An instructor of World Languages and Cultures having a discussion with her peers.

Department of World Languages and Cultures News

The Department of World Language and Cultures emphasizes linguistic, cultural, and critical skills to give students the foundation needed to understand other cultures. These essential skills enable our graduates to pursue a wide range of careers in an increasingly global environment.

Current World Languages and Cultures News

collage of 3 images showing a person folding a paper crane, a sign that says "51ԹϺ Origami Project" and a large container of many paper cranes
Campus News |

As plans for a permanent memorial garden take shape, community-driven projects offer a way for students and faculty to reckon with loss.

students hold framed photos of professors lost on Dec. 6
Campus News |

The awards honor Naoko Takemaru, Jerry Cha-Jan Chang, and Patricia Navarro Velez.

couple at desk filled with holiday cards
51ԹϺ History |

Faculty/staff donations to the annual holiday card tree fund have been providing scholarships for over 50 years.

Physical therapist Juan Gutierrez poses with his arms folded in an empty hospital room
People |

Inspired by another 51ԹϺ grad, Juan Gutierrez Jr. focuses his career on helping others through physical therapy. He's now the School of Integrated Health Sciences' Alumnus of the Year.

mourners laying flowers in front of photos at vigil
Campus News |

A vigil honored Patricia Navarro Velez, Jerry Cha-Jan Chang, and Naoko Takemaru, who were killed in a campus shooting Dec. 6.

framed photo of woman at vigil
Campus News |

The Japanese studies professor inspired students with her high standards and kind approach.

World Languages and Cultures In The News

Las Vegas Review Journal

It’s a celebration that involves wearing costumes, visiting cemeteries, honoring departed loved ones and thinking about death on an occasion when, some believe, the boundary that separates our world from the next weakens.

Las Vegas Sun

Las Vegas is now the fastest-warming city in the United States.

El Tiempo

José Iván Cervantes came to Las Vegas as a freshman in high school, amazed to be in “one of the most important cities in the United States,” and he hardly speaks English. Now ready to graduate, he also advocates for his school, which has faced uncertainty as the Clark County School District considers changes to the way English Learners are taught.

Las Vegas Review Journal

Jose Ivan Cervantes arrived in Las Vegas as a high school freshman, speaking almost no English. Now poised to graduate, he’s also advocating for his school, which has faced uncertainty as the Clark County School District considers changes to how English learner students are taught.

Las Vegas Sun

Last week, readers of the Sun got a treat in being introduced to Adugna “Adu” Siweya, one of the Las Vegas Valley’s outstanding college graduates this spring. Inspirational stories Siweya's make college graduation season a special time in Las Vegas, an annual reminder of the remarkable minds in our community, and the commitment of students to academic achievement.

College of Liberal Arts Newsletter

A handful of 51ԹϺ master's students in Hispanic Studies have been accepted to top doctoral programs over the past two years, including the University of Virginia, UCLA, University of Alabama, University of Chicago, and the University of Kansas.

Recent World Languages and Cultures Accomplishments

Susan Byrne (World Languages and Cultures) presented an invited public lecture titled "Early Modern Aesthetics: A Missing Link" at Carleton College in Northfield, MN. In her talk, she analyzed  the role of creative authors and writers in 16th c. Spain as part of the historical arc of changes in artistic and aesthetic developments. 
Susan Byrne (World Languages and Cultures) presented "Cervantes' Poetic Contributions to Philosophical Change" at the Cervantes Now/Ahora conference held in Albuquerque, NM on September 19-20. Byrne's paper situated the creative author's thought in the trajectory of historical intellectual developments that would create a foundation for later…
Kathy Callahan (World Languages and Cultures, German Studies) received a grant from the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany for its “Germany on Campus” initiative. The grant will be used to showcase academic and economic partnerships between Germany, Nevada and 51ԹϺ through a series of events to be held October 8-10. The upcoming events…
Margaret Harp (World Languages and Cultures) was elected president of the Rocky Mountain Medieval and Renaissance Association for the 2026-2027 term. This 56-year-old organization is dedicated to the advancement of learning in global medieval and renaissance studies. It promotes the interchange of ideas among various fields of specialization…
Margaret Harp (World Languages and Cultures) presented a paper, "Henry VIII and François I: The Emblematic Field of the Cloth of Gold," at the annual meeting of the Rocky Mountain Medieval and Renaissance Association. The paper analyzes the imagery found in two poems written by the French Renaissance poet, Clément Marot, in 1520 and the opening…
Arpine Mkrtchyan (World Languages and Cultures) was granted a scholarship to participate in the inaugural professional development training program BELC États-Unis from July 10-14 at San Diego State University (SDSU). Organized by the Embassy of France in the United States, in partnership with the Embassy of France in Canada and the…