Alumni Placement

Updates on our recent MA and PhD graduates:

Jade Basford (PhD, 2022) teaches French and English at Lorvale Academy in Midland, Ontario. 

Ashley Holt (PhD, 2022), is an independent scholar living in Germany, working on her translation into English of Lion de Bourges, a fifteenth-century text.

Sylvestre Mekem Douanla (PhD, 2021) is Assistant Professor of French at University of Louisiana in Monroe, Louisiana. 

Arnaud Tchetou (PhD, 2021) is Visiting Assistant Professor of French at Susquehanna University in Pennsylvania.

Mathilde Pointière (PhD, 2021). Currently resides in France.

Thomas Martin (PhD, 2020) is Visiting Assistant Professor of French at Loyola University, New Orleans. 

Jeanne Jégousso (PhD, 2019) is Assistant Professor of French at Hollins University in Roanoke, Virginia.

Darina (Dasha) Pugacheva (PhD, 2019) is Instructor of French and Russian at the Monterey Language Institute.  

Lise Mba Ekani (PhD, 2019) is an Assistant Professor at Pacific Lutheran University.

John Patin (PhD, 2018) is an English Language Instructor at Poly Academy in Gumi, South Korea.

Barclay Spriggs (PhD, 2018). 

Fabienne Kanor (PhD 2018) is an Assistant Professor at Penn State University, State College, Pennsylvania.

Natacha Jeudy (PhD 2018) is a French Assistant Professor at the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center, in Monterey, California.

Marguerite Perkins (PhD 2017) is a Community Development Specialist at the Council for the Development of French in Louisiana.

'The years I spent in the department prepared me for my career in ways I couldn’t have even imagined when I entered the program. The opportunities I was given in graduate school - for teaching, for research, for academic travel - helped me to graduate with a clear idea of where I was going and how I was going to put my research to good use. I’m grateful to the department, and I’m glad I decided to study at LSU.'

 

Tara Smithson (PhD 2016) is Visiting Assistant Professor at St Mary’s University in South Bend, Indiana.

Gina Marie Breen (PhD, 2016) is an Instructor in English at Queen's University, Belfast. 

Nicolas Franchitti (MA 2016) is a French instructor for the US army.

Melissa Guerry (MA, 2016) is bilingual customer service representative for DuPont. 

David Llorca (PhD 2016) is a yoga instructor and healer.

Nadia Miskowiec (PhD 2016) is French teacher at the Illinois Math and Science Academy.

Carrie O'Connor (PhD 2016) was a Lecturer in French at MIT Accelerating Information Technology Innovation.

Albert Camp (PhD 2015) is the Senior Director of ESL Programs in the English Department at LSU.

Benjamin J. Sparks (PhD 2015) is an Instructor of French at the University of Memphis.

Gordon Walker (MA, 2015) received a Master of Professional French Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.  He currently serves as the Language Program Coordinator in the Department of French Studies at LSU. 

Chelsea Brueder (MA 2015) is a French teacher at George Washington University Online.

Gretchen Tressler (MA 2014) was named a finalist for the 2015 Presidential Management Fellows Program. She is currently Senior Communications Specialist at the Federal Aviation Administration.

Jarrette Allen (PhD) is an Assistant Professor of French in the Department of English & Foreign Languages at McNeese State University.

Lauren Pendas (MA 2014) is living and working in Baton Rouge, LA.

Séverine Orban (PhD 2014) taught French at College of Idaho until 2020; she is now founder and owner of Le Cercle Mouna, a meditation and insight enterprise.

Brandon Thomas (PhD 2014) is a financial advisor with UBS Financial Services in Beaumont, TX.

Melanie Hackney (PhD 2013) is Director of Language Programs and Clinical Assistant Professor of French at NYU Shanghai, China.

Rosie Harrington Courville (PhD 2013) is Assistant Principal of the 9th Grade Academy at Livonia High School in Louisiana. She was previously Chair of the Foreign Language Department at Lee Magnet High School in Baton Rouge, LA.

'My experience as a Master’s and doctoral student in the LSU Department of French Studies has direct bearing on my current work as a new teacher coach with Teach For America in that my research and classes exposed me to thought-provoking philosophy and literary theory that probed and pushed my understanding of race, gender, class, and nationality in a way that continues to inform my educational work in Baton Rouge-area communities.'

 

Aaron Emmitte (PhD 2013) is Associate Teaching Professor of French at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C..

Mark Huntsman (PhD 2013)

Andrew Hill (MA 2012) is an Instructor of French at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, LA.

Mame Fatou-Niang (PhD 2012) is an Associate Professor at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennslyvania.

Carla Bota-Vance (PhD 2011) is an Instructor of French at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

 

Angélique Bergeron (PhD 2011) is the Director of the West Baton Rouge Museum in Port Allen, Louisiana.

'I am deeply endebted to the LSU Department of French Studies for the lessons learned and connections made both in my coursework and assistantships which prepared me in so many ways for my current work.  I am fortunate to still be in contact with professors and friends made in the LSU French Studies Department.  This has proved a valuable asset as we have increased our French offerings at the West Baton Rouge Museum.'

Jean Xavier Brager (PhD 2010) teaches French in Marseille.

Logan Connors (PhD 2010) is a Professor and Associate Chair of Modern Languages & Literatures at the University of Miami.

Megan Lawrence (MA 2009) is a bilingual flight attendant for American Airlines.

Andrew Rivière (MA 2009) is doctoral student in the Louisiana State University Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Emilie Gagnet Leumas (PhD 2009) is owner of EGL Consultants in New Orleans and a Fellow of the Society of American Archivists.

Oana Cimpean (PhD 2009) is Associate Director of the Teaching Academy at New Mexico State University.

Stephanie Coker (PhD 2008) is Associate Professor of French at the University of North Alabama in Alabama.

Marianne Bessy (PhD 2008) is Lois Aileen Coggins Professor of Modern Languages and Literatures (French) at Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina. 

Carole Salmon (PhD 2007) is Professor of French at Furman University, Greenville, South Carolina.

Sibylle Noetzel (PhD, 2007) is Instructor of French at LSU. 

 

 

'I am very grateful to the LSU Department of French Studies for the wonderful courses I was able to take while a graduate student in the department and for the supportive faculty that has guided me through my studies.  It is without a doubt that the experiences I have had both in the classroom and while abroad have enriched my experience as a graduate student and as a teacher.'

Souleymane Fofana (PhD 2006) is an Instructor of French at MacEwan University in Edmonton, Alberta (Canada).

Christina Thomas (MA 2006) is teaching high school French in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

Mike Bierschenk (MA 2006) is the Academic Program Coordinator in the Dept. of English at Ohio State University, in Columbus, Ohio.

Jean-Marc Duplantier (PhD 2006) teaches Humanities at the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts.

Bani Ningbinnin (PhD 2005): Lafourche Parish School District, Thibodaux Louisiana

Catherine Kapi (PhD 2005) is Associate Professor of French at Morris College in Sumter, South Carolina.

Julie Driessen (PhD 2005) is Professor of French at Louisiana Christian University in Pineville, Louisiana. 

Melody Carriere (PhD 2005) is Assistant Professor of French at Bellarmine University in Louisville, Kentucky. 

Allison Roark (PhD 2005) is a Instructor of French at LSU.

'The Department of French Studies at Louisiana State University prepared me extremely well to provide my students with meaningful and engaging lessons. I frequently incorporate texts, theory, and teaching methods from my graduate studies. I am indebted to the outstanding faculty of the Department of French Studies at LSU for providing me with a rich graduate school experience and thorough preparation for my current career.'

 

 

Boubakary Diakite (PhD 2004) is Assistant Professor of French at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Moussa Sow (PhD 2004) was Associate Professor of French at the College of New Jersey in Ewing, New Jersey, before resigning to move to Sénégal. 

Robin White (PhD 2004) is Associate Professor of English and French at Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, Louisiana.

Anna Rocca (PhD 2003) is Professor of French at Salem State University, in Salem, Massachusetts.

Nabil Boudraa (PhD 2002) is Associate Professor of French at Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon. 

Evan Bibbee (PhD 2002) is Assistant Professor of French at the University of Saint Thomas in St Paul, Minnesota. 

Ina Pfitzner (PhD 2001) is an author and translator in Berlin, Germany.

Scooter Pegram (PhD 2001) is Professor of French and the director of the French program at the Indiana University - Northwest in Gary, Indiana.

Carla Criner (PhD 2000) is Assistant Dean of Student Affairs, School of Information, University of Texas-Austin.

Thomas Miller (PhD 2000) is Associate professor at Southern University in Baton Rouge Louisiana as of Fall 2014.

Evelyne Bornier (PhD, 1999) is Endowed Alumni Professor of French at Auburn University.