Department of French and Romance Philology

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Profiles of Current Graduate Students

The Department of French and Romance Philology has recruited students with a wide range of interests, as can be seen in the current graduate student profiles included below.

Profiles are arranged alphabetically by last name.

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

	Laure Astourian Interests: 19th and 20th century literature; film studies; the intersections between literature and film. Grad Student Life: FGSA 2010-2011 Entering Class: 2009 Previous Degrees: B.A., Berkeley, 2008.

	Gabriela Badea Interests: Medieval French Allegory. Entering Class: 2010 Previous Degrees: M.A. in Medieval Literature ( CESCM, Poitiers), B.A in Foreign Languages (University of Bucharest).
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	Andrew Branch Interests: 20th-century literature, literary hoax and plagiarism, translation. Entering Class: 2010 Previous Degrees: B.A. in French (Reed College).
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	Matthew Bridge Thesis Topic: The global reception of the Marquis de Sade's works in the twentieth century, particularly in France, the U.S., and Japan. Other interests include Céline and Bataille. Grad Sudent Life: FGSA conference co-organizer (2007). Entering Class: 2004 Previous Degrees: M.A. in French (Columbia), B.A. in English and French (Boston University).
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	Zuowei Chang Thesis topic: Voltaire and the Popularization of Philosophical Thought. Entering Class: 2001 Previous Degress: M.Phil. in French (Columbia), M.A. in French(Peking University, China), B.A. in French Language and Literature (Peking University, China).
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	Isabelle Coitoux Grad Student Life: Modern Salon co-organizer (2008-2009). Entering Class: 2006 Previous Degrees: M.A. in French (Columbia), B.A. in French Literature (Hunter College).
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	Roderick Cooke Thesis topic: "Aesthetics and politics through the prism of the Dreyfus Affair". Grad Student Life: FGSA conference co-organizer (2008). Entering Class: 2005 Previous Degrees: M.Phil. and M.A. in French (Columbia); M.Phil. in History and Philosophy of Science, M.A., and B.A. in Natural Sciences (Cambridge).
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	Annelle Curulla Thesis topic: "Forms of Enclosure: The Convent Plays of the French Revolution" examines uses of Catholicism in French Revolutionary theater. Grad Student Life: FGSA representative (2004-2005), FGSA conference co-organizer (2006). Entering Class: 2001 Previous Degrees: M.Phil. in French (Columbia); M.A. in French Language & Civilization (Middlebury College); B.A. in English & French (Connecticut College).
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	Jason Earle Thesis topic: "Conspiracies and Secret Societies in Interwar French Literature". Grad Student Life: FGSA representative (2003-2004), Modern Salon organizer (2005-2007), FGSA conference co-organizer (2004-2005). Entering Class: 2003 Previous Degrees: M.Phil and M.A. in French (Columbia), A.B. in Romance Languages and Literatures (University of Chicago).
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	Kirsten B. Ellicson Dissertation Topic: The intersections between collecting and writing in late nineteenth-century French literature. Entering Class: 2002 Previous Degrees: M.Phil. in French (Columbia), Maîtrise en Lettres Modernes (Université de Versailles), M.A. in Comparative Literature (University of Washington), B.A. in Comparative Literature (Brown University).
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	Kevin Erwin Interests: Intersections between 19th-century literature, historiography and criticism; social theory and philosophy of history in 19th-century France; fin-de-siècle decadence and the apocalyptic; Barbey d'Aurevilly. Grad Student Life: FGSA representative (2004-2005, 2005-2006). Entering Class: 2003 Previous Degrees: M.Phil. in French (Columbia), M.A. in Comparative Literature (University of Washington), D.E.A. in Literature (Paris VII), B.A. in Philosophy and Comparative Literature (Boston University).
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	Jonathan Eskew Interests: 20th-century literature, the international avant-garde, text and image, figural poetry Grad Student Life: Modern Salon Coordinator (2010), Medieval Guild Conference organizer (2008), FGSA conference co-organizer (2008), FGSA Financial Director (2008-2009). Entering Class: 2007 Previous Degrees: M.A. in French (Columbia), B.A. in French (Reed College).
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	Mary-Alice Farina Interests: 20th century French literary theory, linguistics, anthropology, 19th and 20th century French literature. Entering Class: 2007 Previous Degrees: B.A. in French (Vassar College).
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	Olivia Harrison Thesis Topic: "Figures of Palestine in post-1967 Maghrebi Literature" examines the representation of Palestine in French, Arabic, and Berber texts written after the Arab-Israeli war of June 1967. Grad Student Life: FGSA conference co-organizer (2005), ICLS Graduate Student Conference co-organizer (2005, 2007). Entering Class: 2003 Previous Degrees: M.Phil. in French and Comparative Literature (Columbia), M.A. in French (Columbia), BTEC in Fine Art (Chelsea School of Art and Design), B.A. in French and Linguistics (Oxford).
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	Christopher Holmes Interests: 19th Century Literature, Philosophy. Entering Class: 2008 Previous Degrees: B.A., University of Minnesota (2006).
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	Casiana Ionita Interests: 19th and 20th century cultural history and literature, film theory and history (particularly silent cinema), performance studies. Grad Student Life: Modern Salon co-organizer (2008-2009), FGSA Vice President (2008-2009), FGSA conference co-organizer (2010). Entering Class: 2007 Previous Degrees: M.A. in French (Columbia), B.A. in Literature (Harvard).
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	Diana King Interests: Comparative aesthetics (East/West), China in the French imagination, Chinese exile and diaspora literature in a Francophone context. Grad Student Life: ICLS Graduate Student Committee (2008-2009). Entering Class: 2008 Previous Degrees: M.A. in French Cultural Studies (Columbia), B.A. in English (Swarthmore College).
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	Ana Lazic Entering Class: 2001
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	Sarah Lazur Interests: 20th century and contemporary literature in France and Latin America, intellectual history, modernism and the international left, cosmopolitanism. Grad Student Life: FGSA president (2009-2010), FGSA activities coordinator (2008-2009), FGSA conference co-organizer (2009). Entering Class: 2007 Previous Degrees: M.A. in French (Columbia), M.A. in French Cultural Studies (Columbia), B.A. in Comparative Literature (UCLA).
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	Mallika Lecoeur Interests: The cantate françoise, a poetic form established by Jean-Baptiste Rousseau in the eighteenth century. I recently presented my research at a workshop of La Compagnie Baroque in Pontoise, where I later performed the musical setting of a cantate. Entering Class: 2003 Previous Degrees: B.A. in French Literature (Barnard), MMus in Solo Performance: Voice (University of Western Ontario).
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	Jacqueline Lerescu Interests: Late 19th century- 20th century poetry, cinema Grad Student Life: FGSA communications officer, (2010-2011) Entering Class: 2009 Previous Degrees: MA in French Literature (NYU Paris) ; BA in History and French (Barnard College).
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	Cathy Leung Entering Class: 2000
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	Mehammed Mack Interests: Immigration and sexuality, and specifically look at the relationship between integration and sexualization as applied to the representation of North African immigration in contemporary French culture. Entering Class: 2006 Previous Degrees: B.A in Philosophy and English (Berkeley).
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	David Macklovitch Dissertation Topic: "Theorizing the Pleasure of Reading in Eighteenth Century France", focuses on theoretical writings of the first half of the Eighteenth Century, in which reading for pleasure is conceived as an autonomous notion. Grad Student Life: Modern Salon organizer (2005-2006). Entering Class: 2002 Previous Degrees: M.A.in French Literature (McGill University), B.A. in French Literatre (McGill University).
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	Johanna Magin Interests: Moral, religious, and philosophical writings in Early Modern France (Montaigne, Descartes, Pascal, La Rochefoucauld, La Bruyère); Pierre Hadot; existentialism and phenomenology in 20th-century France. Entering Class: 2008 Grad Student Life: Rapporteur for the University Seminar on Early Modern France (2010-2011) Previous Degrees: MA in French and Romance Philology (Columbia University); BA with Honors in Romance Languages and Literatures (The University of Chicago).
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	Elizabeth Marcus Interests: Intersections between literature and politics; intergenerational memory and Jewish and Arab diasporas; 17th century religious writings and theatre. Grad Student Life: ICLS Graduate Student Conference co-organizer (2008-2009). Entering Class: 2008 Previous Degrees: BA in History and French, University of Oxford.
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	Max McGuiness Interests: 18th and 19th-century literature; the history of journalism; moral philosophy. Entering Class: 2010 Previous Degress: BA in Philosophy and French, Oxford University (2009).
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	Séverine Martin Thesis Topic: The concept of the occasional and the decorative in the aesthetics of Stéphane Mallarmé. Grad Student Life: FGSA Financial Director (2006-2007), FGSA Co-Conference Organizer (2007); Cinéma Thursday Presenter, Maison Française – Columbia University (2006-2007). Entering Class: 2004 Previous Degrees: M.Phil in French & Romance Philology, Columbia University; Master II (mention très bien / summa cum laude) in French Literature, École Normale Supérieure Lettres et Sciences Humaines; M.A. in French & Romance Philology, Columbia University; B.A (magna cum laude) in Comparative Literature (French, German, Spanish), Barnard College.
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	Georgette Mitchell Entering Class: 2008, Free-Standing M.A. Previous Degrees: French Teacher License (University of Pennsylvania, Graduate School of Education); B.A. in French Language and Literature (Fordham University).
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	Ana Oancea Thesis Topic: Inventors in 19th Century French Literature. Interests: The representation of science and technology in 19th century French literature, decadence and theories of degeneration Grad Student Life: FGSA conference co-organizer (2008) Entering Class: 2005 Previous Degrees: M.Phil. in French (Columbia University), M.A. in French (Columbia University), B.A. in French and Mathematics (UVA).
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	Aleksandra Perisic Entering Class: 2007
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	Sarah-Louise Raillard Interests: 16th and 18th centuries; epistolary literature ; translation and linguistics. Entering Class: 2004 Previous Degrees: M. Phil in French (Columbia); M.A. in French (Columbia) ; B.A. in Liberal Arts (Sarah Lawrence College).
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	Yohann Ripert Interests: 19th and 20th Century; literary theory; points of contacts between literature and music; surrealism; French literature in China; identity in literature. Entering Class: 2010 Previous Degrees: B.M in Piano Performance (The Juilliard School), DEUG Mathematics (University Aix-Marseille II - University Paris VI), Baccalauréat Scientifique.
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	Rebecca Sopchik Interests: 18th century literature, intellectual history, religion, and sexuality. Entering Class: 2008 Previous Degrees: M.A. in French, B.A. in French and Psychology (Washington University in St. Louis).
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	Matthew Trumbo-Tual Interests: modernity, cultural politics and institutions; avant-garde, decadence, romanticism; theory and history of socialism; sociolinguistics; ping pong. Entering Class: 2010 Previous Degrees: BA Political and social thought; Comparative Literature (UVA).
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	Erin Twohig Interests: North African literature in French and Arabic, multilingualism and language issues, narratives of childhood and education. Entering Class: 2008 Previous Degrees: MA in French Literature (NYU in Paris) BA in French (Middlebury College)
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	Nicolae-Alexandru Virastau Entering Class: 2008 Previous Degrees: Diplôme de l’ENS-Lettres, M2R in Comparative Literature (Paris 3), B.A. in Comparative Literature (UBB-Cluj, Romania).
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	Erica Weems Interests: The role of charity in Renaissance texts, particularly in the "Heptaméron" and the "Tiers Livre." I am interested in the interpretive issues posed by the notion of charity as well as the historical context in which charity appears. Entering Class: 2000 Previous Degress: M.Phil. in French (Columbia), M.A. in French (Columbia), Master 2 (Paris IV), B.A. in French literature (UCSD).
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	Toby Wikström Thesis Topic: The relationship between law and theater in French 17th Century plays that stage encounters with the non-European world. Grad Student Life: FGSA Financial Director (2007-2008), FGSA conference co-organizer (2006). Entering Class: 2004 Prvious Degrees: M.Phil in French (Columbia), M.A. in French (University of Wisconsin-Madison), B.A. in French (Carleton College).
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	Paul Wimmer Interests: The intersection of epistolary rhetoric and fiction, especially in the 16th century. Grad Student Life: FGSA Vice-president (2010), Modern Salon co-organizer (2008-2009), FGSA Conference co-organizer (2009) Entering Class: 2007 Previous Degrees: M.A. in French (Columbia), B.A. in French and English literature (Rutgers).
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	Benjamin Young Thesis Topic: The intersection of music and text in the Early Modern period with a focus on the Querelle des Bouffons in rhetorical context. Organizes: the University Seminar on Early Modern France (2003-present). Grad Student Life: FGSA President (2006-2007, 2007-2008); FGSA conference co-organizer (2004, 2008); FGSA conference selection committee member (2006) and session Chair (2006); Graduate Student Advisory Council representative (2006-2007, 2007-2008); University Senator (2006-2008); Interschool Governing Board Vice Chair (2007-2008). Entering Class: 2003 Previous Degrees: M.Phil. in French (Columbia), M.A. in Comparative Literature (UCLA), B.A. in Comparative Literature (UCLA), Niveau Fin d'Etudes in Piano and Music Theory (Conservatoire Supérieur de Paris), Baccalauréat in Literature and Languages (with Honors, Paris Academy).
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