Group photo of 2023 Arabic house students.

World Languages, Literatures, & Cultures Department

Meet the Department Chair

Professor of World Languages, Literatures, and Cultures and Department Chair

Overview

At McDaniel, we teach not only proficiency in language, but also an understanding of a culture from its own perspective. Students learn to see and understand other ways of being and thinking that challenge and nuance how they currently experience the world. This process clarifies and transforms us in a world where boundaries between groups, countries, and cultures are increasingly complex.

Arabic Minor: Arabic is the fifth most-spoken language in the world and the most widely used Semitic language today. The Arabic minor offers a strong base in language study and an opportunity to explore the music, literature, and politics of Arabic-speaking countries.
Latino and Latin American Studies Minor: McDaniel College's minor in Latino and Latin American Studies is a dynamic program focused on the history, culture, and politics of Latin America, with the aim of understanding the experiences of Latin Americans on a global perspective.
European Studies Minor: Explore Europe’s history and culture from a number of fields, including: art history, cinema, history, literature, music, political science, and more. Study abroad at McDaniel Europe in Budapest or an exchange program for immersive learning.
Asian Studies Major: Major or minor in Asian Studies for a comprehensive, multicultural, and multidisciplinary examination of the history, society, arts, cultural traditions, and contemporary significance of the nations and peoples of Asia, especially India, China, and Japan.
Spanish Major: Provides courses from beginner to advanced for students passionate to learn the Spanish language from a variety of proficiency levels. Spanish majors also study abroad in a 12-week residency for full immersion in a Spanish-speaking household.
Spanish Minor: The Spanish minor pairs an in depth language study with an exploration of the history, culture and politics of Spain and Latin America.
French Minor: A rich engagement with French language and culture using film, multimedia strategies, and other contemporary sources.

Meet the Department Chair

Martine Motard-Noar, Ph.D.

Professor of World Languages, Literatures, and Cultures and Department Chair

Meet the Faculty World Languages, Literatures & Cultures Department

Maria Elena Campero, Ph.D. Associate Professor of World Languages, Literatures & Cultures

A native of Argentina, Maria Elena Campero bridges cultures through her lifelong love of language. After earning her Profesora en Letras degree from the Universidad Nacional de La Plata, she completed her M.A. and Ph.D. in contemporary Latin American literature at the University of Maryland. Now at McDaniel College, she shares her passion for Latin America’s rich literary traditions, helping students discover the beauty, complexity, and resilience of words.

Amy McNichols, Ph.D. Professor of World Languages, Literatures & Cultures/Director of Global Fellows

Amy McNichols is invested and innovative in her role in the World Languages, Literatures, and Cultures Department. She dives into deeper issues like migration and communities and has taken a group of students to learn firsthand in Mexico City and Puebla. Whether students are just learning the language, a heritage learner working on their writing, or an advanced learner exploring cultural history through the writings, film, art, and music of Latin American and U.S. Latinx cultures, they may find themselves in her classes.

Alum earns prestigious Boren Fellowship to study in Senegal

Yelli Coulibaly ’20, who majored in Political Science with a specialization in International Studies and minored in French, was awarded a Boren Fellowship to travel to Senegal, where she will intern with the National Democratic Institute and study the Wolof language for a six-month term.

Read "Alum earns prestigious Boren Fellowship to study in Senegal"

Meet Graduates of the World Languages, Literatures, & Cultures Department

We're proud to call these recent graduates alumni, and prouder still to share a selection of their stories here – told as only they can tell them, in their own words.