- Welcome & Note from the Chair
- New Faculty
- New Staff
- Faculty News
- Retiring Faculty
- Graduating Seniors
- Alumni News
- Event Highlights & Community Outreach
- Study Abroad
- Awards & Fellowships
- Acknowledgements
- Stay in Touch
Welcome and Note from the Chair
Department Chair, Modern and Classical Literatures and Cultures
I’m delighted to share the third edition of our departmental newsletter with you! This past year has been one of growth and renewal for MCLC. We’ve welcomed new faculty members whose dynamic ideas and infectious enthusiasm are already attracting students and enriching our community in exciting ways.
As MCLC continues to evolve—reflecting broader transformations at Rice—we remain deeply committed to fostering excellence in teaching, research, and student engagement. This newsletter offers a glimpse into the vibrant activity unfolding across our department and celebrates the many accomplishments of our students, faculty, and alumni.
Thank you for being part of our journey!
Graduation Commencement took place on May 9, and we had a wonderful time celebrating our students’ achievements alongside their families. As always, it was a bittersweet moment—the joy of watching our graduates step confidently into the world was accompanied by the sadness of saying goodbye. Still, we remain hopeful and excited to stay connected with them as they embark on new journeys.
Now in our third year of producing this newsletter, I’m delighted to reflect on the remarkable progress we’ve made during a pivotal and transformative semester. Our students and colleagues have demonstrated extraordinary resilience, creativity, and commitment. We’ve welcomed new faculty members, and our department will soon be joined by colleagues from the Center for Languages & Intercultural Communications (CLIC), further strengthening our shared dedication to excellence in teaching and learning.
Our community continues to grow and flourish. While change often brings challenges, it’s clear that these transitions are guiding us toward an even stronger, more vibrant future.
Join us in celebrating the many accomplishments so far—and stay tuned, because even more exciting growth and opportunities lie ahead!
New Faculty
Tabea Linhard, Ph.D.
Professor, Spanish & Portuguese Studies
Trained in Spanish and Latin American literature, Tabea Linhard is a comparatist at heart. For the past two decades, her courses and research projects have centered on migration and memory in the first half of the twentieth century. She is the author of three monographs, Unexpected Routes: Refugee Writers in Mexico (Stanford UP, 2023), Jewish Spain: A Mediterranean Memory (Stanford UP, 2014) and Fearless Women in the Mexican Revolution and the Spanish Civil War (U of Missouri P, 2005) and the co-author of Mapping Migration, Identity, and Space (Palgrave, 2018) and Revisiting Jewish Spain in the Modern Era (Routledge, 2013). Her new book, Agents’ Secrets, involves the relationship between gender and espionage during the Spanish Civil War, World War II, and the early years of the Cold War. The book will feature research on the lives and times of Josephine Baker, Olga Benario, África de las Heras, Hilde Krüger, Margarita Nelken, and Marthe Richards, among others.
She has taught courses on a wide range of topics, including: the Spanish Civil War, the Holocaust, Refuge and Asylum in the twenty-first century, podcasts and storytelling, Mediterranean cultural studies, or Gabriel García Márquez’s One Hundred Years of Solitude. She looks forward to new opportunities for collaborative teaching and research at Rice.
Nicole Sütterlin, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, German Studies
Nicole Sütterlin’s research and teaching span German-language and European cultures from the 18th century to the present, with particular emphasis on environmental humanities, history of science, and transnational memory and trauma studies. Other areas of special interest include posthumanism and ecofeminism. Her book, Poetik der Wunde: Zur Entdeckung des Traumas in der Literatur der Romantik (“Poetics of the Wound: The Discovery of Trauma in Romantic Literature,” Wallstein, 2019) shows that early 19th-century literature anticipated scientific understandings of psychological injury. In her current book project, Monstrous Microbes? Multispecies Bodies in the Posthuman Novel, she examines how 21st-century speculative fiction uses the microbiome as a critical lens through which to address environmental crises.
Before joining MCLC, she served as an associate professor of Germanic Languages and Literatures at Harvard University (2014-2025), a visiting lecturer of German at Middlebury College, VT (2014), and an assistant professor of Modern German Literature at her alma mater in Switzerland, the University of Basel (2007-2014). At Rice, she is looking forward to teaching courses that connect Germanic history and culture with topics such as ecological futures, trauma studies, and scientific revolutions.
Marcus Valadares, Ph.D
Lecturer, Spanish & Portuguese Studies
Marcus Valadares is a Ph.D. candidate in Spanish and Portuguese Literature and Cultural Studies at Texas Tech University. He also holds a Ph.D. in Linguistics from the Federal University of Minas Gerais and an M.A. in Social Communication from the Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais, both in Brazil.
He has a broad and diverse background in education, with teaching experience at various levels—including language academies, K–12 schools, and universities—leading lessons in Spanish, Portuguese, and English. He has taught in Brazil, Spain, and the United States.
Drawing on key concepts from Media Studies, his research revolves around issues of gender, sexuality, and space in Latinx, Latin American, and Brazilian contemporary contexts, as well as topics in second language acquisition, bilingualism, bilingual education, language ideologies, multiliteracies, and educational technology.
Joining us from CLIC starting July 1, 2025
Fatima Baig, Ph.D.
Lecturer, German Studies
Fatima Baig received her Ph.D. in Foreign Language and ESL Education from the University of Iowa. A native of Germany, Fatima has been teaching foreign languages in the United States and abroad since 2001. She also worked as an elementary school teacher at the Milwaukee German Immersion School and became greatly interested in foreign language immersion education which developed into the focus of her dissertation research. Before coming to Rice University, Fatima worked for the University of Mannheim as well as the University of Goettingen in Germany. Her research interests include curriculum development, language pedagogy, immersion language education, and teacher training. Fatima aims at motivating her students to become language learners who are passionate about cross-cultural understanding and the foreign language they are learning.
At Rice, Fatima was awarded the CLIC Summer Curriculum Development grant in 2017 and received the 2018 G.R. Brown Teaching Grant together with her Hindi colleague Dr. Divya Chaudhry. In the summer of 2018, Fatima organized and led a six-week Rice-in-Germany study abroad program with twelve Rice students in Berlin. Fatima is a Faculty Associate with Hanszen College and received their Superior Faculty Associate Award in 2019.
Aymara Boggiano, M.A.
Senior Lecturer, French Studies and Spanish & Portuguese Studies
Aymara Boggiano received a B.A. in French and an M.A. in Romance Languages and Literatures from The Ohio State University. Before coming to Rice, she taught at the University of North Texas where she was also coordinator for the 1st year program. Before that, at the University of Houston, she was Coordinator of the Division for TA Training at The Center for Teaching Excellence and Coordinator of the Spanish Language Program.
Between 2011 – 2014 Aymara was the CoPI and recipient of a generous four-year grant from United Engineering Foundation to produce “Invenciones de la Inventiva,” the Spanish version of Dr. J. Lienhard’s NPR series “Engines of Our Ingenuity.”
Her research interests include research-based learning, language pedagogy, curriculum and course design, second language and heritage language acquisition.
Thais Díaz Montalvo, M.A, J.D.
Lecturer, Spanish & Portuguese Studies
Thais Díaz Montalvo received a B.A. in Hispanic Studies and a J.D. from the University of Puerto Rico and an M.A. in Hispanic Studies from Brown University. Before coming to Rice, she worked as Spanish Instructor at the University of Richmond. There she also directed the Spanish Community Based Learning Program and Summer Study Abroad Program at the University of Blas Pascal in Argentina. Before that, she was a lecturer at Washington College and James Madison University.
Throughout her career, she has taught all language levels in addition to courses such as “Human Rights and Arts in Latin America,” “Spanish in Politics, Society and Human Rights in Latin America,” and “Spanish in Law and Justice,” where she has been fortunate to combine her interdisciplinary academic and professional background.
She is interested in second language acquisition, content-based language instruction, service learning, human rights education, and Spanish for the Professions.
Maryam Emami, Ph.D.
Associate Teaching Professor, French Studies
Maryam Emami earned her Doctoral Degree in French studies, with a Doctoral emphasis in Applied Linguistics from the University of California Santa Barbara. Her dissertation focuses on the link between second-language learning and identity reconstruction. She is interested in topics pertaining to Second-Language Acquisition and Bilingualism as well as in Feminist Inquiry and Exile Studies. Her main interests deal with pedagogical issues in Language Teaching as well as Language Learning. Dr. Emami is a dedicated, engaging and dynamic individual who is passionate about teaching. She is an Associate at Wiess College.
Claudia Garcia-Rueda, M.A.
Lecturer, Spanish & Portuguese Studies
Claudia Garcia-Rueda received her Master’s Degrees in Spanish Language and Culture Education and English Literature and Linguistics from the University of Granada, Spain. She is originally from Colombia and has been a language instructor in the United States and abroad for eight years. Before joining Rice University, she taught all levels of Spanish courses at Wake Technical Community College in Raleigh, NC, where she received several awards and obtained the highest student retention rate in the department. As an instructor, she strives to inspire and guide her students to develop their linguistic knowledge along with their cultural awareness so they can be active members of a multicultural and multilingual world.
She is interested in second language acquisition, language pedagogy, bilingualism, and applied linguistics.
Maria Cristina Giliberti, Ph.D.
Lecturer, Italian Studies
Maria Cristina Giliberti holds a Master’s Degree in Foreign Language and Literature from the ‘Universita’ degli Studi di Bari”, Italy (Laurea in Lingue e Letterature Straniere, thesis on “Pirandello e lo Humour Inglese (Tra Rivalutazioni del Comico e Antinomie dell’Arte Umoristica). She earned her Dottorato di Ricerca in Italian Studies from the “Universita’ degli Studi di Bari”, Italy (dissertation on “Pirandello in America: Dati di Cronaca, Percorsi di Critica e Teoria”) where she worked as an Assistant Professor from Fall 1994 to Spring 2000. She has taught Italian language at the University of Houston, University of Saint Thomas and Bellaire High School in Houston; St. Peter’s Boys High School, Staten Island, New York; Otsola Settlement Education Center, Pori, Finland; and Nicolet College, Rhinelander, Wisconsin. She maintains a particular interest in 20th century Italian literature with a specific focus on the early novel and drama. Luigi Pirandello has been the main topic of her studies and publishing.
José Jacobo, Ph.D.
Lecturer, Spanish & Portuguese Studies
José Jacobo received his Ph.D. in Hispanic Studies from Texas A&M University – College Station in 2023. He received a Master’s in Spanish from the University of Texas at San Antonio in August 2016. In conjunction with his Master’s, he earned a Certificate in Spanish Translation Studies.
Prior to joining Rice University, José Jacobo was an Instructor and the Language Program Assistant to the Director of Lower Division Spanish Instruction at Texas A&M University. In addition, he has taught at Blinn College, the University of Texas at San Antonio, and Schreiner University. His teaching portfolio includes Elementary Spanish, Intermediate Spanish, Intermediate Spanish for Heritage Speakers, and Oral Expression.
For his dedication to teaching, José Jacobo received the Distinguished Graduate Student Teaching Award from The Murray and Celeste Fasken Chair in Distinguished Teaching in the Liberal Arts at Texas A&M University on April 1, 2022. He also was awarded the Teaching Excellence Award from the Blinn College District in September 2020.
Jessica Morones, M.A.
Lecturer, Spanish & Portuguese Studies
Jessica Yesenia Morones Chavez received a Master’s Degree in Applied Linguistics with a concentration in Foreign Language Pedagogy from the University of Massachusetts-Boston, and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Applied Linguistics from the University of Tamaulipas, Mexico. Prior to joining Rice University, she taught a variety of Spanish courses at Boston College and Simmons College in Boston, Massachusetts. Her research interests include second language acquisition; culture and language teaching; computer assisted language learning; and Spanish as a heritage language. Recently, she was awarded a Certificate in Teaching Spanish as a Heritage Language by the Institute Cervantes at Harvard University. As a language instructor, her goal is to guide students to develop critical thinking skills, increase cross-cultural awareness, and become competent language users in the target culture.
Nelly Noury-Ossia, Ph.D.
Lecturer, French Studies
Prof. Ossia holds a Ph.D. in French studies, with a doctoral focus on Francophone-Maghrebi literature from Rice University. Go Owls!
She obtained her Master's Degree (maîtrise) in Anglophone Cultures and History from the Sorbonne University in Paris, where she grew up. In 2020, she received her Master of Arts in Teaching with a special emphasis in Second Language Education from Boston University.
Before joining Rice University as a Lecturer, Prof. Ossia taught intermediate and advanced French courses at the University of Houston. She also holds a Teaching License from Massachusetts, where she was a high school teacher for four years. Prof. Ossia is particularly interested in connecting second-language instruction with the socio-historical contexts of the French-speaking communities.
Hélade Scutti Santos, Ph.D.
Teaching Professor, Spanish & Portuguese Studies
Hélade Scutti Santos received her Ph.D. in Hispanic Linguistics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2013. Her dissertation research focused on the acquisition of Portuguese as a third language by learners who already know English and Spanish. Her work contributes to a better understanding about the acquisition of additional languages beyond the second language. In conjunction with her Ph.D., she also earned a Certificate of Advanced Study in Second Language Acquisition and Teacher Education.
Prior to coming to the U.S., Hélade taught Spanish for fourteen years in a variety of instructional contexts in Brazil. As a researcher and a language educator, she is interested in all aspects of nonnative language learning and teaching and in how to make language learning tightly connected to a more diverse, inclusive, equitable and socially just world. As a language instructor, she strives to give her students the linguistic and cultural tools that can help them explore and experience the Lusophone world with curiosity, respect and critical awareness.
M. Luján Stasevicius, Ph.D.
Lecturer, Spanish & Portuguese Studies
Dr. Stasevicius holds a Ph.D. in Spanish and Cultural Studies from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She obtained her B.A. in Literature and Education in Argentina, where she is from. Her fields of interest and expertise are focused on Intercultural Communication, Cultural Studies, and Curriculum Development in Higher Education. At Rice, she has designed and developed materials for the academic curriculum and hosted professional training about interculturality in the workplace for other universities, besides participating and hosting workshops at regional and international conferences. Recently, she developed and co-lead workshops about Dialogues across Cultures in Foreign Language Education.
She teaches Spanish with a focus on Intercultural Communication and Critical Thinking. In all her classes, no matter the level of proficiency, she likes to work with her students toward deconstructing what they know about Spanish language(s) and culture(s), while enhancing their overall critical thinking abilities. She strongly believes the ideal outcome for a student is to become intellectually humble, critically engaged, and academically independent. She is a trained LGTBQ+ Ally and Student Success Initiatives’ Rice Firsts Network Supporter.
Luziris Pineda Turi, Ph.D.
Associate Teaching Professor, Spanish & Portuguese Studies
Associate Vice Provost
Luziris Pineda Turi was appointed Associate Vice Provost in June 2022. In that role, she supports the Provost in providing high-level strategic leadership for initiatives across the campus to help create an engaged campus community with a focus on academic excellence for all. She is lovingly known as Dr. L to her students and colleagues.
Dr. L is also an Associate Teaching Professor of Spanish. Her area of expertise is Spanish for Medical Professions and Medical Humanities. Particularly, her teaching and research have focused on preparing pre-medical students to communicate effectively with Spanish-speaking patients and understand the particular social, historical, political, and cultural needs, concerns, and potentials of the community. Her past courses for the medical professions track focused on intercultural communication and competence while helping students develop these skills in a simulation patient room she built with funding from Rice University’s Brown Teaching Grant. Dr. L helped students gain experiential opportunities at local clinics and hospitals that serve Spanish-speaking patients through the medical Spanish internship course she developed. Currently, students can pursue advanced studies through Dr. L’s medical humanities courses on U.S. Latine general and/or mental health.
Dr. L has worked nationally on issues related to Spanish for Medical Professions and Medical Humanities, such as her participation in the Pre-Health Group of the National Association of Medical Spanish and presenting her research at their national conference and the Pre-Health Dreamers 2nd Annual Conference. She participated in the Medical Organization for Latino Advancement’s national panel, “Healthcare Gender Affirming Language Serving Spanish Speakers”. Additionally, her work with the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) brought her medical humanities expertise to the ACGME committee focused on serving graduate medical students from varying backgrounds and experiences. Most notably, she was interviewed by the Mexican newspaper El Heraldo de México, which allowed her to promote Medical Humanities in Spanish to an international audience.
New Staff
Joining us from CLIC starting July 1st, 2025.
Kim Vera
Program Administrator
Kim Vera holds a B.A. in English from the University of Houston. She has extensive experience in program coordination, having worked for the Houston Public Library and several non-profits in Houston.
Faculty News
Our faculty have had an incredibly productive year, with numerous publications, prestigious awards, and exciting upcoming projects. From groundbreaking monographs and peer-reviewed articles to edited volumes and student mentorship, their work continues to push the boundaries of research in literature, cultural studies, ecocriticism, and beyond. Several faculty members have also received notable accolades, demonstrating both scholarly excellence and institutional recognition. We are proud to highlight these recent and forthcoming achievements that reflect the vibrancy and impact of our academic community.
Azucena Castro
Azucena Castro’s forthcoming book Posnaturalezas poéticas. Pensamiento ecológico y políticas de la extrañeza en la poesía latinoamericana contemporánea (De Gruyter, 2025) offers a groundbreaking exploration of ecological thought in contemporary Latin American poetry. Praised by scholars such as Carolyn Fornoff and Héctor Hoyos for its innovative approach to estrangement and ecocriticism, the book will be published on January 27, 2025. In the classroom, Professor Castro continues to inspire students through critical, timely topics. Her student, Madisyn Saenz, will present a poster at Humanities Days based on work developed in the Spring 2025 course Reclaiming the Future: Contemporary Technology, Culture & Society in Latin America.
José Cicerchia has had a vibrant year of research and public engagement. He recently published a peer-reviewed article on Sor Juana and protofeminism in Tropos Journal and has another article forthcoming in Review: Literature and Arts of the Americas on contemporary Bolivian narrative and film. His expertise has been featured at major conferences, including the Renaissance Society of America and the Rocky Mountain MLA Convention. Recognized in The Thresher for his dynamic teaching, Professor Cicerchia is known for connecting students to the powerful social themes in classic Latin American literature.
Jacqueline Couti
Department Chair Jacqueline Couti has had a prolific and distinguished year. Her recent publications include articles in Small Axe and the Journal of the Western Society for French History. She was honored with the Provost’s Award for Outstanding Faculty Achievement in April 2025 and was named a Chevalier de l’Ordre des Palmes Académiques in October 2024. Her leadership also helped secure major research funding—including Creative Ventures and HRC grants—for the February 2025 symposium, Haiti and the World: Global Encounters of the Past, Present, and Future.
Julie Fette
Julie Fette’s new book, Gender by the Book: 21st-Century French Children's Literature (Routledge, 2025), breaks new ground in the study of gender and childhood in contemporary France. Published as part of the “Studies in Childhood” series, this work adds a vital perspective to literary and cultural studies. Professor Fette also received the 2025 John Freeman Faculty Mentoring Award from Graduate Liberal Studies, recognizing her longstanding dedication to mentoring students across disciplines.
Paula Park
Paula Park continues to expand the geographies of Latinx literary studies. Her recent contribution, “José Garcia Villa’s Sojourn in New Mexico: Rethinking the Geographies of Latinidad,” appears in Latinx Literature in Transition, 1848–1992 (Cambridge University Press, 2025). This important volume, edited by John Alba Cutler and Marissa K. López, underscores Professor Park’s commitment to reshaping conversations about Latinidad through nuanced archival and theoretical work.
Linsey Sainte-Claire
Linsey Sainte-Claire has played a key role in co-organizing the symposium Haiti and the World: Global Encounters of the Past, Present, and Future, held in February 2025. Her efforts were recognized with two major awards: the Creative Ventures Award from the Office of Research and a Humanities Research Center Award for Lectures, Symposia, and Speaker Series. Her dedication to interdisciplinary programming and student engagement continues to strengthen MCLC’s academic offerings.
Retiring Faculty
Deborah Harter, Ph.D.
Associate Professor Emerita, French Studies
Deborah Harter has announced her retirement from Rice after 35 years. Scholar in French and Comparative Literature and winner of over a dozen prizes in teaching, she was awarded the George R. Brown Prize six times, the Impact Award for Outstanding Contributions to Women twice, and the Phi Beta Kappa Prize. She was named Rice’s first Allison Sarofim Distinguished Teaching Professor in the Humanities in 1994, Rice’s nominee for Carnegie U.S. Professor of the Year in 2003, and, in 2008, Faculty Mentor of the Year by Rice students. Along the way she forged new paths in interdisciplinarity, teaching courses with Steve Cox (neuroscience), Neal Lane (physics) and, for 8 years with Mike Gustin (biosciences) in a course on the Monstrous.
But Harter had a significant impact, as well, in the domain of leadership, serving on Dean and Provost Search Committees, helping to write the Davidson Report on Athletics, and establishing the need for an Ombudsman at Rice. Most importantly, from 2005-2007 she and Marj Corcoran (as the first Deputy Speaker and Speaker of the Faculty Senate) launched Rice’s brand new form of faculty governance. As the Senate’s Speaker the two years following, Harter then presided over a period of enormous upheaval during which the faculty considered whether to merge with the Baylor College of Medicine.
Harter’s first book, Bodies in Pieces (Stanford Press, 1996), was groundbreaking for its suggestion of a complex relation between realist and fantastic narrative of the 19th century, the one anxious to control an ever-exploding world of fragments, the other celebrating in the fragment an ever-illusive wholeness. She has just completed a volume On the Subject of Kissing Hairy Creatures, and Other Essays about Things that Matter, and is working to finish The Art of Failure: Creative Impossibilities from Balzac to Silence of the Lambs.
Harter leaves with deep gratitude for the enduring friendships she has so enjoyed at Rice, for the privilege of working with outstanding colleagues in Modern and Classical Literatures and Cultures, and for 4 unforgettable years living among the students of Lovett College, once writing that “our students at Rice, when we listen carefully and when they don’t strike terror in our hearts, are their own walking stories: constellations of triumphs and of crises ever helping us to discover who we are even as we attempt to teach them a thing or two.”
Graduating Seniors
Emma Ashton, ‘25
Majored in ‘Linguistics’
Minored in ‘Spanish and Portuguese Studies’
I am so grateful for my time in the MCLC department at Rice! Through these courses, I have learned how to think more critically about literature from around the world and about current events. I loved engaging in meaningful conversations about important topics and learning from and with my professors and classmates. I definitely felt challenged to grow, but at the same time felt supported! I have also created some great friendships with my fellow MCLC classmates! I think my main takeaway is that we live in a very big world, and I do not know very much about most of it. But by focusing on individual people's stories and experiences, I can come to better understand them and the world we are a part of.
My favorite class was Mapping Latin American Culture with Prof. Paula Park! The readings and class discussions were always so engaging and changed the way I approach my work. I'm grateful to Prof. Park for how she led and structured the class and for how she has inspired me as a person.
This summer, I will be working as the Summer Teen Program Coordinator for the Neighborhood House in Salt Lake City (a non-profit focused on empowering low-income families).
I would like to thank all my professors from the MCLC department, specifically Professors Paula Park, José Negroni Cicerchia, Rafael Salaberry, and Ted Somerville.
Sophia Brandon, ‘25
Triple-majored in ‘French Studies’, ‘History’, and ‘Psychology’
Minored in ‘Politics, Law, and Social Thought’
Receiving instruction and contributing to discussion in a different language has pushed me beyond my bounds of thinking even further than just learning something new in my first language. I’ve learned how to critically think across cultures, how to ask hard-hitting questions, and how to engage with complex material. Furthermore, I have gotten to learn about new places and groups of people, and explore the boundaries of my consciousness by stepping outside of my cultural framework. I came to Rice not expecting to pursue French further than just a couple classes, but I quickly realized how deeply the MCLC department values curiosity, connection, and growth. You have the freedom to explore your interests through independent studies, unique class topics, and study abroad opportunities. MCLC fosters a community that is truly invested in hearing its students’ voices, achievements, and their future, allowing us to grow personally and intellectually along the way.
I've always enjoyed the French lunches at the Cohen House, which allows students to connect with each other and also personalizes the faculty through more casual conversation.
I have accepted a full-time offer at an executive search firm in Washington, D.C. Between graduation and my start date, I hope to travel and spend precious time with friends and families before I move.
Sara Davidson, ‘25
Double-majored in ‘Political Science’ and ‘German Studies’
Double-minored in ‘Politics, Law, and Social Thought’ and ‘History’
I think that MCLC is a wonderful example of everything that Rice has to offer - the classes offered here range from all different topics, taught both in English and in various foreign languages, and I think that the professors from this department are all so well connected and willing to help Rice students get amazing opportunities and navigate what they want to do. I have had the honor to study abroad twice while at Rice and do research abroad once, and I would not have been able to do so without the fantastic support from the professors in the German department, sending me programs they recommended, finding sources of funding, supporting my research, and more. Through the German program, I have not only grown my German skills but also my presentation skills, my ability to communicate both in German and English, and my ability to work through all different types of situations. If you are thinking about taking a foreign language course here at Rice, my advice is to go for it! You never know where it might lead you.
I have enjoyed the German department as a whole, taking various classes with Professor Emden, Oesmann, MBB, and Brook - they are all truly the best. The professors really care about you outside of the classroom - I meet with Frau Baig for coffee at least once a semester to catch up despite never having taken a class with her. Dr. Brook has helped me ahead of my major presentations this year for my thesis, of which she is not an advisor, by taking me out for coffee and having me present it to her so that I can receive feedback. Dr. Emden always cheers me on in everything that I do, including giving me career pep talks whenever I am worried about what I am going to do with my future. This department has been such a vital system of support for me throughout my time at Rice, and I will miss all of them!
This summer, I will be in Riga, Latvia, working at the U.S. Embassy there! In the fall, I will be returning to Houston to work in Harris County doing Public Policy & Constituent Engagement in the Office of Councilmember Julian Ramirez, At Large 1.
Thank you so much for all of y'all’s hard work throughout these past few years! MCLC rocks :)
Hugo Gerbich Pais, ‘25
Double-majored in ‘European Studies’ and ‘English’
Double-minored in ‘Politics, Law, and Social Thought’ and ‘History’
European Studies has taught me to interrogate assumptions and consider why we think about things the way we do. The French, Spanish, German, and European classes that I've taken have given me the cultural competencies and knowledge to understand regional differences. They have also sharpened my written communication skills, not only in those languages but also in English too.
The rigorous and critical discussions that take place within the department and in class have really helped me to respect diverse viewpoints and engage with disparate ideas. All these conversations and interactions within the department in general have been respectful and productive. I have found that there is plenty of room for disagreement and a very collegial atmosphere as we debate literature, culture, and history.
I have found some of my closest friends within MCLC and have found faculty mentors who have been indispensable not only in my professional and academic growth, but also in my personal growth. I cannot recommend this department more.
My favorite memory was definitely learning and practicing traditional dance with Dr. Couti in FREN 313. I would be remiss to not mention the wonderful chats I had with Erika and Leticia, too - the true queens of the department.
I will be pursuing my J.D. at Northwestern after graduation.
A huge thank you to Erika and Leticia. They run this department so well and are such friendly and welcoming faces. I am so grateful for all the work they do behind the scenes for us.
Minored in ‘Business’
Sydney Park, ‘25
Majored in ‘Spanish and Portuguese Studies’
Minored in ‘Business’
The Spanish major has pushed me to think critically and creatively about the world we live in and my own global citizenship and place within it. I've been able to find shared understanding and experiences between my Korean heritage and various Spanish-speaking communities. My professors have been incredibly supportive of my personal journey within the major and have fostered intellectual growth in an open and thoughtful environment. I am constantly impressed not only by the quality of instruction but also by the in-class discussions led by my peers. Part of what I love about my courses is hearing and learning from fellow Rice students who offer inspiring analysis that makes the classroom experience incredibly fun and engaging.
Working on my senior Honors Thesis for the past year has been an equally challenging and rewarding process that culminates all the skills I've developed in my SPAN/SPPO courses with my year abroad experience in Madrid, Spain. I am incredibly grateful to my thesis advisor, Dr. Paula Park, for her mentorship and expertise, as well as the Spanish department for granting me the opportunity to pursue very personal and meaningful undergraduate research. The faculty, peers, and courses I've engaged with ultimately gave me the confidence to pursue an independent study and undertake a thesis, which has been the most fulfilling experience during my four years at Rice.
I will be working at Fidelity as an Equity Research Associate in Boston.
The only thing I would add is that being able to spend a full academic year in Madrid was something I am so grateful that the program allowed me to do, as it was a completely transformative experience, both language and culture-wise.
Zach Zelman, ‘25
Double-majored in ‘French Studies’ and ‘Philosophy’
As a French Studies major at Rice, I have been pushed to think critically about many facets of French/Francophone culture, art, history, philosophy, etc., with the help of some amazing professors. I can now read philosophical texts in French, debate and discuss critical political issues, engage with French cinema, and grasp what it means to be and speak French across the world. I hope that others will be willing to try out courses in the department with professors who will push them out of their comfort zones, engaging with ideas that will make them better thinkers and people. The people in French Studies/MCLC have been my biggest advocates while at Rice, giving me incredible opportunities to further my studies and contribute to improving the program for future students. I am incredibly grateful for having decided to continue with French at Rice.
Some favorite memories of mine include working with Dr. Couti to bring Les Misérables to Rice, selling over 300 subsidized tickets to students, working with the School of Humanities to host a Humanities NOW lecture by Dr. Wood, and raising awareness for French culture around campus.
In the short term, I will be traveling and studying for the LSAT after graduation, but starting next January, I will be taking a job working in finance for Avelo Airlines here in Houston.
Alayne Ziglin, ‘25
Triple-majored in ‘Classical Studies’, ‘Ancient Mediterranean Civilizations’, and ‘Medieval and Early Modern Studies’
Minored in ‘Museums and Cultural Heritage’
Through my studies, I’ve strengthened my understanding of both the ancient and modern worlds by exploring how the ancient world informs the present. I’ve developed close reading skills, particularly through translation assignments, which have helped me pay attention to the nuances in texts. I’ve also had the opportunity to collaborate with peers, sharing ideas and learning from different perspectives. My advice to those considering classical studies would be to take classes based on genuine interest, as the department offers a nurturing environment where engagement is encouraged. The small class sizes and the supportive, tight-knit community within the classics department have allowed me to connect with other students who are equally passionate about the subject. The MCLC department represents Rice’s commitment to fostering a thoughtful, intellectual community where both personal and academic growth are supported.
My favorite moment has to be presenting at the MCLC symposium in my junior year. Not only did I get to share my research, but I also got to do so in a supportive environment.
After graduation, I’ll be participating in a pre-PhD program at the University of Michigan, then I’ll be traveling to Pompeii and Rome to study ancient and modern graffiti. Following that, I’ll be taking a gap year while applying to graduate schools in the classics.
Thank you!!
For more student spotlights, follow us on Instagram @MCLCRice.
Alumni News
Alicia Dugar Stephenson, ‘12
Yoga Diplomat, Researcher, and Author
Mission: World Peace Through Inner Peace
GOLD Yoga Institute
Bonjour tout le monde. My life was changed forever by my time at Rice, especially studying abroad in Nice, France, through the exchange program with L’Université de Nice.
My biggest lesson came from the frustration of minor mistakes in classes and speaking after years of study. On the bus to class at the university one day, I overheard a little French boy talking nonstop with his mom. I remember feeling embarrassed and a bit envious of how easily he could just go on and on in a language that I had been studying longer than his years on the planet. At the peak of my internal self-judgement spiral, he was interrupted by his mom to correct a mistake he had made. He didn’t even pause in reflection; he just repeated her correction and continued to chatter away. I was floored! This was the key that I needed: stop wasting time judging myself and carry on.
At Rice, I double-majored in French Studies and Political Science with an International Relations specialization. Now I use my degree as a yoga diplomat, author, and teacher trainer, which means that I get to lead others in a sensitive and effective way. I speak at companies, guest-teach at conferences, create documentaries, and lead research on the way that being peaceful impacts the world around us. I still remember that mistakes are just stepping stones on our journey to learning and implementing.
Dr. Karen Kossie-Chernyshev, ‘85
We are honored to feature a reflective piece titled “French Is the Tie That Binds: Before, During, and After Rice” by Dr. Karen Kossie-Chernyshev, a proud Rice alumna from the Classes of 1985, 1996, and 1998. In this generous contribution, Dr. Kossie-Chernyshev recounts her journey with French Studies—how it began, how it shaped her time at Rice, and how it continues to influence her life and work today. Her essay offers meaningful insight into the enduring impact of language and cultural study across time and experience.
Meredith McCain, ‘20
My post-Rice parcours thus far has been strongly influenced by the experiences I had at Rice, particularly through the French studies program. While at Rice, I took fascinating courses with Professors Fette, Couti, and Nelson-Campbell, which culminated in my senior thesis under the direction of Prof. Fette, entitled “La Crise migratoire en Méditerranée : entre la France, l’Union européenne et les Organisations non-gouvernementales”. I also did a semester exchange at Sciences Po in Menton, France as a recipient of the Clyde Ferguson Bull scholarship, in addition to summer internships in Paris and Dakar, Senegal through Rice’s Center for Civic Leadership.
After graduating Rice in 2020 with majors in Political Science and French Studies, I began my Master’s degree in human rights and humanitarian action at Sciences Po Paris with the support of the Longview Scholarship from the Sciences Po American Foundation. My coursework at Sciences Po allowed me to explore the international framework of human rights and humanitarian protections taught by seasoned professionals. I took a particular interest in migration, strongly influenced by my French honor’s thesis at Rice. After Sciences Po, I worked on the West Africa team for the International Republican Institute, a nonpartisan NGO that supports civil society and democracy-strengthening projects globally. Through this role, I had the opportunity to work on election observation missions in The Gambia and Sierra Leone. I then decided I wanted to resume my migration research interests as well as improve my Arabic, which I started studying at Rice through CLIC, so for the past year and a half I had the opportunity to undertake a Fulbright Student Research grant in Morocco. During my time in the culturally and historically rich North African country, I investigated the linguistic and cultural integration of university students from sub-Saharan Africa in the Moroccan context. Combining my nascent knowledge of West Africa and migration with my own lived experience of being an international student in France, I was able to connect with students all over Morocco through my ethnographic study.
To say my French courses at Rice strongly impacted me would be an understatement. Thanks to my academic coursework and the support of mentors in the French department and beyond, my time at Rice continues to indelibly shape the path I am taking post-graduation. And for that, mille fois merci!
Event Highlights and Community Outreach
MCLC’s Chevaliers de l'Ordre des Palmes Académiques
On October 9th, 2024, Julie Fette and Jacqueline Couti, alongside Lisa Darling, received one of the highest academic distinctions awarded by the French government.
They were granted the prestigious rank of Chevaliers de l'Ordre des Palmes Académiques. Julie Fette was honored with this award last year, and this year's recipient was Jacqueline Couti. The celebration took place in October, with the French Ambassador presenting the well-deserved medals. MCLC and French Studies made a strong showing at the event.
Global Black French Studies across Time and Space Conference with MCLC's Jacqueline Couti, Linsey Sainte-Claire, and Caroline Fache
The inaugural Global Black French Studies across Time and Space Conference was a resounding success, taking place at Boston College from October 3 – 5, 2024. Jacqueline Couti and five other esteemed conveners—Jennifer Anne Boittin, Audrey Célestine, Rachel Jean-Baptiste, Trica Keaton, and Lorelle Semley —led the charge, bringing together over 100 dedicated participants, including presenters and community members. This powerhouse event delved deep into the past, present, and future of Black French Studies, with a thought-provoking keynote from Mame Fatou-Niang. MCLC faculty members were well represented; Dr. Caroline Fache and Linsey Sainte-Claire made impactful contributions with their presentations. The conference exemplified the remarkable outcomes possible through collaborative efforts. We are grateful to Lorelle Semley for hosting the conference at Boston College. For a comprehensive overview, visit the conference website.
MCLC’s Second Undergraduate Research Symposium
Four MCLC students participated in the second edition of the MCLC Undergraduate Symposium on November 8, 2025. They shared their outstanding research projects with professors and fellow students, engaging in thoughtful discussions and showcasing the breadth and depth of their work across languages, literatures, and cultures. Their presentations reflected the intellectual curiosity and scholarly dedication fostered within the MCLC program.
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Haiti and the World: Global Encounters of the Past, Present and Future
Jacqueline Couti and Linsey Sainte-Claire organized Haiti and the World: Global Encounters of the Past, Present, and Future, an international symposium that occurred on February 7–8, 2025. The event showcased Haiti’s rich cultural legacy and global influence while challenging persistent myths and stereotypes.
The symposium delved into Haiti’s history, current challenges, and future prospects, addressing themes such as historical context, socio-political and economic issues, and ecological concerns. Participants engaged in dynamic panel discussions, roundtables, and presentations featuring scholars, artists, and community leaders from Houston and beyond.
Rice University’s multimedia journalist, Brandi Smith, wrote an article about the symposium. If you would like to read it, please click here.
MCLC & CLIC Senior Reception
On May 9th, 2025, MCLC & CLIC had their joint senior reception for their graduating seniors. MCLC celebrated the 73 majors and minors from Classical Studies, European Studies, French Studies, German Studies, Latin American & Latinx Studies, and Spanish & Portuguese Studies.
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Study Abroad
Students expressed their gratitude in letters to the Clyde Ferguson Bull Fellowship for the opportunity to study abroad during the summer of 2024.
Sutter Armistead
Thank you so much for allowing me the incredible opportunity to study abroad in France in the summer of 2024! Studying abroad has been a dream of mine ever since I started taking French in middle school, as I always wanted to have the chance to properly immerse myself in French culture. Although I decided not to do an entire semester abroad in order to align with my academic goals and opted for a summer program instead, I had an incredible experience and am so grateful for the time I was able to spend there. Your financial support in the form of the Bull Scholarship was immensely helpful in allowing me to fulfill this dream, and I am so thankful to have had this opportunity.
I was able to meet French people, live with a French family, and explore so many cities and cultural sites that I could have never imagined. I expected this summer to be extremely meaningful in the context of my life, but I feel that I still underestimated how important this summer would be for me. I truly believe that this summer I spent abroad in the south of France is something I will remember for the rest of my life, and I want to extend my most sincere thanks for your role in allowing me to have this life-changing experience!
Izzy Gutierrez
Having just returned to Rice, I’ve realized how fortunate I was to be able to study abroad in the Fall. I spent the semester in Paris, France, and I truly feel like I found a second home there. I often remember my walks by the Seine, afternoons spent in the Parc Montsouris, the always-crowded Galeries Lafayette, and many nights watching the Eiffel Tower sparkle. I had the opportunity to take courses with IES Abroad that I wouldn’t normally take at Rice. My favorites were a history of fashion course, a literature course about American expatriate writers, and my most memorable course was an art history course. The art history course was a last-minute change. It was entirely in French, and I switched to it because I wanted to take another French course, and it was one of the few that fit into my schedule. We had class Monday and Wednesday afternoons, where Mondays would be spent discussing an art movement, learning French vocab, and analyzing art pieces. That Wednesday, we would travel together to the museum of this art movement and often would see the paintings we discussed in person. My favorite painting from this experience was “La Naissance de Vénus” by Alexandre Cabanel, which was displayed in the Musée d’Orsay. The grandeur of the train station turned museum was breathtaking, and seeing this beautiful painting casually displayed in one of the less-crowded rooms made me realize the depth and beauty of the history of this city that I was living in. I am so grateful to have received the Fellowship because it largely contributed to my being able to travel. I spent many weekends running through airports and many train rides trying to find a hotel to stay in that night. I went to places like Brussels, London, Amsterdam, and Venice. I also was fortunate enough to travel around France with my program, to places like Normandy,
Strasbourg, and Reims. Overall, I am so happy that I got to experience the joy of studying in Paris, and I am very thankful for your help with living this dream.
Will Marsden
My name is Will Marsden, and I am a current junior at Rice University. I want to start by saying a big thank you for allowing me to have the best summer of my life so far!
With the Clyde Ferguson Bull Fellowship, I had the opportunity to engage in a 6-credit-hour internship program in Paris, France. I spent eight amazing weeks living in the 2nd arrondissement with a host family, working with a Parisian Art Historian and her business, and taking French courses on professional life and culture in France. Not only was I able to meet like-minded students with the same passion for French that I have, but I also had the opportunity to experience a true French day-to-day life.
My internship in Paris took me to many places, including le Palais Galliera, le Centre Georges Pompidou, and la Samaritane. Additionally, I was able to work backstage during Paris Fashion Week and see the behind-the-scenes of a real French haute couture fashion show. Balancing my work life as well as my courses was a demanding schedule. However, my interactions and conversations with French people were no doubt reinforced in the classroom. I am now more confident than ever with my French and am excited to continue my studies. In the future, I hope to pursue a career that takes me abroad. Having had this experience this past summer, I feel ready to take this jump.
Thank you very much for allowing me to have this opportunity! I can say confidently that it has changed my life for the better. I truly appreciate it.
Kaira Sheth
I am writing to express my heartfelt gratitude for the Bull Fellowship, which allowed me to study abroad in Aix-en-Provence, France. This experience has profoundly impacted my academic journey and personal growth, and I am eager to share some highlights with you.
During my time in Aix-en-Provence, I enrolled in two enriching courses. The first course was centered on cultural and language immersion, where I not only honed my French language skills but also delved into the local customs and traditions. The course enabled me to engage with the vibrant culture of Provence, enhancing my understanding of the region's history and social dynamics. The second course, "Women in the Mediterranean," was particularly enlightening. It explored the roles and representations of women throughout Mediterranean history, focusing on their contributions to society and culture. This course broadened my perspective and deepened my appreciation for the complexities of gender roles in different historical contexts. The discussions and readings inspired me, and I found myself reflecting on the material long after class had ended.
Moreover, living with a host family enriched my experience significantly because my host mom was not only welcoming but also eager to share her knowledge of the local culture. Conversations with her provided me with insights into daily life in France, from culinary traditions to societal norms. These interactions helped me practice my language skills in a natural setting and fostered a sense of belonging during my stay.
In addition to my coursework, I had the opportunity to participate in various cultural excursions.
One memorable trip was to La Ciotat, where I explored the stunning coastline and learned about the region's maritime history. I also visited the famous lavender fields, where it was a joy to learn about the agricultural practices that sustain the beautiful landscape. Another highlight was my visit to Nice, where I experienced the city's rich art scene and stunning Mediterranean beaches. The combination of history, art, and natural beauty left a lasting impression on me.
The Bull Fellowship made all of this possible. Your support not only alleviated the financial burden of studying abroad but also encouraged me to immerse myself fully in this transformative experience. I returned home with a deeper understanding of cultural nuances, enhanced language skills, and a renewed sense of purpose in my studies. Thank you once again for your generosity and vision in supporting students like me. I am truly grateful for this opportunity and look forward to applying what I have learned in my future endeavors.
Maggie Tsyganova
I am writing to thank you for helping advance my studies with the Bull fellowship. The fellowship helped cover a majority portion of my study abroad program this summer, introducing me to new subjects I had never studied before but am now eager to pursue at a higher level.
This past June and July, I participated in the School of International Training’s International Studies and Multilateral Diplomacy Program in Geneva and Nyon, Switzerland. In my six weeks, I took two courses and conducted a research project. In my international relations and diplomacy course, I learned about numerous topics within geopolitics, international law, and political psychology, and I also got to visit the United Nations office in Geneva and hear guest lecturers speak at the World Trade Organization headquarters.
I pursued my own research project in the second half of the program. With the help of sentiment analysis software, I conducted a media analysis of China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). I specifically used French-language French newspaper media and Russian-language Kazakhstani newspaper media as a case study to analyze linguistic nuances between Western European and Central Asian media regarding the BRI. I also found it interesting to learn more about China's vast economic projects and linguistic influences around the world, since I am also studying Mandarin in college. This research project allowed me to develop my interests within international relations and linguistics, two subjects I hope to take more classes on in the future.
My second course of the program was a French class where I got to advance my French language and grammar knowledge. Throughout my time in Switzerland, I lived with a French-speaking host family and got to practice my French daily during meal times. Traveling the country also allowed me to further practice my French, as well as learn about Swiss culture and life. This was my first time in Switzerland, and I was particularly fascinated by the emphasis of linguistic diversity, meal times, and family gatherings.
The fellowship allowed me to pursue this study abroad program which not only introduced me to possible international relations careers, but also gave me a new appreciation and desire to continue my studies in Europe in the future. While I am currently studying Economics and French at Rice, I now see myself returning to Europe to pursue a graduate degree within international relations.
Thank you again for helping support my summer abroad studies. I am forever grateful.
Madrid 2025
Tracing Valle-Inclán Across Madrid
As part of a lively literary scavenger hunt, students roamed Madrid uncovering key locations from Ramón María del Valle-Inclán’s Noches de Bohemia. This interactive activity brought the play’s world to life, guiding students through the city’s iconic plazas, cafés, and theaters while deepening their connection to Spanish modernist literature.
El Prado Museum
A packed elevator and a quick photo op—one of the few allowed inside the Prado Museum! Despite the tight squeeze, students captured a fun moment during their visit to one of the world’s greatest art collections, home to masterpieces by Goya, Velázquez, and El Greco.
Views from the Alhambra
A highlight of the course trip was the visit to the Alhambra in Granada. This photo showcases the breathtaking views from the historic palace, where centuries of history and stunning architecture inspired moments of reflection and wonder. A true testament to Spain’s rich cultural mosaic.
Awards and Fellowships
French Studies – Bull Fellowship
Summer 2025
- Alysa Bijl-Spiro – Study Abroad at Université de Grenoble Alpes
- Yuhan Emily Xue – Study Abroad with Rice in France and with the Study Abroad program in Toulouse
German Studies – Leipzig Fellowship
Summer 2025
- Noa Berz – Herder Institute, interDaf in Leipzig, Germany
- Ryan Olatunji – Herder Institute, interDaf in Leipzig, Germany
Spanish and Portuguese Studies – Madrid Study Abroad
Summer 2025
- Eric Chen
- Saul Gonzalez
- Madeleine Harrell
- Ashley Ramirez
Acknowledgements
Once again, this year, we are deeply grateful for the dedicated work of our MCLC program advisors: Hilary Mackie – Classical Studies, Linsey Sainte-Claire – French Studies, Astrid Oesmann – German Studies, Paula Park – Latin American and Latinx Studies, and Rafael Salaberry – Spanish and Portuguese Studies. Their efforts ensured that students received thoughtful, individualized guidance and support throughout the advising period. In addition to helping students navigate course selection and degree requirements, program advisors played a crucial role in managing enrollment and actively recruiting students to our programs. Their ongoing commitment contributes significantly to the strength and visibility of MCLC within the broader university community.
Stay in Touch
Do not hesitate to contact us to let us know what you have been doing since you graduated from Rice.
Linktree
Instagram: @MCLCRice
Email: cultures@rice.edu