Modern Languages and Literatures Alumni News

Trinity University Department of Modern Languages and Literatures
ALUMNI NEWS
CLASSES OF 2000-04

Jennifer Haley '04. Majors: Russian & Political Science. Post-grad: MA in English from Texas A&M University. Currently pursuing the Ph.D. in Rhetoric/Composition at the University of Arizona. "Studying Russian broadened my understanding of how people establish cultural practices and values through language. Also, studying Russian at Trinity was just plain fun."

Jonathan Krause '04. Majors: Chinese and Business. Post-grad: one year at National Taiwan Normal University, Mandarin Training Center. MA in Chinese at Harvard University. Currently preparing for medical school. "At Trinity you can concentrate in modern Chinese with business applications or pursue classical Chinese literature. When there are three Chinese professors to study with the sky is the limit. "

Erin Blankenship '04. Major: East Asian Studies Post-grad: For one year Erin worked as an English tutor at Lingnan University in Hong Kong. The following year she received the Herbert Scoville Jr. Peace Fellowship, a program that provides college graduates the opportunity to work in Washington, DC, with a public-interest organization focusing on arms control and international security issues. In 2007 she plans to begin graduate school in the UK. "Chinese is challenging but one of the best choices I ever made, one that I continually benefit from. From any standpoint Chinese is a language that is rewarding; artistically speaking it is one of the most beautiful written languages, it is a huge benefit for anyone interested in international business, trade, and economics, and for those interested in understanding the philosophies and mindsets of the Far East, the language is a must. It is worth every ounce of effort one puts into it."

Caroline Healy '04. Major: Business. Minor: Chinese. Post-grad: position as Transfer Pricing Consultant at Deloitte Tax LLP in Dallas." Having studied Chinese makes you attractive to employers. China's economy is growing unbelievably quickly, and many businesses are seeking to establish operations in China or partner with Chinese companies. Studying Chinese will thus give you an edge over your competition and allow you to take an active role in international business ventures."

Adam Doyle '04. Majors: Chinese and History. Post-grad: National Taiwan Normal University, Mandarin Training Center. "Studying Chinese should be a decision that does not require much effort to make."

Kelsey Vrooman '04. Major: French. Post-grad: two years as a middle school French teacher; currently pursuing the Masters in French Culture from Columbia University in Paris. Studying French art, music, history, philosophy and politics and taking classes at Sciences Po (the French national Political Science university). "My years of French at Trinity were wonderful and my professors have continued long after graduation to be wonderful- from squeezing in an individual reading seminar so that I could complete my major, to answering my frantic grammar questions when I was a teacher, to faxing grad school recommendations all the way from France! Paris- j'arrive!"

John Colhouer '03. Major: Spanish. Post-grad: MA in Spanish at Florida Atlantic University. Currently: Bilingual software trainer and translator for Hart Intercivic. "The Spanish department at Trinity inspired me to continue my studies in order to truly master the language. As the world moves towards bilingualism, I think it was important for me to assimilate a new culture and language that my education at Trinity provided. Ultimately, I would not be where I am today without the direction of the Modern Languages Department. Matthew Stroud, Bladimir Ruiz, Pablo Martinez, and Richard Woods were four gentlemen that taught me to realize my potential and reach beyond what was in my immediate sight. Their candor, attentiveness, advice, and friendship made my experience at Trinity the corner stone in what I hope becomes a life-time of continued education."

Kelly Pantuso '03. Majors: Chinese and Business Administration. Currently: Kelly is now working as a Chinese buyer for a U.S.-based corporation. "I think having Chinese language skills can create many career opportunities, especially if combined with another major. Although Chinese is sometimes a challenging and demanding language, it is both exciting and rewarding."

Amy Jenkins '03. Majors: Chinese and Political Science . Post-grad: Pursuing the MA in Asian Studies at Harvard University "Deciding to take Chinese was probably the best decision I made at Trinity. Chinese is a fun language to learn--I speak it every day now, and I hope I'll never lose it."

Benjamin Wells '03. Majors: Chinese and Business Administration. Post-grad: Ben received a scholarship from the Ministry of Education, Republic of China, and is attending National Taiwan University in Taipei, Taiwan. "Studying Chinese has been a great way to feed my desire for the exotic. I have learned so much about a culture so different from what I am familiar with and in doing so better understood my own culture and myself."

Peter Shaffer '03. Majors: B.A. in Chinese, B.S. in Computer Science. Currently: Business internship in Shanghai"Taking Chinese is really rewarding. Not only is it interesting and different, but your class becomes a close knit group of friends."

Katie Karam ‘02. Major: Chinese. Post-grad: Johns Hopkins-Nanjing University Center for Chinese and American Studies. Currently: Katie is working for Cal Safety Compliance Corporation (CSCC) as a labor and safety consultant and has been accepted into law school at the University of Texas at Austin. "Thanks to the Trinity University Chinese program, I can enter a factory and tell a manager I’m Chinese and he might believe me. I can also tell him off if he doesn’t want to listen to what I have to say.”

Laura Pierce '02. Major: Chinese and Political Science (International/Comparative Politics); Minor: Economics. Post-grad: English tutor at Lingnan University in Hong Kong, in 2002-03; afterwards, graduate school in International Relations. "I have really enjoyed learning this language and all the opportunities that have come with it. The department is wonderful and all the professors are always willing to help in anyway they can. This major will provide you with the opportunity to learn a great deal about not only the language but the also the history and culture of China."

Matthew Keidan ’02. Major: Chinese, Economics, Finance. Currently: Residential Life Coordinator, Trinity University. "Try out Chinese, it is a great language and culture. The best part is that the Chinese department at Trinity is very tight and is almost like a little family."

Elizabeth Bolduc '02. Major: Chinese, French, International Studies. Post-grad: Tunghai Univ. in Taichung, Taiwan, Republic of China. Currently: French/Chinese teacher, Littleton High School, New Hampshire. "I knew before entering Trinity that I wanted to study Chinese, and the professors and classes there only made me more sure of my decision. Chinese has been a challenge and a joy to study, and it definitely has set me apart as both a student and on the job market. I would highly suggest this major to anyone not only for the great professors and interesting classes, but also because China, its language and culture, are among the most interesting and current topics a student can choose to study."

Brian McCreary '02. Major: Chinese. Currently: Lt. in the Air Force; attended Intelligence Officer School summer of '02 at Goodfellow AFB in San Angelo, TX; planning to obtain masters in either Chinese or International Security Affairs in next 5 years."Chinese is the best language to study in college. Not only is Chinese language a practical skill to have when on the job market, but it also has the most interesting history and culture behind it, as well as some great professors teaching it. "

Rita Gonzales '02. Major: Chinese and Spanish. Post-grad: Pursuing a degree in Nursing at UTSA. "I loved learning about Chinese language and culture. I love the way the Trinity Chinese department forms a close knit family. I feel that whatever career path I may take, my language background will be a plus."

Violeta Garza '02 Majors: Spanish, French; Minor: Comparative Literature. Post-grad: JET Program, then Library Assistant at both the Coates Library and Semmes Public Library (part-time). Currently: Pursuing Master's in Library Science at the University of North Texas. "I believe it's (the JET program) been the best three years of my life, though some pretty amazing stuff is coming up as well, since I'm engaged to a wonderful man and getting married next summer in Holland."

Kristan Doerfler '01. Major: Spanish and Computer Science. Minor: Math. Currently: Project leader for ExxonMobil Global Information Services, coordinating a global rollout of new records management software. "Majoring in Spanish has helped me in my current position - I am traveling to South America to conduct software training & application rollout. Fluency in Spanish definitely gives me an edge over my colleagues."

Clay Allen '01. Major: International Studies & German. Currently: Promotions Manager for the Houston Rockets of the NBA. "I've always been fascinated with people that could speak multiple languages, so taking German (and Spanish) at Trinity was an easy decision. Taking German enabled me to study abroad for a year while in school and make great friends from other cultures--friends I still have to this day."

Kevin Hughes '01. Major: History, Minor: Philosophy. Post-grad: Columbia University School of Law, New York, NY. "There is no question that one of the luckiest events in college for me was taking Chinese on a whim as a sophomore. The faculty is amazing, the classes are more than stimulating, and the people in the program are just the icing on the cake. If you are intellectually curious, have diverse interests, and want to understand more of the world than the view from the American lens, Chinese at Trinity is the most worthwhile investment of your time you can make. And if you want to start being all those things, there is certainly no better place to start."

Patricia Sharp ’01. Major: Chinese and Bio-Chemistry. Post-grad: Baylor University School of Dentistry. "Chinese opened the world beyond Trinity to me, and being abroad was the most influential, profound experience I had in college. I would recommend Chinese to anyone with a sense of adventure, and who is brave enough to cross the Chinese-American cultural gap."

Vijay Iyer ’00. Major: Chinese and Business Administration. Currently: Ernst & Young Consulting, Dallas, Texas. "The program at Trinity is excellent. In light of the sheer potential of markets in China, one should actually ask themselves why they are not learning this language? "

John Yates ’00. Major: Chinese and Business Administration. Post-grad: Hopkins-Nanjing Center in Nanjing, China, 2000-2001 Currently: applying to law school. "One of the reasons I came to Trinity is because I know the Chinese program here is excellent."

Alison Harris Busick '00. Major: French and Communication. Post-grad: MBA at Texas Christian U., 2004. Currently: marketing director for a large physician group in Dallas.