Mary Anne Garnett
Introduction
Bonjour! I’ve taught at UALR since 1992 after beginning my teaching career at the University of South Dakota where I met my husband, Randal. I’m a native of Eau Claire, Wisconsin, a city that was founded by French Canadians, and began my study of French in high school there. Since then I’ve been to France many times and have also taught English there, first as an “assistante d’anglais” at a high a school in Rouen, Normandy, and later as a “lectrice d’anglais” at a language center for adults in Royan, a small town north of Bordeaux. I enjoy reading, walking our three dogs, painting, and, when I get the chance, snorkeling.
Teaching Interests
Over the years I’ve taught all levels of French, as well as some ESL courses and graduate courses in our department’s Master of Teaching Second Languages program. I particularly enjoy teaching two courses that I developed here at UALR, one on French cinema, and the other on francophone cultures.
University Service
Currently I am serving as chair of the Department of International and Second Language Studies. I am also one of three co-directors of the Academy for Teaching and Learning Excellence (ATLE) that provides opportunities for faculty to further their teaching skills.
Research Interests
My area of specialization is nineteenth-century French literature, more precisely, the generation of women writers who came of age in the 1830s, the best known of whom is George Sand. In the past few years, I’ve become interested in the writings of “men of color” of that period that deal with slavery and the abolitionist movement.
Professional Service
In January 2012 I began a two year term as president of Women in French. We are an Allied Organization of the Modern Language Association. WIF publishes a scholarly journal and we organize a conference once very two years. Our next conference will be at Guelph University in Ontario, Canada in 2014.
Education
PhD in French, University of Wisconsin-Madison
MA in French, University of Wisconsin-Madision
MA in English, University of Memphis
BA in French, Wisconsin State University – Eau Claire