Spanish Alumni
Alexis Markiewicz, B.A. in Spanish, Minor in French (2016)
Why did you study Spanish at WCU?
I began my freshman year as a Spanish minor! I had studied Spanish in high school and really enjoyed it so I wanted to continue doing so in college. Fast forward a few semesters and after having studied abroad in Argentina, I fell in love with the language and decided to make it my major! I enjoyed every second of it! I felt like learning Spanish helped me to bridge some of the communication gaps that I often saw in my community.
What have you done professionally since graduating from WCU?
Working as a registered nurse!
Was studying Spanish beneficial to advancing your career?
Yes!!! I use Spanish at work fairly frequently! We have a lot of Spanish speakers come in that require an interpreter so it helps to facilitate nursing assessment!
Jared Montano, double major. B.A. in Spanish (2016) and B.A. in Communications Studies (2016). Minor in French (2016), Minor in Italian (2016), Minor in Latin American/Latino Studies (2016)
Why did you study Spanish at WCU?
As a communications studies major, language development was extremely important to me. Studying foreign languages not only broadened my career opportunities, it also opened a gateway into diverse cultures, allowing me to communicate on an international level.
What have you done since graduating from WCU?
Since graduating from West Chester, I have been working at Princeton University as the Director of Creative Content for the football program. I am also actively on the ESPN+ production team.
Angela J. Flores-Lugo, M.A. - Spanish, Spring 2018
Why did you study Spanish at WCU?
Studying Spanish at WCU was beneficial to advancing my career because it furthered knowledge, skills, and tools to become an improved educational leader. I am better equipped to generate positive changes and create an educational environment that is both inclusive and conducive to the learning of students. Additionally, studying language and culture has broadened my connections both within and outside of my work environment
What have you done since graduating from WCU?
Since graduating from WCU, I have been teaching Spanish courses at the secondary level and attending world language conferences and workshops.
Lisa Patrick, 2019
Why did you study Spanish at WCU?
I started at WCU as an English major with a Spanish minor and I simply didn't want my time in the minor to end. There were so many threads of interest that I had in my initial Spanish classes like linguistic and poetry which were mirrored in the classes I was taking English major. As a result, I added Spanish as a major because of the way it built connections and expanded upon the topics that I was passionate about. Outside of the academic sphere, studying Spanish was important to me as it created another pathway to building interpersonal bonds and is something I'll continue to develop for years down the road.
What have you done professionally since graduating from WCU?
I am currently a Production Associate at HarperCollins Publishers for Spanish non-fiction and children's titles.
Was studying Spanish beneficial to advancing your career?
I use Spanish almost every day and it has been essential in cultivating connection with the teams I'm a part of.
Don Nguyen, Spring 2021
Why did you study Spanish at WCU?
I loved learning Spanish in high school, using it to communicate with new people, and immersing myself in new cultures. I also knew it would be very useful in the workplace and would open doors for me abroad. Since I was planning to become a music teacher, I knew that speaking Spanish would help me to find a job both because it would allow me to communicate with families and would give me an additional certification area for me to stand out among other job applicants.
What have you done professionally since graduating from WCU?
I have been teaching general music and band at Upper Merion Area Middle School since I graduated. I love the school district where I teach because of the great students, the copious resources, and the abundant support for the music program from my administrators. I am certified to teach music, Spanish, and English as a Second Language.
Was studying Spanish beneficial to advancing your career?
Yes! I only have the amazing job that I have now because an administrator at a job fair noticed that I spoke Spanish and was certified to teach it. Because my school district has a very diverse student population, I have used my Spanish countless times to communicate with parents about their child's progress, help emerging English Learners, translate important documents, interpret parent-teacher conferences for additional pay, and much more.
Yasmin Barouki, B.A. Spanish Spring 2021
Why did you study Spanish at WCU?
I always had a great passion for languages and when I was in middle school, I had the opportunity to study Spanish and I continued it all throughout high school. I even received a scholarship to study for one week in Peru during my senior year of High School through the National Spanish Exam. After this I decided I wanted to continue studying the language in college and become a Spanish Teacher.
What have you done professionally since graduating from WCU?
After completing my studies at WCU, I got the opportunity to teach overseas in the United Arab Emirates, specializing in English as a second language. Currently, I'm pursuing a master's degree in education.
Was studying Spanish beneficial to advancing your career?
Certainly! Spanish has been incredibly beneficial in my teaching journey, especially with students from Spanish-speaking countries. Many of my international students speak Spanish, so I frequently engage in Spanish conversations with them.