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"This essay rethinks infection in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic by examining how its imaginaries are reconfigured in contemporary science fiction."

The College of Humanities and Social Sciences is proud to honor Mia Zur, BA Foreign Languages '96, with the 2026 Distinguished Alumni Award in modern and classical languages. Zur is associate general counsel in the Capital Markets Group at the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), where she advises on the rules governing how securities are traded in the United States.

To counter the isolation of teaching less commonly taught languages (LCTLs), educators turned a STARTALK workshop into an ongoing collaborative network. Through joint teaching, conference presentations, and co-authoring, this shared journey demonstrates the transformative value of professional communities for LCTL educators.

The Mormon Giant is a live documentary that explores the relationship between religion and professional wrestling in the twentieth century. Created and narrated by David Walker, it features live music by Timothy Albro.

Sayed Elsisi publishes a new book chapter, “Divine in Carnal Mirrors: Unveiling the Sacred Through Love and Eroticism in The Arabian Nights.”

Professor Esperanza Román-Mendoza from the Department of Modern and Classical Languages was invited to participate in the 36th Summer School at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid in Spain to address the impact of AI on language learning and education.

GMU Faculty Contributes to Howard–Georgetown Africa and Middle East Literature Workshop

The Department of Modern and Classical Languages closes Spring 2026 on a high note. The department has continued to grow in both scholarly ambition and collegial spirit. This year brought a remarkable number of well-deserved recognitions, reflecting the dedication and excellence of our faculty across teaching, research, and service.

The Department of Modern and Classical Languages partnered with the German Embassy to highlight the long-term benefits of studying a foreign language, hosting more than 150 high school students from Fairfax County and Loudoun County public schools.