Give
Search

About the Department of Modern Languages

Learn about our department, faculty, and program offerings.

  1. Home
  2. Departmental Directory
  3. Liberal Arts
  4. Department of Modern Languages
  5. About Modern Languages
image of professor seated at her desk and smiling at the camera while she sits at her computer

Department of Modern Languages

What We Do

Our department promotes multilingualism and cross-cultural understanding across the university. We prepare our students for the complexity and diversity of a rapidly changing job market. Our students achieve high proficiency in a second language. They also develop knowledge of global languages and cultures and the skills to analyze linguistic structures and literary texts in their language of choice.

Who We Are

The University of Mississippi is categorized as an R1 research institution, which means that our faculty are at the top of their fields and actively conducting groundbreaking research. It also means students work and study alongside some of the best.

The Department of Modern Languages faculty includes award-winning teacher-scholars who are ready to support our students’ interests in every aspect of language learning. The faculty conduct research in literature, linguistics, language pedagogy, cinema, and cultural studies, in languages from all over the world.

Faculty Spotlights

  • Dr. Corina Petrescu, Professor of German, will serve as a fellow at the Israel Institute for Advanced Studies at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem for the 2025-2026 school year. She will focus on collections at the National Library of Israel to support her work on Yankev Shternberg (1890-1973), an Ashkenazi poet, playwright, theatrical director, and cultural analyst of the twentieth century. 
  • Dr. Maria Jose Garcia Otero, Croft Instructional Assistant Professor of Spanish, won the Howell Family Outstanding Teacher of the Year from the College of Liberal Arts. The criteria for the annual award include excellence of class instruction, intellectual stimulation of students, and concern for students’ welfare.image of a video game character that is a medieval monk in a castle roomThis image of a medieval monk character is part of a video game project to gamify a 12th century text, The Voyage of Saint Brendan, to help teach Old French. The project, "Brendan's Voyage," is a collaboration between Dr. Daniel O'Sullivan, Chair and Professor of French, with his colleagues at Vanderbilt and Baylor that is partially funded by the National Endowment of the Humanities.  

 

List of Faculty Awards

What We Offer

The Department of Modern Languages offers a variety of undergraduate and graduate degrees. Select the links below to learn more about the academic programs. Note that for each of the BA degrees listed, there is a corresponding minor field of study.

UG

Arabic, B.A.

Acquire superior levels of Arabic and become a global professional.

  • Oxford

UG

Chinese, B.A.

Acquire superior levels of Chinese language skills and become a global professional.

  • Oxford

UG

French, B.A.

Acquire superior levels of French and become a global professional.

  • Oxford

UG

German, B.A.

Become a global professional with superior levels of German skills.

  • Oxford

UG

Italian, Minor

Become a global professional.

  • Oxford

UG

Japanese, Minor

Become a global professional.

  • Oxford

UG

Korean, Minor

Become a global professional.

  • Oxford

UG

Linguistics, B.A.

The science of language shapes our reality.

  • Oxford

UG

Portuguese, Minor

Become a global professional.

  • Oxford

UG

Russian, Minor

Become a global professional.

  • Oxford

UG

Spanish, B.A.

Become a global professional with superior levels of Spanish speaking skills.

  • Oxford

UG

Swahili, Minor

Become a global professional.

  • Oxford

UG

TESOL, Minor

Teach English to Speakers of Other Languages.

  • Oxford

CERT

Certification in TESOL

Teach English to Speakers of Other Languages

  • Oxford

GRAD

Modern Languages, M.A.

Achieve advanced proficiency and cultural knowledge in French, German, or Spanish or develop expertise in linguistics.

  • Oxford

GRAD

Ph.D. in Second Language Studies

<DESCRIPTION />

  • Oxford
Daniel Edmund O'Sullivan

Welcome from the Chair

The Department of Modern Languages is proud of our outstanding faculty, staff, and students. We have a strong tradition of scholarship and dedication to teaching students to a high level of language proficiency. We support our language programs with sound linguistic and pedagogical principles, as delivered by our programs in linguistics and TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages). Equally important is the study of literature, cinema and culture, fundamentally important programs in all serious language departments.

Daniel Edmund O'Sullivan

Chair and Professor of Modern Languages

Mission Statement

The mission of the Department of Modern Languages promotes multilingualism and cross-cultural understanding across the university. It seeks to develop in its minors, majors, and graduate students high proficiency in a second language, knowledge of global languages and cultures, and skills to analyze linguistic structures and literary texts. Its faculty is dedicated to creating a dynamic intellectual atmosphere through continuing research and scholarship in literature, linguistics, cultural studies, and philology, thus preparing many of its graduate students to join the next generation of teacher-scholars. Furthermore, the Department provides opportunities for civic engagement, service learning, internships, and graduate assistantships. These opportunities develop students’ global and cross-cultural competence and thus prepare them for careers, leadership, citizenship, and stewardship. Consequently, the Department of Modern Languages prepares students for the complexity and diversity of a rapidly changing world.

Department Leadership and Support

We support the faculty and students in the Department of Modern Languages.
Daniel O'Sullivan

Daniel O'Sullivan

  • Chair and Professor of Modern Languages
Maria Filippi

Maria Filippi

  • Administrative Assistant
Sasha Sims

Sasha Sims

  • Administrative Secretary
Allen Clark

Allen Clark

  • Associate Professor of Modern Languages
Zhini Zeng

Zhini Zeng

  • Associate Professor of Chinese
Donald Dyer

Donald Dyer

  • Associate Dean for Faculty & Academic Affairs and Distinguished Professor of Modern Languages
Zachary Adamz

Zachary Adamz

  • Project Coordinator
Emma Lane

Emma Lane

  • Project Coordinator
Sara Wellman

Sara Wellman

  • Associate Professor of Modern Languages
Felice Coles

Felice Coles

  • Professor of Modern Languages
Maria Fionda

Maria Fionda

  • Associate Professor of Spanish
Michael Raines

Michael Raines

  • Instructional Associate Professor of TESL

Arabic Language

Meet the faculty who teach and research in Arabic language and linguistics. Dr. Allen Clark serves as the Director of the Arabic Language Flagship Program.
Allen Clark

Allen Clark

  • Associate Professor of Modern Languages
Emad Gerges

Emad Gerges

  • Instructor in Arabic
Charles Joukhadar

Charles Joukhadar

  • Assistant Professor of Arabic
Ahmed Mansour

Ahmed Mansour

  • Instructor in Arabic
Yasmine Sedeek

Yasmine Sedeek

  • Instructor in Arabic
Asmaa Shehata

Asmaa Shehata

  • Assistant Professor of Arabic

Chinese Language

Meet the faculty who teach and research in Chinese language and linguistics. Dr. Zhini Zeng serves as the Director of the Chinese Language Flagship Program. 
Zhini Zeng

Zhini Zeng

  • Associate Professor of Chinese
Cheng-Fu Chen

Cheng-Fu Chen

  • Associate Professor of Modern Languages
Yu-Ting Chiu

Yu-Ting Chiu

  • Instructor in Chinese
Tianwen Han

Tianwen Han

  • Instructor in Chinese
Rongrong Hao

Rongrong Hao

  • Lecturer in Modern Languages
Mengjie Lin

Mengjie Lin

  • Instructor in Modern Languages
Shuyu Yeh

Shuyu Yeh

  • Instructor in Chinese

French, German, and Italian Languages

Meet the faculty who teach and research in French, German, and Italian languages and linguistics.
Marta Chevalier

Marta Chevalier

  • Senior Lecturer in French
Hailey Kaim

Hailey Kaim

  • Academic Mentor
Daniel O'Sullivan

Daniel O'Sullivan

  • Chair and Professor of Modern Languages
Anne Quinney

Anne Quinney

  • Professor of Modern Languages
Elodie Tantet

Elodie Tantet

  • Instructional Assistant Professor of French
Kristen Walker

Kristen Walker

  • Lecturer in Modern Languages
Sara Wellman

Sara Wellman

  • Associate Professor of Modern Languages
Christopher Hutchinson

Christopher Hutchinson

  • Assistant Professor of German
Corina L. Petrescu

Corina L. Petrescu

  • Professor of Modern Languages
Kai Wash

Kai Wash

  • Lecturer in Modern Languages
Valerio Cappozzo

Valerio Cappozzo

  • Adjunct Associate Professor of Modern Languages
Elisa Modolo

Elisa Modolo

  • Instructional Associate Professor of Modern Languages

Japanese, Korean, and Russian Languages

Meet the faculty who teach and research in Japanese, Korean, and Russian languages and linguistics.
Kaoru Ochiai

Kaoru Ochiai

  • Croft Instructional Associate Professor of Modern Languages
Minjin Kim

Minjin Kim

  • Instructor in Modern Languages
Donald Dyer

Donald Dyer

  • Associate Dean for Faculty & Academic Affairs and Distinguished Professor of Modern Languages
Valentina Iepuri

Valentina Iepuri

  • Associate Professor of Modern Languages
Tamara Karakozova

Tamara Karakozova

  • Instructional Assistant Professor of Russian
Ala Simonchyk

Ala Simonchyk

  • Instructional Associate Professor of Linguistics

Linguistics and TESOL

Meet the faculty who teach and research in linguistics and TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages).
Christiana Christodoulou

Christiana Christodoulou

  • Research Assistant Professor of Modern Languages
Felice Coles

Felice Coles

  • Professor of Modern Languages
Donald Dyer

Donald Dyer

  • Associate Dean for Faculty & Academic Affairs and Distinguished Professor of Modern Languages
Stephen Fafulas

Stephen Fafulas

  • Associate Professor of Modern Languages
Maria Fionda

Maria Fionda

  • Associate Professor of Spanish
Jimin Kahng

Jimin Kahng

  • Associate Professor of Applied Linguistics
Erin Mauffray

Erin Mauffray

  • Assistant Professor of Spanish Linguistics
Whitney Sarver

Whitney Sarver

  • Senior Director of the Intensive English Program and Instructional Associate Professor
Vance Schaefer

Vance Schaefer

  • Associate Professor of Modern Languages
Ala Simonchyk

Ala Simonchyk

  • Instructional Associate Professor of Linguistics
Daniel Valle Arevalo

Daniel Valle Arevalo

  • Assistant Professor of Spanish Linguistics
Tamara Warhol

Tamara Warhol

  • Associate Professor of Modern Languages
Robyn Wright

Robyn Wright

  • Associate Professor of Spanish
Robyn Wright

Robyn Wright

  • Associate Professor of Spanish

Spanish and Portuguese Languages

Meet the faculty who teach and research in Portuguese and Spanish languages and linguistics.
Heather Allen

Heather Allen

  • Associate Professor of Spanish
Julia Bussade

Julia Bussade

  • Instructional Assistant Professor of Modern Languages and Director of Elementary Spanish and Portuguese Programs
Felice Coles

Felice Coles

  • Professor of Modern Languages
Enrique Cotelo

Enrique Cotelo

  • Senior Lecturer in Spanish
Karla Duran

Karla Duran

  • Instructor in Modern Languages
Stephen Fafulas

Stephen Fafulas

  • Associate Professor of Modern Languages
Maria Fionda

Maria Fionda

  • Associate Professor of Spanish
Gabriel Alexander Garrido Franco

Gabriel Alexander Garrido Franco

  • Lecturer in Spanish
Hernan Garrido

Hernan Garrido

  • Lecturer in Modern Languages
Ian Gowan

Ian Gowan

  • Instructional Associate Professor of Spanish and Croft Associate Director
Irene Cotelo

Irene Cotelo

  • Senior Lecturer in Spanish
Jason Klodt

Jason Klodt

  • Associate Professor of Modern Languages
Maria Landa Vera

Maria Landa Vera

  • Senior Lecturer in Spanish
Erin Mauffray

Erin Mauffray

  • Assistant Professor of Spanish Linguistics
Emily Maples

Emily Maples

  • Instructor in Spanish
Diane Marting

Diane Marting

  • Professor of Modern Languages
Milene Prewitt

Milene Prewitt

  • Lecturer in Modern Languages
Maria Garcia Otero

Maria Garcia Otero

  • Croft Instructional Associate Professor of Spanish
CARMEN Sanchis-Sinisterra

CARMEN Sanchis-Sinisterra

  • Instructional Associate Professor of Modern Languages
Diana Semmes

Diana Semmes

  • Lecturer in Modern Languages
Edgar Serrano

Edgar Serrano

  • Lecturer in Modern Languages
Daniel Valle Arevalo

Daniel Valle Arevalo

  • Assistant Professor of Spanish Linguistics
Ivonne Whitehead

Ivonne Whitehead

  • Senior Lecturer in Spanish
Robyn Wright

Robyn Wright

  • Associate Professor of Spanish

Intensive English

Meet the faculty who teach in the Intensive English program. Dr. Whitney Sarver serves as the Director of the Intensive English program.
Marco Devera

Marco Devera

  • Instructor in Intensive English
Michael Herrington

Michael Herrington

  • Instructor and Coordinator of Instructional Support for the ESL Program
Tracy Koslowski

Tracy Koslowski

  • Lecturer, Associate Director of Recruitment and Development- Intensive English Program
Velsie Pate

Velsie Pate

  • Instructor in Intensive English
Michael Raines

Michael Raines

  • Instructional Associate Professor of TESL
Whitney Sarver

Whitney Sarver

  • Senior Director of the Intensive English Program and Instructional Associate Professor

Department Programs

students riding on camels on a ridge of sand in a desert

Arabic Language Flagship Program

Our competitive-entry Arabic Language Flagship is one of just three federally-funded, intensive Arabic language flagship programs in the country. The five-year program has a capstone in Morocco in the fifth year, which includes an internship. The program equips students with professional proficiency and cultural competency for careers in international business, engineering, law, government, corporate security, military, intelligence, think tanks, academia, and more.

Arabic Language Flagship Program
a woman is standing and looking up a colorful lit lanterns

Chinese Language Flagship Program

As one of only eight Chinese Language Flagship programs in the nation, the five-year program has a goal to create global professionals with superior-level proficiency in Mandarin Chinese. Students must apply to this competitive-entry program. Through multiple study abroad summers and a capstone year in Taiwan, our graduates gain a deep level of cultural understanding for working in China or Taiwan and with Chinese counterparts here and around the world. 

Chinese Language Flagship Program
image of two students seated together and working with a computer in front of them

Intensive English Program

In partnership with the Office of Global Engagement, the Intensive English Program provides English-language instruction to, and promotes global citizenship among, speakers of other languages from the University of Mississippi and surrounding community by offering multi-level, differentiated language instruction, community engagement initiatives, and cultural activities.

Internship English

Our Community

evening photo of Square Books and other buildings on the Oxford Square
aerial photo of the Oxford Square

A Place That Ever Calls

Located 70 miles from Memphis and surrounded by the natural beauty of Northern Mississippi, Oxford boasts thriving music, art, and literary scenes along with great restaurants. UM's athletics provide many opportunities to watch and participate in sports—and one of the world's best tailgating parties. 

With everything Oxford has to offer, it's no wonder USA Today named Oxford as one of the Top Six College Towns in the Nation. 

Come see why. 

Explore Oxford