MCLLC Faculty Members and Alum Receive Awards from Kentucky World Language Association

By Richard LeComte

LEXINGTON, KY – Members of the Department of Modern & Classical Languages, Literatures & Cultures in the University of Kentucky’s College of Arts & Sciences have earned honors from the Kentucky World Language Association.

The association supports, promotes and advocates for the teaching of languages and cultures in the Commonwealth and offers a clearinghouse for data as well as professional development for instructors.

Jeanmarie Rouhier-Willoughby, professor of Russian studies, folklore and linguistics, was elected president of the association. In addition, Brenna Byrd, assistant professor of German studies, has been selected by the Kentucky University Chairs group to be the next post-secondary liaison on the association’s executive board.

Also, Stayc Dubravac, associate professor, received the 2020 KWLA Outstanding Administrator Award for his direction of the Master of Arts in Teaching World Languages program. The award “recognizes a school administrator who has demonstrated exemplary support of world language learning and teaching at his/her institution, community, or in the state.” 

Dubravac was praised for his collaboration with constituencies across the state, ability to mentor MATWL students considering each one's professional goals and the influence of his directorship in many languages across Kentucky and farther afield. 

Paul Tillier, an MCLLC/Russian Studies alumnus, accepted the KWLA Amici Linguarum Award for the Team Kentucky Language Access Team. The award recognizes an individual or organization not directly involved in the teaching of world languages that has contributed to the profession. The Team Kentucky Language Access Team is a group comprised of mostly volunteers who translate the governor’s news conferences in more than 20 languages.