Modern Languages & Literatures

It was another busy and productive year in the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures (MLL) with gratifying recognitions, engaging events and the sustained pursuit of excellence in teaching, research and service.

This year, we welcomed two new faculty members to our Spanish and Japanese programs, bid farewell and happy retirement to two longtime colleagues and celebrated the promotion of an associate instructor. Our faculty’s achievements were also recognized with a Research Incentive Award, four Teaching Incentive Program awards and a College of Arts and Humanities Excellence in Research award. Our administrative staff also earned well-deserved kudos, with Susan Jefferson, Administrative Coordinator II, being recognized with a 2024 CAH A&P Staff Recognition Award.

MLL faculty continued to cultivate a strong record of research with the publication of three books and over twenty-five articles and other scholarly and creative publications, as well as participation in more than thirty conferences in disciplines ranging from medieval literature to linguistics to innovations in pedagogy. Faculty were also active in new and ongoing activities funded by nearly $6 million in grants awarded by entities, including the U.S. Department of Education and the National Science Foundation. Many MLL faculty continued to expand their expertise in educational technologies, AI and innovative approaches to teaching through workshops and training opportunities offered at UCF and beyond.

Thanks to our faculty’s dedication and creativity, students had many opportunities to engage with languages and cultures outside the classroom. Our annual “Language Speed Dating” event brought the language learning experience to the Student Union, allowing the UCF community to sample a variety of languages in a fun setting. Students embraced Chinese culture through karaoke and poetry translation, Japanese through calligraphy workshops, Italian and French through regular conversation hours and Russian food and culture through monthly Russian Tea Hours. Further, dozens of students were able to immerse themselves in new cultures through the Summer 2023 study abroad programs in Paris, Florence, Azerbaijan, Peru, Barcelona and Berlin.

MLL hosted events that shared our disciplinary interests with the greater community. Two lectures in the Neil Euliano Chair in Italian Studies series brought Italian history and contemporary culture into the spotlight and made a significant academic impact. At this spring’s UCF Celebrates the Arts, a TESOL faculty member participated on a panel organized by the Florida Prison Education Project, a UCF initiative focused on expanding educational opportunities for incarcerated people. Students of Japanese engaged with the community as volunteers at the Orlando Japan Festival. The third annual Latino/LatinX Film Festival, a week-long, grant-funded interdepartmental collaboration that included panel discussions and guest speakers along with movie screenings, was an opportunity to focus on the best of UCF as a Hispanic Serving Institution. MLL faculty also interviewed alumni for our podcast, “Futures in Languages,” publishing fifteen new episodes in this series that share the experiences of our former students making the most of their language and cultural education in the professional world. Several faculty members also had the opportunity to present for UCF’s Learning Institute for Elders (LIFE), furthering lifelong learning among the local community of seniors.

One faculty member’s accomplishments and contributions were recognized this year in a way that exemplifies the connection between what we do here at MLL and the promotion of language and culture more widely. Chiara Mazzucchelli, Dr. Neil Euliano Endowed Chair in Italian Studies, was named a Cavaliere dell’Ordine della Stella d’Italia (Knight of the Order of the Star of Italy). This award, Italy’s second highest civilian honor, is conferred by the President of the Italian Republic to Italian citizens residing abroad who have distinguished themselves in fostering positive relations between Italy and their “adopted” country.

In conclusion, the past year has been distinguished by the exceptional achievements of faculty members across various domains. Their dedication to teaching, research, professional development and community engagement has significantly contributed to our local and global commitment to languages and cultures. The selected highlights underscore the collective effort to foster an environment of innovation, collaboration and sharing within the walls of UCF and beyond.