The Language and International Business program (LAIB) will host a panel discussion this Wednesday, March 8, at 3:00 pm via Zoom. This panel discussion, which will feature alumni of the Language and International Business program, is open to all Clemson students. Registration is still open!
The panelists will share their experiences, including how they used their language skills to launch their careers. There will be ample time to ask questions and get lots of ideas and advice you can use as you start making your own career plans. This event is open to all Clemson students, but it will be especially relevant to LAIB students, Modern Languages majors, students in language classes, and any student who is interested in pursuing a career with an international component.
Please note that you must be registered to attend.
What: Graduates from Clemson’s Language and International Business Program talk about their careers and offer advice to current students
Five Department of Languages majors have been nominated for membership in the Clemson University chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, the oldest and among the most prestigious academic honor societies in the United States.
Founded in 1776, the Phi Beta Kappa honor society recognizes outstanding students of Liberal Arts and Sciences who not only demonstrate excellence in their fields of study but excellence in other branches of liberal arts along with a strong moral character.
The Department of Languages inductees are Gabrielle Garringer (Language and Intl Business), Mara MacDonald (Language and Intl Business), Olivia Moran (Language and Intl Business), Alexandra Karnes (Language and Intl Trade), and Mari Lentini (Language and Intl Trade).
The induction ceremony will be virtual and will take place later this semester.
CLEMSON – The efforts of Clemson University to increase opportunities for students and faculty to engage globally continue to move forward with the creation of a $250,000 endowment and a $250,000 fund thanks to a donation from the Michael W. Schwehr family of The Woodlands, Texas.
The gift will create the Schwehr Family Global Service Learning Annual and Schwehr Family Global Service Learning Endowment, both of which will support service-learning, research and engagement in under-resourced communities.
L&IT alumna Victoria Leigh Schwehr (left) with her family. Photo courtesy of Clemson University Relations.
“The generous gift will not only make a lasting impact on the Clemson community but will allow faculty to expand the use of service learning models and open opportunities outside of the traditional study abroad locations,” said Sharon Nagy, associate provost of Global Engagement at Clemson. “Faculty and students will positively impact communities while addressing many of the challenges faced by societies today. Students will be able to do their part to change the world while being changed themselves by the experience.”
The Schwehr Family Global Service Learning Annual will be used immediately to support student and faculty opportunities in developing countries. It will provide annual competitive seed-funding grants to faculty for the development of new Global Service Learning programs. The first call for proposals will be announced in August 2019 and will be reviewed and awarded by the Council for Global Engagement for the 2019-2020 academic year.
Once fully funded, The Schwehr Family Global Service Learning Endowment will provide financial support to programs designed for students from any of the colleges.
Submitted proposals will be reviewed by the Office of Global Engagement and funding will be awarded to selected proposals for service-learning projects and international program development for students in under-resourced communities worldwide.
“We’re blessed to be able to help others in the Clemson family participate in missions at locations of need around the world,” said Schwehr. “Hopefully, with this early contribution, others will join me and my family in this great opportunity to help others”
Global service learning is not new at Clemson. Whether through courses, Creative Inquiryand student organizations, Clemson students, faculty and staff are solving problems and serving communities in Tanzania, India, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Honduras, Peru, Guatemala and Dominica. These initiatives include bioengineering students working with low-resourced communities to find affordable solutions to health care challenges; agriculture faculty engaging around the world to develop drought-resistant crops and technologies to improve food security; engineers addressing water quality; and the School of Nursing’s Global Health Certificate, for which students address health-delivery systems in Peru.
“It is an honor to receive this gift from the Schwehr family. Having spent time in his career working and raising his family abroad, Mike recognizes the importance of preparing students for meaningful lives and careers in our globalized world,” said Nagy. “The Schwehr family’s commitment and altruism are evident in the careful thought they put into the ideas of global service learning. Their gift will give in ways we can hardly imagine today.
The $500,000 gift was made by Schwehr family members Michael William ’81, Linda Pogue, Laurel Michelle and Victoria Leigh ’16.
Michael W. Schwehr graduated from Clemson with a degree in mechanical engineering. After Clemson, he went to ExxonMobil, where his career spanned more than 35 years. During his time there he served in various assignments, including refining, products supply, retail marketing, environmental remediation and real estate. He traveled and lived abroad on numerous occasions and his work led him to Europe, Asia, South America and Africa.
Schwehr’s daughter, Victoria Leigh, graduated from Clemson with a degree in language and international trade. As an undergraduate she studied and worked abroad in Paris, France. After graduation she joined Amazon in Louisville, Kentucky, and later progressed to AeroTek, a prominent national staffing and placement firm.
(From L-R) CAAH Dean Richard Goodstein, Destanee Douglas, and Languages Department Chair Salvador Oropesa. Photo courtesy of Clemson University.
The following students were honored at the annual College of Architecture, Arts and Humanities (CAAH) awards ceremony on April 12 at the Brooks Center for the Performing Arts:
Joey Martinek, Award for Excellence in Spanish
Katrina Killinger, Japan-America Association of South Carolina (JAASC) Award for Excellence in Japanese
Harrison Kerr, Clemson Chinese Laoshi Award for Best Beginner
Matthew Hagan, Joan Bridgwood Award for Excellence in Russian
Destanee Douglas, Language and International Health Award for Excellence
Katie Ann L. Day, Jordan A. Dean, Sr. Annual Award in French Studies
Bennett Andrew Maeres, Draexlmaier Language Award for Excellence in German
Mari Lentini, Patricia Walker Wannamaker Language and International Trade Award for Highest Merit
Students at a roundtable discussion. Photo courtesy of Clemson University.
The Department of Languages hosted the annual Language and International Business Conference (formerly the Language and International Trade Conference) on March 13 in the Hendrix Student Center. The conference provides leadership opportunities to students of foreign languages, promotes awareness of international businesses in Upstate South Carolina, and gives students networking and job opportunities. The theme of this year’s event was “applying language in the global marketplace.” The 2019 conference included a keynote speech by Justin Prescott, a Clemson alumnus and Senior Consultant at Ernst and Young in Tokyo; a panel discussion with Chamber of Commerce members; and a roundtable discussion with Clemson students and international business leaders.
L&IT-French Senior Mari Lentini. (Photo courtesy of Mari Lentini.)
Mari Lentini is a graduating senior in the Language and International Trade (L&IT) program. She studied in France, interned with the U.S. Department of State, and is President of the French Professional Society. Let’s learn more about Mari and her accomplishments.
Where are you from and why did you choose to come to Clemson?
I am from Houston, Texas, although for the past couple of years, my home has been Maggie Valley in the mountains of western North Carolina. It’s about two hours away from Clemson and I chose Clemson because of its close proximity and how the Language and International Trade major combined a language program with business courses. The versatility of the L&IT program to achieve and apply language mastery in the global marketplace is incredible – my L&IT friends have followed their passions into industries such as commerce and trade, fashion, government and politics, teaching, nonprofit work, and more.
How would you describe yourself? What do you like to do in your free time?
I am a curious person and like to learn new concepts and explore new places. My frequent travel experiences taught me how to plan ahead and be organized as well as to be adaptable and spontaneous. In my free time, I enjoy running, studying new languages, hiking, and going to concerts.
Mari during her internship at the U.S. Department of State, Washington, D.C. (Photo courtesy of Mari Lentini.)
Why did you select your major(s)? Have you studied abroad or done internships related to your studies?
I knew that I wanted to study abroad while in college. I absolutely could not wait to go to France and use French in my daily life. L&IT really interested me because in addition to the class requirements, there are two education enrichment requirements: one is to study abroad in a country with your target language and the second is to complete an internship at a company that uses your language. These components demonstrated to me that Clemson cared about my growth and development in language and cultural fluency.
My minor is in Global Politics, which shaped my study abroad experience. I completed two study abroad programs back-to-back. First, in winter 2017 with the Institute of American Universities College, I had the amazing opportunity to explore how American diplomacy and its institutions are implemented abroad, specifically in Morocco, Belgium, and France. This included understanding the structure of U.S. embassies, meeting with diplomats at the U.S. Consulate General in Casablanca, the U.S. Mission to the EU, and the U.S. Mission to NATO, and visiting non-governmental organizations to grasp the effectiveness of the track II diplomacy approach in assisting with conflict resolution and the achievement of foreign policy goals.
Immediately following this, I studied for a full semester in the south of France with IAU College at Aix-en-Provence. I did a homestay to fully immerse myself in the French language and culture. My classes included courses such as Arabic (at the moment, Arabic is not offered at Clemson, so I jumped on the opportunity to learn a new language while abroad!), International Economics and the EU, and French Children’s Literature, to name a few.
Mari with the 2018 American Diplomacy study abroad cohort in Paris, France. (Photo courtesy of Mari Lentini.)
If you would like to read more about my experiences and see pictures, feel free to check out my study abroad blog: www.aixperiencefrance.wordpress.com.
For my internship, I interned in Washington, D.C. with the U.S. Department of State in Summer 2018. I was an Orientation intern at the Foreign Service Institute. Orientation, colloquially known as A-100, for newly-hired U.S. diplomats is where they learn more about the State Department and skills they need to be successful for their career in the Foreign Service. I helped to coordinate and participate in their workshops, and this experience provided invaluable insight in my decision to pursue a future in foreign policy.
What advice would you give to other students in your major?
I would encourage students to develop strong and meaningful relationships with one another and their faculty. Get to know your advisor and other people in the major early on inside and outside of the classroom – the Introduction to L&IT class is a great place to start as well as your language’s professional society. Participate in your language club’s events, like the film showings and their conversation tables. Reach out to past students who have gone abroad or interned and hear why they picked the city or program that they did, and then continue to stay in touch with them!
Are you involved in any extra-curricular organizations, and what is your role?
Mari at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, France. (Photo courtesy of Mari Lentini.)
I am someone who likes to be busy and involved in my community, and I am still discovering new clubs that match my interests in languages, foreign policy, and music. Currently, I am the President of the French Professional Society and am helping to plan the upcoming L&IT conference in March 2019. I also am a delegate for the university’s Model United Nations team and chaired for committees at the Clemson University Model United Nations Conference and a French collegiate conference in Aix-en-Provence. I serve in the judicial branch of Student Government and manage finances for my service sorority, Gamma Sigma Sigma. I also love concerts and country music, which is why I became part of CMA EDU. As Vice President of Special Events, I help to plan and coordinate the events for our members, including opportunities to learn more about careers in the music industry and the business side of it from professionals.
What are your future plans?
I am searching for a business or foreign policy internship for the upcoming summer. I am also in the process of researching fellowship programs that will help make graduate school more accessible for me. I would love to continue my learning in area studies, specifically in the effects of French colonization on the development of North African societies, or in the field of international law. My dream career is to join the U.S. Department of State as part of their Foreign Service.
Students participate in roundtable sessions at the 2018 L&IT Conference. Photo courtesy of Clemson University.
The Department of Languages hosted the annual Language and International Trade (L&IT) Conference on February 28 in the Hendrix Student Center ballrooms. The theme of this year’s event was self-marketing and recognizing success signals. Donna Murphy of Michelin gave the keynote speech titled “Understanding Yourself: Strengths, Weaknesses, Interests, Ambitions, Values,” in which she counseled students to consider how to best market themselves to potential employers. The event also featured a panel of Clemson alumni who are now working at international companies, roundtable sessions with representatives from such companies, and a job fair.
Chloe Finley (left) with a friend in Japan. (Photo courtesy of Chloe Finley.)
A junior Language & International Trade-Japanese major, Chloe Finley, received the AIG Bridging Scholarship for her study abroad at Sophia University in Tokyo this year. Eighty-eight undergraduate students from colleges and universities across the United States were named recipients of Bridging Scholarships for Study Abroad in Japan. The winners receive awards of $2,500 to assist with their expenses while they study in Japan.
The Japan-US Friendship Commission, an independent federal agency promoting mutual understanding between the United States and Japan, initiated the Bridging Project scholarship program to promote study abroad in Japan by larger numbers of American undergraduate students. The scholarship program is administered by the American Association of Teachers of Japanese, which promotes education in Japanese language, literature, and culture.
Clemson students Catie Silva, Sarah Burton, Kylie Cash, Marina Velo, Fatema Bhagat pose with Seville resident director Carlos Valencia. (Photo courtesy of Graciela Tissera.)
Dr. Carlos Valencia, Resident Director of the Clemson in Seville Program, talked about the program highlights during his presentation on September 19 and at the Study Abroad Fair on September 20, 2017. Dr. Carlos Valencia received his doctorate in 19th-century Spanish literature from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill before teaching at Wake Forest University and the University of Richmond. Among Carlos’s professional interests are the application of new technology to Spanish language instruction and the incorporation of volunteer work into curriculua as a sociolinguistic and cultural learning tool.
Sean Cosh at the Study Abroad Fair. (Photo courtesy of Graciela Tissera.)
The following students also participated to share their experiences in the Seville Program, Spring 2017: Carine Brown (L&IH), Fatema Bhagat (L&IH), Sarah Burton (L&IT), Kylie Cash (L&IT), Sean Cosh (Minor in Spanish), Kate Czerkawski (L&IH), Catie Silva (L&IH), Marina Velo (L&IH), and Melissa Williams (L&IH). The students talked about classes, trips, business and health internships, group projects, and how the professors abroad helped them to reach their goals in education. The International Spanish Program and Internships in Seville, Spain is a unique program designed for students in Modern Languages-Spanish, Language and International Health, Language and International Trade, and a minor in Spanish. Those who wish to embark on this journey are rewarded with the chance of a lifetime to explore Spanish culture and to experience working in a number of different business and healthcare environments. For more information, please contact Dr. Graciela Tissera, Program Director (gtisser@clemson.edu).
Melissa Williams, Kate Czerkawski and Carine Brown at the Study Abroad Fair. (Photo courtesy of Graciela Tissera.)
Johannes Schmidt, associate professor of German, visited the OTH Regensburg, a new partner university in Bavaria, Germany, in June 2017. The week was filled with meeting faculty, administrators, and students at the OTH as well as seeing the sights of the medieval historic center of the city. In Regensburg he saw three Clemson students, the first group to study at Regensburg. The week also included a visit to Infineon, a large semiconductor company where Clemson Computer Science student Dani Durham interned for a semester. Jennifer Rogers (Language and International Trade, German) spent the summer semester at Regensburg and will return in the fall to begin an internship with Mercedes Benz. Andrea Wiggins (Modern Languages, German) will stay in Regensburg for another semester.
Clemson student Dani Durham at Infineon. Photo courtesy of OTH Regensburg.
While in Regensburg, “Herr” Schmidt not only promoted Clemson as a study abroad destination for Regensburg students but also gave two guest lectures. “German Economy and Culture in the USA” was presented in German and discussed the historical influence of German culture and Germany’s business presence in the US today, as exemplified by businesses in Upstate South Carolina. Two major German companies with ties to Clemson University were used as case studies. The lecture/workshop “Holocaust Education in the US” — delivered in English — informed attendees what kind of information and how material related to the Shoah is presented in US middle and high schools as well as colleges and universities. The participants also researched and discussed the strong engagement of institutions and museums (like the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C.) regarding the topic.
The current partnership agreement is to be extended to a full study abroad and faculty exchange program. After his visit, Schmidt said, “The OTH was extremely welcoming and made my visit enjoyable and very informative. I now feel even better sending our students to Regensburg.”
