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Modern Languages

Hello and Goodbye

Dr. Robert Corum

This year, the Department of Modern Languages says au revoir to Dr. Robert Corum, who is retiring after 35 years at Kansas State. Dr. Corum began as an Assistant Professor of French at K-State in 1977. He was promoted to Associate professor in 1980 and full professor in 1990. From 2000 – 2011 he was faculty head of Modern Languages. Dr. Corum leaves us with the following reflections on his time at Kansas State:

“I came to K-State in 1977, with the intention of staying for a few years and then moving on to the east coast, where I felt my roots were deep and lasting. I soon came to love the students, the lovely campus, my colleagues, and the wonderful community of Manhattan. My intended stay of a few years soon stretched to 35 years, for good reason. I am grateful for having been given the opportunity to watch and contribute to the growth of countless students. This, and my work with many colleagues to improve this department, have been my greatest reward. I am looking forward to a new phase of my life. My partner Malissa Anderson and I plan to share our time between Manhattan and the Austin TX area. Travel, extensive reading and study in many fields, our beloved family and friends and pursuing my favorite hobby, restoring and driving Studebaker automobiles. I would never say adieu to K-State, merely au revoir.”

The faculty, staff and students will miss Dr. Corum and wish him a happy retirement.

The Department of Modern Languages would like to welcome three new tenure-track faculty, all of whom will begin at K-State in the Fall semester, 2013.

Dr. Kathleen Antonioli comes to us from Duke University. Her research and teaching interests include the development of French modernism in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, French feminist theory, and contemporary Québec literature and culture. Her dissertation, “The Making and Unmaking of Colette: Myth, Celebrity, Profession,” employs contemporary celebrity theory, reception history, and sociological investigations into the literary field to reposition and reinterpret Colette’s (1874-1953) professional life and her literary works. When she’s not working, Kathleen enjoys water aerobics and young adult fiction.  She and her family are looking forward to moving to Manhattan this summer.

Dr. Li Yang, from the Second Language Acquisition doctoral program at the University of Iowa, works in the fields of Chinese applied linguistics, computer-assisted language learning and teaching, and study abroad language research and program development. Her dissertation involved an online tutorial using explicit approach and awareness-raising activities to teach Chinese pragmatics. She is interested in developing similar online modules in conjunction with study abroad language immersion programs. In her free time, Dr. Yang likes listening to music and watching movies.

Dr. Janice McGregor joined the KSU Department of Modern Languages in 2012 as a Visiting Assistant Professor of German, and was the top candidate in our 2013 national search for an Assistant Professor of German. Her Ph.D. is from The Pennsylvania State University. Dr. McGregor specializes in Applied Linguistics, Foreign Language Pedagogy and Study Abroad. Her current research focuses on identity constructions in a study abroad context, in particular the role that imagination and emotion play in the second language learner’s experiences abroad. She coordinates the German language program and also teaches in the Second Language Acquisition (SLA) and Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) M.A. programs. When asked what she liked best about her first year at K-State she said, “The best part about teaching in the Department of Modern Languages at K-State is that we get to teach across all levels of our program. From language courses to graduate seminars, we really get to know our students!”

6 thoughts on “Hello and Goodbye
  1. I am Khalid Waziri, a faculty at the English Department at Kabul University, Kabul Afghanistan. I studied Modern Languages in 2009. And one of my greatest memories of all time has been the kind and friendly nature of Dr. Corum. I wish him a very happy and prosperous retirement. And thank you so much for this wonderful newsletter.
    Dr. Corum! you have been floating in my mind forever.

  2. Dear Dr. Corum,
    Many greetings to you and all KSU excellent professors! As a graduate student of MLD/KSU, I take this opportunity to wish you a happy retirement! You will always remain an excellent academic adviser for me! Wish you success and prosperity in your life!

  3. Dear Dr. Corum,
    I want to thank you for your support throughout my years at KSU. Your dedication and work have inspired a whole bunch of us, your students, to strive for excellence. You will be missed. I wish you the best as you retire!
    Merci d’avoir été mon professeur et conseiller pédagogique.
    Bernard Mambo

  4. Being a French student at Kansas State was a wonderful experience thanks to Dr. Corum and other professors in the Modern Languages Department. It is a very special place with a smaller program where everyone knows each other. Learning to speak French and experiencing French culture as a student truly shaped my life and career.

  5. It was a great opportunity for me to work with you, Dr. Corum. You know how to bring the best in people! I was happy to work for the department and enjoyed spending time in the main office. I wish you a stress-free life that is full of happiness and joy in every minute of your retirement. Thanks for everything!
    Oana Najjar

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