What our alumni say

The Department of World Languages and Cultures is proud to celebrate the successes of our alumni as they venture into their careers and the wider world away from Elon. Here are some of their experiences in our programs and what they’ve accomplished since graduation.

Isabel Treanor ’19

Isabel Treanor in SpainLanguage studied: Spanish

Majors and minors: International studies and Spanish majors; minor in economics

Where are you now?

After leaving Elon, I lived in Spain for four years, where I taught English in bilingual public schools and completed my master’s degree in international education. Now, I’m working as the international student services coordinator at USC Upstate.

What’s been most valuable about studying a language or culture?

It gave me the confidence to live in Spain after college, complete a bilingual master’s program, and creating friendships and connections I would have never otherwise made using my Spanish language skills.

 

Mitchell Bergens ’18

Mitchell Bergens at the U.S. Embassy in AlbaniaLanguage studied: German

Majors and minors: Theatrical design and production major; minors in German and international studies

Where are you now?

I’ve had quite an eclectic post-Elon career. I went to work as a stage manager for an opera company in Pittsburgh right out of Elon and then had a brief stint in New York City interning with “Wicked.” I moved to Washington, D.C., later that year to pursue a master’s degree, now work as a federal consultant for the U.S. Department of State, most recently advising on refugee policy.

What about studying a foreign language and culture has been most valuable to you?

Knowing other languages and understanding other cultures is incredibly valuable in today’s global world. But beyond the practical benefits that come with speaking another language, the deeper connections you can make with native speakers and the excitement that comes with meeting other learners of the language have led to meaningful and memorable moments in life.

Taylor Rudtner ’22

Taylor Rudtner on a street in MaltaLanguage studied: Italian

Majors and minors: Political science and international & global studies majors; Italian and peace and conflict studies minors

Where are you now? Immediately after graduation, I was an AmeriCorps VISTA member in New York City with the Department of Social Services’ NYCitizenship program, which connects immigrants on benefits with lawyers to help them naturalize for free. I then moved to Northern Ireland to pursue a master’s degree in conflict transformation and social justice at Queen’s University Belfast for a year. This fall, I will return to the US to attend Georgetown University Law Center with the goal of pursing a career in international human rights or international criminal law. I was recently accepted into the Global Law Scholars program there, which was made possible through my Italian minor and will assist me with this goal.

What advice would you give students considering studying a language or culture? A tip to make language learning easier is to find music you love in the language you want to learn, listen to podcasts in it, watch shows, change your subtitles to the language, or read books you already love in the language. Just expose yourself as much as possible to the language.

Erin Luther ’16

Erin Luther wearing a red sash and blue dress by a scenic overlookLanguage studied: Spanish

Majors and minors: international & global studies and Spanish majors; minor in economics

Where are you now?

After graduating in 2016, I interned at the Central American Resource Center in Washington, D.C., preparing citizenship candidates for their citizenship interviews, and then headed to Mendoza, Argentina, for a year to carry out a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship grant. After that year, I moved back to D.C., interned at a study abroad company and then found my place teaching Spanish at The Field School where I have been happily for the past 6 years! I recently completed a master’s degree in teaching and learning Spanish language and culture from the University of Granada in Spain.

What’s been most valuable to you about studying a foreign language or culture?

I most value the people who have come into my life because of my studies and travels, and I appreciate that each one has taught me something new. I have also found that I can see situations more holistically and be more open-minded because I have been lucky enough to connect with Spanish-speakers from many countries, and have experienced some of the diversity of cultures that exist in the Spanish-speaking world. I think it has brought new perspectives to my life, and helps me to think more critically about the world around me in a way I maybe would not be able to do otherwise.