The Department of Languages remembers Helene Kastinger Riley, Distinguished Professor Emerita of German, who passed away in April.
Born in 1939 in Vienna, Austria, Riley attended business college in Vienna in the early 1950s. After coming to the US, she received her B.A. from the University of North Texas in 1970 and later earned her Ph.D. from Rice University.
After several years teaching at Yale University, Riley joined the Clemson University faculty in 1985 as a Professor of German and served as chair of the Department of Languages from 1985-1986. She was named an Alumni Distinguished Professor in 1995.
An active scholar, specializing in, among other subjects, the important 19th-century Romantic poet Ludwig von Arnim, Riley’s published writings in German Studies include Idee und Gestaltung. Das konfigurative Strukturprinzip in der Kurzprosa Achim von Arnims (Lang, 1977); Ludwig Achim von Arnims Jugend-und-Reisejahre. Ein Beitrag zur Biographie (Bouvier, 1978); Achim von Arnim in Selbstzeugnissen und Bilddokumenten (Rowohlt, 1979; revised, 1995); Michael Kalteisen: Ein Deutscher in South Carolina, (M. Fink, 1995); and Hildegard von Bingen (Rowohlt, 1997). Outside of German Studies, she also authored works on Virginia Wolf and Romain Rolland.
In 2002, she published a brief history of Clemson University, illustrated with numerous historical photos of the Clemson campus: Clemson University (Arcadia Publishing).
The Department extends its condolences to Dr. Riley’s family, to her fellow scholars and colleagues, and to the generations of alumni whose lives she impacted through her teaching.
The Department of Languages learned with sadness of the passing of Professor Ed Arnold. Please see this message from Lecturer of German, Lee Ferrell.
“It is with sadness that I learned only recently of the passing of our former colleague Prof. Ed Arnold on January 3, 2024 after a years-long battle with dementia. Ed taught German at Clemson University from 1968 until 2000.
In the summer after I was hired to teach at Clemson in 2003, Ed invited me for lunch to talk to me about the university and to welcome me to the German program. This began a tradition for us both of meeting once per semester to have breakfast and chat about our lives. Ed frequently would talk about his former students, the trips he had arranged for them in the former East Germany and about his work with Habitat for Humanity and Clemson Community Cares. He remained active in the community until declining health made it impossible.
In addition to his community work, Ed regularly translated documents from German to English including the book Blues and Trouble by Lutheran Pastor and activist Theo Lehmann.
Ed was a man of faith but more impressive to me was his humility. He was very sincere and also very accepting of other people and grateful for the students he had taught throughout his career. One of his students, Chris Broome (LAIB ’96), recalls his first semester in German “I didn’t do great in that course, but Ed told me to ‘keep on keepin’ on. It will click eventually.’” Today Chris uses the German language daily in his work at BMW. In addition to class, Chris had participated in one of Ed’s trips to Germany. Ed also helped Chris find an internship in Switzerland in 1994.
Chris fondly recalls how Ed regularly stayed in touch long after he graduated. “He would always reach out after that, sending messages or inviting me out for a meal.”
Ed had a lasting impact on the lives of his students, was a beating heart in his community, and will be remembered by all whose lives were touched by him.”
The Department thanks Professor Ferrell for the heartfelt words about a valuable member of the Department of Languages and the Clemson community.
Department of Languages and LAIB Program host annual Language and International Business Conference
The Language and International Business Program will be hosting its annual Language and International Business Conference on Wednesday, March 5, in the Hendrix Student Center Ballrooms A & B. The conference is an excellent opportunity for all members of the Clemson University community to learn about the role of international businesses in the region, make valuable connections with companies and their representatives, and explore post-graduation career options.
The morning session will begin at 10 AM with a welcome address, keynote speech, and an alumni panel discussing career opportunities for language majors after graduation and the evolving role of women in the business world.
Following the morning session, a free networking lunch is provided for all attendees
The afternoon session will feature three roundtable discussions with various hosts. The conference will conclude with a job fair, offering students valuable networking and career opportunities.
For more information, please see the flyer below or visit the event’s website.
“Food Insecurity: Global and Local” Event Series (Mar 3-Mar 6)
On Wednesday, March 5, Public Forum on Food Insecurity at1 PM in the Honors College Great Hall as a part of the four-part “Food Insecurity: Global and Local” series.
The third event in the “Food Insecurity: Global and Local” series, attendees of the Public Forum will learn valuable insights from a panel of practitioners and researchers working on the topic of food sovereignty and security.
The event will feature diverse and experienced speakers from across numerous departments in the University, including Arelis Moore (College of Arts and Humanities), Jagger Harvey (College of Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences), Brooke Brittain, (College of Behavioral, Social and Health Sciences, and Clemson student Ellison Fleming. The Public Panel will also feature community leaders from across the upstate.
Other events in the series include :
Book talk featuring William Moseley, DeWitt Wallace Professor of Geography and Director of the Food, Agriculture, and Society Program at Macalester College. Moseley will speak on his new book, Decolonizing African Agriculture: Food Security, Agroecology, and the Need for Radical Transformation. (March 3; 5:00 p.m.; Hardin 100)
Lecture featuring Former South Carolina governor David Beasley, who accepted the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize on behalf of the United Nations World Food Program. (March 4; 4:00 p.m.; Strom Thurmond Institute Auditorium)
Film screening of food justice documentary Rooted (2024). (March 6; 4:30 p.m.; Watt Family Innovation Center Auditorium)
For more information see the attached flyer and event description from Clemson News.
As we come to the end of another exciting semester, the Department of Languages is excited to share some of the highlights from the Department in Fall 2024.
Inaugural Semester of “Passport” Living and Learning Community
The new student Living and Learning Community (LLC), Passport, has completed the first semester of its inaugural year. Clemson’s Living and Learning Communities give students a way of navigating college life with a cohort of peers with shared interests and goals. An idea spearheaded by Faculty Sponsor and Principal Lecturer Ellory Schmucker (Languages), the Passport LLC brings together first-year students who share an interest in languages to live, learn, and grow together in a diverse, engaging residential community.
This semester, Passport, which is housed in Gressette residence hall, hosted 16 students from an array of diverse backgrounds and academic concentrations with the aim of creating a multilingual residential space for students to immerse themselves in languages and cultures from around the world. Their common interest in languages coupled with their diverse backgrounds and academic interests enable them to experience a supportive and active community eager to learn from and with one another.
Gressette, Cribb, and DesChamps residence halls. Passport LLC is housed in Gressette Hall. Photo Courtesy of Clemson University.
Department of Languages Hosts 51st Annual Poetry Declamation Contest
The Department of Languages hosted the 51st Annual Poetry Declamation Contest on October 27, 2024.
Begun in 1971, the annual Declamation Contest brings together high school students from schools across South Carolina and Georgia to compete in a poetry recitation in their languages of study. This year, contests were held in eight languages: Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Latin, Russian, and Spanish. Students of all levels may take part in the contest, ranging from absolute beginner to native speaker. This year, over 360 students and 26 schools participated in the event.
During the contest, students recited two poems from memory in the target language: a mandatory selection and their choice of a second selection. They were judged by a panel of judges comprised of Department of Languages faculty and guest judges from the community. After the contest, students, teachers, and parents attended an awards ceremony in Daniel Hall during which Dean Vazsonyi and the members of the Declamation committee presented contests winners with their respective medals.
The Declamation Contest is one of the Department of Languages’ longest standing and most exciting traditions. It continues to be a way to give high school language teachers and students a goal to work toward in their classes, as well as to give students a chance to visit and learn about Clemson University in person by taking a campus tour. The event is made possible by the contributions of current and former faculty, student volunteers, and community judges, as well as the hard work of the Declamation committee: Su-I Chen, Lee Ferrell, Stephanie Morris, Amy Sawyer, Julia Schmidt, and Melva Persico.
Students, parents, and teachers watch the awards ceremony in Daniel Hall after the Declamation Contest.
7th Annual Day of the Dead Celebration Held on Clemson Campus
The Department of Languages once more participated in the 7th Annual Day of the Dead celebration on November 1.
Typically observed on November 1 or 2, the Day of the Dead, or Día de los Muertos, is a celebration of life originating in Mexico and now celebrated throughout Latin America and the United States. It is a time for friends, family, and community to come together to celebrate and honor the lives and memories of departed loved ones.
Clemson’s Day of the Dead event aims to share the joyous Día de los Muertos traditions with the Clemson community and growing Latino communities throughout the upstate.
Day of the Dead celebrations typically include colorful symbols such as marigolds (cempasúchitles), skeletons (calacas), and altars (ofrendas) where family members can honor departed loved ones with photos and offerings of food and drink. Traditional foods include the bread of the dead (pan de muerto) and sugar skulls (calaveras de azúcar).
As in previous years, this year’s Day of the Dead event featured traditional food trucks, face painting, a mariachi band, an outdoor screening of the film “Coco,” and an elegant “Catrina”, a skeleton in traditional dress.
An ofrenda displaying mementos of loved ones and several traditional symbols of the Day of the Dead. Photo courtesy of Clemson University.
The Clemson Day of the Dead celebration is organized and sponsored by several departments, organizations, faculty, students, and individuals from across Clemson and the wider Clemson community. The Department of Languages thanks in particular Nora Logue, Arelis Moore, Rosa Pillcurima, Anne Salces y Nedeo, Debra Williamson (Languages) and Jessica Garcia (CAAH) for their invaluable contributions to the event’s organization and success since its inception in 2018.
Clemson student Crayton Rhodes, class of 2025, recently shared his reflections on his recent study abroad experience through Clemson’s “Remembering D-Day: Clemson in London-Paris-Normandy” in Clemson World.
Led by Professor Eric
Touya de Marenne and Col. (Ret.) Lance Young, Clemson Corps Life Emeritus, “Remembering D-Day: Clemson in
London-Paris-Normandy” is a yearly study abroad course which allows students to
fulfill a global challenges requirement by learning about the history, legacy, and
importance of D-Day in a variety of historically significant locations throughout the
United Kingdom and France.
Students revisit the
experiences of American soldiers during World War II and reflect on the meaning
of these experiences through visits to museums, battlefields, memorials, and
cemeteries in France and the United Kingdom. A unique feature of the program is
its face-to-face component, which allows students a personal experience with
history through private guided tours and conversations with eyewitnesses to the
events of D-Day.
As Rhodes reflects in
his post, many students have
the opportunity to connect intimately with their own family histories by reflecting
on family members’ experiences against the real-life backdrop of these events.
To read Crayton Rhodes’s reflection and learn more about his
Study Abroad experience, please visit Clemson World.
Today, Tuesday, April 16, the Department of Languages welcomes guest speaker Dr. Jacqueline Loss from the University of Connecticut. Dr. Loss will give a talk about Cuban-Russian connections with a focus on Russia in 21st-century Cuban film.
The event will take place in Daniel Hall 123 at 4:30 p.m.
On February 14, the Spanish and German programs hosted the Conference for German and Spanish in International Business and Engineering: Investment in Mexico. Faculty members Daniel García, Magdalena Matúskova and Lee Ferrell collaborated together in organizing this event with publicity and social media coordinated by Anna Grace Araiza. Events for the day were moderated and organized by student leaders Gwyneth Terry (LAIB Spanish), Derek Dias (Finance), Emiliano Sanchez (Finance) and Anna Schmidt (Management).
Hosted in collaboration with the Department of Management and the Consulate General of Mexico, the conference brought in numerous German companies from the upstate region to speak with our students about the work they do in both the US Southeast and in Mexico. This unique opportunity allowed students to learn about the presence of German businesses in Mexico and the unique benefits they have on the region.
After opening remarks by Dean Nicholas Vazsonyi and an address by the Deputy Consul General of Mexico, the conference showcased a keynote address by BMW representatives on the benefits of conducting business in Mexico. Also featured was a panel discussion with the North American heads of Röchling Automotive and Dräxlmaier Automotive Groups as well as the Mexican Ambassador to Germany about German business and investment in Mexico. Students and attendees were also afforded the chance to participate in roundtable discussions on German business and investment through a broader regional lens.
Attendees listen to a presentation during the Conference for German and Spanish in International Business and Engineering: Investment in Mexico.
The conference concluded with a mini job fair in which students and attendees could network with representatives from various German companies and learn about internship and introductory-level jobs in their companies.
Students speak with representatives from Röchling following the conference. The mini job fair was an opportunity for students to learn about internships and entry-level jobs in German companies throughout the Upstate region.
Both Madeleine and Rund will be receiving degrees in Language and International Health with a Spanish concentration. Their unique passions and talents have led them both in different and equally impressive directions.
Madeleine Wolfe, Language and International Health ’23 Image courtesy of Clemson University
Madeleine plans to focus her future efforts on combatting the health disparities that arise in rural communities. She has already had a positive and tangible impact on the local community. During her time at Clemson, she earned her EMS certification and has been working as an EMT with the Clemson University Fire Department. Her unique background in cybersecurity as related to healthcare systems combined with her research with Clemson Rural Health no doubt will allow Madeleine to continue making her mark as she heads off to medical school.
Rund Abdelnabi, Language and International Health ’23 Image courtesy of Clemson University
Rund’s approach is more language-driven. Fluent in three languages, Rund seeks to help Arabic and Spanish speakers access and navigate the complexities of the public healthcare system. Her firsthand experience working in a public health center in Argentina while completing her study abroad program gave her valuable experience in forging meaningful patient relationships, and her goal of becoming a physician’s assistant will allow her to integrate her talents, skills, and passion to make a difference in the experiences and lives of patients in the future.
The Department
of Languages heartily congratulates these talented and impressive graduates as
they take the next steps in their healthcare journey!
An informational meeting about the study abroad program “Remembering D-Day: 2024 Clemson in London-Paris-Normandy” will be held on Wednesday, September 20, from 5:30-7:00PM in Daniel Hall 113.
The program runs from May 14 – May 24, 2024 and takes participants to historically significant locations throughout the United Kingdom and France, including London, Normandy and Paris. Participants will have the opportunity to revisit the experiences of American soldiers during World War II and reflect on the meaning of these experiences in contexts both historical and current. Students will explore important questions and topics from a broad range of perspectives and academic disciplines. The program fulfills the GLCH (Global Challenge) 3990 and FR 3980 course credits.
For more information, contact Professor Eric Touya de Marenne, Department of Languages (etouya@clemson.edu) and Col. (Ret) Lance Young, Clemson Corps Life Emeritus (lsyoung@clemson.edu)
More information can be found on the program flyer below. The Zoom link to the information session is provided on the flyer.
