The Department of Modern Languages and Cultures hosts several events each year. Many of our events focus on internationalism, cultural identity, language learning, and celebrations of student achievement. Below is information about our upcoming and past events.
Please check back on this page as information about our upcoming events will be posted when available.
The Department of Modern Languages and Cultures celebrated our 2023 graduates at a luncheon celebration on May 18th in Xavier Global House.
The Department of Modern Languages & Cultures and The Career Engagement Office held our Language For My Career event on May 2nd. Students heard from guest speakers about the importance of learning a second language for their career.
The Modern Languages and Cultures Department faculty was curious about the impact that learning another language has had on other people's lives and we created this event to find that out. Hence, sponsored by Global Engagement, we invited four speakers: Andy Havens, a student who walked us through his experience learning Arabic; Photography Professor Claire Garoutte who told us about her journey with French and Spanish; Professor Olivia Quiroz, Director of International Academic Affairs from our sister institution -Universidad Iberoamericana in Puebla-, who talked about studying English, and Provost Shane Martin who shared his thoughts about learning Spanish. Our hope was to gather as a community to listen to these engaging speakers to get inspired or rekindle our desire to get to know and respectfully engage with other cultures and, thanks to all who accepted our invitation, it was a great success.
Faculty and students of the Modern Languages and Cultures department gathered in Xavier to celebrate the class of 2022.
The Modern Languages and Cultures Department presented this online conversation on February 24, 2022. Alumni shared with current students and the community at large how learning a second language contributed to their personal growth, helped build their intercultural proficiency, and opened unexpected doors that propelled and enriched their careers.
In November 2021, Seattle University students enrolled in first-year Spanish courses had the opportunity to virtually meet with students in Ecuador to improve their Spanish-language skills while engaging in intercultural dialogues. This activity was made possible as part of the dual language immersion program offered by the Association of Universities Entrusted to the Society of Jesus in Latin America (AUSJAL). More than 30 Jesuits universities across the United States and Latin America participate in this program. This was Seattle University’s first time participating in the program, and the activity was coordinated through the Department of Modern Languages and Cultures.
Also, as part of the initial and fruitful partnership of the Spanish section of Modern Languages and Cultures with AUSJAL, and with the aim of interdisciplinary collaboration between departments within our institution and with universities in Latin America, SU was represented by Dr. Serena Cosgrove (Latin American and International Studies, Central America Initiative) in a Virtual Dual Immersion (VDI) webinar on the Martyrs of the Universidad Centroamericana, El Salvador. More than a hundred participants from various universities across the Americas attended this presentation.
These two events are the beginning of a series of activities that will bring closer members of diverse academic communities across Jesuit Universities in the US and Latin America with the purpose to keep on nurturing intercultural exchanges and understanding.
Professor of Japanese, Shizuko Suenaga, PhD, has been granted the honorary rank of Professor Emerita following her retirement after 21 years at SU at the end of spring 2023. The colleagues of Shizuko sensei are very proud of her accomplishments and will miss her dearly.
Professors Annelise Pedersen, Maria Leon, Cecilia Simpson, Diana Luna, and Inés Miranda of the Modern Languages & Cultures Department were promoted to Associate Teaching Professor beginning academic year 2023-2024. Their colleagues are very proud of their hard work and accomplishments.
Spanish and Social Work graduate Cullin Egge ('23) was selected as the recipient of the 2023 Richard P. Hickey Award. Each year one or two students from the College of Arts and Sciences are selected for the award. Selection of the awardee is based upon the student(s)' total contribution to academic life and is made by the department chairs and program directors of the College.
Read about what our FiFaA students have been up to while abroad!