Spring semester of 2020 tumbled onto the university with challenge and change, but with that came determination, support, and kindness. Despite the difficulties, FRIT has continued to provide excellent pedagogy, engage in innovative research, and work collaboratively.
We are incredibly grateful to our faculty, associated faculty, and graduate teaching associates for successfully taking on the huge task of moving their courses to virtual teaching mid semester. We are humbled by the perseverance and support of our undergraduate students. A big shout out goes to language program directors and course coordinators, who moved dozens of introductory language sections online with a week’s notice. Thank you also to our graduate students, who continue to impress us with their research, teaching, and other accomplishments (more on that here). Thank you to staff for making sure things run as smoothly as possible behind the scenes. Most of all, we are so grateful for and so lucky to have the amazing leadership, guidance, and support of our department chair, Dana Renga!
Though the semester has not been an easy one, we have supported each other through Zoom cheer and pet Zoom appearances. Here are some photos of the furry friends that have kept us company at home, some fun Zoom snapshots, and of course, everyone’s favorite – pets on Zoom.
Dana Renga is a wonderful department chair for many reasons, but one of them is that she lets us bring our pets to online department meetings! Special shout out to Assistant Professor of Italian Luca Peretti for creativity.
Maggie Flinn, Associate Professor of French, seems to have an official co-teacher.
Associated faculty of French, Adela Lechintan-Siefer, shared these snapshots of her student Miranda with dog Jean-Luc (named after Jean-Luc Picard), and her French 1103 students. She comments that the latter is “a great image of the optimism and solidarity that her class has shown.”
Professor of French, Danielle Marx-Scouras, shared this image of Sirius, her gran kitty, with whom with she FaceTime’s daily.
French Graduate Teaching Associate, Aleksandra Suslina, takes her French 1101 students around the world even during this time!
Judging by the reaction of Nyla and Rumi, Associate Professor of French Jennifer Willging is working too much.
The smily-est doggy award goes to this buddy, pal of Rebecca Bias, who teaches courses in French and is the Assistant Director of the Center for Languages, Literatures and Cultures.
The cutest puppy award definitely goes to Huxley, the newest family member of FRIT’s Office Associate, Nicole Allender.
Renga shared these images of her Italian 2055 class with their pets, and of co-instructor Ollie the Pyrenees.
Giuliano Migliori, associated faculty in Italian, also found some four-legged students in his Italian 5101 class.
Last, but not least, this is what Matisse looks like as he works on this newsletter.
Thank you to everyone for sharing these photos and for making this semester count!
