L'ESSOR newsletter of the Professional French Masters Program WINTER 2020

L’ESSOR

newsletter of the professional french masters program University of Wisconsin-Madison Volume 16, Issue 1

WINTER 2020

THE PFMP TURNS TWENTY Spring alumni symposium and gala to celebrate two decades of innovation in French studies for careers

in this issue Alumni profile: Mary Beth Lambert, the French-American Chamber of Commerce

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Current students & alumni

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At twenty, the program is a recognized leader in graduate studies in French for the professions outside academia.

Students celebrate the launch of the 2019-2020 academic year

The Department of French and Italian's Professional French Masters Program admitted its twentieth full-time cohort this past fall, capping off two decades of innovation and over two hundred alumni using their French at work. On April 24th, program friends and faculty will join those students and alumni for “PFMP 20,” the program's twentieth anniversary symposium. At PFMP 20, alumni and longtime program partners from around the globe will share their PFMP and career development stories at a French-language

roundtable. A black-tie gala will follow the next evening at the Memorial Union.

These past twenty years have been transformational for the program and department—which, alongside its well-established graduate and undergraduate programs, is now seen as a leader in graduate studies in French for the professions outside academia. Four years ago, the program added the only required graduate-level French-language course in Social and (continued on p. 3)

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ALUMNI PROFILE

Mary Beth Lambert

PFMP alumna now helping French and American professionals work in each others’ countries What do you do now for a living?

I work at the French-American Chamber of Commerce (FACC) in New York City as the Associate Director of International Career Development Programs (ICDP).

Our mission is to facilitate cultural exchange between France and the United States through professional exchange programs. The FACC has been a StateDepartment designated sponsor of J-1 visa Exchange Visitor Interns and Trainees for 45 years, and my department processes over 1,000 visas per year, mostly for young French professionals to come train in the U.S. We have a reciprocal program for young American professionals, called American Outbound, which allows them to work in France on a fixed-term contract, and we also manage the FACC’s internship/job board CareerConnect. I manage a wonderful team of 6, including one intern. I began this job in June 2019 after almost 12 years at the U.S. Department of State, where I worked in the Bureau of Consular Affairs.

How did the PFMP help get you there?

The PFMP actually had a very direct impact on my getting this position. In Spring 2018, I saw a job posting to PFMP alumni, for an Associate position in the FACC’s ICDP department. Looking for a change, I applied but was deemed “overqualified.” A year later, the then-Associate Director (who had interviewed me) contacted me to see if I would like to come interview for her position! It was quite a shock, especially considering I was no longer looking for a new job, and that I was on my honeymoon at that time--coincidentally, in the south of France. I came in to interview a week later and got the job. I would have never gotten this job if I hadn’t interviewed for the Associate’s position in 2018, which I learned about from the PFMP.

What are the biggest challenges in your line of work these days?

Mary Beth Lambert (MFS 2010) studied French and European Union affairs in the PFMP, doing her internship in regional French government in Fort-de-France, Martinique. She worked several years in the U.S. State Department before taking her current job at the French-American Chamber of Commerce in New York.

For the last few years, there has been increased scrutiny on international exchange programs. Charges of uncontrolled program growth, infrequent bad news stories of visa violations, and the presidential initiative “Buy American, Hire American” have put pressure on the Exchange Visitor Program. Advocates of international cultural exchanges continue to fight to keep these programs at current appropriation levels. (continued on next page)

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The PFMP turns Twenty (continued from page 1) Environmental Responsibility in the country, also turning its specialized internship research requirement into a year-long course. The program also added ten new required professional skills workshops, in areas spanning the spectrum from market research to computer-assisted translation to strategic communication to entrepreneurship, all combining to make our graduates even more competitive on the job market.

aerospace company Ateliers de la Haute-Garonne.

"I use my French daily," says PFMP graduate Megan Lachner-Maley (MFS 2005), who has worked for sports giant Nike in Europe for fourteen years, in Paris, London and Amsterdam, currently Integrated Marketplace Director for Nike UK/Ireland. "I would never have had these opportunities without the PFMP," she adds.

PFMP alumni work all over the world, and many of them are active in the program's alumni-run External Advisory Board, advising the program on program development, partnership building, marketing and recruiting.

They continue to shower the program with praise, from recent graduates to those who have been working for years.

A double major in French and genetics when she was an undergrad, PFMP alumna Leah Fink (MFS 2010) has lived and worked in France since her 2009 internship in the program. "The PFMP helped me combine my academic interests," says Leah, who works as Account Director at Kantar Health, "into a concrete professional plan that brought me to a long-time career in Paris, in a job I am passionate about."

"This degree has changed the trajectory of my professional future in the best way possible," says recent graduate Nancy Stockdale (MFS 2018), who now develops all North American business for French

We look forward to gathering with so many from our program community, to celebrate our past two decades—and to prepare for the innovation challenges the next decades are sure to bring in French studies.

Alumni Profile : Mary Beth Lambert So far, it has been working, and funding for exchange programs has remained steady because Congressional leaders on both sides of the aisle believe in that cultural exchanges are in the country’s best interest.

Exchange Visitor Programs will always be vulnerable, but it’s up to us as sponsors to manage successful, regulatory-complaint programs and educate communities about the value of cultural exchange.

What do you hope your work will accomplish?

The goal of Exchange Visitor Programs to is promote mutual understanding through cultural and educational exchanges. By focusing on French-American cross-cultural exchange experiences, the FACC hopes to help young French professionals gain an understanding of the American business environment while participating in local cultural events and improving their English language skills. As such, they can return to

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France and become “citizen ambassadors,” sharing their positive experiences with others in their communities. It’s through mutual interest and understanding that countries and cultures are able to work together to solve some of the biggest issues we face today.

Any suggestions for prospective students considering the PFMP? The PFMP is for anyone who wants to use their French in a professional work environment and also wants that unique master’s experience of having a program tailored to you. What other program allows you to have a concentration in a subject you love and learn about it in French? This program will set you apart from other applicants in the work force. It’s truly a special program, and I would recommend it to anyone considering applying!

“This degree has changed the trajectory of my professional future in the best way possible.”

“This program will set you apart from other applicants in the work force.”

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Current Students & Alumni Serena Berkowitz (MFS 2017, international education) will complete her Peace Corps service in Ukraine in Fall 2020. During her service, she has taught English, directed several camps for students and teachers, studied Russian intensively, and worked with American Councils on the FLEX exchange program. She plans to return to non-profit international education work upon her return.

Katrina Brown (MFS 2013, international education) is Associate Director for Learning Abroad at the University of Utah.

Katrina Brown

Abigail Carr

John Brunner (MFS 2013, business) is a Business Development Executive for government, trade agencies, and business associations at Euromonitor International. He lives outside of Chicago and will soon be joined by his wife, Manon Messainguiral, who is about to make the move from sunny Provence to the sunny Midwest.

Yoann Buidin (MFS 2017, éducation internationale) est responsable Guest Experience à ECLA CAMPUS, la plus grande résidence internationale basée d’Europe sur le Co-living et le Co-working, en banlieue parisienne. Récemment promu, Yoann est chargé de toute la partie opérationnelle de la résidence, et à la tête d’une équipe de 4 personnes. Son but et “que l’expérience de nos résidents se passe le mieux possible.” Yoann dit : "je reste plongée dans l’interculturalité avec plus de 85 nationalités présentes dans la résidence et je peux toujours utiliser ce que j’ai appris au PFMP dans mon travail de tous les jours."

Following her internship at Sainteloc Racing in Saint-Etienne, France, Abigail Carr (MFS 2019, business) is now an Automotive Trade Advisor at Business France. In this role, Abby helps French motorsport, automotive, and heavy truck companies find contacts and break into the American market. She lives in Chicago.

Daniel Christensen (MFS 2018, business) is a Client Service Manager for Alliance Benefit Group Rocky Mountain, in Salt Lake City, UT. He is

also active in the local chapter of l'Alliance Française, organizing cultural activities and teaching a few French classes.

Sarah Craver (MFS 2012, media/arts/cultural production) is currently a Partnerships Manager at Envoys, where she designs and develops global programs for high school students in partnership with schools throughout New England. She continSarah develops ues to develop an internaglobal programs for tional artist residency program with Laura Gross high school students (MFS 2012, media/arts/ in partnership with cultural production).

Bradley Grochocinski (MFS 2017, Business) has left his position coordinating the South Asia

schools throughout New England.

L-R: Serena Berkowitz, colleague Elena and husband Sanyo, at the English language summer camp they directed in 2019.

Conference at UW-Madison and has been hired as an eCommerce Marketing Analyst at Musicnotes in Madison.

Bradley continues to operate his French tutoring business, Teach Me Français, through which he is currently developing new language-learning software for sociocultural verbal fluency.

Kristen Gron (Barron) (MFS 2011, International Education) is a Research Administrator in the Faculty of Arts & Humanities at Durham University (UK).

Bailey Hacker (Summer Institute) travaille comme professeur de français et d’espagnol à Vincennes Lincoln High School en Indiana.

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Anne Paper L-R : Cory Casey, Mary Beth Lambert, and Cristina Casey at a PFMP alumni event in New York City last fall.

Don Hall (MFS 2005, EU affairs) continues to advance his career at Epicor Software, travelling to Canada, Mexico, the UK, Germany, Netherlands and France in the last 9 months. Both of his kids attend French immersion school in the Twin Cities area (MN).

Natalie Higgins (MFS 2008, international development) works as a French-to-English translator and has just been elected Board Director of the Midwest Association of Translators and Interpreters (MATI).

Jenna Holt (MFS 2017, International Education) is Assistant Director of Admission for Colorado College in Colorado Springs.

Al Kolenda (international development) graduated from Southern Illinois University with a B.A. in French and International Affairs, with a concentration in Africa and the Middle East. After graduation, she taught English in Cayenne, French Guiana. Working in South America, she became interested in pursuing a career in international development. She hopes to do her internship in a francophone African country beginning this fall.

Kristi Koolen (MFS 2012, international development) has left her position at the NAV National Office for Social Insurance Abroad in Oslo, Norway, and is now Federal Benefits Claims Officer at the US Embassy. She lives just outside of Oslo with her husband and their son.

Mary Beth Lambert (MFS 2007, EU affairs) has left her position at the US State Department and is now Associate Director of the International Career Development Program at the FrenchAmerican Chamber of Commerce in New York City.

Joshua Marris (MFS 2015, Business), currently based in Pittsburgh, works for business software company SAP Ariba as a Supplier Onboarding Specialist focusing on francophone clients in Quebec.

Florrie McCard (business) graduated with a BA in French and a minor in rhetoric from Georgia College in 2018. Prior to moving to Madison, she taught English in an elementary school outside of Laon, France.

Gretchen McCarthy (international education) earned a BA in French and Spanish from Hendrix College in Conway, Arkansas, then spent 3 years teaching English in China. Her research has focused on the Chinese student experience in French universities. This summer and fall, she will intern at Tours Langues in Tours, France.

Ama Mohammed (international education/business) has been a teaching assistant at the University of Cape Coast (Ghana), an administrative assistant in a logistics company (Burkina Faso), and an assistant manager in a cocoa cooperative (CĂ´te d'Ivoire).

She is interested in international career development for students and expatriate professionals.

Ashley Herrick Orlando (MFS 2013, business), is a jazz musician and singer performing in the Houston (TX) area, where she lives with her husband. She sings in several languages, including French.

Katie Orsund (EU affairs) holds a BA from Grinnell College, in History and French. Her current research focuses on the effect of (continued on next page)

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government regulation on agribusiness in France and Quebec.

Emily Ostenson (MFS 2013, international education) began a three-year term in 2020 as Secretary for NAFSA: Association of International Educators Region XI (New England). She continues to serve as Vice President for the Massachusetts Council for International Education until August 2020. She is the Education Abroad Advisor for France and Italy Programs at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Anne Paper (business) has designed and is working on an independent study project supporting the Attaché for Science and Technology at the Consulat Général of France in Chicago. The project is a key strategy in her “French-first” professional re-invention, following an MBA from UW-Madison and a successful marketing career at Microsoft Corporation.

Laura Paris (MFS 2011, international education) has left her advisory position at the UW-Madison College of Agrcultural and Life Sciences and is now Assistant Registrar for Scheduling and Faculty Services at Naropa University, a small Buddhist liberal arts school in Boulder, Colorado.

Katrina Perito (MFS 2018 business) travaille pour Business France à New York, où elle est chargée de développement (Trade Advisor) dans le secteur de l'Art de Vivre/ Sport.

Bhavana Suvarna Emmeline Prattke (MFS 2019, international education) is a Career and Internship Specialist at SuccessWorks in the UW-Madison College of Letters and Science. She works with and advises UW-Madison students interested in Government, Policy, International Affairs, and Law.

PFMP students with Professor Martine Debaisieux, at a Spring 2019 semester gathering in Madison.

Shannon Reader (MFS 2019, business) is the Administrative Manager at McCarus Beverage Company, a wine distributor based in Charleston, SC, where she handles import-export logistics, events, winemaker communication, and overall business operations. She also helps out part-time at Edmund’s Oast Exchange, a wine and beer bottle shop in downtown Charleston.

Daniel Riecker (business) a été diplômé de l'University of Massachusetts-Amherst en 2017, après quoi il a enseigné l'anglais en France puis travaillé en éducation internationale à Paris, avec API et la Parsons School of Design. Il fera son stage cette année au Bureau des Services aux Etudiants Shannon Reader de HEC Montréal.

Erin Savre (international education) graduated with a B.A. in French and Psychology from St. Olaf College in 2017. Before moving to Madison, Erin taught English at two middle schools in Rouen, France and worked as a College Advisor for non-profit College Possible in St. Paul, MN. Nancy Stockdale (MFS 2019, business) is Manager of North American Business Development for Ateliers de la Haute-Garonne, a Toulouse-based French aerospace company. She lives in Charleston, SC. Emily Swartz (MFS 2017, business) recently celebrated two years at Business France as a Trade Advisor in the Food and Nonalcoholic Beverages sector. She lives in Chicago.

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Tatianna Thurik (MFS 2019, business) is Assistant Marketing Project Manager for La Fermière, a family-owned French yogurt and desserts company in Aubagne, France.

Tatianna Thurik (L) and colleagues at La Fermiere Emily Swartz with her fiancé Ludovic Frugère in his hometown of Clermont-Ferrand last April, trekking up the Puy de la Vache.

Gregory Toth (media/arts/cultural production) earned his BA in English/Comparative Literature and French Studies from Occidental College (Los Angeles, CA) in 2016. While working as an English assistant in both France and Poland after college, he composed the original music for an independent feature film, Portrait of a Young Man, and was a freelance translator.

Nicole Tridimas (Summer Institute) is a French teacher at Pius XI Catholic High School in Milwaukee, WI. She was a 2019 recipient of the Mary Alice Yakich Educational Foundation’s Good Shepherd Award recognizing exemplary leadership.

Karen Tubb (MFS 2011, Summer Institute) is an adjunct instructor in French at Centre College in Danville, KY. She also works in Centre's Center for Global Citizenship, as the ESL Support Specialist for International students on campus.

Cristina Zepeda Almazan (MFS 2018, business) works as Digital Communications Coordinator at the American Forest Foundation in Washington, DC.

Former PFMP tutor Barbara Houdayer (center) joins PFMP classmates Lisa Blazevic (L) and Liliane Calfee (R) in Chicago, during a work trip to the U.S. Barbara works for Columbia sportswear as an E-commerce manager and lives outside of Geneva, Switzerland with her husband and two daughters.

Bhavana Suvarna (international) development) graduated with a double major in economics and French from Lawrence University in 2018, after which she spent a year as an English assistant in Caen, Normandy. Her first-semester research in the PFMP focused on the response of both public and private sectors in Paris to the European migration crisis between 2015 and 2019.

Naomi Ziegler (MFS 2006, international education) was promoted to Associate Director of Off-Campus Studies at Carleton College in 2019 and continues her volunteer work with the Friends of College Monfant, a fundraising organization that supports a secondary girls’ school in northern Togo. This last year she also contributed to an evaluation of a bilingual education project in Senegal through Miske Witt and Associates.

L’ESSOR Newsletter of the Professional French Masters Program

Professional French Masters Program University of Wisconsin-Madison 618 Van Hise Hall 1220 Linden Drive Madison, WI 53706

http://pfmp.wisc.edu