Department of Romance Studies

April 25, 2023

A message from Zev Ross:

“My name is Zev Ross, and I’m the new WLC Fellow for 2022-223. I am a junior from Oakland, California, studying computer science. I love to learn new languages, and through this process to learn about different cultures and make new friends. 

As a kid, I learned Hebrew for as long as I can remember, but when I got to high school I decided to learn some Spanish, too, since my Grandma and her mother spoke it fluently. I really enjoyed Spanish, and although I’ve forgotten most of it by now, it made me want to learn more languages, too. 

So far at Brandeis, I’ve taken four semesters of Arabic and two of Chinese (three counting this semester), and I’ve been learning Japanese independently for about three years now. The language courses here are fantastic, and taking them has been one of the best decisions I’ve made in college by far.

Whether it’s reading foreign text for the first time, helping out someone who doesn’t speak English, or understanding some song lyrics, language learning has so many satisfying moments. Every single language has so much beauty inside of it, and so many people go their whole lives without noticing what other languages have to share. As the new WLC Fellow, I will do my best to share the wonders of language learning in an engaging and entertaining way!”

For questions or more information, email Zev Ross or check out the WLC website or Brandeis Language Learning Facebook, Instagram, and Tiktok pages!

May 22, 2022

• Erin Islay Magill, winner of the Anna S. Aronson Memorial Award given to a student with outstanding promise in French and Francophone Studies
• Alaina Dawn Solomon, winner of the Murray Sachs Prize for Outstanding Work and Dedication in French and Francophone Studies
• Savannah Emily Jackson and Huining Xia, winners of the Eli D. and Mollie Goodstein Prizes in Spanish
• Rachel Gavriella Klein and Nicholas August Simonetti, winners of the Turock Family Prizes in Italian Studies

The Romance Studies faculty and staff enjoyed celebrating your accomplishments at the Humanities Diploma Ceremony.

April 18, 2022

Catherine Theobald, Associate Professor of French and Francophone Studies, is one of the 44 recipients of a 2022 Marion and Jasper Whiting Foundation Fellowship, in support of her project, “Myth and Migration:" Linguistic and Artistic Intersections in Canada and New England.

Please join us in congratulating Catherine!

For more information, visit the Marion and Jasper Whiting Foundation page on the Research at Brandeis site.

March 29, 2022

In celebration of women’s history month, Hispanic Studies presented a Latina Poetry Night, with piano accompaniment by Alyssa Zylberger, on Wednesday, March 23, 2022. The event has been featured in The Justice: Romance Department hosts Latina Poetry Night! Thank you to everyone who participated and attended, and especially to Professors Zoila Castro, Lucía Reyes de Deu and Elena González Ros. 

March 3, 2022

ALEX GÓMEZ, FILM-MAKER AND JOURNALIST

Alex Gómez is a bilingual producer with over 20 years of experience in film and journalism and is the founder and creative director of Intercultural Productions, a socially motivated video production and multimedia company. 

His talk focused on his goal of creating media content that fosters positive change, promotes education, raises awareness, and inspires intercultural appreciation. Examples of his work on health-related content for the Spanish speaking communities in the Boston area were presented. 

Sponsored by the Hispanic Studies Program, Romance Studies Department, Brandeis University.

• Turpin, Kristen M. “Multiliteracies Pedagogy: Theory to Practice for Scaffolding Sustainability Literacies." Education for Sustainable Development in Foreign Language Learning. Ed. María J. de la Fuente. New York: Routledge, 2021. pp. 34-49.

The World Languages and Cultures Committee and the Division of Humanities, with generous support from the Provost and the Dean of Arts and Sciences, invited members of the Brandeis Community, especially language learning students, to experience and celebrate the linguistic diversity of Brandeis during the "I'm Global Week 2021." Individual language tables hosted speakers of Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Spanish, and Yiddish. If you speak several languages, visit multiple tables! No matter your level of proficiency, you are welcome! The only rule is NO ENGLISH!

August 30, 2021

A message from Tina:

“My name is Tina Li, and I am a junior studying business and East Asian studies at Brandeis. I am from Queens, New York, and I like to experience different cultures through languages and food. Growing up, my parents forced me to go to Saturday school to learn Chinese (very grateful for it). It wasn't until high school that I started to see the beauty and rich history of Chinese culture and its language. I also saw how language can be a stepping stone and tool to experience another’s culture, widen our perspectives and build friendships. 

In the latter half of high school, I learned Japanese at Japan Society. Anime was the gateway to my interest in Japanese language, which later spread into Japan’s music, film and literature. 

At Brandeis, I took a year of Korean. Being a kpop fan since second generation groups, I was very excited when I could read Korean letters and understand bits and pieces of a song. I also remember going to Hmart one day and walked out feeling proud because I understood all the labels. 

Moments like these make all the hard work, the hours poured into studying :’)  worth it. I will do my best as the World Language and Culture fellow to make language learning entertaining and engaging!”

For questions or more information, email Tina Li or check out the WLC website or Brandeis Language Learning Facebook, Instagram, and Tiktok pages!

• Mandrell, James. "Medio desmayada... ": Image and Intertextuality in Un viaje de novios." Siglo Diecinueve (literatura hispánica) 26. (2020): 61-86.
• Randall, Michael. "Violence et Identité dans la poésie tardive de Jean Molinet." Théories de la littérature à la Renaissance. Ed. David Laguardia and Todd Reeser. Paris: Garnier, 2021.
• Randall, Michael. "On the Appearance of Guy de Brimeu, le seigneur d’Humbercourt in 'De la Diversion,' III," "Global Montaigne: Mélanges en l’lhonneur de Philippe Desan." Ed. Amy Monroe Graves and Jean Balsamo. Paris: Garnier, 2021.
• Rosenberg, Fernando J. (co-author) "Repairing Symbolic Reparations: Assessing the Effectiveness of Memorialization in the Inter- American System of Human Rights. "International Journal of Transitional Justice" 14 (2020): 165-192.

May 23, 2021

Sincere congratulations to all of our Romance Studies majors and minors who graduated and special congratulations to:

• Rebecca Kane, winner of the Anna S. Aronson Memorial Award given to a student with outstanding promise in French and Francophone Studies

• Aaron Newitt, winner of the Eli D. and Mollie Goodstein Prize in Spanish

• Leah Sagan-Dworsky, winner of the Turock Family Prize in Italian Studies

• Akim Sanni, winner of the Murray Sachs Prize for Outstanding Work and Dedication in French and Francophone Studies

The Romance Studies faculty and staff enjoyed celebrating your accomplishments at the Humanities Virtual Diploma Ceremony and we look forward to celebrating in-person in the future.

May 5, 2021

Elena González Ros, Senior Lecturer in Hispanic Studies, and Kristen Turpin, Lecturer in Hispanic Studies, have been awarded a Provost Teaching Innovation Grant, in support of their project, Engagement, equitable learning and inclusion in HISP 32A to achieve intermediate proficiency in Spanish.

Please join us in congratulating Elena and Kristen!

For more information and the full list of recipients, visit the Provost’s Teaching Innovation Grants page.

April 28, 2021

Jessie Friedman, UDR for Hispanic Studies, has been selected as AY21-22 Lead UDR to represent all UDRs in the Division of Humanities!

Lead UDRs serve as liaisons between department/program UDRs, UDR Program staff and School of Arts and Sciences Division Heads. They meet with UDR program staff to discuss program activities and advise on new initiatives and UDR policy changes, and with School Division Heads to discuss academic and pedagogical issues in the division.  Additionally, they facilitate collaboration among department/program UDRs, support UDR trainings, and advise UDRs on an as needed basis.

Please join us in congratulating Jessie Friedman on her selection for this great leadership opportunity!

April 20, 2021

Lucía Reyes de Deu, assistant professor of Hispanic studies, received the Louis Dembitz Brandeis Prize for Excellence in Teaching. The award honors an individual for her outstanding teaching and carries a $2,500 prize.

Please join us in congratulating Lucia! You can find more information and quotes from students in the article Brandeis faculty honored with annual teaching and mentorship awards on BrandeisNOW.

April 15, 2021

Are you passionate about learning language? A proficient social media user? Interested in promoting language learning at Brandeis?

November 13, 2020

Thanks to all who came out to the tent despite the cold/rain to chat about FREN, HISP and ITAL courses, majors and minors! Maybe you can’t see behind our masks, but we’re all smiles, having a lovely socially-distanced time!

If you’d still like to take a sneak peek at our provisional lists of courses offered next semester, check out the ROMS Courses Page.

October 28, 2020

Thank you to alum, Danielle Meisler (Class of 2017, minor in Italian studies), who spoke with students from ITAL 30 and ITAL 128 about her experience as a volunteer in a migrants’ shelter Casa di Giorgia in Italy two years ago.

October 15, 2020

Professor María Durán is featured in BrandeisNOW. Be sure to check out the article to learn more about her class, Latina/x Feminisms: Writings of Feminist Resistance and Healing, and read some comments from her student, Kenia Arbaiza ’24.

October 13, 2020

The purpose of the challenge is to share and encapsulate the language learning experiences at Brandeis. Learning a language is a continuous process that is different for every individual. Sharing these experiences strengthens the community that language creates! 

Share a photo that showcases your language experience and submit it using the form below. The photo submission deadline is Oct. 27. A photo voting form will open Oct. 28 to vote for your favorite language learning photo. The challenge winner will be announced Nov. 3 and will receive a prize.

If you have any questions email (keziahcorbett@brandeis.edu).

Submission Form Link

July 7, 2020

A stellar review, published on Music Web International, reads in part:

“Viol consort Nota Bene and the quintet of singers whom they accompany have unearthed here a Renaissance gem, apparently its first recording. ...Overall this is a worthwhile excursion into a little known but stimulating corner of late Renaissance repertoire. Fans of this genre will find their investigations here amply rewarded.”

Background information from Sarah Mead:

“The concert, one of a series funded in part by the Brandeis Arts Council and the Mandel Center for Humanities, was part of an exploration that began with a collaboration with Ramie Targoff during the 2013 meeting of the New England Renaissance Conference.  

From its inception, this project (which included a week's campus residency capped with a multimedia performance in Slosberg) has been nurtured by Brandeis, culminating in the recording last summer on the Brandeis campus. In conjunction with that recording, my edition of the 28 madrigals was also published last summer, with thanks to the Brandeis library for helping me to obtain an excellent facsimile from Italy, and to Paola Servino of Romance Studies who was tremendously helpful, assisting me in communicating with the authorities in Italy.

The reviewer pays careful attention to the music and poetry, and has clearly captured the essence of what we had hoped to put across in our performance.”

Podcast about the multi-media performance of this program in Slosberg in 2017

Nota Bene, viol consort: Joanna Blendulf, Wendy Gillespie, Sarah Mead, Emily Walhout, with Julie Jeffrey
Guest vocalists: Anney Barrett, Alexander Nishibun, Jason McStoots, Michael Barrett, Steven Hrycelak
Readers: Marya Lowry and Paola Servino
with special thanks to Ramie Targoff, for her invaluable guidance on the poetry and world of Vittoria Colonna & Jonathan Unglaub, for advice and images of works by Michelangelo & his contemporaries
made possible by The Brandeis Arts Council, Brandeis Department of Music, The Poses Fund, Mandel Faculty Grants in the Humanities

June 8, 2020

Keziah is a sophomore Posse Scholar from Atlanta, Georgia, studying Health, Science, Society, and Policy (HSSP). At Brandeis, she is in her second year studying Chinese and volunteers with the Waltham Group. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with friends, knitting, and learning about various cultures and languages.

For a message from Keziah, watch her video introduction.

For questions or more information, email Keziah Corbett or check out the Brandeis Language Learning Facebook and Instagram pages!

April 29, 2020

May 19, 2024

Sincere congratulations to all of our Romance Studies majors and minors who graduated and special congratulations to:

• Alyssa N. Knudsen, winner of the Anna S. Aronson Memorial Award in French and Francophone Studies
• Emily Ineke McKerrow, winner of the Eli D. and Mollie Goodstein Prize in Spanish
• Berta Maria Muza, winner of the Turock Family Prize in Italian Studies
• Peter Zachary Mitelman, winner of one of the Selma and Joseph Finstein / Jeanette and Meyer Saval Prizes in Romance Studies
• Cooper Gottfried, winner of one of the Selma and Joseph Finstein / Jeanette and Meyer Saval Prizes in Romance Studies
• D'Arcy Julia Celeste Anselmi, winner of one of the Selma and Joseph Finstein / Jeanette and Meyer Saval Prizes in Romance Studies

 The Romance Studies faculty and staff also enjoyed recognizing your accomplishments at the Celebrating Language, Literature, and Culture Graduates in COML, EAS, ECS, GRALL, ROMS, and SAS Reception on Wednesday, May 15, 2024.

April 4, 2024

Congratulations to the winners of the Language Video Competition!

First Place: Russian
Сватовство по-русски / Russian Matchmaking
Creators: Alexandra Jenkin '25, Annaliese Merritt '26, Nachum Sullivan '27
Instructor: Irina Dubinina; TA: Jenia Zaretskaia

Second Place: Korean
에반의 언어와 문화쇼 / Evan's Culture Show
Creators: Evan Keleti '26, Janet Hu '26, Jacob Cha '26, Rosemary Sun '27
Instructor: Eun-Jo Lee

Third Place: Italian
Omicidio Nel Giorno della Fest della Donna / Murder of Women’s Day
Creators: J Minichiello '27, Lillie Singleton '26, Lance Zima '27, Andy Horrigan '27
Instructor: Paola Servino

Special Mention - Most Original Idea: German
Es gibt keine Monster mehr/ There are no more monsters now
Creators: Athena Bai ’26, Megan Lin ‘27
Instructor: Heidi Singh

Special Mention - Best Acting: Italian
Omicidio Nel Giorno della Fest della Donna / Murder of Women’s Day
Creators: J Minichiello '27, Lillie Singleton '26, Lance Zima '27, Andy Horrigan '27
Instructor: Paola Servino

To watch the winning videos, check out the WLC’s Brandeis Language Oscars page. To see all of the video finalists in French and Francophone, Hispanic, and Italian Studies, check out our ROMS Brandeis Language Oscars page.

Presented by World Languages and Cultures Committee and Office of the Dean of Arts and Sciences.

September 5, 2023

A message from the WLC Fellow:

“My name is Kenneth Sicat, and I am the World Languages and Cultures Fellow for the 2023 - 2024 academic year. I am a sophomore from Central Jersey majoring in Hispanic Studies and HSSP. I love learning languages and meeting people from diverse backgrounds.

As the World Languages and Cultures Fellow, I am primarily responsible for creating content regarding language events, language learning, history, and culture for the Brandeis Language Learning Instagram account (@brandeislanguagelearning). I am also super excited to create more content that showcases the great linguistic and cultural diversity that exists within the Brandeis Community. Make sure to check out the Instagram account to stay up to date with any events and news regarding all things language learning on campus.


Finally, if you have any questions regarding language learning at Brandeis or just want to chat, feel free to email me (kennethsicat@brandeis.edu).

I wish you all a great fall semester and happy language learning!”

For questions or more information, email Kenneth Sicat or check out the WLC website or Brandeis Language Learning Facebook, Instagram, and Tiktok pages!

August 11, 2023

A local Sicilian station highlights the Brandeis/Trinacria Theatre Company Management Internship Program, which is sponsored by the Brandeis Italian Studies Program. The interview features Lola Calotychos (2023 intern and current Brandeis student with expected graduation December 2023: Sociology Major, Legal Studies Minor), Dylan Hoffman (Brandeis Alum '18: Creative Writing Major, Italian Studies Minor, Theater Arts Minor), and Mariagrazia La Fauci (Trinacria Artistic Director). To watch the video (in Italian), visit: A Pezzolo da tutto il mondo grazie al teatro: arte, miti e… pasta alla norma VIDEO

May 21, 2023

Sincere congratulations to all of our Romance Studies majors and minors who graduated and special congratulations to:

• Jonathan Kelly, winner of the Anna S. Aronson Memorial Award given to a student with outstanding promise in French and Francophone Studies

• Annabel Wheeler, winner of the Murray Sachs Prize for Outstanding Work and Dedication in French and Francophone Studies

• Matthew Driben, winner of the Eli D. and Mollie Goodstein Prize in Spanish

• Renée Brown and Liana Perlman, winners of the Turock Family Prizes in Italian Studies

The Romance Studies faculty and staff also enjoyed recognizing your accomplishments at the Celebrating Language, Literature, and Culture Graduates in COML, EAS, ECS, GRALL, ROMS, and SAS Reception.

November 8, 2019

Two of our department members, Elena González Ros and Ellen Rounseville, had beautiful artwork featured in the sixth biannual JustArts Community Art Exhibition this November 2019. To read more about their work and the other faculty and staff submissions, click on the link above to the Hoot article. Congratulations, Elena and Ellen!

October 24, 2019

The students of HISP 196A, Latinx Theatre, held a Poster Exhibit including work on Latinx playwrights, performance artists, and theatre companies.

September 25, 2019

Catherine J. L. Theobald, Assistant Professor of French and Francophone Studies, is the first recipient of the Canadian Society for 18th Century Studies’s best essay prize for her article titled "Soaring Imaginations: The First Montgolfier Ballooning Spectacle at Versailles in Word and Image," which is to be published in Lumen, a highly respected journal. The 2020 issue’s theme is Wonder in the Eighteenth Century / L'Émerveillement au dix-huitième siècle. Please join us in congratulating Catherine on this wonderful honor.

September 13, 2019

The Midyear in Florence students recently had a 'language exchange' with some local Florentine students. They went out to eat, and then went on a group trip up to Piazzale Michelangelo to see a lovely view of Florence. It sounds like they enjoyed their time together so much that they decided to extend the outing by going to get gelato together as well!

September 10, 2019

Stefania Molinaro, UDR for Italian Studies, has been selected as Lead UDR to represent all UDRs in the Division of Humanities!

Lead UDRs will serve as liaisons between department/program UDRs, UDR Program staff and School of Arts and Sciences Division Heads. They meet with UDR program staff to discuss program activities and advise on new initiatives and UDR policy changes, and with School Division Heads to discuss academic and teaching issues in the division. Additionally, they facilitate collaboration among department/program UDRs, support UDR trainings, and advise UDRs on an as needed basis.

Please join us in congratulating Stefania Molinaro on her selection for this great leadership opportunity!

August 28, 2019

A message from Maddie:

I am a sophomore at Brandeis. Born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA, I am a double major in Anthropology and HSSP, while additionally pursuing Judaic Studies. Some of my many passions include Judaism, religion, prayer, writing, openly discussing mental health and illness, and (yes) language learning. 

Prior to university, I studied Spanish for 10 years, Hebrew for 7 years, and Mandarin for 4 years. Since starting at Brandeis I have continued my Hebrew studies and began learning Arabic (Modern Standard).

To me, language learning can build connections that transcend borders, and other physical or intangible barriers that exist within our world. Language learning, for me, has allowed me to expand my ways of thinking about the world and the individuals that exist within it.

As the new WLC fellow, I am not only hopefully a resource for students but also for instructors as well. To help in doing this, I would love to have any and all input or fun facts throughout my time as a fellow, from you all as instructors! I hope to create meaningful posts for everyone who chooses to follow the page. And I hope throughout the semester you all will communicate with me on what I can do to boost involvement and interest in the languages you all teach!

For questions or more information, email Maddie Herrup or check out the Brandeis Language Learning Facebook and Instagram pages!

July 8, 2019

Above is the link to a brochure advertising seminar-style courses that will be offered in the Division of the Humanities for the Fall 2019 semester.

The purpose of this guide is to draw your attention to Fall 2019 courses in the small seminar format, courses you might not hear about otherwise. Small seminars in the humanities provide opportunities to:

• engage in deep, interactive inquiry through focused discussion;
• explore other cultures and others’ lives;
• get to know faculty members on an individual level;
• meet students from a wide range of backgrounds.

Most of the courses listed here, those in the first section, are conducted entirely in English, although the second section includes courses taught in several other languages.

New student enrollment begins July 9, and general registration reopens on July 17.

April 16, 2019

Congratulations to the winners of the Language Video Competition!

To see the video finalists in French and Francophone, Hispanic, and Italian Studies, check out the Brandeis Language Oscars page.

Presented by World Languages and Cultures Committee and Office of the Dean of Arts and Sciences

March 12, 2019

On March 10, 2019, all members of the Brandeis community were invited to "Let's Dance! International Evening of Dance" that featured performances by various campus dance groups, brief dance lessons, international dance music, and various languages studied and spoken at Brandeis.

Professor Lucía Reyes de Deu’s research has been featured on CONICET, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (National Scientific and Technical Research Council – Argentina), and also in La Gaceta (a daily newspaper in Tucumán, Argentina).

El rol de la mujer en el sistema educativo desde una perspectiva de género (08-17-18)

Tras la huella anarquista en la educación tucumana (08-31-18)

February 27, 2018

Thank you to everyone who attended Kim Potowski's SPANISH IN THE US: Myths and realities event on Tuesday, February 27, 2018. If you missed the talk, check out the video!

November 14, 2017

April 21, 2017

Student of Italian Studies, Priya DeBerry, was featured in BrandeisNOW. For the summer 2015, Priya was awarded the essay prize in Italian Studies to study abroad in Siena. To learn more about her many talents and achievements, read her interview. Our own Paola Servino is mentioned as her biggest mentor. Congratulations to them both!

November 29, 2016

Professor Emeritus of French and Francophone Studies, Edward Kaplan, has recently published "Abraham Joshua Heschel: Une Biographie." The professor, rabbi, theologian and activist Abraham Joshua Heschel made a name for himself during the Civil Rights movement, criticizing the superficial tendencies of Judaism (both liberal and orthodox) along the way. His entire œuvre exalts the sanctity of human life through prayer, dialog and social work.

May 8, 2015

Michael Pizziferri, class of 2015, has made connections between the French and Francophone Studies program and the Québec Government Office and will now be the director of operations and global education programs at WorldBoston.

The Mandel Center for the Humanities Grants are competitive grants sponsored by the Mandel Foundation that promote faculty research projects over the summer. One of the four 2015 Faculty Research Grants was awarded to:

James Mandrell - "Nineteenth-Century Spanish Fiction and the Discourse on Food"

This project seeks to understand scenes in nineteenth-century Spanish fiction that involve food, moments which, if noticed at all, were read as reflecting nineteenth-century customs pertaining to food, including its preparation and by whom, the way it is served, and its consumption. However, detailed descriptions of foodstuffs and eating are more than reflections of customs in nineteenth-century Spain. These representations of food are complicit in discussions pertaining to national identity and tradition, the physical body and the body politic, social class and gender, and even technology and public health, all of which occur in a variety of texts, among them fiction, conduct manuals, periodical literature, cookbooks, and political and economic treatises.

March 6, 2015

The faculty committee of the minor in Creativity, the Arts and Social Transformation (CAST) has awarded grants to four members of the Brandeis faculty for research and creative projects. The awards will support creative and scholarly inquiry into theory and practice at the nexus of arts, culture and social change; enhance teaching and advising; and animate an interdisciplinary conversation about creativity, social justice and peacebuilding through the arts. One of the four 2015 grants was awarded to:

Azlin Perdomo, (Hispanic Studies, Romance Studies) "My American Girls"

Professor Perdomo will create an interactive art website that will engage students in the lives of five undocumented women she will interview. "Visually and structurally, it will closely resemble the American Girl website to invite the viewer to compare and confront how these immigrant women, not legally recognized as citizens, are indeed Americans," says Perdomo.

April 25, 2014

March 28, 2014

Professor Emerita of French and Francophone Studies and Women's and Gender Studies, Erica Harth, has recently published a mystery novel called Red Hill Blues. It is set in the 1950s Red Scare in a small New York village.