe, and Amelia for your unconditional friendship and love. To my friends that have already graduated, I look up to you, and rightly so. Finally, a special thanks to Professor Carmen Sanchis-Sinisterra who showed me that all experience is a choice, and that in this way you can do anything. In the fall of 2018, I traveled to Guatemala with the Hispanic Studies department as part of a class on state terror and post-memory with the extraordinary Professors Betsy Konefal and Silvia Tandeciarz. This learning experience motivated my final project for a subsequent class on Spanish translation in the spring of 2019 taught by Professor Cate-Arries, yet another outstanding role model in the department. I translated the website content for the Guatemalan performance artist Regina José Galindo. Her work is breathtaking, provocative, and demonstrative of a true and uncommon courage. This project has made me a better writer, thinker, and person, as I have been granted the privilege to engage intimately with her words and her works. Galindo’s determination and eloquence embody the lessons I’ve learned in the Hispanic Studies department.

Since my very first early morning Russian 101 class and first Hispanic Studies Literature class my freshman year, I have been welcomed to the wonderful, tight-knit family that is the Modern Languages department. I’ve stretched far beyond mere “language and literature” courses, some of my favorites being, “Critiquing the American Dream,” The Politics of Food,” “Basque Identity and Resistance,” “Russian Olympics,” “Russian Media Culture,” and “Teaching English Abroad.” Further, my out of classroom experiences- studying abroad in Cádiz, living at the Hispanic House, interning at the Spanish Embassy in D.C., and doing field research in the Basque country- have made my experience so much more unique and enriching, preparing me for the real world. I have made some of my best friends with peers and developed close relationships with professors in this department and I know I will cherish my memories with them when I spend the next year teaching English in Spain in the Auxiliares de Conversación program. Special shoutouts to my incredible advisor, Profesora Buck, the best study abroad roommate, Hannah Major, the hilarious Professor Robert Mulcahy, and the most thought-provoking professor I’ve worked with, Professor Riofrío. Спасибо , Mil Gracias.

I beyond grateful to the Hispanic Studies program and faculty for helping me grow tremendously as both a student and person. In addition to developing my language skills, the program has also inspired new passions for me that have motivated my future plans. After taking a wide variety of coursework, I have developed strong interests in studying Immigration, the Latinx Community, and State Terrorism and Violence in Latin America. I was extremely fortunate to have the opportunity to study abroad in Seville, Spain for a semester as well as doing a study away trip to Guatemala this past fall semester, and another study away trip to the Basque Country in Spain this past March. This semester I had the incredible opportunity to work as an intern with the National Security Archives, developing my research skills and knowledge of state terrorism in Argentina to the next level. I am beyond excited to carry over the skills and knowledge that I have obtained from this program to my job following graduation. Starting in June, I will be working as a Legal Assistant with the Detained Children’s Program for CAIR Coalition, an immigration legal services organization in Washington D.C.

In Hispanic Studies, I’ve improved my Spanish skills and my ability to think critically. Some of the most meaningful experiences of my college career have been because of Hispanic Studies–studying abroad with the W&M program in La Plata where I got to learn about Human Rights and travel through South America, and a trip to Guatemala to learn about memory studies. I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to travel to these countries and to be able to communicate with Spanish speakers abroad. Next year, I will be an Americorps member with City Year in Philadelphia. I am looking forward to continuing to speak Spanish (I hope!).

I have cherished every moment, every class, and every adventure that I have taken with the Hispanic Studies Department. As a freshman, I could not have fathomed that I would have the opportunity to travel to Cuba to conduct research that would continue throughout my time at the college. As a freshman, I would have not imagined that I would spend a semester in Seville, Spain and experience all the aspects of Spanish literature, language, and culture that I had always dreamt about. As a freshman, I would have not guessed that I would meet some of my best friends, most inspiring mentors, and incredible connections that will last a lifetime. As a senior, I am truly grateful for the experiences and opportunities I have had in the Hispanic Studies Department and for all the life lessons, adventures, friendships, and aspirations it has given me along the way. After graduation, I plan to move to Washington D.C. and start my job as a Federal Consultant with Grant Thornton in their Public Sector group. I am confident that I will bring all these lessons, memories, and aspirations with me as I embark on a new chapter in my life.

The Hispanic Studies Department at William and Mary offered me many more opportunities than I could have imagined. Through the program, I was able to study abroad twice in Cádiz and Seville, Spain the summer of 2017 and spring semester 2018 last year. I was not only able to improve my Spanish reading and writing skills being a native speaker but I was also enabled to experience multiple countries and cultures during my times abroad as well. Through these trips and the department I grew close to my wonderful advisor Francie Cate-Arries and couldn’t be more grateful for the friendships with the professors and peers I’ve met along the way. After graduation, I’ll be working as a Business Analyst for CGI in Northern Virginia after traveling in South America for a bit over the summer! Huge thanks to the Hispanic Studies department for all the guidance and opportunities they’ve offered, and cheers to the Class of 2019!

My experience as a Hispanic Studies major has been defined by the people and experiences the department has connected me to. I have loved meeting classmates who share my interest in the culture, history, and language of the Spanish-speaking world and challenging myself to step outside of my comfort zone in classes taught by dynamic professors. The program has also given me invaluable opportunities to travel, including spending a semester in Seville, Spain and traveling to the Basque Country with my senior seminar for spring break. These amazing experiences have affirmed my love of Spanish language and culture and informed my future path. I will be spending next year at the William & Mary School of Education to complete my Master’s Degree in Elementary Education with an endorsement in Teaching English as a Second Language. Upon graduation from that program, I plan to pursue a teaching position in a dual-immersion elementary school where students are taught in both Spanish and English. I hope this job will allow me to continue to share the love of Spanish that the Hispanic Studies department fostered for me in the past four years.

Being a Hispanic Studies Major has pushed me outside of my comfort zone and opened my eyes to so many things that I do not think would be possible in any other area of study. Because of my studies in the program, I have had the opportunity to travel to both Argentina and Guatemala. Being able to live in different places and interact with new people by speaking their language is a skill I am proud to be leaving college with. Studying memory and processes of reconciliation after periods of state violence has inspired me to synthesize what I have learned in Hispanic Studies with my other classes in the Government Department.

Next year, I plan on working for a law firm as a step towards eventually going to law school to study immigration law.

Some of my best experiences at William & Mary have been through the Hispanic Studies department, such as studying abroad in Cádiz and Sevilla, and traveling to the Basque region to do research over spring break. Through my classes, I have learned not just about the language, but about the importance of understanding and appreciating different cultures and why cross-cultural studies matter. Some of my favorite moments in the classroom have been reading books and poetry by Latinx authors that I wouldn’t have known about otherwise. My favorite memories include people I met through the Hispanic Studies department and being able to bond over life changing experiences, both in the US and abroad. After college, I am going into consulting, with the goal of being able to combine my love of finance and Spanish and work in a bilingual community.

I was struggling concentrating, stuck with writer’s block and a blank page in front of me. So, to ease my mind, I grabbed my favorite blanket, my laptop and my notebook and laid it down by a tree behind my dorm. Being careful of the ants around my feet and soaking in the sun that filtered through Zable Stadium, I got to work. At one point, I put my pencil down and took in my surroundings. My blanket, decorated with the colors of a rainbow, comforted me as I composed my thoughts. It was a gift, brought from El Salvador, a reminder of the love, patience and hard work put in by my parents to get me to where I am today. Not only was I able to graduate early, my last semester was spent studying abroad in Spain where my eyes were opened to a bigger, more colorful world, much like my blanket. And though I can talk about my many struggles and accomplishments, what I really took away from my time at William and Mary is to acknowledge and celebrate diversity and difference now and in the future as a proud W&M alumna.

Through my time in the Hispanic Studies program, I’ve gained an appreciation for cultural studies, as well as a new lens through which to understand the world we live in. My favorite experience was studying abroad in Cadiz, Spain last summer because I was able to become immersed in the language and culture I’d spent years studying. I made lots of new friends and strengthened the bonds with those I already had. After graduation, I’ll be starting a one-year Master of Accounting program here at the Mason School of Business in the fall. It’s been a chaotic, yet enriching past 4 years and I look forward to seeing how the future unfolds.

My experience as a Hispanic Studies major at William and Mary has been incredible, and I am so grateful to have taken the courses and had the professors that I believe make this program so special. I have been able to take courses on topics like Francoism in Spain, Latina filmmakers, Arizona’s Ethnic Studies Ban, and Spanish linguistics. I have also had the opportunity to study abroad twice through the Hispanic Studies program in Spain and Guatemala.

The Hispanic Studies department is truly an amazing department full of dedicated professors and students who prioritize social justice and cultural awareness and I am so proud to have been a major in this area. I am really excited to continue to use the skills in Spanish language and cultural studies in my post-grad career.

I have loved every second of my time with the Hispanic Studies department here at William & Mary. Some things I will always cherish are the passionate professors, dedicated students and challenging course loads that have made me the student I am today. Lunches at Marketplace with Profesora Carmen Sanchis-Sinisterra immediately come to mind when reminiscing on my favorite memories at the College: although no longer teaching at William & Mary, Carmen unapologetically embodies the love, passion, spark and enthusiasm that all characterize our amazing Hispanic Studies department. I am incredibly grateful for the growth (both linguistic and personal) that I experienced while abroad in Sevilla. I owe my best friends to this program, and Washington Hall will always have a special place in my heart. After graduation, I plan on moving to Austin, TX to pursue my marketing aspirations – while continuing to speak Spanish!

One of the most incredible opportunities I pursued through Modern Languages was my year studying abroad in Seville. Although I have many cherished memories from Seville, I also treasure the moments and friendships that I have created with fellow students of Modern Languages and my professors at the College. Through the Hispanic Studies program, I explored my passion for Spanish-language literature and poetry in courses on literary criticism and poetry workshops. I was committed to Hispanic Studies outside the classroom; for example, freshman year I became a TA for HISP 203. During my junior year, under the guidance of Professor Tandeciarz – whom I highly admire and adore– I served as a research intern for the National Security Archive working with Director Carlos Osorio on his Southern Cone Documentation Project. My growing interest in activism, especially advocating for immigrants’ rights, was fueled by my work in Hispanic Studies and trips such as the Border Studies Program. I am grateful especially to my professors – their dedication and passion toward teaching and research has inspired me to pursue academia in the future so that I may also impact the lives of students the same way my professors have at W&M.

First, I would like to thank Professor Jennifer Gully for being a great professor, an excellent independent study advisor, and an all-around wonderful human being. I think of her as a close advisor and, dare I say, a friend. Further, I would be remiss not to mention Professor Bruce Campbell, who convinced me to major in German Studies in the first place. Though he is now retired, he will always have a place in my heart.

In terms of experiences that most contributed to my education, I travelled to Potsdam during the summer of 2017 and participated in a joint program between the Universität Potsdam and William and Mary. This program served as a good introduction to several broad, yet necessary topics in German culture and literature.

This coming summer I will be working with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in Federal Records Management at their national headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland. In the fall, I will begin a two-year master’s program in International Security with George Mason University in Arlington, Virginia. I am very grateful for the first-rate education that I have received at William and Mary and for the many memories that I will always cherish.

I began taking German courses my freshman year simply to maintain language skills acquired in high school, but I quickly found a home within the department. In the summer of 2017, I studied in Potsdam with Professor Burney, completing an independent research project and taking classes at the local university. As a German TA, I have planned my own lessons and become a more effective teacher. I’ve learned an incredible amount about the German language, culture and history over the past four years, become more confident and independent, and made lifelong friends. These skills and relationships will be indispensable to me as I continue on as a Fulbright scholar in Germany next year, and afterwards in my master’s program in Speech-Language Pathology. These achievements would not have been possible without the support of Professor Burney, Professor Gully and the rest of the German Studies Department

Blake has enjoyed every minute of being in the German Studies program at the college. The summer he spent in Potsdam is one of the most eye opening and memorable of his entire life and he will always be grateful not only for the opportunity to live in Germany, but also for the friends he made while there. He also wants to thank the department for introducing him to some of his favorite films, even if Das Leben der Anderen isn’t universally loved by all of his professors. Blake plans to apply to a masters program in Germany at the University of Jena and with any luck will end up using his German on a daily basis both in and out of the classroom. Such international goals would not have been possible without the support of the program and the skills he learned while at W&M. Danke Schön.

I initially wasn’t sure if I wanted to continue my studies in French at William & Mary, but since taking a French class the spring of my freshman year, I haven’t looked back! From the Montpellier summer program with Professor Fauvel to writing my honors thesis on the Harkis with Professor Leruth, the French program has offered me countless experiences to grow, both as a student and as a global citizen.

While I’m still working on my post-grad plans, wherever I end up, I’m grateful to the French program for all of the opportunities it has granted me these past four years.

When I came to William & Mary, I knew I wanted to continue my previous studies of French language and culture. I began with a single class in French & Francophone Studies, and before long, I had met so many supportive and encouraging professors and classmates, and expanded the depth and breadth of my learning further than I could have expected. One class led to another, and I decided to pursue a major. Through the department, I was able to study abroad in Montpellier, France in the summer of 2017, one of the highlights of my college experience. Some of my favorite classes I have taken during my college career have been with French & Francophone Studies. My professors in the department have been a continued source of support, both introducing me to new ideas and encouraging me to pursue my own interests in and out of the classroom; I can count many of my classmates in the department among my closest friends at William & Mary. I look forward to continuing to use and develop the knowledge I built here and sustain the relationships I have made as I transition away from my undergraduate career.

As a double major in French & Francophone Studies and Global Studies, through the Modern Languages and Literatures Department, I have been able to continue my study of French in addition to learning both Italian and Spanish. During my junior year, I had the pleasure of serving as the resident assistant of the French language house, in which I planned initiatives themed around the language and culture in a community with people of similar interests. I spent the summer of 2018 abroad, teaching English and researching the relationships between language and national identity in Italy and Switzerland, opportunities I would not have had without this department. This year I served as a teaching assistant in the Italian Studies Program, which has been one of my most rewarding experiences at William & Mary. Continuing to build on these experiences, I will be working as an English teacher in Italy after graduation. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunities that this department.

I am proud to be graduating with a degree in French and Francophone Studies. What began as simple appreciation of the language itself has blossomed into so much more. Through this program, I have learned about wide swaths of the world. I have been exposed to the rich history of France, which continues to amaze me. I even had the opportunity to spend a semester in Montpellier, where I was able to experience and adapt to French culture. The friendships and memories formed during that semester have helped to shape me as a person. That is reflective of the William and Mary French department in general; it is full of professors and students who have significantly impacted me during my time here.

After graduating, I will work as a dancer over the summer in the North Carolina musical “The Lost Colony”.  My intent is to then work as a business analyst before ultimately attending law school. Although this path may seem circuitous, I look forward to the adventure of it.  My time in this program has prepared me well.

Through the French Department, I was able to study abroad in Montpellier during my fall semester of 2017. I traveled all around France to Bordeaux, Lille, Paris, and various cities in the South of France. Through the university, I took engaging courses on French private law and sociology. The best part of the experience was the host family aspect, and I still keep in touch with my host parents, Nacira and Klaus. This spring, I was selected to go to Guadeloupe with Professor Compan and other students. Here we studied La route d’esclave and its relationship to memory on the island. The study abroad components of the French major allowed me to create once-in-a-lifetime memories and improve on my French language skill, as well as general life skills. I am grateful for the courses I’ve taken with and advice I’ve received from Professor Compan and Professor Pacini. The French department was fundamental in my college experience, and I hope it continues to be a wonderful tool for future students.

While I never anticipated pursuing a degree in a foreign language when I arrived at William & Mary, the French Program and the Department of Modern Languages has become my home during my time at the College. I love the richness of the courses offered in Washington Hall, and benefited from both the Italian and Arabic programs in addition to my French major. Within Francophone Studies, I’ve studied in both France and Belgium, and have been blessed with incredible professors who have supported me through challenges and triumphs..I will always be grateful for the lessons I’ve learned with Prof. Magali Compan, whose cross-cultural classes helped develop my critical thinking so much; the fascinating conversations about language acquisition I’ve had with Prof. Angela Leruth; and for Prof. Giulia Pacini’s infinite wisdom and guidance as my advisor over the years. The multilingualism and cross-cultural curiosity that I’ve seen espoused in this department is an inspiration, and I’m excited to carry it with me next year when I move to France to teach English to secondary school students.

As an Accounting and French & Francophone Studies double major, French classes have always provided me with an opportunity to engage with culturally stimulating material (and give my brain a break from numbers!). Language and culture study has helped me understand business interactions on a global scale. The highlight of my time with the Modern Languages Department was studying abroad in Montpellier, France during the Spring 2018 semester and making lifelong friends– I still stay in touch with my host family! Although I’ll be starting as an Audit Assistant with Deloitte in DC in the fall, I hope I’ll get the opportunity to work in France later in my career.

Shani Cave is graduating with a Chinese Studies major and Marketing minor. She studied abroad her sophomore year in Beijing through the W&M-Tsinghua program, which greatly shaped her education and career goals. She is tremendously grateful to her peers and professors, especially Professor Michael Hill, for encouraging and supporting her quest to be a future U.S.-China business liaison. This September, she will begin a dual-degree master’s program in Media & Communications at the London School of Economics and Political Science in the UK.

I owe a lot to my Chinese education. It’s through learning Chinese that I was paid to travel over my sophomore and junior summers, first to Suzhou and then to Taiwan. Chinese fluency is also the reason I am able to get a job in the State Department as a Consular Fellow. But beyond material benefits, learning Chinese, both the language and the culture, has benefited me immensely. I have been exposed to so many new experiences and people, for example in the picture I was exposed to toasting culture (敬酒) for the first time, which definitely was jarring, but I did (and drank) what was expected of me and had a great time. The exam I had to take on the next day wasn’t as fun but it didn’t bother me, because I could really make it in a completely foreign environment. And that feeling is what I have gained from studying Chinese.

Throughout my time at W&M, my Chinese major has completed a metamorphosis from relatively quirky secondary interest to an active and formative part of my life.  It has influenced not only how I have chosen to spend my time these past four years, but also my outlook on the world moving beyond them.  My journey studying Chinese language and culture has directly led me to several of my most treasured experiences and relationships and will surely not come to an end with my graduation. Highlights of my experience during my time at W&M include all eight of my semesters of Chinese language study, my time studying abroad in Shanghai, countless friendships, a solo trip across China, and the pleasure of getting to know the wonderful faculty of the Chinese department, a group of individuals whom I cannot praise highly enough.  Following graduation and a few months of traveling in Asia, I will be working as a financial analyst in New York City while independently continuing my Chinese studies.  It is my hope that my life path leads me back to China in some capacity and I look forward for what is to come.

Giselle Jernigan has a major in Chinese and a minor Japanese.  She transferred to W&M her junior year and upon entering the Chinese department, quickly felt the encouragement of the language professors, who work so closely with their students to enhance their language skills, and the fellow culture professors, who invoke the connections between Chinese history, society, and language.  She is grateful for all the intimate, supportive talks and understanding from her language professors, which helped her overcome the difficulties that any student inevitably feels in their language journey.  Her best memories are from studying abroad in Beijing with fellow W&M Chinese students and experiencing first-hand the language and culture they had been studying.  Even in China, they carried the Tribe spirit and supported each other in what could be a rough but adventurous time.  Giselle will be studying abroad in Taiwan this summer and hopes to find a translation or tutoring job thereafter.