FEATURED ALUMNI: January 2009
Comparative Literature & Cultural Studies
Linda Brindeau-(MA in Comp Lit) after graduation, she moved to Chicago as a French instructor at McHenry County College. Was also a French teacher for a private company called Language Stars. In June of 2004, she was accepted at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and hopes to have her ABD status by the end of June. She is considering moving back to Europe at the end of this school year, possibly to Germany.
Kirsten Day-(MA in Comp Lit) taught last year at the Cannon School in Concord NC. While there, she taught Latin along with world literature and world religions. This past summer she taught super Latin here at the University of Arkansas. She is now at Creighton University in Omaha NE teaching Latin II, Greek Drama, and world literature.
French
Julia Bordeaux-(MA in Fren) currently lives in Austin, Texas. In her 5th year of the PhD program in French linguistics and anticipates graduating in Fall 2007. Had her first publication come out in collaboration with a professor and a fellow student on information structure of French "parce que."
Severine Cottrant-(MA in Fren) is living in Gagny, France. She says she is teaching English over the phone part time and is currently looking for another teaching job. She and Jeremy got married last year and they plan on coming back to the states.
Beatrice Dubuis-(MA in Fren) is also at Missouri Southern State University and is in her 2nd year. Teaching German & French.
Sarah Duchazeaubeneix-(MA in Fren) finds herself in Vietnam. She has been there for two years working in the hospitality area (PR & marketing). She is now working with AC Nielson-market research in communications.
David and his wife, Lorna, while living
in Paris
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David Tirman- (BA in Fren) graduated from the Department of Foreign Languages in 1978 with a BA in French. He also went on to earn a Bachelor of Architecture degree at the U of A in 1980. When he landed a position with the Walt Disney Company from 1990-1997 working at Euro Disney outside of Paris, he found that these French language skills were a great asset. He and his wife, Lorna, went on to live in France for nearly 4 years; their first daughter was even born in Paris. After his time with Euro Disney, French was again a beneficial skill in a position with an American firm based in Amsterdam that required travel throughout Europe. "When English didn't work," he says, "French oftentimes was the common link." Although David studied French at the University, he began his career after graduation as a Peace Corps volunteer in the Philippines. There, he learned the Cebuano dialect spoken in the southern Philippines. "My experiences since leaving the U of A now 28 years ago have reinforced my sense of the importance of foreign language skills in our increasingly global economy." David currently resides near Lake Tahoe in Northern California and works with a firm that specializes in architectural redevelopment projects.
Seth Wilson-(MA in Fren) went across campus to work on a master's in computer science and completed the program in December 2004. Hired at Acxiom Corporation in Conway AR. Later transferred to Little Rock, which is where he is now living.
Spanish
Daniel Arrieta-(MA in Span) has just arrived in Japan and is going to interviews with universities and international schools. Hopes to teach Spanish as instructor somewhere in Japan.
Adriana Bradford-(MA in Span) teaches at University of Minnesota and at St. Thomas in St. Paul Minnesota.
Heather Burgess-(MA in Span) married Jeramy Upton in 2003 and then moved to Jacksonville, NC. Heather taught at Coastal Carolina Community College for one year. They moved back to NWA and Heather is teaching Spanish at Fayetteville high school and Ramay Jr. high. She and Jeramy had a baby girl this past April and live in Lowell.
Eduardo Caro graduating
from the University of Arizona
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Eduardo Caro-(MA in Span) lives in Phoenix, Arizona and graduated with honors this past May with a PhD. Recently elected as General Secretary of the International Association of Colombianist's. He now has 3 children, the youngest is 3 years old and Eduar is in the 11th grade and Anny Melissa is in the 8th grade.
Elena Cueva-(MA in Span) is here at the University of Arkansas working on her Ph.d.
Dorismel Diaz-(MA in Span) was accepted into the PhD program in Hispanic Literature at the University of Colorado-Boulder. He teaches Spanish and French. Working with the Boulder community through Alianza, which is an organization that seeks to connect Latino people of the region with Anglosaxons.
Wendy Dodge-(MA in Span) is in her fourth year at UCA-Conway in a Lecturer position.
Rachel Finney-(MA in Span) lives in Petersburg VA. She is an Associate Professor of Spanish at Richard Bland College of the College of William and Mary. She has been teaching there for 6 years and is now starting her 7th year. She is an active member of the FL teaching organization at the state, regional and national levels and will be making presentations at all 3 levels this year. Has taken many students on study abroad trips to Spain, France, Italy, Greece, Costa Rica, and is currently planning a trip to Peru in May of 2007.
Diana Gill-(MA in Span) is teaching at the Northwest Arkansas Community College and is living in Rogers, Arkansas.
Rita Guzman-(MA in Span) is in California teaching at University of LaVerne. She also teaches Spanish.
Ivan Iglesias-(MA in Span) is also at UCA-Conway. Coming from Hampden Sydney in Virginia.
James Kilpatrick-(MA in Span) is also at Missouri Southern State University starting his third year. He is working on is Ph.d from KU. He and his wife had triplets on September 7, 2006.
Gustavo Obeso-(MA in Span) lives in Bowling Green, KY and teaches at Western Kentucky University for the past 4 years. He teaches Spanish and is the coordinator for the Modern Language Department. He and is wife Mary are expecting their second child in April. Ian is looking forward to being a big brother.
Leslie Parker-(MA in Span) is in her 4th year at Missouri Southern State University at Joplin, Missouri. She teaches all levels of Spanish and is in charge of the study abroad programs for Spanish. Takes a group to Mexico during spring break and then again in the summer. Also an advisor to the Spanish Club.
Johana Perez-(MA in Span) lives in Campbellsville, KY. Johana is a Spanish instructor in Campbellsville University. She will also finish her MBA at Campbellsville. Johana has also taught Spanish at Kentucky Institute International Study Abroad Program in Costa Rica & Mexico. She is also in her second year of the Doctoral in Hispanic Studies at the University of Kentucky. Also a member of the Business & Professional Women in Kentucky and won the Young Careerist Award for spring 2006 term.
Indiana University Kokomo students performing in
the "Voces del corazón" Spanish Singing Festival
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Jesús Pico-(MA in Span) is Lecturer in Spanish at Indiana University Kokomo where he has founded the "Voces del corazón" ("Voices of the Heart") Spanish Singing Festival. Students participating in the festival are encouraged to learn a contemporary song popular in a country where Spanish is the predominant language. They learn the words, perform the songs, and translate some of the lyrics as an introduction. As a result, the students strengthen their translation and pronunciation skills and learn more about Hispanic culture. Jesús has also volunteered with Ambassador for Children for two years, travelling to Malawi, Africa, El Salvador, Guatemala and recently took a group of 17 to Cartagena, Colombia. Pictures and more information at the links below:
http://ambassadorsforchildren.org/www2/
http://ambassadorsforchildren.org/www2/?action=Trips/details.php&trip_id=292
Susanne Taylor-(MA in Span) is at Hanover College in Indiana. She lives in La Grange, Kentucky. She is teaching mostly German and some Spanish. She was just granted Tenure and has been promoted to Associate Professor. Her son Christian is 12 years old and Alexandra is 7. Rick works in Louisville as a prosecutor and they stay busy with after school activities like violin, cello, piano along with some sports too.
Tizziana Valdivieso-(MA in Span) has been living between El Salvador and Costa Rica during the past 6 months. She is working freelance, mainly teaching and tutoring Spanish.
