Alumni Profiles

B.A. in French and Sociology with honors ; Certificate in European Studies and Gender & Women’s Studies

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Where are you from originally?

Clayton, Missouri, which is a suburb of St. Louis.

Why did you choose to pursue your French Major at UW-Madison?

The reason I looked at UW-Madison in the first place was because I’d heard about the highly ranked French program, so I knew before I even started here that I’d be a French major. I’ve always been passionate about French since I first started learning the language in sixth grade. I knew that I wanted to pursue a degree in French at an institution like UW which would challenge me, allow me to work closely with faculty, and provide me with unique learning opportunities like The French House.  The first college course I ever took was French 271 with Professor Miernowski; I loved it so much that I declared the major within the first few weeks of my first semester. I also met my best friend, Charlotte, in that class!  I knew right away that UW FRIT was the right place for me.

What was a favorite course you took in your French Major on the UW campus and why?

I can’t pick a favorite course, but one that I really enjoyed was FR 825: Grammaire et Style with Prof. Martine Debaisieux which I took online during Spring 2021. As my professors will tell you, I am a nerd when it comes to French grammar, so I very much enjoyed the chance to learn about the complex nuances of the language.  The course taught me how to play with language to create different stylistic effects and allowed me to improve my style both in the creative and analytical domains. I also learned to connect my love of language with my other, more sociological areas of study to develop my research interests.  I especially loved the class because of the tight knit community. Since it was my first graduate level course, I experienced a lot of imposter syndrome, but my classmates were all very supportive and made me feel welcome. I really enjoyed working with Prof. Debaisieux, as she helped me surmount my anxieties and challenged me in a positive way. I also loved the guest appearance of her cat, Griloup, who shared my love for the subjonctif à l’imparfait. R.I.P. Griloup <3

Did you study abroad / Intern abroad / or have an experience abroad? 

I was not able to study abroad during college, as my program was cancelled because of COVID-19. However, I did participate in a month-long study abroad program run by Tufts University during the summer after my junior year of high school. I studied French and international relations in an old castle in Talloires, France. My host family lived in Annecy, France, which was a breathtaking city. As part of my program, we hiked the Alps and got to see the United Nations in Geneva. What sticks out to me about my time in Annecy is the slow, relaxed pace of life, as it was just so different from any place I had ever been before. Everyone would just casually go swim in the lake for two hours during lunch and then go back to work/school.

What other activities did you pursue as an undergraduate ?

During my time as an undergraduate, I spent a lot of time at the Hillel Jewish Student Center. I served on the student board, worked as a Social Justice Intern, started a book club, and directed the We Talk Feminism club.  Another important part of my undergraduate experience was the French House, where I lived for two years. At one point I was a club officer for the French Ambassadors, and I was also part of CHAMP, the Chronic Health Allies Mentorship Program.  During my first few years of school, I was a psych major, and I worked in two social psychology labs studying prejudice and bias intervention training. I also worked for the University as a Campus Tour Guide and as Bucky’s Classroom Ambassador.

What are your plans now that you have graduated?

For the duration of the 2022-2023 academic year, I will be working as an English language teaching assistant in Bordeaux, France as part of the TAPIF program. During the summer, I plan to work on my graduate school applications, as I plan to pursue an MA/PhD in French Studies. I’m interested in studying 19-21st century literature with a focus on syntactical/lexical elements. I hope to combine my passion for the French language with my other, more sociological interests in laïcité, national identity, and feminist theory. I am also considering going into the field of translation/ interpretation and/or continuing my studies of Spanish and Italian.

What will you miss most about college, Madison, or both?

I’m a very sentimental person and I hate change, so I am really struggling with leaving UW. I’m really going to miss the people with whom I’ve cultivated friendships and professional relationships over the past few years.  I’m also definitely going to miss eating cheese curds at the Terrace (my favorite Wisconsin food and my favorite place)!

Is there anything else you want to share? 

Towards the end of Spring 2021, I had a major health crisis that caused me to move back home right before the start of the Fall 2021 semester.  I think that experience caused me to appreciate Madison, and the French Department in particular, so much more because I realized just how much this community means to me. I am truly so grateful to all my professors for their support and guidance, as well as to the FRIT grad students who took me under their (collective) wing this semester.

 

B.A. in Italian, Classical Humanities and History ; Certificate in European Studies

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Where are you from originally?

I am originally from Baldwin, a small town in western Wisconsin near the St. Croix River.

Why did you choose to pursue your Italian Major at UW-Madison?

Choosing to pursue the Italian major at UW-Madison was an easy decision once I began taking Italian language courses. I wanted to take more and more courses with my group of Italian peers and the friendly and engaging faculty. The academic experience that one enjoys by studying a language is unique. I think the faculty within the Department of French and Italian really cultivates a positive atmosphere of intellectual enrichment while focusing on the rewards that multilingualism offers.

What was a favorite course you took in your Italian Major on the UW campus and why?

My favorite Italian course that I took during my time on campus was Italian 321: Studies in Italian Literature and Culture I which focused on the classics of Italian literature from the Medieval period and Renaissance. I found the Italian masterpieces that we studied fascinating and challenging. Seeing how the Italian language has morphed and transformed was so interesting and reading the classics like Dante and Petrarch was so rewarding (to anyone wondering, take the course and read these works –– these authors are not overrated!).

What other activities did you pursue as an undergraduate?

Beyond my academic pursuits, I acted as president of the UW-Madison Classics Society and as an ambassador for Italian studies. In my senior year, I was active in the Italian Club and volunteering for the UW Frozen Meals program. I volunteered in local middle and high schools and in conservation with the NRCS. I taught Italian to two middle school students and worked for the Wisconsin Historical Society within the Museum Archaeology Program in curation.

What are your plans now that you have graduated?

After graduation, I’ll be staying on at WHS to work in curation for Wisconsin’s archaeological finds as well as continuing to teach Italian for the summer. After the summer, I plan on travelling for a year playing music, selling artwork, and exploring new places. I then intend to obtain teaching licensure in TESOL and work with multilingual students.

What will you miss most about college, Madison, or both?

I will miss the community of Madison and the proximity to thousands of interesting students and teachers of all ages and backgrounds from all over the world. I hope wherever I’m at, I can connect with those who challenge me to think differently and explore our cool world!