Language Center Staff Changes

The Language Center is pleased to welcome the following staff who are either working in a new role or are brand new to the department:

• Shannon Roach is the new Graduate Assistant Coordinator. Shannon is originally from New York, and has come to the University of Minnesota to pursue the MA degree in Second Languages and Cultures with a specialization in English as a Second Language for Higher Education. Her academic background includes BA degrees in Music, and French. In her spare time, she enjoys playing piano, rock climbing, running, and yoga. 
• Anna Olivero-Agney has a new role as the Language Assessment Specialist. She works with all language programs to facilitate the process of language assessment, including traditional, alternative and self-assessment. She is now the best first contact for instructors interested in developing a new assessment or refining an existing assessment.
• Andie Wang, a CEHD PhD. candidate who has worked on several test development projects at the Language Center, will serve this year as an Intercultural Competence Specialist. She will advise and collaborate with language instructors to articulate the role that intercultural competence plays in language classes, and help instructors and staff integrate areas of cultural competence into existing assessment projects.

We also wish bon voyage to Rick Treece, who is leaving the Language Center after eighteen years as the liaison to French and Italian. The multi-talented Rick was the most fun, interesting and warm-hearted colleague imaginable. Rick always put students first. He attended almost every TandemPlus event and worked one-on-one with any student who requested his help. Rick would also collaborate on any project. If you asked Rick for his advice, he would always come up with a creative solution. Rick leaves us with many memories, and also his collection of cow-themed memorabilia.