From the moment when I chose to study French, based largely on my family history, as the granddaughter of a Canadian hailing from Halifax, Nova Scotia, a province that is still home to some French-speakers, and my interest in Charles Dickens’ depiction of the French Revolution in A Tale of Two Cities, I have felt driven to learn as much as possible about the French language and the countries where it is spoken. A semester spent at l’Université de la Sorbonne in Paris in the fall of 2001, and an academic year spent at l’Université François-Rabelais in Tours, France, gave me the opportunity to experience life in French, to see a new aspect of French culture every day, and to meet people who taught me a great deal about other cultures.

Since that time, I have had the chance to experience the cultures of Quebec and Belgium. These opportunities to visit French-speaking areas outside of France have given me a stronger appreciation for the diversity of the Francophone world, both culturally and linguistically.

My research interests include French Cultural Studies, Maghrebi-French Studies, Quebec Studies, Franco-American relations, 19th-century French literature, World Cinema in French, Francophone music in its political contexts, representations of contemporary migration to Europe, Flaubertian Studies, and bilingual education.

At Susquehanna University, I look forward to exploring the richness of the French language, and that of the literatures, cultures, and cinemas of the French-speaking world, with my students, as they have opportunities to use the language in ways that are meaningful to them, and that allow them to engage in constructive ways with the world around them.