Linguae
N E WS L E T T E R O F T H E DE PA R T M E N T O F G LO BA L L A N G UAG ES A N D C U LT U RES
Shippensburg University
A Message from the Chair
Issue No. 21 • 2025-26
Inside This Issue
It is with a sense of heaviness that I write this message as the new chair of the Global Languages and Cultures Department. Indeed, the 2025-26 academic year brought significant changes to our department. Back in June 2025, we said farewell to our dear Dr. José Ricardo-Osorio, Associate Professor of Spanish, who after twenty years of service to Shippensburg University, moved more than 1,400 miles away to take a new position as Dean of the College of Public Service at the University of Houston-Downtown (Houston, TX). Besides being a remarkable educator, Dr. Ricardo’s expertise in student learning outcomes assessment made him an essential member of our team as he helped our language programs rise to the best of standards and earn national accreditation. Although we miss our amazing colleague, we do share his excitement for this new step in his career, feeling grateful for his innumerable contributions to our campus and for his friendship.
Student Awards.........................................2 In Memoriam.............................................3 Our Faculty and Staff.................................4 Student Profile...........................................5 High School Language Competition...........5 French Club...............................................4 Student Research......................................7 Oldham Teacher of the Year Finalist............7 Congratulations Graduates........................8 Alumni News..............................................8
If we were prepared to start the semester without Dr. Ricardo, nothing had prepared us, however, for the heartbreaking and sudden loss of our beloved Dr. Robert Lesman, Professor of Spanish and Department Chair, whose passing in September left us all reeling. As shock and grief fell upon our community, it has been immensely comforting to see so many of you share your beautiful tributes to Dr. Lesman and express how his legacy endures. In keeping with our mission, we pursued our efforts to encourage and celebrate language study every chance we had, with such events as All Around the World (September 24), Immersion Afternoon (October 30), our annual High School Language Competition (April 10), and United in Verse (April 14).
In many of these endeavors, we were aided by two new adjunct faculty of Spanish who joined us this year: Prof. Lia Alexander and Prof. Carmen Del Castillo-Zerbe, who brought welcome energy and passion for language teaching to Rowland. Students at the “All Around the World” event held in September 2025.
We also had much to be proud of, with students who continued to distinguish themselves, presenting and publishing their research, earning scholarships, leading our clubs, participating in service, and securing exciting post-graduation opportunities. Not only do these achievements reward their hard work and dedication, but they also reflect the strong mentoring relationships forged with our faculty. (continued next page) 1
Contact Us
Department of Global Languages and Cultures 1871 Old Main Drive Shippensburg, PA 17257-2299 Phone: (717) 477-1635 Fax: (717) 477-4058 globallanguages@ship.edu ship.edu/global-languages STAY IN TOUCH! If you have any items of interest that you would like to see included in Linguae please forward them to the above address.
Finally, we also have faculty accomplishments to celebrate, including Dr. Wildermuth’s first book, titled “Als Nationalsozialist und Frontsoldat.”: Der Vernichtungskrieg in den Feldpostbriefen Dr. Eduard Kleins 1941/1942, and his sabbatical leave in Germany for the 202627 academic year. As we end this exceptionally difficult year, I am grateful for the sustained commitment of our faculty and for the dedication of our Department Secretary, Ms. April Ashway-Railing, whose steady support has been invaluable. With gratitude, Blandine Mitaut
(Above and below) Students and faculty gathered to enjoy student presentations on world cultures at Immersion Afternoon, a part of International Education Week.
2026 Student Awards Pauline M. Klaus Award: Cynthia Dodd
The Pauline M. Kalus award is given to a senior majoring in French or Spanish who excels in the study of the language. APSCUF-SU Departmental Student Award: Sarah Oiler
The Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties (APSCUF) Departmental Student Award recognizes students for their talents, academic accomplishments, and service to Shippensburg University and the community.
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In Memoriam Dr. Robert S. Lesman (1976-2025) The Department of Global Languages and Cultures mourns the loss of Dr. Robert Lesman, distinguished scholar, gifted teacher, translator, poet, and cherished colleague, who passed away on September 25, 2025.
work earned him a Teaching Innovations in Pedagogy and Scholarship Award. Beyond his coursework, Dr. Lesman’s advocacy for student research and his mentorship of students over the years were recognized respectively by the Provost’s Award for Extraordinary Service, and an Academic Mentorship Award from the Department of Athletics.
Dr. Lesman received his BA from Brown University (Providence,RI),and his MA and PhD in Comparative Literature from the University of Texas (Austin, TX). In 2006, he joined the Global Languages and Cultures Department at Shippensburg University, which he chaired at the time of his passing. His placid temperament harbored a bustling leader, who despite his administrative charge, gave of himself ever so generously, every opportunity that he had.
Within our broader community, Dr. Lesman’s participation in the service-learning initiative Reach Out was recognized by the Outstanding Contribution to the Honors Program Award. As a member of Reach Out, he traveled to the Dominican Republic with faculty and students, serving as interpreter, collaborating in curriculum development, and contributing translations of teacher training manuals. He also worked closely with the South Fulton School District, providing translation and interpreting services for Spanish-speaking parents and students and strengthening ties between the university and the Hispanic community. In addition to helping migrant families integrate into local schools, he also served as interpreter for Spanish-speaking patients seeking health care, and he taught Spanish to managers of local grocery stores so they could communicate with their employees.
His scholarship explored the works of Cuban writers and the cultural complexities of postrevolutionary Cuba, with particular attention to issues of exile, diaspora, intertextuality, translation, and adaptation. His research engaged with writers and intellectual figures such as Manuel del Cabral, Fina García Marruz, Lorenzo García Vega, José Lezama Lima, Virgilio Piñera, José Rodríguez Feo, Oscar Rodríguez Feliú, and Carlos M. Luis. His book, Translating Cuba: Literature, Music, Film, Politics (2021), examines the crucial role translation played in shaping the reception and understanding of Cuban culture and politics among English-speaking audiences after the revolution of 1959. His scholarship appeared in leading journals such Revista de Estudios Hispánicos, International Journal of Cuban Studies, Hispanic Review, Wallace Stevens Journal, Revista de Crítica Literaria Latinoamericana, Letras Hispanas, and Dissidences: Hispanic Journal of Theory and Criticism. His expertise in translation studies and in the translation of Anglophone writers into Spanish earned him invitations to present his work at scholarly gatherings. He was also widely respected as a peer reviewer and media contributor whose insight enriched conversations on contemporary Cuban literature and culture.
As a poet (he was a published poet), Dr. Lesman initiated a muchanticipated campus-wide event: “United in Verse”. Every year, this event gathered students, staff, faculty and residents from local communities who shared poems in a variety of languages and gave us an opportunity to all connect. In all his endeavors, Dr. Lesman erected bridges to help us welcome each other and greet the world. He leaves us to admire his unique blend of extraordinary insight and deep compassion, immense generosity and courage. We miss the peacemaker colleague, the emboldening teacher, the exciting scholar. His kindhearted spirit and love accompany us in the great Ship family.
Beyond his own scholarship, Dr. Lesman was deeply committed to supporting the work of other writers and translators. As Englishlanguage editor for the publisher CubanaBooks, he edited the English translations of The Visits and Other Poems/Las visitas y otros poemas by Mirta Yáñez, translated by Elizabeth Miller, and Hydrangeas and Violets: Three Plays by Esther Suárez-Duránt, translated by Pennell Sommelson. At the time of his passing, Dr. Lesman was working on a manuscript titled “Cities of Nostalgia and Cities without Souls: Cuban Writers in New York”, which reflected his continued interest in the Cuban diaspora.
United in Verse The Global Languages and Cultures Department hosted United in Verse in Remembrance of Dr. Robert Lesman on April 14, 2026, a celebration of poetry across languages. Members of the SU community, including alumni, faculty, staff and students, gathered to share poems and reflections in seven different languages.
A devoted teacher, deeply invested in the success of his students, Dr. Lesman brought extraordinary care to the classroom. His leadingedge courses combined field work and service to local communities. Eager to share his passion for translation, he designed a Certificate in Translation and created courses that connected language study with professional preparation and civic engagement. This impactful
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Our Faculty and Staff Blandine Mitaut | French
(Corregidor, Buenos Aires). She also published articles on Latin American literature, film and Latino studies. Prof. Moraña was the recipient of National Endowment for the Humanities grant for a seminar in Buenos Aires (2014).
I grew up near Dijon, France, and did the first part of my studies at the Université de Bourgogne where I obtained a Maîtrise (MA) in English literature and civilization. I subsequently spent two years in Oxford, OH, where I obtained a MA in French from Miami University, and then completed a PhD at Emory University in Atlanta, GA. My research interests are twentieth and twenty-first century French literature, memory and representation in Haitian literature, translation and adaptation, and Franco-American relations during the 1950s.
Marcela Pineda-Volk | Spanish
I was born in Colombia and raised in New Jersey. I received my MA in Spanish from Middlebury College and a PhD from Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana. I am a generalist with a specialization in Latin American Literature.
David Wildermuth | German
Ana Moraña | Spanish, Latin American literatures and
I was born and raised on Long Island, NY. I received an MA in German and another in political science from Bowling Green State University in Ohio and a Doctor of Modern Languages in German and Russian from Middlebury College. My research interests include the German Army and the Holocaust as well as the contemporary German film scene.
cultures
Ana Moraña, professor of Spanish, Latin American literatures and cultures. She was director of the Ethnic Studies program from 2012 to 2023. Her book La fiesta de la modernidad en la Argentina. La revista Caras y Caretas (1898-1910), was published in 2016
Faculty News Blandine Mitaut
Marcela Pineda-Volk
Scholarship:
Attended AATSP (American Association of Teacher of Spanish and Portuguese) workshops and colloquia in Salamanca-Spain.
Presented “Shakespeare, père de l’Absurde? Fonctions de l’anglais dans le théâtre d’Eugène Ionesco”, 79th Kentucky Foreign Languages Conference, April 16-18, 2026.
Earned Certificate in the Effective Teaching Practice Framework. Earned Google Cybersecurity Certificate.
Professional Development:
Attended ACUE Webinar: AI in the Classroom: Practical Strategies to Enhance Learning and Protect Academic Integrity.
Completed ACUE Badges in Effective Teaching Practice Framework: “Promoting Active Learning Online”, “Inspiring Inquiry and Preparing Lifelong Learners”, and “Designing Learner-Centered and Equitable Courses.”
David Wildermuth
First book, “Als Nationalsozialist und Frontsoldat.“: Der Vernichtungskrieg in den Feldpostbriefen Dr. Eduard Kleins 1941/1942 (English: „As a National Socialist and Frontline Soldier”: The War of Annihilation in the Field Post of Dr. Eduard Klein, 1941-42) is scheduled for publication by Brill / Ferdinand Schöningh this summer.
Attended “French for Health: Innovation and Recruitment in Higher Education Online Workshop”, hosted by the French Connection Center of Excellence at Washington University, Dec. 6, 2025.
Dr. Ana Moraña
Awarded sabbatical for the 2026-27 AY to complete second book project entitled: “Ordinary Soldiers? The Wehrmacht’s 35th Infantry Division and the Nazi-Soviet War of Annihilation.”
“Imaginario para una guerra. Las crónicas de la Primera Guerra Mundial de Enrique Gómez Carrillo” Latin American Studies Association (LASA) May 26–30, 2026, Paris, France.
Received an invitation from the University of Freiburg’s Department of History to complete this book project there.
“Confesiones “por encargo”: Rubén Darío y su autobiografía publicada en revista Caras y Caretas” NeMLA, March 5-7, 2026.
Presented paper ‘I am fully aware of my guilt . . .’1: Insights into Post-War Soviet Justice through Case Studies of the German Army’s 35th Division, 1946-49 at the conference Military Justice in the First Half of the 20th Century: Insights, Archives and Interdisciplinary Methods for Historical Research in Padova, Italy September 2025.
“Ida Vitale: estrategias creativas para el desafío poético”. Latin American Studies Association (LASA) May, 23-26, 2025.
Co-coordinator of the International Studies program, Spring 2026.
1 National Archive of the Republic of Belarus 1363-1-421, handwritten statement by defendant Richard S. entitled, “Meine Kampferlebnisse,” no date.
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Student Profile Sydnee Lynch During the 2025-2026 academic year, I pursued academic, professional, and service-oriented opportunities centered on language, education, and cross-cultural communication. In May 2025, I was honored with the Pauline Klaus Award and the John Nispel Award.
in which I researched, designed, and compiled a comprehensive bilingual resource for teachers and student volunteers participating in a service-learning trip to the Dominican Republic.
Furthermore, I interned as a Spanish Medical Interpreter at Keystone Pediatric Developmental Center, where I supported therapists and families by facilitating clear communication during evaluations and parent education sessions. I also served as a Writing and Course-Based Tutor, assisting students weekly across Writing, Spanish, German, and International Studies courses.
Academically, I completed advanced research in Spanish literature and linguistics, focusing on pedagogical approaches to phonetics instruction and the impact of feminist voices in Hispanic literature; the latter is forthcoming in Write the Ship, Shippensburg University ’s Undergraduate Academic Journal. I also completed my Honors Capstone Project, Reach Out Activities Manual,
My commitment to service extended internationally through volunteer work in the Dominican Republic with Reach Out servicelearning organization. I also traveled to Costa Rica and Peru, where I worked as a construction team member and lead translator for mission teams. —Sydnee Lynch
High School Language Competition The Global Languages and Cultures Department hosted its annual High School Language Competition on Friday, April 10, which drew 86 students, 17 teachers and parents from seven local schools. Students competed in Jeopardy, karaoke, posters and skits in French, German and Spanish. Prof. Del Castillo, our new Spanish instructor
this spring, taught a merengue lesson to the visitors, and students were given a campus tour in their target languages with our language majors and minors. This was our highest number of participants yet, showing steady interest in languages in our local community.
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French Club The French Club kept a busy calendar under the leadership of Cynthia Dodd (President), Gabbie Bower (Vice President-Fall), Fevon Finkner (Vice President-Spring), Sam Bower (Treasurer), and Paige Holgate (Secretary). Together, they created opportunities for connection and cultural engagement through a wide range of activities that enriched campus life throughout the year: we attended a screening of Pacifiction at the Francophone film festival in Gettysburg (Oct. 26); we hosted a study abroad night (Nov. 12), where Gabbie recounted her summer in Grenoble (France) and Cynthia told us about her five amazing weeks in Chicoutimi, Québec (for which she had received a Pi Delta Phi award); we visited the exhibit “Dreamworld: Surrealism at 100” at the Philadelphia Museum of Art (Nov. 23); we had a crêpes party (Feb. 27), and we visited the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC (Apr. 4).
The Club also distinguished itself through service activities in support of Project Gros Mangles, the nonprofit that operates the Centre de santé communautaire Belval de Gros-Mangles, a medical facility built by SU faculty and students— many of whom are alums from the French program. Belval staff have now been treating patients since 2020 in the rural Haitian community. The Club’s efforts to contribute to Belval’s success included a car wash (Sep. 20) and a 5K run on the rail trail adjacent to campus (Apr. 18). We are very grateful to SU alum Alexx Purcell ’20 for organizing this 3rd edition of the 5K! Proceeds from the 2026 Lavi a Bon 5k Run in April benefitted Project Gros Mangles.
(Above) The French Club thanks the Shippensburg Advance Auto Parts for hosting a car wash on September 20.
(Left) At the Philadelphia Museum of Art for the exhibit “Dreamworld: Surrealism at 100.”
(Above and below) At Pacifiction for the Francophone film festival in Gettysburg.
(Above) French Club enjoying Washington, DC.
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Student Research at Minds@Work Four students of French presented their work at the Minds@Work conference on April 28, 2026. Chris Jeune presented a poster, « Le football, facteur d’unité et révélateur de conflits au sein de la société française », on soccer as a factor of unity and indicator of conflict within French society. Three other students participated in the panel « La langue en mouvement: perspectives croisées sur le français», which offered complementary perspectives on Francophonie, exploring how language evolves, how it functions within systems of power, and how it prompts change and self-discovery when used as a medium for artistic expression. As such, Gabbie Bower presented her work on the history and contemporary uses of the bipartite negation in French, Cynthia Dodd read an original piece of creative writing in French followed by remarks on the act of writing in a second language, and Paige Holgate presented on the institutionalization of French as it is represented in the texts of Francophone writers Maryse Condé, Mariama Bâ and Camara Laye.
Pictured left, Chris Jeune
Wes Shubert
Sydnee Lynch
Oldham ’08-’13m named Teacher of the Year finalist From Ashley: I was nominated in the fall of 2024 to apply for PA Teacher of the Year 2026. I started the process with an application, resume, essays, letters of recommendation from my administration, a colleague, and a parent of one of my students. I found out in February 2025 that I was named a semi finalist (top 24 in the state). From what I understand, there were 523 nominations!
Education Secretary Carrie Rowe (former Spanish teacher in Pittsburgh) and Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro present Spanish teacher Ashley Oldham ’08-’13m with a Keystone Award of Excellence.
I then completed another round of applications including a video of me teaching my Spanish III class and recording an approximately 20 minute interview answering 4 questions over Zoom. I learned in May 2025 that I was selected as a top 12 finalist in the state! Wow! We then attended the National State Teacher of the Year PA celebration at the Hershey Lodge in December 2025. All twelve of us were recognized for our contributions across the state. I was the only Spanish teacher and only teacher representing Shippensburg University.
While I did not “WIN” per se, as one of the other 12 of us was selected to represent the state at the national level this year, top 12 was certainly a win for me, my district, and my family! As one of the 12, we are now members of NSTOY-PA and have opportunities to speak at events across the commonwealth when available. I have also been a part of rounds 1 and 2 for selecting the semi finalists and finalists for this coming year. 7
Congratulations, Graduates! We are happy to announce the graduation of the following majors, minors and certificates: French Gabbie Bower (French and International Studies double major/ Anthropology minor) Cynthia Dodd (French major/Creative Writing minor) Chris Jeune (French and International Studies double major/ International Development minor) JJ Miller (French and History double major) Selena Morrow (History major/French minor) Meloudjie Noel (Marketing major/French minor) Celeste Salinas Rugiero (Accounting major/French certificate)
Spanish Brandon Aristy (International Studies/Political Science double major; Spanish minor) Faith Asbury (International Studies major; Spanish/Psychology minors) Cameron Bowser (Business Management major; Spanish minor) Sarah Hipple (Spanish major; Translation Certificate) Katelyn Jones (Criminal Justice major; Spanish minor) Emma Lehman (Elementary Education major; Spanish minor) Katelyn Mader (English major; History /Spanish minors) Sarah Oiler (Spanish major; Translation Certificate) Emy Pacheco (Business Management major; Spanish minor) Allison Pioli (Biology major; Spanish minor) Post-Ship Plans Gabbie Bower ’26 and Cynthia Dodd ’26 both received an award to be teaching assistants of English in France in the Académie de Grenoble (2026-27). Chris Jeune ’26 was offered a Peace Corps Volunteer position to serve in Morocco for 2 years and a Teaching Assistant of English in France position (Académie de Toulouse, 2026-27). Selena Morrow ’26 was offered a Peace Corps Volunteer position to serve in Macedonia for 2 years and a Teaching Assistant of English in France position (Académie de Dijon, 2026-27). Selena is also an alternate for a Fulbright Student Award in Luxembourg (2026-27).
Alumni News Ashley Oldham ’08-’13m, Spanish teacher at Big Spring High School, was recognized as a PA National State Teacher of the Year. She was one of the top 12 finalists in the state and was recognized by Governor Shapiro for her contributions. Oldham was the only teacher of Spanish and the only one representing SU.
Grace Hannon ’25 (French BA) just returned from a year in Normandie, France, where she held a position as a Teaching Assistant.
Read more about Ashley on page 7.
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