Speaking our language

The College of Liberal Arts will host a panel discussion featuring graduates from the Modern Languages Program on March 22.

Wright State University students can hear from alumni who are thriving in their field with modern language degrees. These graduates work with a variety of organizations, from the U.S. Air Force to Catholic Social Services.

The panel is a part of a series hosted by Wayne Stark, director of workforce development in the College of Liberal Arts, highlighting and celebrating alumni from various degree programs in the college. So far, Stark has hosted panels for political science and history majors. Following modern languages, panels for urban affairs, public administration, geography and crime and justice are planned.

“My vision is to do this for as many programs in the college as possible,” Stark said. “We’re creating these field/major-specific career events that are a combination of panelists that are alumni, recruiters and employers and placing them in an intimate, substantive kind of environment versus a career fair.”

The modern languages panel will take place on Thursday, March 22, from 5 to 6:30 p.m., in the Millett Hall Atrium.

Panelists include Pascale Abadie, assistant professor of French at Wright State; Concetta Blechschmidt, who works for Traveling Professor Inc.; Leah Green, an Americorps college completion coach; Mia Maroto, a family life coach through Catholic Social Services; Samantha Martin, a curatorial assistant for the National Afro-American Museum and Cultural Center, as well as an archivist and historian for Airstream Inc.; Jay Olson, chief contractor for the U.S. Air Force Unmanned Aircraft Division; and McKenzie McQuown, an intern at Epluno.

The discussion will begin with scripted questions for the panelists that will initiate discussion and student questions. The discussion is a way for students to learn about the variety of careers available to them with a degree in modern languages. In many cases, students from several disciplines attend the panel, enabling them to hear perspectives from all around Wright State.

Following the panel, students will get the chance to network with the alumni.