On September 27, 2019, CERCLL's first 𝘓𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘴, 𝘓𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘶𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘊𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 21𝘴𝘵 𝘊𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘺 (𝘓𝘪𝘓𝘢𝘊) event was an opportunity for faculty and graduate students at the University of Arizona to focus on the question of what it means to teach and study world languages, literatures, and cultures in the 21st century, and how that might continue to shape the design of programs on our campus. This panel showcased programmatic innovations undertaken by colleagues at other institutions, and features renowned speakers on innovative program development: 𝐃𝐫. 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐞 𝐌𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧 (University of Minnesota, Professor of German), and 𝗗𝗿. 𝗗𝗼𝗺𝗻𝗮 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗼𝗻 (City University of New York, Distinguished Professor of French; former President of the MLA).

Dr. Melin presented 𝙁𝙤𝙧𝙚𝙞𝙜𝙣 𝙇𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙪𝙖𝙜𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙀𝙣𝙫𝙞𝙧𝙤𝙣𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩: 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙏𝙪𝙧𝙣 𝙩𝙤𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙙 𝙎𝙪𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙃𝙪𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙚𝙨.

Abstract: How can language departments catalyze curricular change and foster collaborations with STEM fields by developing environmental humanities initiatives? This talk explores the ways in which the landscape of higher education is evolving toward integrative models that signal both the potential for a new relationship to content within language programs and a more fundamental rethinking of educational priorities as a whole. Drawing in part on examples from the essay collection "Foreign Language Teaching and the Environment: Theory, Curricula, Institutional Structures" (MLA publication forthcoming in 2019), it reflects on key actions for creating curricular renewal in the midst of accelerating climate crisis.

Dr. Stanton presented 𝙁𝙤𝙧𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝘼𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙨, 𝘿𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙡𝙤𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙉𝙚𝙬 𝙏𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙨-𝙛𝙞𝙚𝙡𝙙𝙨: 𝘼 𝙁𝙪𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙈𝙤𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙣 𝙇𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙪𝙖𝙜𝙚𝙨.

Abstract: Despite the crisis in the humanities and the reduction in the languages-other-than-English offered on U.S. campuses– in fact, because of these developments– departments and their scholars need to move beyond their discipline’s walls, work collaboratively and proactively within their academic community and be even more innovative in their curricular offerings. I focus on two possible aspects of this endeavour: forging alliances, beyond the humanities, with STEAM departments and professional schools (e.g. business and law, medicine and pharmacy); and becoming an integral part of emerging trans-disciplinary fields: e.g. ecology and the environment; human rights, refugee studies in particular. In this uncertain climate, thinking capaciously about languages, literatures and cultures is productive and rewarding.

Details about the LiLaC series can be found on CERCLL's website here:
https://cercll.arizona.edu/lilac/