Congratulations Class of 2022! Meet our Modern Languages Graduates

恭喜你, félicitations, herzlichen Glückwunsch, おめでとうございます, 축하합니다, Поздравляем, and Enhorabuena to the School of Modern Languages Class of 2022!

Our School is proud to award degrees to 23 undergraduates, 14 graduates, and 120 minors across our language groups in the Spring and Summer Commencement Ceremonies.

We asked the Class of 2022 to reflect on their time studying language and culture at Georgia Tech and share their plans for the future.

M.S. in Applied Languages and Intercultural Studies (French)

Post-graduation plans: I'm still deciding between taking a job in secondary education or taking a more professional route and focusing on international communications.

Favorite course: French Song and Phonographie with Dr. Jonsson. Music is such an integral part of any culture or language and this course was such a fun deep dive into the influences and historical implications of the musical scene in France over the centuries.

Favorite project: The French Program’s French Day and the Global Media Festival with Aissa Maiga were my two favorite events to attend, participate in, and volunteer for. Speaking with all the French professors during some downtime on French Day made me realize how far I’d come in developing my conversational skills, not just my academic and writing skills.

B.S. in International Affairs and Modern Languages (Spanish) with a minor in Law, Science, and Technology​​

Post-graduation plans: I will start working as an immigration specialist at SGR Law Firm in Atlanta in the summer.

Favorite course: One of my favorite classes in Modern Languages was Identity in Hispanic Literature. I really enjoyed reading different stories in Spanish and discussing the cultures and historic events that they represented. The class helped me to not only improve my Spanish abilities but also learn more about the world.

Advice for incoming students: Stay active in whichever language you choose to pursue in Modern Languages. Participate in class often, join a club or student organization related to the language, and if possible, go on a study abroad program. All these things will help you to become more fluent in speaking a foreign language and learning about its culture. Also, don't hesitate to get involved early — your time at Tech will fly by faster than you realize!

B.S. in Applied Languages and Intercultural Studies (Spanish) and B.S. in Industrial Design

Post-graduation plans: Deciding between job offers in either design or research.

Favorite course: SPAN 4170: Applied Linguistics with Cecilia Montes-Alcala. The most eye-opening class about the nuances of grammar and wording. I wish I had taken it earlier.

Advice for incoming students: Expect to learn about cultures. Understand that language development requires time outside of the classroom for sure.

B.S. in International Affairs and Modern Languages (Japanese) with a minor in International Business, Language, Culture

Post-graduation plans: Taking a gap year teaching English abroad in Japan with JET or Korea with Fulbright.

Favorite professor: Dr. Kyoko Masuda has had the biggest impact on me. Throughout the entire pandemic, she has been extremely patient, kind, and understanding of her students while continuing to deliver top quality education. Her guidance through the Japanese capstone and LBAT have helped me develop my Japanese skills immensely!

Most memorable moment: My favorite moment in Modern Languages was during the virtual Japanese LBAT when we took a virtual tour of the site of the atomic bomb in Hiroshima. It was a very impactful moment that combined aspects of my Japanese language education with that of international affairs.

M.S. in Global Media and Cultures (Japanese)

Post-graduation plans: I plan to attend a 10-month Japanese language school in Yokohama.

Favorite project: Working on the DILAC project “360 degrees of Atlanta in Japanese” with Professor Aya Nakanishi. Students in the Japanese 2001 classes that semester went around filming on campus and the Atlanta area and then adding Japanese language narration describing what they saw. These videos were then posted on a DILAC-created website.

Advice for incoming students: Take advantage of the language programs here. Coming from someone who has attended two other USG schools with average-level programs, I can honestly say Georgia Tech has challenged my Japanese skills for the better.

M.S. in Applied Languages and Intercultural Studies (Spanish)

Post-graduation plans: I've already applied for some assistant faculty positions, but I plan to go into academia somehow. Further down the line, I would love to get a PhD in Linguistics or Language Studies.

Favorite professor: Miguel Rosas Buendia has by far had the most impact on me. His teaching style and personality always made class fun, and he always cared about us as students.

Advice for incoming students: If you're passionate about a language, even enough to study it as a minor, it's worth pursuing long term. Being multilingual and multicultural is not only useful for your career, but it helps you be a better person as well.

M.S. in Global Media and Cultures (Spanish)

Post-graduation plans: I will be joining Unilever in their research and design division in Trumbull, Connecticut.

Favorite project: My final research project for the GMC program has been the most interesting and innovative work I have done. It has allowed me to bridge race studies, gender studies, and media studies through a cultural lens. I have enjoyed reconnecting with my heritage in an academic setting through this research.

Advice for incoming students: Explore Atlanta. Recognize the deep and rich history of the communities that surround you. Be mindful of the displacement of native ATLiens and gentrification. Atlanta is so much more than the Tech bubble.

B.S. in Applied Languages and Intercultural Studies (Spanish) and B.S. in Neuroscience

Post-graduation plans: I am taking a gap year and working as a research assistant and applying to medical school this summer.

Favorite course: My favorite class was SPAN 4165: Bilingualism in the Spanish-speaking world because we also got to delve into neurolinguistics, which is an area of neuroscience (my primary major) that really interests me.

Most memorable moment: Doing an interview project for a class where my group interviewed a medical researcher from a Spanish university. It was so interesting to hear about her experiences in research and learn about how research culture differs in Spain compared to the U.S.

M.S. in Global Media and Cultures (German)

Post-graduation plans: Finding an internship or full-time position in Germany in sustainable development strategies

Favorite professor: Britta Kallin has been indispensable as my Final Project advisor.

Advice for incoming students: Embrace the community, both in and out of class!

M.S. in Global Media and Cultures (Spanish)

Post-graduation plans: Staying another year at GT for a Master's in Master of Sustainable Energy and Environmental Management

Favorite course: Documentary Filmmaking with Professor Thornton. I loved the way he challenged us to define the boundaries of a documentary.

Advice for incoming students: Embrace your errors when learning and try your best to practice your target language, even when it's uncomfortable. Also, place value on not just speaking, but really understanding native speakers.

M.S. in Global Media and Cultures (Spanish);

Post-graduation plan: Working in strategic communications at a global company based in Sweden.

Favorite course: My favorite class was a class I took with Osvaldo Cleger that took the student on a virtual ride on the different types of movements in changing language from being on paper to transitioning to stories online and all the different forms that they have taken. It was super interesting to see this evolution and be able to learn how to create geolocalized stories on an App

Favorite project: My master’s degree project which analyzed psychological and cultural aspects important to take into consideration when storytelling in children’s animations.

B.S. International Affairs and Modern Languages (Spanish) with a minor in Sports, Society, and Technology

Post-graduation plans: Hoping to find a career in environmental conversation or global development. "Office of Summer and Special Sessions Initiatives intern

Favorite course: SPAN 4693: Sustainability in Spain. This study abroad course highlighted Spain’s sustainability initiatives while including site visits across the southern portion of the country, such as a solar energy generation station and a greenhouse in Almería.

Most memorable moment: Spain LBAT! I loved my time exploring the entire country and meeting people from around the world. I was able to solo travel to every region in Spain and a plethora of surrounding countries, which gave me some of the best immersion I could’ve asked for.

M.S. in Applied Languages and Intercultural Studies (French)

Post-graduation plans: I have recently adapted my career goals to be geared toward marketing and communications. I have a marketing internship for the summer and may possibly have the chance to stay with that team after the internship.

Favorite project: I particularly loved a mini project in my Language and Computers class with Dr. Lelia Glass. I majored in linguistics in undergrad but knew nothing about computational linguistics. I appreciate the skills I gained in that class including when we did a mini project on making a chat bot. It helped me understand the logistics behind something I had studied the theory of.

Advice for incoming students: It is never too early to start planning how you want to end the program. Talk to as many professors and advisors as possible to get an idea of the final products you can produce. On the other hand, don’t be afraid to change your mind part-way through the semester about a project you want to accomplish if something else piques your interest. The faculty is so helpful with guiding you to a good timeline and goals if you put in the work to get the ball rolling in whatever direction you choose.

B.S. in International Affairs and Modern Languages (French)

Post-graduation plans: Government and Public Services Analyst at Deloitte Consulting in Washington, D.C.

Favorite course: Science Fiction in the French Imagination. I've always loved this genre and getting to explore how francophone authors interpreted it was interesting.

Advice for incoming students: Remember that your language of choice is more than just the written/spoken/read language. There are entire cultures or subcultures linked to it- be sure to explore them beyond just language!

B.S. in Applied Languages and Intercultural Studies (Chinese) and B.S. in Computer Science with a minor in Arabic

Post-graduation plans: Pursuing a Master's in Financial Engineering at Columbia University

Favorite professor: Dr. Foster. He helped me figure out how to pursue my Chinese major alongside computer science and taught the specific courses I needed to graduate on time. His culture-oriented courses and teaching also helped me improve drastically my practical Chinese.

Inspiration for being a double major: I knew that if I was only a computer science major, I would be graduating with hundreds of people from Georgia Tech alone with the same academic qualifications as me. Pursuing a second major in Chinese and a minor in Arabic has allowed me to set myself apart in a dramatic way from those applying to similar positions, as demonstrated by the fact that I have been asked about it in every interview I've done. As I intend to pursue a career in finance, having the global perspective and the language ability that a language major provides has prepared me well to live in and research different parts of the world.

Georgia Tech will host the Spring 2022 Commencement ceremony on Friday, May 6, and Saturday, May 7.

Class of 2022 B.S. in Applied Languages and Intercultural Studies (ALIS),  B.S. in Global Economics and Modern Languages (GEML), and B.S. in International Affairs and Modern Languages (IAML):

• Sophia De Lurgio, B.S. ALIS (Spanish) and 2022 Outstanding Senior in Spanish
• Sarah Eisenstadt, B.S. ALIS (French)
• Maxwell Gilbert, B.S. ALIS (Russian)
• Nealie Glasser, B.S. ALIS (Spanish)
• Sophie Gray, B.S. ALIS (Korean)
• Maya Karkare, B.S ALIS (Spanish)
• Joanna Moon, B.S. ALIS (Spanish)
• Audrey Morgan, B.S. ALIS (Spanish)
• Ella Tiller, B.S. ALIS (Korean) and 2022 Excellence in ALIS Award Winner
• Fuad Youssef, B.S. ALIS (Chinese)
• Mason Favor, B.S. GEML (Spanish)
• Vi-Vien Ly, B.S. GEML (Spanish)
• Natalie Boutwell, B.S. IAML (Spanish)
• Terea Flynn, B.S. IAML (Japanese) and 2022 Outstanding Senior in Japanese
• Celine Guenther, B.S. IAML (German)
• Yasmeen Herb, B.S. IAML (Chinese) and 2022 Outstanding Senior in Chinese
• Stephen Nash, B.S. IAML (Spanish)
• Parker Reed, B.S. IAML (Spanish)
• John Sheldon, B.S. IAML (French)
• Lindsay Shurtz, B.S. IAML (Spanish)
• Samyuktha Sundararajan, B.S. IAML (French)
• Chloe Thomas, B.S. IAML (Spanish)
• Eleanor Weber, B.S. IAML (French)

Class of 2022 M.S. in Global Media and Cultures (GMC) and M.S. in Applied Languages and Intercultural Studies (ALIS):

• Mariana Aguiar-Hodzen, M.S. ALIS (Spanish)
• Mackenzie Blumberg, M.S. ALIS (French)
• Delfina Booth, M.S. GMC (Spanish)
• Meg Carver, M.S. GMC (French)
• Eboni Goar, M.S. GMC (Japanese)
• Nick Hale, M.S. ALIS (Spanish)
• Rebecca Hammond, M.S. GMC (Spanish)
• Laurel "Elle" Kostka, M.S. GMC (German)
• Mark Lannaman, M.S. GMC (Spanish)
• Valeria Longhi, M.S. GMC (Spanish)
• Jamil Nayani, M.S. ALIS (Spanish)
• Kelsey Nelson, M.S. ALIS (French)
• Lauren Taylor, M.S. ALIS (French)

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