Alumni - Notes
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Lauren
Ackerman
(2008) |
![]() UPDATE: December 2015: " I received my PhD from the Department of Linguistics at Northwestern University in December 2015 (Dissertation: Influences on Parsing Ambiguity,), and will be joining the faculty at the English Department of Boise State University as Visiting Assistant Professor of Linguistics for Spring 2016." |
Nicole
Acrey
(2005) |
... after graduation, enrolled in the Ph.D. program at the Institute for Linguistics in Potsdam, Germany. Here is the web page for the linguistic software company, where she now works: http://www.acrolinx.com/; and here is her personal, just-for-fun blog: http://incolorfulwaters.blogspot.com. |
Matthew
Adamo
(2005) |
... served as a research assistant at Brown University in the Department of Cognitive and Linguistic Sciences. |
Alyssa Therese
Adreani
(1998) |
... received a BA in Linguistics (1998) and an MA in Applied Linguistics (2000) at BU. As of September 2007, she was working as a Development Officer; she wrote then of her BU training in linguistics: "The experience served me well - it was a strong factor in my being hired at The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. Thank you!” Alyssa worked in higher education and development for several years before pursuing a MA in Pastoral Ministry at BC. Although having degrees from these rival schools makes hockey season a unique challenge, Alyssa is happily serving as an interfaith chaplain and Director of Spiritual Care at Newton-Wellesley Hospital. (last updated 7/27/16) |
Jessica
Alexander
(2004) |
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Sameena Naseem
Ali
(1995) |
... writes, in August 2006: "After BU I went straight to Kyoto, Japan to teach English through the JET Programme for three years. I followed up with some Japanese study in Tokyo resulting in a 1st Level (top) passing score for the Japanese Proficiency exam. Many Japanese companies pay more attention to certification than work experience. I landed a job in a securities brokerage which followed with another in financial software." She moved back to Toledo, Ohio two years ago with her Cuban husand and son, and is now working as a freelance interpreter and working her own Mary Kay business. |
Julio
Alves
(1983) |
![]() September 2012 update: See an online Smith magazine article that discusses his efforts to introduce creative nonfiction courses into the curriculum: http://www.smith.edu/insight/stories/nonfiction.php |
Andrei
Anghelescu
(2010) |
Web page. He received his MA in Linguistics at the University of Toronto in 2011, with a thesis on "Tone paradigms in Grassfields Bantu," and he is now working on his PhD in Linguistics at the University of British Columbia. |
Catherine Azelie
Aquadro
(2009) |
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Jacqueline
Asher
(2004) |
... went on to a program in Audiology and Speech Science at the University of Maryland. |
Lauren Elizabeth
Avalos
(1999) |
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Melissa
Baese
(2004) |
![]() In October 2009, she wrote: "As I'm sure you all know, I was joined this year by Lauren Ackerman - BU is now the most well-represented undergraduate institution in our department. :)" Update from May 2013: "After finishing my PhD at Northwestern in 2010, I moved to Spain and did a postdoc at the Basque Center for Cognition, Brain and Language until summer of 2012. I wanted to move back to the US, and was lucky enough to find another postdoctoral research position at Michigan State University. This spring I was offered, and accepted, a faculty position at the University of Oregon in the Department of Linguistics. I'll be starting there this fall." (The photo is from a visit to the Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics.) See also this Facebook post. An email message from Carol Neidle reached Melissa and Tuuli Morrill (also doing a postdoc at the same university) while they were together at a coffee shop in Michigan! Melissa sent that photo and wrote, "Tuuli and I have had a great time working together since August. We never overlapped in linguistics at BU, but enjoy reminiscing about our time there." |
Anna
Belew
(2008) |
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Tino
Bratbo
(2013) |
![]() Tino writes: "I anticipate being very busy over the next few years. Nevertheless, I would very much like to remain in touch with the Linguistics program, and help develop the alumni network. I know that one of the things I missed during my undergraduate time was contact with alumni, and given that and my general affection for the program and its professors, I would like to help - just shoot me an email and let me know what I can do. That especially is true for connecting me with anyone considering going into teaching, or anyone who needs a Detroit/MI contact. I am happy to help." (updated September 2013) |
Nomi Pearlman
Burstein
(1994) |
... is a Senior Technical Writer at SilverSky. Web page: http://www.asknomi.com |
Ross
Caputi
(2011) |
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Heather
Caunt
(2002) |
... enrolled in the Applied Linguistics doctoral program at BU after graduating. |
Jacqueline My
Chau
(1994) |
... is working at Boston University in Research Accounting. |
Karly
Chester
(2006) |
... writes (5/21/2008):I'm just back from a week in Madrid, where I plan to move in September to improve my Spanish. I'm going to teach English to make money, and outside of my lessons, I'll be completely immersed in my favorite language. I couldn't be more excited. |
Luis
Chunga-Celis
(2010) |
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Caitlin
Clancy
(2011) |
... is (as of May 2013) a research technician at BU School of Medicine, with research work focused on autism spectrum disorders and their neurochemical abnormalities (in the cerebellum and language areas). She also interns part time at a non-profit called "Cycle Kids", which aims to promote healthfulness among children through the implementation of a school-based biking and nutrition program. Caitlin also writes: "I'm so grateful that I was able to be involved academically with that department, and my linguistics minor has definitely fueled my interests in the biological underpinnings of language... and certainly informs my current work in a population with language impairments and delays." |
Katharine
Clements
(2012) |
Web page: http://transitiveproperties.wordpress.com |
Mara
Collins
(1998) |
... is Assistant Director of Graduate Admission for Technology and Data Management at Suffolk University. |
Matt
Convente
(2009) |
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Amanda
Cushman
(2006) |
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Harlan
Dalzell
(2006) |
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Cecilia
Damiani
(2001) |
... went into book publishing. She then went on to get a Masters at North Carolina State University in the Education department, where she also worked in the school system. She wrote: "I really appreciate the linguistics knowledge I have--it helps me daily with children who have trouble reading and understanding texts." Now she is teaching 8th grade in Cary, NC. |
Nicholas
Danis
(2008) |
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Meagan
DaSilva
(2004) |
... after teaching English in Quito, Ecuador for a while, took a position as a 6th grade Spanish immersion teacher.. |
Quinn
Duffy
(2006) |
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Sarah Teague
Durant
(1998) |
... "loved her Linguistics degree but changed career paths after BU. She worked in several nonprofit organizations in California before getting her Masters of Public Policy at Berkeley. From there she moved to Portland, Oregon, where she lives with her wife and soon-to-be baby and works in the field of educational policy research." (November 2009) |
Marcus
Eldridge
(2008) |
... is pursuing a Law degree at Harvard, where he was just awarded a 2010 Chayes International Public Service Fellowship to work at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, Washington, D.C. The web site announcing the award provides the following biographical information: "Marcus is a second-year J.D. student. He graduated from Boston University with a B.A. in linguistics, music, and Chinese language and literature. He studied Mandarin throughout college and spent a semester abroad in Shanghai. During his first summer of law school, he worked at an NGO in India dealing with a variety of human rights and social justice issues. This summer, Marcus will work in the General Counsel's Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, focusing on bilateral negotiations and WTO disputes with China. His academic interests include international economic law, language rights, and sexual minority rights. In his free time, he enjoys playing the piano, cooking, and travel." |
Meredith
Enish
(2000) |
... received her MBA in Strategy and Business Analysis from BU in 2005. She is now the director of Finance and Personnel in the Boston University College of Engineering. |
Neiloufar
Family
(2001) |
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Lisa Meredith
Feldstein
(1996) |
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Jennifer
Fick
(2004) |
... completed her MA in Linguistics at the University of Chicago. She received a scholarship in 2006 to attend the Library Information Services Program at the University of Maryland, College Park. |
Caroline
Foulkes
(2004) |
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Stephanie
Frana
(2007) |
![]() After Boston University, she worked as a residential teaching assistant at Perkins School for the Blind. Exposure to the medical field while working for the Deafblind Program motivated her to return to school for post-baccalaureate studies. She continued to work with adults with disabilities, as an English tutor, and as an EMT with an ER/ambulance service. Her path to becoming a 'professional student' was definitely enriched via her degree in Linguistics, and she continues to impress others with her non-biology/chemistry/physics-only background while in medical school. Proficiency in medical Spanish and opportunities in global health care are some of her future goals. (from May 2013) |
Daniel James
Frayne
(1995) |
... went to medical school at the University of California, Irvine and graduated in 1999. Dr. Frayne has specialized in family practice. |
Kristine
Gilchrist-Minasidis
(1994) |
... is Associate Director of the BU University Service Center. |
Laura
Gonnerman
(1988) |
![]() "My two main areas of interest are: 1) the structure of the lexical semantic system; and 2) the representation and processing of mrophologically complex words in English and other languages. To explore these areas, I use a combination of research in normal adult processing, language loss in Alzheimer's disease and other disorders, connectionist modeling, and imaging." See her home page. [photo from web page] |
Dory
Greenberg
(2010) |
![]() Dory has an award-winning radio show, White Chocolate Drizzle, a hip-hop talk show now on Brooklyn Radio, and has decided to pursue acting full-time. Over the last 3 years, she has appeared in a number of music videos, short films, and video interviews. She has also begun producing videos and short films, and was made a creative producer for Three/21 Media. Recently, she started hosting a video interview series for Three/21's YouTube channel. Dory will hopefully be getting work as a voice-over actress soon, where she will be able to put her linguistic skills to work! (update from May 2013) |
Annabel Mary
Greenhill
(1995) |
... entered the graduate program in Applied Linguistics at Boston University, while also working as a Research Associate at Tufts University. She received her MA in 2003. |
Allyson
Gunsallus
(2007) |
![]() I'd be happy to help any alumni or current students who might have plans to go to law school or to teach English in Moscow, which I did after receiving my BA in January 2007. Please feel free to pass my information along." |
Sarah
Hardison
(2006) |
... writes (5/26/2008):
I am starting my Masters in Education this summer. I plan on teaching in Department of Defense Schools once my Masters is complete. I will begin teaching High School Spanish locally this Fall. |
Douglas
Herman
(2008) |
![]() Things are great here. I still live in Strasbourg, where I am now freelancing as a French->English translator, mostly for small-to-medium-sized businesses, university research departments, and outsourcers (translation agencies). In a couple of weeks I will also be taking a teaching position at the Institut de Traducteurs, d'Interprètes et de Relations Internationales, where I completed my Master's in professional translation in May 2012.Fresh news from September 2013: "I just got married on Saturday sso I'm still in a bit of a haze around here. In other news, I have joined up with another translator in the Strasbourg area who specializes in business and financial texts, with a focus on quality over quantity. The work is very interesting and I feel we are doing the industry and well as our clients some good." As of November 2015: "I'm still in Strasbourg translating for the private sector, though I just finished a short stint at the International Criminal Court in the Hague." https://www.linkedin.com/in/doughermanfft/. |
Laura
Hirshfield
(2005) |
... entered BU's Master of Education program in Education of the Deaf. She is currently teaching English at Acton-Boxborough High School -- and loving it :). |
Marjorie
Hogan
(2003) |
... completed her MA in Applied Linguistics at BU as of September 2006. |
Mitchell
Hoke
(2013) |
![]() He writes [ 1/3/16]: "I think my linguistics and philosophy background has made me a more attractive candidate for jobs, clerkships, and competitive extracurricular positions because of the critical analysis inherent to those subjects. My degree will always be something that I emphasize inside and outside of academia." |
Henrison
Hsieh
(2012) |
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Alexandra
Hughes
(2012) |
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Christian
Hurley
(2005) |
![]() Update from November 2012: "I've finished my MA in Visual & Media arts as of 2008. I have also moved on from my work at the law firm of Pierce, Davis & Perritano and I'm now working at Digitas as a Project Manager. I enjoy it very much - great company, great people, great clients and above all engaging work. " web site |
Maria
Iogansen
(2005) |
... has worked as a translator of English, Russian, Spanish, French, and Italian. She is currently a QA Engineer at Ledgex Systems. |
Vera
Izrailit
(1993) |
... went off to do graduate work in linguistics at the University of Finland in Helsinki. She now describes herself as a software engineer and linguist (among other things). |
Corinne
Jones
(2008) |
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Sima
Kalmens
(2012) |
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The school I work at is bilingual; teachers and students alike communicate in both languages, including a mix of the two. My job allows me to observe bilingualism in action, and the effects it has on reading, writing, and general language development. I think that living and working in a bilingual community has made me aware just how far-reaching the effects of a language can be in society, daily life, and everything in between." |
Michael
Kaplan
(2009) |
... writes (2/17/17): "i have a new album out today. it's called "no kidding" and i'm happy about it. i've tweeted about it, and if you'd like to share the tweet or otherwise let people know about it, thank you for doing that. my tweet is here: https://twitter.com/myqkaplan/status/832547595759267842. and here's a direct link to it on itunes, if that is of interest to you: itunes.apple.com/us/album/no-kidding/id1188140085." |
Hallie
Katarski
(2002) |
![]() Here is the link to the press release (http://today.duke.edu/2013/01/bassconnections) and website (http://interdisciplinary.duke.edu/). (last updated 2/1/2013) Update from 12/5/16: Hallie has been running Bass Connections for about 4 years now. "It provides opportunities (including funding) for students and faculty to work on year-long interdisciplinary, problem-focused research teams. We have a couple years of evaluation data I was sharing [at a recent conference (NASPAA)], and I was looking to hear from other universities that are developing similar programs, or at least some similar elements of the program. It's been very exciting and challenging to build this new program, that has participation from across the campus here and from students and faculty at all levels (undergraduate, graduate, etc.)." |
Zoya
Khenkina
(2005) |
... entered a graduate program in Global Marketing, Communication and Advertising at Emerson College. |
Yung Hee
Kim
(1996) |
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Tricia
Klos
(2011) |
![]() I'd be happy to help any students or graduates interested in looking for work abroad. I now have plenty of experience with the struggles of finding work in a foreign language, making new friends, and navigating complicated visa processes." |
Roxanne
Ko
(2009) |
... has, since graduating from BU, been working on a TESOL/TESL/TEFL certification. In 2011, she was accepted into the Peace Corps and served 10 months in Guinea, teaching English and sustainable agriculture. Unfortunately, her service was cut short because of medical and safety reasons. Since returning to the states, she has been living in Honolulu, HI and this past academic year she was a substitute teacher at an Elementary School. With the start of the fall semester 2013, she was accepted as a Second Bachelors student at the University of Hawaii and is working towards a B.S. in Microbiology and applying to Medical School. In all of her travels and experiences, she has picked up many languages and can speak Spanish, French, and Pulaar. (last updated September 2013) |
Naomi
Konikoff
(2007) |
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Avra
Kutcher
(2012) |
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Vera
Lee-Schoenfeld
(1997) |
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Marc
Levy
(2004) |
... wrote (November 21, 2014): "I interned and then went to work in international development. I followed that with several years of working in (mostly digital) marketing as a contractor. Then, I learned Drupal, a content management system, and increased my skills in computing languages to Javascript and PHP. I worked at a non-profit where I was solely responsible for building their Web sites. Now I work on Drupal as an onsite contractor [for the government], around the corner from the house I rent." |
Ross
Lichtenberg
(2010) |
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Andrew
Lord
(2006) |
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Marilyn
Manley (née Feke)
(1999) |
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John
Manna
(2002) |
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Rachel
Mattison
(2010) |
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Maijaliisa
Mickols
(2006) |
... writes (5/21/2008): After graduating in January, I continued working as the Office Manager for The Boston Language Institute, and received my TEFL certificate there. I then accepted a position teaching English at Shenyang Jianzhu (architecture) University in northeast China. I've been working here in Shenyang at the university since August 2006, teaching students of all majors as well as some of the faculty, and another private school teaching kids as young as age 3 to business English classes. I've also been doing private tutoring for IELTS, TOEFL, and SAT test prep. I've taken advantage of the 4 months of university holidays, traveling all over China and the surrounding countries. |
Joe
Mondello
(2002) |
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Mark
Monfasani
(2002) |
... returned to graduate school at BU to study Chinese religion. He received his MA in September 2007. As of spring 2010, he was Acquisitions Editor at Brill in charge of modern Chinese studies. See https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-monfasani-4a291445/. |
Lindsay
Morgia
(2006) |
![]() Although I'm not a linguist, language is such an integral part of the work that I do, and I look back on my time in the linguistics department with much fondness and appreciation. I really do enjoy hearing updates about the department, and of course, appreciate all of the effort that you put into keeping in touch with alumni. |
Tuuli
Morrill
(2002) |
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Nadia
Nassif
(2003) |
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Jennifer
Nieling
(2011) |
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Jeni
Parham
(2003) |
... went on to do graduate work in Linguistics at the University of Chicago. |
Pamela (Honora)
Parris
(2003) |
... took an internship at MIT Press after graduation. |
Kathryn
Persons
(2010) |
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Katrina
Peters
(2011) |
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Matthew
Picard
(2006) |
... became involved with Teach for America. |
David M.
Pimentel
(1998) |
... is now the Director of Residence Hall Community Learning Centers at the University of Michigan. |
Gretchen
Ransow
(2006) |
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Andrew
Richardson
(2010) |
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Arashdeep
Sangha
(2005) |
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Daniel Joseph
Sax
(1994) |
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Rose
Schreier
(2003) |
![]() I am still good friends with my old BULA compatriots Marj Hogan and Jamie Vidich (BA 2003 both), though we each live in a separate region of the country (Marj is on the west coast; Jamie is on the east coast, and I'm in Chicago). I just visited the BU Linguistics Facebook page and it made me most nostalgic for my time on campus. I remember when BULA hosted a translation panel event in early 2003; that was one of the highlights of my time in the program. Hope all is well with everyone and I will be sure to reach out when I am back in Boston for a visit. |
Gregory
Scontras
(2008) |
![]() Greg is now an Assistant Professor of Linguistics at UC Irvine: http://socsci.uci.edu/~gscontra/. |
Olga
Shergova
(2002) |
... went to Paris and studied at Sorbonne (Applied Foreign Languages), then during an internship at UNESCO, found out about Media Education. She is now in the Ph.D. program (Moscow State University); her thesis deals with linguistic methods in Media Education. |
Catherine
Shubat
(2016) |
... just arrived in Shanghai, where she will be for the next year. She writes (8/25/16): "I came as a one-year intern through my church, but I'll be taking Mandarin classes at Jiao Tong University, and teaching conversational English to locals in PuXi! I'm already in contact with a few other hip hop aficionados. As of now, it looks like I'll have lots of time to explore the city and practice Chinese--can't wait for the year to start! Looking for more connections in China (or anywhere in this hemisphere, as I'm planning on travelling around for the next few years.)" |
Jennifer
Sia
(1995) |
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Robert Louis
Simon
(2000) |
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Jamie
Sirota
(2010) |
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Dawn
Smalls
(1999) |
![]() See also: http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/dawn-smalls-returns-to-boies-schiller--flexner-as-partner-300041753.html. |
Erin
Smith
(2005) |
... has worked as a sales and marketing specialist at Harris Investment Management. She's now pursuing her MBA in Finance at Loyola University of Chicago (2007-2009(expected)). |
Elliott
Smith
(2010) |
... writes (12/16): "In 2016 I finished a MPH from the University of Washington with a focus on Community-Oriented Public Health Practice. I've been working on different programs focused on promoting equity in the food system, and I have been the Operations Manager at a small foundation in Seattle, WA since 2014. Not necessarily a lateral step from studying the mechanics of Language, but I have often found myself thinking how similar the field of Public Health is to Linguistics. I see them both as different ways of understanding and manipulating puzzles- words/sound/meaning for Linguistics and systems/environmental factors/behaviors for Public Health. I'm grateful I started with Language. :-) I fondly remember all the classes and professors from my time at BU- and I wish you all well! I hope BULA is alive and well." |
Teresa
Speciale
(2008) |
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Win
Swarr
(1992) |
![]() Update from Win as of November 2012: "All is well. I'm living with my wife and 2 little ones in the Bay area. I work as a software developer for a medical records company." |
Christina
Tarbell
(1994) |
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Timothy
Tilbe
(2009) |
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Joanna
Upton
(2002) |
... is living in Niger. In December 2005, she wrote:
Through one experience or another, I've gradually been launching myself into the development field. I was RA for the BU Program here last year, and then began working part time for a small NGO called Rain for the Sahel and Sahara. I administrate our programs here, which are primarily in support of nomadic schools up in the Agadez region. We do various projects to support the community and the school, such as school gardens and grain banks. One element that I have been working toward adding to our programs is adult/women's literacy, in both French and Tamascheq, the local language of the region which has traditional literacy that has been fading out over the past couple of generations. With my focus on linguistics I have always been a proponent of national language literacy; but since literacy on the part of the parents has a positive effect on the liklihood that they will understand the value of education and send their children to school, we're able to slide this in under our primary education sector. |
Jasmin
Urban
(2007) |
... is just beginning her graduate studies in Linguistics at the University of Chicago. Home page. |
Jamie
Vidich
(2003) |
... has been enrolled in an exciting new graduate program in European linguistics at the University of Freiburg. He wrote: "What I particularly like about it is that it has a strong focus on minority languages, standard and non-standard varieties, and multilingual and multicultural communication in Europe. There is even a class on the Sardinian language!" As of May 18, 2008, Jamie writes: "I'm now in the phase of completing my Master's degree in Freiburg and awaiting the next step in life. I am writing my thesis now, and hope to have graduated by September." Jamie's thesis is on the phonological changes that took place in the borrowings of Anglo-French loanwords into Middle English. "Then it is for destiny to decide what is in store for me. I'll let you know when I figure it out myself. :-)" [Note: Jamie finished his thesis: "Phonological Aspects of Anglo-Norman Loanwords in Middle English."] |
Anika
Webster
(2006) |
... served in the Peace Corps in Senegal from 2008-2010. She received her MBA/MSW joint degree from Washington University in St. Louis, and now works as a management consultant with Accenture. [last updated 1/17/18]. See also https://www.linkedin.com/in/annicka-webster/. |
Stephen
Weiss
(2004) |
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John Thomas
Wellehan
(1997) |
After graduating, John moved to Chicago and worked on a trading floor, in film production, in derivatives analysis, and then as market data specialist for a derivatives trading group within a bank, which is what he was doing when last we heard from him (April 2003), at which time he was considering going back to school... [Update June 2010: John received his MBA in Finance from Northwestern in 2007, and he is now Vice President at Harpswell Capital.] |
Kari
Wiborg
(2004) |
... entered the linguistics dept. at UT Austin, spent some time in St. Petersburg studying Russian, and is hoping to do something with Slavic linguistics. |
Jocelyn
Wood
(2006) |
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Linguistics students at Commencement Exercises (vintage 1994)
left-to-right: Christina Tarbell, Kristine Gilchrist,
Jacqueline Chau, Daniel Sax, Shannon Moran, Nomi Pearlman