Edward Ousselin (Modern and Classical Languages) has received the “Palmes académiques” award from the French Ministry of Education. The Ordre des Palmes Académiques (Order of Academic Palms) is an Order of Chivalry of France to academics and educators. The order was originally created by Napoleon to honour eminent members of the University of Paris. It was re-established on Oct. 4, 1955, by President René Coty, and is one of the world's oldest civil awards.
On March 1, Western Washington University will play host to three guests from San Francisco: Consul Michael Ahrens and scholarship adviser Leslie Harlson, both from the German Consulate, and Arndt Peltner from Radio Goethe.
With support from the Activities Committee of the Department of Modern and Classical Languages and the German Consulate, the German Section at Western has organized three events, all free and open to the public. Leslie Harlson will first present on scholarship opportunities in Germany from 2 to 3 p.m. in College Hall Room 131.
Edward Ousselin (Modern and Classical Languages) has had a number of works published recently. His article “Jean Renoir, l’Allemagne et la guerre : La Grande Illusion et La Règle du jeu” appeared in "Cincinnati Romance Review 28" (2009) on pages 119-134.
Ousselin also has written a number of recent book reviews:
Western Washington University’s Center for Canadian-American Studies, in participation with multiple on-campus offices and departments, has kicked off Canada Week.
Events will run through Feb. 12, involving Canadian culture, politics, economics and history at Western’s campus. I’ll list more events when the information becomes available, but this is what is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 9:
Western Washington University’s Center for Canadian-American Studies, in participation with multiple on-campus offices and departments, has kicked off Canada Week.
Events will run through Feb. 12, involving Canadian culture, politics, economics and history at Western’s campus. I’ll list more events when the information becomes available, but this is what is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 9:
Timothy Brook, a professor in the department of history at the University of British Columbia, will draw from his recent book “Vermeer’s Hat” to discuss 17th century Dutch art and its connection to China and the expanding global world in an upcoming presentation on the Western Washington University campus. Brook will give his lecture “Dutch Art in the Seventeenth Century: A China Connection?” from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 9, in Communications Facility Room 115.
Alejandro Bancke found the perfect match for his planning and mapping skills at the Columbia River Estuary Study Taskforce in Astoria.
Bancke, 27, (pictured left) moved here from Portland almost exactly a year ago to work as a land-use planner and geographic information systems (GIS) specialist, building maps and helping local governments with planning and development.
"When I saw the job description for CREST, I said, 'Wow, it fits me perfectly,'" he said.
Diane Johnson, an associate professor of Modern and Classical Languages at Western Washington University, presents "Sanskrit: A crash course." Johnson delivered this lecture on Nov. 4, 2009.
Seville-born flamenco dance-master Isabel Lopez and her company present an evening of dance and music at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, at Western Washington University's Performing Arts Center Concert Hall.
She's performed throughout Europe, as well as in Tokyo, Puerto Rico and the United States. The concert is sponsored by the Spanish Ministry of Culture and the Spanish Honorary Consulate in Seattle.
Flamenco week continues at Western Washington University with a screening of the film "Flamenco," directed by Carlos Saura, from 7 to 9 p.m. in Fraser Hall Room 3. "Flamenco" is considered a documentary masterpiece in its portrayal of the essence of flamenco dance and song. Penny Hutchinson, an assistant professor in the Dance Department, and Paqui Paredes, an associate professor of Modern and Classical Languages, will provide a short introduciton to the film. This event is open to all.
In this lecture, Edward Vajda, a professor with the Department of Modern and Classical Languages at Western Washington University, presents "The Mongol Impact on World History." As part of celebrating Mongolia Day at WWU, Vajda discusses the spectacular consequences of the Mongol conquests begun in the 13th century by Chinggis Khan. The lecture explains how the medieval era ended and the modern world began in the wake of history's most successful empire builder.
Chris Pinet, a professor of French in Montana State University's Department of Modern Languages and Literature, was honored at the annual meeting of the American Association of Teachers of French held in San Jose, Calif., for his work as editor of the "French Review."
The final issue that Pinet will edit, to be entitled Algérie/France, will be published in May. He will be succeeded in July by Edward Ousselin of Western Washington University.
Edward Vajda, a professor with the Department of Modern and Classical Languages at Western Washington University, will present “The Mongol Impact on World History” at noon today in College Hall Room 131 as part of the fall lecture series from the Center for International Studies at WWU.
Edward Vajda (Modern and Classical Languages) had his review of "One homeland or two?: The nationalization and translationalization of Mongolia's Kazakhs," by Alexander Diener, published in "Choice Magazine," October 2009 (Vol. 47, No. 2).
Cornelius Partsch (Modern and Classical Languages) delivered the keynote address at "The Fall of the Berlin Wall and Europe's Evolution Since 1989," a two-day workshop for Washington educators. The event took place at the Center for West European Studies in the Jackson School of International Studies at the University of Washington on Aug. 19.
Joan M. Hoffman (Modern and Classical Languages) presented her paper "'No hay cosa como las montañesas': Manuela as Both Victim and Anti-Victim in La madre naturaleza" at the Pennsylvania Foreign Language Conference held at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh on Sept. 19.
Edward Vajda (Modern Languages) was an invited speaker at the Dene Migration Symposium held Sept. 25 to 27 outside of Calgary, Alberta, on the Tsuu'tina First Nations Reserve. The symposium brought together elders from many Athabaskan (Dene) peoples across North America to compare traditional stories of ancient migrations. Interspersed with these speakers were linguists, archeologists, and anthropologists who presented evidence of population movements. Vajda discussed the connection between the Dene peoples and the Ket of Siberia.
