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.
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!
Assistant Professor of ASL Jody Cripps and his Spring 2023 ASL Creative Inquiry team in Lambert’s Cove, Martha’s Vineyard, MA.
A Return to Martha’s Vineyard
Last April, Assistant Professor of ASL Jody Cripps and seven ASL students traveled to Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, as part of their Creative Inquiry course to initiate a community outreach program aiming to help revive the historic signed language community on the island. This Spring, a new team of students led the way: on April 9-15, Professor Cripps and six of his Creative Inquiry students returned to Martha’s Vineyard for Clemson’s third visit. The group’s project allowed for students to engage in unique and important field research while collaborating with local cultural and historical institutions.
The Deaf Legacy of Martha’s Vineyard at a Glance
Martha’s
Vineyard, an island of just over 17,000 residents off the coast of Cape Cod, Massachusetts,
has a rich history in deaf genealogy and signed language that goes back
centuries.
The earliest deaf settlers in Martha’s Vineyard arrived in the late 1690s, the first of which was Jonathan Lambert, for whom Lambert’s Cove, visited by Professor Cripps and his students, was named. Due to the prevalence of hereditary deafness in the genealogy of many of the island’s residents, the number of deaf individuals rose from the late 17th century onwards until its decline in the 19th century. The last native islander with deaf genes was Eva S. West-Look, who died in 1950. Martha’s Vineyard Signed Language (MVSL) is a unique piece of the legacy which arose from this community, and in the past, it was used by both hearing and non-hearing members of the community to varying degrees. The last resident who knew and used Martha’s Vineyard Signed Language was Katie West, who died in 1952.
Today, the deaf legacy is kept alive in Martha’s Vineyard through various cultural and historical institutions which preserve and educate the public about deaf history on the island. Katie West’s home was purchased by the town in 1956 and is now the Chilmark Library, which houses the Chilmark Deaf/Signed Language Community Digital Archive. The Martha’s Vineyard Museum maintains several important artifacts related to deaf history on the island, including Alexander Graham Bell’s notebook on his investigations into deaf genealogy on the island in the 1880s. Other local landmarks and historic places make tangible efforts to acknowledge their links to past deaf residents and history.
The team in front of the house of Katie West, the last user of Martha’s Vineyard Signed Language. West’s house was purchased by the town in 1956 and is now the Chilmark Library.
Past Creative Inquiry Projects
Last year, Professor Cripps and his Creative Inquiry students spearheaded several community outreach opportunities working alongside local institutions with the aim of promoting deaf history in the community and reviving the signed language tradition on the island.
Professor Cripps and his students visited and collaborated with local institutions such as Martha’s Vineyard Signs Then & Now, a project under a public access MVTV station, where they had the opportunity to interview local deaf residents, discuss the history of the deaf community with Joan Poole-Nash, the Martha’s Vineyard Sign Language Archivist, and talk about Clemson’s Creative Inquiry outreach projects on the program. They also had the chance to collaborate with the Chilmark Library and the Martha’s Vineyard Museum, whose efforts to “bridge the gap” comprise a mix of promoting historical awareness and fostering a strong and accessible community for both deaf and hearing residents through various outreach programs.
Creative Inquiry Filling in the Gaps
This year’s Creative Inquiry team consisted of six of Professor Cripps’ ASL students: Allison Rambo, Stacy Lawrence, Brie Moose, Tariq Copeland, Emerald Withers, and Cassie Fischer. Their project aimed to investigate the direct genealogy linking the Lambert and West families, expanding Lane et al.’s (2010) work on the history of the two families’ link to deaf genetics. The team used historical and genealogical sources found in the Chilmark Library, the Martha’s Vineyard Museum, and town hall in their research. They also used information from the US Census Bureau to verify genealogical connections and hearing status as well as fill in gaps in Lane et al.’s work, such as census numbers and birth/death dates. Source material from books by Alexander Graham Bell (1884) and Charles Banks (2021) was also utilized in research on the West family.
The results of their research were exhibited in a poster presentation entitled “From Lambert to West Families: Deaf Genes on Martha’s Vineyard, 1700s to 1950s” by Professor Cripps and his students at the Research Symposium at Watt Family Innovation Center on May 10, 2023.
Professor Cripps and his students present their research at the Research Symposium on May 10.
The CI team’s other outreach activities focused on interacting with residents and institutions to brainstorm and demonstrate ways to facilitate the use of signed language among community members. In one instance, students met with medical professionals from Vineyard Complementary Medicine, with whom they exchanged ideas for future sessions on learning ASL and training with deaf patients. Students also had the opportunity to teach some sign language basics by presenting “Try Your Hand at Sign Language” at Oak Bluffs Library.
Future exciting collaborations are in the works: Professor Cripps and student Allison Rambo worked with Lynn Throp, producer of MV Signs Then and Now, and Bow Van Riper, Research Librarian of the Martha’s Vineyard Museum, on a booklet highlighting the daily life and enrollment of Martha’s Vineyard deaf students at the American School of the Deaf in Hartford, Connecticut, from 1825 to 1892. The booklet will be issued later this year. Additionally, last April, Professor Cripps and several past CI students had a meeting with Bow Van Riper to discuss and brainstorm a museum exhibition about the deaf islanders. This exhibition will be opened on July 1, 2023, and continue through February 18, 2024.
ASL students present “Try Your Hand at Sign Language” at Oak Bluffs Library in Martha’s Vineyard.
Further Information and Useful Links
For more information on Dr. Cripps and his students’ Creative Inquiry projects in Martha’s Vineyard, please see the team’s website.
For more information on the future exhibit on deaf islanders in the Martha’s Vineyard Museum, please see the museum’s website.
2015 Department of Languages graduate Courtney Meeks (BA, Spanish and International Trade, 2015; MBA, Business Administration, 2017) has been named a 2022 Roaring10 recipient.
Courtney Meeks (MA, 2015; MBA, 2017) Image Courtesy of the Clemson Alumni Association
The Roaring10
is a yearly honor awarded by the Clemson Young Alumni Council to ten outstanding
Clemson University alumni in recognition of their contribution to business,
leadership, community, educational and/or philanthropic endeavors. The honor
also recognizes the awardees’ core values of honesty, integrity, and respect.
Courtney graduated from Clemson University with a BA in Spanish and International Trade in 2015 and received her MBA in Business Administration from Clemson University in 2017. Since graduation, she has been involved in many impressive organizations and enterprises. Some of her recent achievements in leadership have included being named a 2022 United States Global Leadership Coalition Next Gen Leader and participating in Furman University’s Riley Institute Diversity Leaders Initiative. Courtney currently serves as the current president of the Clemson MBA Alumni Council.
The Department of Languages is delighted to congratulate Courtney on this outstanding and well-deserved achievement!
For more information about Courtney, the Roaring10 award and the 2022 recipients, please visit the Clemson Alumni Association website.
As the Fall semester draws to a close, we look back on some highlights from Fall 2022 in the Department of Languages. We turn the spotlight on the hard work and enthusiasm of Department of Languages’ students and faculty and the wider Clemson community as they share their valuable knowledge and experiences working toward a global, interconnected future.
September 21: Commission on Latino Affairs Symposium
The LIH Society hosted the 2022 Commission on Latino Affairs Symposium on September 21 in collaboration with several Clemson organizations. The symposium, entitled “Equity in Heath Care and Promotion Beyond the COVID-19 Pandemic,” featured guest speaker and Nobel Peace Prize nominee Dr. Maria Elena Bottazzi of Baylor College of Medicine who presented the keynote lecture, “Transformational and Adaptive Leadership in Tropical Medicine: Academic Creativity, Strategic Alliances and Diplomacy.” An hour-long discussion panel followed the keynote lecture, with various community-based health organizations sharing their experiences promoting health and resiliency in Latinx communities during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. The symposium concluded with a networking and poster session featuring the research of Clemson students and faculty.
Keynote Speaker Professor Maria Elena Bottazzi with Professor Arelis Moore de Peralta, community panelists, and Clemson students
October 5: Forum for German and Spanish in Latin American Business Fall 2022
Students of Spanish and German speak with representatives of BMW Manufacturing Garrett and Michelle Bounds
The German and Spanish sections joined together this year to hold a Forum for German and Spanish in Latin American Business. This conference highlighting German investment in Latin America gave special focus this year to investment in the Bajio region of Mexico.
The event was organized by Professors Daniel Garcia and Magda Matuskova in Spanish and Professor Lee Ferrell in German. With both on-line and in-person sessions, there were approximately 130 attendees and 12 companies.
October 15: Department hosts 49th Annual Poetry Declamation Contest
The Department of Languages’ 49th Annual Poetry Declamation Contest returned to campus this semester for the first time since 2019, having been cancelled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and hosted virtually in 2021. The contest and awards ceremony were held in the brand-new Humanities Hall.
The Declamation contest brings together high school students from 22 different schools across South Carolina and Georgia to compete in poetry recitation in their languages of study. Contests are hosted in 9 languages (ASL, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Latin, Russian, and Spanish) and includes levels ranging from absolute beginner to native speaker. Students recite two poems from memory: a mandatory selection and their choice of a second selection. They are judged by a panel of judges comprised of Department of Languages faculty and 27 guest judges from the community. This year, 280 students participated in the event.
The return to the in-person contest allowed the students, their parents, and teachers the opportunity to learn about Clemson University first-hand and participate in campus tours.
The Department of Languages thanks the hard work of the Declamation Committee: Su-I Chen, Amy Sawyer, Melva Persico, Julia Schmidt, Debra Williamson, and Lee Ferrell. It also thanks the guest judges, Department of Languages faculty, lab assistants, and many student volunteers who make this event possible.
Students pose with the Tiger after participating in the 49th Annual Declamation Contest.
November 4: Clemson Celebration of Día de los Muertos
The Clemson community observed its fifth year of the Día de los Muertos celebration on November 4. The celebration, which is sponsored by the Clemson University Commission on Latino Affairs and Clemson Inclusion and Equity along with sponsors from the Department of Languages, the South Carolina Botanical Gardens, and Clemson Libraries, is organized by students, faculty, and community members with the aim of sharing an important cultural tradition with the Clemson community.
Día de los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead, is a celebration of life originating in Mexico. Now celebrated in communities throughout Latin America and the United States on the night of November 1-2, the Day of the Dead is an important celebration during which the living and dead are reunited in joyful remembrance and festivity. Day of the Dead celebrations typically include various colorful symbols such as marigolds, skeletons, sugar skulls, traditional foods, and altars where family members can honor departed loved ones with photos and offerings of food and drink.
The Clemson event featured altars, traditional food trucks, a display of the skeleton “Catrina” in traditional dress, face painting, a mariachi band, and a screening of the film Coco.
December 15-16: 12th Virtual International LiLETRAd Congress hosted by Clemson University
Clemson University hosted this year’s 12th Virtual International LiLETRAd Congress, the theme of which was “Metaversality and immersive realities: a space for (re)construction” on December 15-16.
Aimed at professors, students, and alumni of English, French, German, Italian, and Spanish, the symposium featured discussions, presentations, and lectures on topics including the relationship between literature and Metaverse, the convergence and compatibility of external realities, learning languages in virtual reality, human and economic social interaction, voice-constructed world and time-space, and more. The congress concluded with a discussion on how literature, language, and translation will always be essential. Clemson’s representatives and coordinators included Professor Graciela Tissera of the Department of Languages and Elysse Newman, Associate Dean for Research and Faculty Affairs.
The Department of Languages is extremely proud of the impressive accomplishments of our talented students and faculty, and we look forward to the exciting opportunities, achievements, and successes next year will bring!
Want to see more of what we’re up to? Read more on the Department of Languages facebook page.
