WLC Welcomes New Faculty
The Department of World Languages & Cultures welcomed seven new full time faculty members this fall semester, in French, Japanese, Spanish, TESOL, and a new language for NC State, Korean. Keep reading to learn more about our new faculty.
Sarah Brandt, Spanish and Foreign Language Education
Where did you study and what was your focus: BA and MA from NCSU — Hispanic Studies & Pedagogy
Courses taught this semester: WLSP 102, ECI 423, ECI 204
What do you like most about being at NC State so far?: Being able to continue my Wolfpack journey from undergrad, grad, and now faculty is the best thing I could ask for!
Favorite ice cream flavor?: Cookies & Creme
Carlos Domínguez Díaz, Spanish
Where did you study and what was your focus: B.A. California State University, Sacramento; M.A. NCSU – Spanish
Courses taught this semester: WLSP 101, WLSP 202, WLSP 331
What do you like most about being at NC State so far?: I like to work and help students through their language learning. I also like providing students with opportunities to learn Spanish for their specific contexts and careers.
Favorite ice cream flavor?: Banana pudding and sea salt caramel.
Dr. Carmen Durham, TESOL
Where did you study and what was your focus: University of Maryland; Applied linguistics and language education.
Courses taught this semester: WLEN 101 and WL 427/527
Current research projects: I am collecting data to examine whether international students feel that they can create social change by conducting research on important social issues, and I’m working with one of our awesome TAs on her project examining how peer review supports student learning.
What do you like most about being at NC State so far?: I love living in Raleigh, where I attend a lot of events and can easily go rock climbing and hiking.
Favorite ice cream flavor?: Vegan cookies and cream.
Dr. Mina Kaneko, Japanese
Where did you study and what was your focus: PhD, University of Southern California, Comparative Studies in Literature and Culture, with a focus on Japanese literature and visual media.
Courses taught this semester: Elementary Japanese I Conversation & Elementary Japanese II Conversation
Current research projects: I am currently working on a research project about mushrooms in postwar Japanese visual culture, from the mushroom cloud to the radioactive fungi of science-fiction.
What do you like most about being at NC State so far?: The community of World Languages and Cultures and the diversity of our students! Also I love the trees in North Carolina more generally.
Favorite ice cream flavor?: Coffee (but strong preference for savory snacks 🙂 )
Dr. Daniel Kim, Korean
Where did you study and what was your focus: Georgia Central University; Korean Culture
Courses taught this semester: WLKO 101, 201, 301
What do you like most about being at NC State so far?: Great colleagues and students.
Favorite ice cream flavor?: Coffee.
Dr. Irina Randriamiadana, French
Where did you study and what was your focus: After finishing my MA in French at NC State, I completed my Ph.D. in French and Francophone Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. My dissertation focused on how Afro-descendant writers reclaim the Frenchness of their so-called exotic tastes in fiction to inscribe them in a reality that has often marginalized them. My research interests included Afropean, Beur, and overseas French territories literature and culture.
Courses taught this semester: WL 216: Art & Society in France and WLFR 520: Literary Theory and Culture.
Current research projects: I am currently working on a chapter for a forthcoming book entitled “Redefining Womanhood: Agency, Voice, and Identity in French and Francophone Women’s Cultural Production”, which will be published by Peter Lang. Additionally, I am writing a book review of Janet Beizer’s book entitled The Harlequin Eaters: From Food Scraps to Modernism in Nineteenth-Century France for Nineteenth-Century Contexts.
What do you like most about being at NC State so far?: I feel privileged to be able to give back to the Pack. The support from my colleagues has been incredible, and I am beyond grateful for the opportunity to work with amazing and highly motivated graduate students.
Favorite ice cream flavor?: I can’t pick between dark chocolate, salted caramel, and Malagasy vanilla—they’re all too good!
Dr. Sara Zahler, Spanish
Where did you study and what was your focus: Indiana University, Hispanic linguistics
Courses taught this semester: WLSP 402 Introduction to Hispanic Linguistics; WLSP 502 Linguistic Structure of Spanish
Current research projects: I am currently writing up a research project on innovative uses of “andar” (to walk) in Central American Spanish. This verb has acquired additional meanings and contexts of use that are unique to some Central American countries. By comparing dialects where this change has already occurred to dialects where this change is newer and more incipient, we were able to make some claims about how this innovative use of “andar” came about. I am also starting a new research project with Dr. Valerie Lambert, Associate Professor of French in WLC. We are looking at bilinguals of English and Spanish who are learning French as a third language. We are curious how they use and evaluate French grammar forms, and what is the impact of their previously acquired languages (English and Spanish).
What do you like most about being at NC State so far?: Everything! In particular, I love how collaborative and supportive the World Languages and Cultures department is for faculty and students alike. I’m loving getting to know my colleagues and students.
Favorite ice cream flavor?: Ben and Jerry’s Phish Food. Mint chocolate chip is a close second.
Learn more about World Languages & Cultures and all of our faculty.
