Department of World Languages and Cultures says bienvenido to a rebrand

The Department of World Languages and Cultures is working on a rebrand in an effort to increase enrollment numbers and bring excitement to language learning. 

The department, which currently offers courses in Spanish, Classics (Latin and Ancient Greek), German, Japanese and Russian, also offers two minors in Spanish and Classics. Up until 2022, the department also offered a Spanish major, however it was closed due to low enrollment numbers. 

Department Chair and Associate Professor of Spanish Dr. Kelly Suero shared her thoughts on enrollment and the closing of the program. 

“It’s not something that was surprising in the sense that we are already a small unit, so when COVID-19 hit, enrollment across campus really dropped and so did our numbers,” Suero said. “What else has always been sort of an obstacle for us is that Spanish or any foreign language is not a requirement.” 

With the rebrand, the department is now looking to bring the Spanish major back for Troy students by increasing enrollment numbers. 

“So, what we’re trying to do now is really build the minor,” Suero said. “We’re excited about that.  

“The bigger it gets, the more we can sort of make a case for getting the major back so that we can show that there’s a need and interest for it.” 

Assistant Professor of Spanish Dr. Johanna Alberich shared a similar thought. 

“We are working on building our numbers and making the minor the best it can be,” Alberich said. “We had several factors that really hit us hard such as COVID-19 and some fields lost the language requirement.

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The department, located in Wright Hall, started with a visual rebrand, working with graphic design students to create murals for the walls of their office. 

“All of the murals you see on the wall are all student-designed,” Suero said. “All of this is from the students, which has always been our main priority and focus, that everything is student-centered.  

University Relations photo

Graphic design students created murals for Wright Hall.

“It’s also been really fun to see them get the recognition that they deserve for these projects, so we’re really proud of that. It had been a long time since there had been any kind of update in this building. 

What we wanted to do was create, visually, a place where students who come in here feel like they’re a part of something special and something fun and cool.” 

Lecturer of Spanish Rachel Fournier shared her thoughts on the new designs. 

“I think [the murals] are a great idea, and I think it really brings new life into the department because before it was just kind of stale and like you were stepping back in time,” Fournier said. “Now it feels like we’re moving forward and into the future.” 

The department is also planning a semester full of new promotions, activities and opportunities for students. 

“I’m working with others in the department and other departments as well just getting the word out,” Alberich said. “We’re doing all kinds of activities to get the numbers up but also encouraging our students to continue with language learning and study abroad.” 

The department would like to invite all students, faculty and staff to their open house at noon on Wednesday, Sept. 3 to get an idea of what they have to offer. 

Anyone interested in learning more about the Department of World Languages and Cultures can visit my.troy.edu and find a landing page under the Arts and Humanities section.