by Nicole Towne

“The Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures is starting a new chapter in their story with a new title. It may have changed its name, but its mission and focus remains intact and more transparent than before. Formerly known as the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures, the department’s faculty wanted to address the various studies of culture that occur within its programs. Along with learning to speak and read a language, students also learn about the cultural customs of the areas where each language is spoken. “We wanted to focus on the broadness of our discipline,” said Mary Vogl, head of the Languages, Literatures and Cultures Department.