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Participants in the Mentoring for the Future workshop and mentoring series come from all over the world and from all walks of life. Check out the current and past mentee cohorts and their individual interests on the cohort pages. Explore what they have to say about the program and their successes in graduate school applications on this page.

If you are interested in becoming a mentee, check out the how to apply page.

The 2024 cohort of Mentoring for the Future mentees is our largest group yet. The mentees hail from 11 different countries and four different continents. Their interests range from Japanese and African literature to discourse analysis and the role of technology in the language classroom. Read more about their interests and plans for graduate school studies below.

Afia Kyeremaah-Yeboah

she/her
University of Ghana

My name is Afia Kyeremaah-Yeboah. I hold a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and French. I am curious about pursuing my graduate studies in the field of languages and literature because my love for such fields started during my high school days. During my graduate studies, I would like to focus on “Importance of literature in Africa especially in West Africa” which is influenced by the research I conducted during my undergraduate studies.

Alexandra Isabel Carrasco Díaz

she/her
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile

I hold a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature and Linguistics from Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, and I am interested in pursuing a master degree in 2025 in one of the following fields: applied linguistics, intercultural communication, education and cultural studies, or innovation in higher education. Throughout my education, I have served as a teacher assistant for linguistic courses and also as a research assistant for the faculties of Letters and Education. I will also spend a year (2024-2025) at Union College, NY., as an assistant at the Spanish Department. Nowadays, I have been an assistant at the Office of the Vice-President for International Affairs for a year. Specifically, I am part of the team of Global Learning and Internationalization at Home. Moreover, I am an intern at the Casa Chile Program at David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies in Santiago, serving as an assistant for the Resident Director.

Andrés Segovia

he/him
Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán

Andrés Segovia (Mérida, Yucatán, 1999). Cursó estudios especializados de música y literatura. Becario de la Residencia Literaria Material de Sueños (Islas Marías, 2021) y del PECDA Yucatán (2021-2022). Ganador del Premio Nacional de Poesía Joven María Luisa Moreno 2019 por Canción de urna y espejo, del Premio Nacional Universitario de Poesía Desiderio Macías Silva 2019 por A donde van las cosas que nos duelen (Sangre/Poetazos, 2023) y del Premio de Poesía Punto de Partida 2022 por La línea recta del sonido.

Catalina Monserrat De La Fuente Inostroza

she/her
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile

My name is Catalina De La Fuente, and I’m an undergraduate senior student of English Literature and Linguistics at Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, yet I hold a Law degree. Despite my academic history, I’ve been passionate about Literature from a young age, and I’m thrilled to participate in the MFF program. My interests are quite broad; while my favourite disciplines include Short Story, Modernist Literature and Poetry, I’m deeply interested in Medieval and Classic Literature, Drama and Creative Writing. As such, I aspire to keep pursuing my studies abroad and strive to apply to Master’s or PhD programs in Comparative Literature. I yearn to carve a path into academia and become a professor and writer to contribute to my community from the discipline of the Liberal Arts, in hopes of returning what many great mentors, family and friends have generously given me into becoming the person I am today.

Cristóbal Castro Espinoza

he/him
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile

I live in San Ramón, a working-class region located in Santiago, Chile. I am a senior student at Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, majoring in Hispanic literature and linguistics. Furthermore, I am interested in Latin American literature and cinema. In the future, I seek to enroll in a graduate program in Spanish or Comparative literature. I also write as a hobby; I like to write both poetry and narrative.

Daniel Mensah Losu

he/him
University of Ghana
My name is Daniel Mensah Losu, a cultural enthusiast and Human Resource Management and Psychology graduate from the University of Ghana who wants to learn about migration and cultural studies from an African viewpoint. My goal is to investigate how Africans overseas communicate, engage, and behave in relation to other cultures. My objectives are to carry out research, create intercultural understanding techniques, and broaden our awareness of the difficulties of cross-cultural interactions. I have a strong interest in cultural studies and hope to support educational institutions, global organizations, or non-profits in their efforts to create welcoming environments that value variety and encourage intercultural cooperation. I am prepared to start graduate studies in cultural and migration studies and I will be devoted to learning about and finding workable solutions for cross-cultural problems. By working together, we can build a world that values peace and diversity.

Deborah Adeyeye

she/her
Ph.D. Student in German Linguistics and Language Science

Diana Mayre Caycho Huapaya

she/her
Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos

I’m currently in my fourth year studying literature at Universidad Nacional de San Marcos in Lima, Peru. I’m majoring in Comparative Literature, with a minor in Literary Theory. I also hold a degree in Translation and Interpreting from the Lima Institute of Technical. My research revolves around contemporary Latin American literature, comparative literature, and translation studies. In the future, I aspire to pursue graduate studies in Comparative Literature.

Ekua Nyarkoah Mensah

she/her
University of Ghana

I graduated from the University of Ghana with dual majors in Linguistics and Spanish. My passion lies in the Akan language, particularly in crafting narratives and translations. I’m eager to pursue an MPhil in Linguistics, aiming to further my studies with a Ph.D. in Phonology and Conversation Analysis. My research interests revolve around the intricate dynamics of speech within social contexts, focusing specifically on the complexities found within the Akan language.

Elorm Komla Alatevi

he/him
University of Ghana

My name is Elorm Komla Alatevi and I hold a Bachelor of Arts in French with a minor in English linguistics and Spanish language and literature from the University of Ghana. My current role as a Tutorial Assistant in the Department of French at the University of Ghana has helped me gain a solid foundation in the fundamental concepts and principles of languages and literature. As ambitious as I am, I am looking forward to contributing my knowledge and skills in an institution that offers an opportunity for career progression.

Emmanuel

he/him
University of Ghana
Salutations, I’m Emmanuel, a passionate language learner who speaks French and English fluently and can also understand Spanish and German. My journey into the world of languages and cultures started at a young age. Speaking multiple languages has opened doors to friendships, opportunities, and experiences that would have otherwise remained inaccessible. This experience ignited my passion for studying French and Francophone cultures. My literary explorations provide me with a means of comprehending the various cultural contexts that exist in our global community. This is why I look forward to pursuing a PhD program.

Esther Atswei Adjetey

she/her
University of Ghana
My name is Esther Atswei Adjetey, a Teaching Assistant at the Department of English, University of Ghana where I pursued a bachelor’s in English & Psychology (double major) and graduated with First Class Honors. I am interested in pursuing my graduate studies in African Literature. My research proposal is targeted at redefining the language and tropes of Ghanaian fiction, discussing elements like code-switching and their influence. During my undergraduate studies, I took Creative Writing as an elective for two years. Thus, I honed my writing skills in flash fiction, short story, literary review, novella and poetry. This year, I emerged Best Writer in The Empowered Inkwell Writing Contest for Young Females in Ghana, its maiden edition, organized by the AKAYA Foundation. When I am not browsing whimsical content on Pinterest, you will find me watching food vlogs or reading a fiction book. Or day-dreaming possible plots for my next creative piece.

Florencia Bottazzi

she/her
Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Argentina
Currently, I am finishing my master’s studies focused on linguistics and discourse analysis. My research topic is how the Malvinas War (1982) is discursively constructed in Argentinean school textbooks. I am also a lecturer at the National University of La Plata in the seminars “Introduction to Language and Communication Studies” and “General Linguistics.” At some point in my career, I would be interested in complementing my education by pursuing postgraduate studies abroad in the fields of Linguistics, Discourse Analysis, and Recent History.

Franklin Appiah-Dankwa

he/him
University of Ghana
My name is Franklin Appiah-Dankwa. I take a keen interest in the reasons for the resistance of West African Senior High School students to reading the mandatory Literature texts in Core English, especially among the Literature-In-English students. Thus, I envision contributing in-depth research on the intersection between Language, Literature, and Digital Humanities to propose potential modifications to the High School Curriculum through the incorporation of abridged but detailed versions of Shakespearean texts and other early modern texts to promote comprehension and appreciation on the parts of the students. Also, I am interested in exploring the construction of interracial relationships and power play in African and Caribbean Literature.

Geoffrey Akello Waudi

he/him
University of Nairobi
I’m a high school teacher who graduated with a Bachelor of Education (Linguistics and Literature) from the Univeristy of Nairobi. Skilled in writing, reading, speaking and listening, I currently teach at Maseno National School in Kisumu, Kenya with a mission of uplifting linguistic and literature standards among my learners. I love reading and writing.

 

Henry Augustine Mawutor Attivor

he/him
University of Ghana
After earning a Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics and Political Science from the University of Ghana, I conducted research and taught in rural areas, notably visiting a Deaf School, Deaf Village, and Deaf Church, which ignited my passion for Linguistics. These experiences exposed me to diverse cultures, shaping my understanding of multiculturalism’s role in education and development. Now, I aim to pursue a graduate program to expand my knowledge and contribute meaningfully to language studies in Ghana and globally. My objectives include delving into language dynamics among different cultures, studying speech defects, and exploring the intersection of language and politics.

Jacob Chan

he/him
Haverford College
I am an undergraduate student at Haverford College pursuing a Triple Major in Spanish, Linguistics, and Education. Both of my undergraduate theses focus on minoritized languages of Spain, particularly the Asturian and Catalan languages. In both theses, I was able to analyze a wide variety of material ranging from language policy, attitudes towards minoritized languages, and language campaigns towards the use of these languages as well. In the future, I plan on pursuing a PhD in Hispanic Linguistics with a sociolinguistics focus to continue my research on the variety of the minoritized languages in Spain.

Jennifer Ama Kotoe

she/her
University of Ghana
I am a final year student of University of Ghana who is reading French and Linguistics with a minor in Spanish. With my background knowledge in French and Linguistics, I consider pursuing a PhD in a related field, teaching at the university level, working as a language consultant, or even exploring opportunities in translation or interpretation but I enjoy helping people with their language interests, so I consider becoming a language tutor. I want to use my expertise in Linguistics and French in assisting others in their language learning journeys.

Joseph Boateng

he/him
University of Ghana
I am an aspiring doctoral scholar with a bachelor’s degree in Philosophy and Economics from the University of Ghana. My research focuses on the exploration of ethics, values, and personhood within American and African American literature, particularly reflecting on the contexts of the transatlantic slave trade and colonialism. I am passionate about examining how these narratives influence identity and ethical perspectives within popular culture. Additionally, my interests extend to the representation of precolonial African cultural markers, sensibility and spiritualism in contemporary Ghanaian and Nigerian films. I aim to uncover how these portrayals shape the perceptions and identities of modern African audiences.

Lauren Tragale

she/her
The College of New Jersey
I am in my final semester in the Accelerated MA in English program at The College of New Jersey (TCNJ). Throughout this program I developed research interests in postcolonial literary and cultural studies and its intersections with critical university studies. I am also interested in how literature can be both a product of and subversive to the ‘culture industries’ it belongs to and the political economies it is a commodity within. At TCNJ, I also earned my BA in English Secondary Education, during which I developed a passion for activism towards inclusive, equitable, and sustainable reading and writing pedagogy in public schools and higher education. While in Mentoring for the Future, I hope to better develop these facets of myself towards understanding what the right field/ PhD program is for me.

Mary Adobea Anim

she/her
University of Ghana
I am an aspiring doctorate student with an undergraduate degree from the University of Ghana. As part of my academic and career journey, I hope to find the intersection between technology and linguistics to be better suited for teaching ESL to my students in future. I also have the desire to study and work with like-minded people to shape the discourse of linguistics and the dynamics of direct translation from native languages, and how it impacts the vocabulary and expression of English-speaking African countries.

Michaelina Sarpong

she/her
University of Ghana
I’m an undergraduate student of University of Ghana. Studying for my degree, I fell in love with sociolinguistics, an area in which I want to continue to specialize. My main areas of interest are phonetics, pragmatics, sociolinguistics, psycholinguistics, and multilingualism, mostly in Africans and the way they interact in daily Spanish communication. Studying linguistics has developed in me the interest of languages.

Mostafiz Khan Ahad

he/him
Notre Dame University Bangladesh
I am Mostafiz Khan Ahad from Dhaka, Bangladesh. I am an undergraduate student in the Department of English at Notre Dame University Bangladesh.

Neymih Habibe Touma

she/her
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
I recently graduated with a major in Anthropology and a minor in Asian Studies at the Pontifica Universidad Católica de Chile. During my studies I became passionate about Gender Studies and I would like to continue my education in this area. My goal is to deepen my knowledge about the importance of understanding diversity in media and literature to better understand modern society.

Nyarko Akua Sarfowaa Regina

she/her
University of Ghana
I hold a bachelor’s degree in Linguistics and Chinese from the University of Ghana, Ghana. I am currently a teaching assistant at the Department of Linguistics, University of Ghana. With a passion in language and language teaching, I aim to pursue my master’s degree in Linguistics and proceed to pursue a PhD program in Linguistics. I want to become a linguist. I want to analyze and understand the human language, problems associated with human language and the human patterns specifically the Akan language.

Sreeparna Das

she/her
University of Cincinnati
Sreeparna Das is a first-year MA student at the Department of Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at the University of Cincinnati. She has previously obtained a BA and an MA in English Literature from Jadavpur University, India. Her research interests include Anglophone Middle Eastern Literature, Children and YA literature, and the politics of humanitarian aid and migration management in conflict zones. Her current MA project utilizes literary analysis and oral history interviews to explore how diasporic non-normative girls in the Middle East challenge the children-in-peril figure that is central to Western humanitarian discourses.

Syeda Nuha Rahman

she/her
Notre Dame University Bangladesh
This is Syeda Nuha Rahman. She is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in English literature from Notre Dame University Bangladesh. Since her childhood, the only passion that has held her firm is the art of teaching. Throughout her whole life, she met some amazing artisans of a nation, addressed as teachers, who captivated her. Among them, her mother stands out as the first. She loves to dive into the psychological theories and perspectives of literature, as literature has taught her to view life in a completely new way. She wants to see herself as an academician in the near future, as she believes that an individual sees a dream when the mentorship is from a dream weaver, and it is none other than the teachers.

William Osvaldo Dias Monteiro

he/him
Universidad de La Laguna
As a graduate in Computer Engineering and Telecommunications from Universidade Técnica do Atlântico in Cape Verde, where I’m originally from and currently residing in Spain, I find myself at a unique crossroads between the worlds of technology and languages. My fluency in Portuguese, English, Spanish, and French has ignited a fervent interest in linguistics and cultural studies, prompting me to explore this passion further through graduate studies. My journey in the realm of technology has endowed me with a structured and analytical approach to problem-solving and innovation. These skills, combined with my linguistic abilities and multicultural background, have shaped my aspiration to delve into the interdisciplinary fields of linguistic and cultural studies. I am particularly drawn to the potential of applying technological solutions to linguistic research and education, aiming to bridge gaps between diverse cultures and communities.

Meet the 2023 cohort of Mentoring for the Future mentees, and hear what they have to say about the MFF workshop!

Addison Houseman

University at Buffalo, USA
Linguistics and Spanish
I am a current undergraduate student at the University at Buffalo double majoring in Linguistics and Spanish. My academic interests include forensic linguistics, authorship analysis, and threat assessment. I hope to pursue graduate school, and apply my linguistic and cultural understandings to a career in security.

Ana Karen Pérez Vega

Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes y Literatura, Mexico
Creative Writing
I am a graduate in Earth Sciences with a specialization in Environmental Sciences from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). Currently, I am a second-year student in Creative Writing at the State Center for Fine Arts. My work has been published in various platforms, including the magazine “Punto de partida,” the digital blog “Universo de Letras,” and the collective publication “Bitácora Colectiva, Estancia Literaria Material de los sueños 2021.” I am interested in the intersection of art and science, and I believe that art can contribute to finding creative solutions to socio-environmental challenges.

Angélica Pérez Burgos

Universidad de Puerto Rico, Puerto Rico
Foreign Languages and Linguistics
I graduated from the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras with a B.A. in Foreign Languages, a specialty in French and German, and a minor in Hispanic Studies (Linguistics). I also earned an M.A. in Linguistics from the same institution. Currently, I am studying Korean and Mandarin Chinese, so I took the HSK2, the HSK3, and the HSKK proficiency tests. I would like to acquire teaching and research experience to become a professor of Spanish as a foreign language. Studying many languages helps me to identify the differences and similarities between them and Spanish, which might be useful for teaching.

Byanca Temmons-Barnwell

University at Buffalo, USA
German Linguistics
My name’s Byanca Temmons-Barnwell, I’m the first college graduate in my family. I graduated from Medaille College with an International Studies Bachelor of Arts degree, and I’m currently at UB for a German Linguistics masters program. I am very interested in history, theology and literature, especially focusing on medieval mythology and the 18th century through Jane Austen’s literature. I think there is so many stories in history still waiting to be told which, I would like to be a part of. That’s why I want to continue my studies in with a PhD program in History.

Diego Escobedo Estevez

Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Mexic
Education
My name is Diego Estevez and I am studying my Master’s Degree in Education. My personal goals include becoming a better teacher and moving to another country. Some of my research interests include second language learning (Spanish) in rural zones of México and English learning in public high schools in México, but I also have an interest in art. My belief is that when we learn a language, we learn a new culture and it changes us, not just as language learners but as people since every language teaches us about its world.

Elizabeth Herrera Borja

Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Mexico
Hispanic Literature and Linguistics
While studying for my degree, I fell in love with sociolinguistics, an area in which I want to continue to specialize. My main areas of interest are phonetics and pragmatics, and the way they interact in daily Spanish communication.

Elorm Komla Alatevi

University of Ghana
Languages and Literature
I’m a final year student at the University of Ghana who is majoring in French language and literature with two minors in English linguistics and Spanish language. I would like to pursue my PhD Program at the graduate school at Penn State University in French and francophone literature and Spanish language. My research interest will focus on French and francophone literature studies. After the completion of my PhD, I would like to collaborate with NGOs to work with communities that would need my assistance in learning languages.

Giselle González Camacho

Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Mexico
Hispanic Literature and Linguistics
Giselle González Camacho holds a bachelors degree in Hispanic literature and linguistics from the National Autonomous University of Mexico. She has been awarded with the Mexico’s Incentives Program for Creation and Artistic Development fellowship for Young Creators. She’s interested in public humanities, publishing, reading promotion, and non fiction writing.

Heli David Sánchez

Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
Literary Studies

My name is Heli and I live in Bogotá. I recently graduated in Spanish, but I could say that my academic journal started a few years ago, when I finished high school and enrolled in a Latin course. I know, it seems weird, but my interest in ancient languages has become a fundamental part in my seeking to understand languages and the way these forms of communication carry significance. After college, I would love to continue my research in Latin American literature. I’m especially interested in the topic of death and in the question of how different literature has approached this problematic and huge topic. Death has to do, at least in my investigation, with bioethics, posthumanism, and biopolitics. When one talks about these topics, one is talking about plants, animals and the question of the bodies that matter, using a phrase of Judith Butler. My personal goal in this moment of my life is to gain experience, be more aware of the different ways of living in this world, and to become a better reader.

Jalees Tamayo

Nevada State College, USA
English, Writing Studies, and Creative Writing
My name is Jalees Tamayo and I am currently a senior at Nevada State College. My goals are to become a professor and do research in the field of writing studies through my experience of learning to combat racism and inaccessibility within college. I have been passionate about writing studies and how this field relates back to creative writing and English courses in general. I have found my research focuses on identity within writing and performing your identity as a woman of color. My writing center work includes workshops and panels based around antiracism writing.

Laura Marie Méndez Isabel

Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Economics
I have just finished my undergraduate studies in Economics, and I want to continue with my education at a graduate level. I am very interested in staying within social science and, for that reason, I am considering programs related to cultural and/or migration studies focused on the Latin American perspective. I would like to study the influence of other cultures in the way people from Latin America talk, interact, and behave outside their countries.

Nana Kwame Brobbey

University of Ghana
English and Political Science
I am an aspiring doctoral scholar with a bachelor’s degree in English and political science from the University of Ghana. My research focus is on African and African American literature and its representation in popular culture. I have a passion for exploring how African and African American cultures intersect and shape popular culture narratives and, as a result, how African and African American identities are perceived. My other areas of research interests include the conceptualization of trauma regarding black histories of slavery and colonization, the creation of black utopias and the place histories of black struggles have in that space.

Nayeli Chirstell Acosta García

Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Perú
Indigenous Literature

I’m a third-year undergraduate student at the Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos in Perú, South America. In the future, I plan to pursue a graduate degree in Spanish and Latin American Literature. My research focuses on indigenous literature, 16th century Peruvian literature written in Quechua, cultural studies, and contemporary Quechua literature.

Philip Frempong

University of Ghana
Linguistics and Geography
I am a graduate of the University of Ghana, where I earned a double major in Linguistics and geography. I am also an alumnus of Meltwater Entrepreneurial School of Technology. With a passion for language and technology, I am eager to delve into the field of computational linguistics. My academic goal is to pursue a Ph.D. program in computational linguistics, where I aim to explore the intersection of language and technology, utilizing computational methods to analyze and understand human language patterns, specifically the Akan language.

Qianyan Liu

Penn State
English and Linguistics
I am interested in indigenous language immersion programs, ethnic minority language education in China, second language acquisition, and translation studies. I hope to find a field that combines literature and linguistics as they are equally important to me. One showed me the science aspect of language whereas the other one showed me the social side of it.

Samuel Opare Sawovi

University of Ghana
Linguistics and Political Science
I am currently an undergraduate at the University of Ghana, double majoring in Linguistics and Political Science. I want to pursue a PhD in Applied Linguistics. I look forward to impacting the world with my research findings which will focus on psycholinguistics, multilingualism and sociolinguistics, mostly in African societies. Studying linguistics has developed in me the interest in languages across tribes and cultures, their similarities, and differences.

Sara S. Barenfeld

Montclair State University, USA
English
I am currently pursuing an MA in English at Montclair State University. I intend to apply to PhD programs in English or Comparative Literature upon graduation. My interests are broad and range from modernism in Israeli literature to the Irish literary revival. I am also fascinated by narratology and translation studies, and postcolonial literature and theory. I hope to forge a path forward in academia and contribute to the field as a researcher, scholar, and professor.

Shavonne Pucula

University at Buffalo, USA
Linguistics

I am a student at the University at Buffalo where I am studying Linguistics. I would love to continue my studies in a Doctoral program where my main interest lies with studying different cultures’ mythologies and how they have shaped the cultures and their religions. After attending the Mentoring for the Future Program, I realize that my concentration may be in literature. My other interests are artificial intelligence, anthropology, and the history of cultures.

Siwei Lu

Peking University, China
French Language and Literature

Sydney Baker

Nevada State College, USA
English, Creative Writing, and Writing Studies
I’m an undergraduate student at Nevada State College, majoring in English with minors in Creative Writing and Writing Studies. Academically, I have interests in pedagogy, linguistics, English-language literature, and gender and sexuality studies. I hope to explore these interests through my coursework and research as I continue my education by pursuing a PhD. Personally, I am interested in art and enjoy writing poetry.

Yu Ting

Beijing Normal University, China
Chinese Literature and Linguistics
I am a fourth-year undergraduate student who have systematically studied Chinese literature and linguistics at Beijing Normal University. I am crazy about linguistics, especially formal semantics. I completed my thesis, analyzing the material conditional paradox and conditional sentences’ formalization. I will go to the National University of Singapore for postgraduate study and continue to study Chinese culture and Chinese linguistics.

Yuanrui Xu

Peking University, China
English Language and Literature
Growing up in Canton and receiving undergraduate and graduate education in Beijing, Yuanrui is always looking forward to seeing more about the world and exploring diverse cultures. Yuanrui is also a language/dialect learning enthusiast, and she can speak Mandarin, Cantonese, Teochew, English, French, and Italian. Language learning has kindled her initial passion for literature. With a focus on 20th century American literature, literary theories, and comparison between contemporary Chinese and American literature, she hopes to pursue a doctoral degree and stay in academia and turn her love of reading, writing, and teaching into a lifelong career

Blakeli Campbell

Nevada State College, USA
English, Professional Writing, Communications, and Business

I am an undergraduate student at Nevada State College who is majoring in English with three minors in professional writing, communications, and business. In the future, I plan to pursue an editing career and then proceed to pursue my Ph.D. in English with a dual degree in WGSS. My research focuses on women’s literature that challenges man v. nature, using an ecofeminist lens.

Catalina García

Universidad Católica de Chile, Chile

I plan on taking 2022 to fully experience what being a published author feels like (my novel, Cosas que parecen permanentes, will be in bookstores by July), and on 2023 begin gathering all the documents required to apply to a PhD in Comparative Literature at Penn State University. My intention is to pursue research on Asian Studies, LGBTQ+ Studies, aesthetics, and horror literature.

Chioma Nwoye

University of Chicago, USA
Critical Race and Ethnic Studies, Cinema Media Studies

I hope to pursue either a Ph.D. in Comparative Literatures or an MFA in film. In either theory or practice, I hope to continue studying the craft of storytelling with a more focused approach to Black diasporic cinema and Afrofuturist film that draw empowering trajectories of the Black liberation into the present.

Daniel Álvarez Sanz

Universidad de los Andes, Colombia
Literature and Languages

I am a double major literature and languages student, interested in pursuing a career in literary translation, specifically by doing my own translations and carrying out research in the field of translation studies. My research interests on the literary field include German and Japanese studies, as well as Latin American literature and translation. I therefore intend to continue my studies in the future by enrolling in MA programs both in Japanese studies and in literary translation.

Diana Echeverry Fernández

Instituto Caro y Cuervo, Bogotá, Colombia
Literature and Culture

I would like to focus my research in contemporary Spanish literature written by women, and their link with art, languages and identity. My doctoral research would analyze the relationship between correspondence, and intimate diaries in the writing of women authors.

Djietcheu Woosem Gilles Valere

University of Yaoundé I, Cameroon

My research interests are African Studies, French and Francophone Studies, and Gender Studies. I focus on the question of the loss of identity due to transnational and transcontinental displacement in Western, Northern, and Central African Literature. I am also interested in the gendering of afro-francophone identities. After the completion of my Ph.D., beyond being a critical thinker and a lecturer in my fieldwork, I would like to collaborate closely with NGOs to work with the communities related to my research.

 

Emma Correia

University at Buffalo, USA
Linguistics and Spanish

I am interested in pursuing a PhD in Linguistics potentially with focuses in bilingualism, sociolinguistics, second-language acquisition, and language policy.

Esther Abimbola-Omolara Emoruwa (‘Lara)

University of Ilorin, Nigeria
Artist and Researcher

I am a theatre artist, creative writer and a researcher. I am an aspiring doctoral scholar who is interested in exploring the intersections of arts, therapy and well-being, using textual and performance-related literature and medical humanities especially as it concerns the woman and the dialectics of her space and agency in African cultures. My other areas of research interests include inter-disciplinary scrutiny of canonical texts, genres of African literature through language, gender issues, creative writing and dramaturgy, and stage dialectics/production design.

Gabriela Hernández Pérez

California State University, Northridge, USA
English as a Second Language

Geoffrey Akello Waudi

Homa Bay High School, Kenya
High School Teacher

I would like to carry on with my studies in Linguistics with particular interest in ESL acquisition among children. I would like to focus on pronunciation’s difficulties in pupils and students which to a large extent impede their confidence, thereby negatively affecting their academic performance.

Jordan Selous

University of Cape Town, South Africa
English Literature, Linguistics, and Media Studies

I am a final year student at the University of Cape Town, majoring in English Literature, Linguistics and Media Studies. I plan to pursue my honors in English Literature in 2023 and will most likely continue studying thereafter. Writing is my passion, as is reading. I am a published writer, poet, and editor who would like to continue with the aforementioned tracks professionally.

Kyler Malik Henderson

Morehouse College, USA
English, Africana Literature, Cultural Studies, and German

I intend to pursue a multidisciplinary and multifaceted career in academia and pedagogy, taking the first couple of years after earning my bachelor’s degree to teach English in Japan, China, South Korea, Taiwan, or the United Arab Emirates. Afterward, I will return to cement myself in American academia by way of my graduate education, working to earn a Ph.D.

Lynn Odira

Braeburn Garden Estate School, Kenya
Teacher

I would like to pursue a graduate degree in linguistics, focusing on second language acquisition in childhood and sociolinguistics. I hope to continue working in a multicultural setting, particularly with EAL students (and their parents/guardians and teachers), developing programs that cater to the students’ specific needs. A course in linguistics would be perfect opportunity for me to extend my language awareness and gain an insight into theories about second language teaching and learning.

Matilde Rueda

Universidad de los Andes, Colombia
Literature and Humanities

I am currently a literature and humanities student. My academic and carrier plans include being able to continue my literature studies and ideally expand my knowledge in gender and sexuality studies. I have a passion for art, poetry, and helping my community and those around me.

Shelby Cundiff

Centre College, USA
English and Spanish

Susy Porras

Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Colombia
History and Modern Languages

I want to stay within the humanities and social sciences, but I would also like to broaden my perspectives and experiences, and that is why I’m considering programs such as social work, education, human rights, cultural studies, and literature. I want to focus on a Latin American context in relation to global influences such as speeches and processes happening on other continents and languages. Categories and perspectives such as imaginaries, representations, practices, experiences, and decolonial studies are my main areas of interest.

Wesly J. Torres-Lopez

Nevada State College, USA

I am interested in applying to graduate programs across the country to pursue a PhD in English and continue to explore the various opportunities available through academia. My research interests include heroic literature, trauma, oppression and coloniality.

Yadi Peng

University of Washington, USA
Linguistics

I am excited to begin my PhD program in the Linguistics Department at The University of Washington in Fall 2022. I am mostly interested in sociolinguistic variation, language attitudes, and ASL. Science communication will be an important part of my academic journey wherever it might take me.

After the workshops, participants share what they learned, the biggest takeaways from the MFF program, and their experiences as MFF mentees. Let’s hear it from them!

Bertrand Collins

University of New Mexico, USA
Germanistics

I am a T.A. and international student at the University of New Mexico where I study Germanistics after obtaining a Master’s degree in African Literatures and Civilizations at the University of Yaoundé I in Cameroon. In my research career, I would like to build an epistemological bridge between African Studies and German Studies. Specifically, I would like to specialize in Black German studies and questions related to the cultural, historical, and political relationship of the Germanic world with Black Africa. I am interested in questions of memory, colonization, decolonization and, in the cultural production of Black people within the German-speaking cultural area.

Caroline Smith

Appalachian State University, USA
Spanish and Global Studies

In May of 2021, I graduated with BAs in Spanish and Global Studies with a concentration in Inter-American Relations and Dynamics. Upon finishing my master’s degree in Spanish College Teaching at Appalachian State University in 2022, I plan on matriculating into a Spanish Ph.D. program oriented towards Hispanic literature. My research interests include contemporary Latin American literature, decolonial and postcolonial trauma theory, narratives of migration, and border theory. Ultimately, I desire to become a professor so that I can combine my love for academic research and teaching.

De’ja Alston

Coppin State University, USA
English

Currently I live in North Carolina, but I was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland. I graduated from Coppin State University in 2017, with a Bachelor’s degree in English. I am a licensed special education teacher. I plan on applying for PhD programs this winter. My educational goal is to use an interdisciplinary approach to further research educational policy, human rights and ethics through the lens of African American Literature.

Elicie Edmond

Bryn Mawr College, USA
Literatures in English and Africana Studies

I plan to enroll into a PhD program in English, Comparative Literature, and/or African/African American Studies. I hope to continue to explore the foundations of literature rooted in Africana thought, and I hope to continue to conceptualize how literature has become a space of healing and futurity within the complex history of the African Diaspora.

Gianfranco Gastelo

University of California, Berkeley, USA
Comparative and Spanish Literature

My fascination with linguistics and the revelatory messages of literature have inspired me to pursue a PhD in Comparative Literature. As a doctoral student, I would aim to both expand my intermediate linguistic and cultural knowledge of Italian and immerse myself in advanced courses in Latin, French and Filipino. These courses will enrich my global familiarization of colonialism and postcolonialism from the end of the fifteenth century up to the conclusion of the eighteenth century while further developing the subject of my undergraduate honors thesis: The First Spanish Conquest in Peru.

Giselle Gradilla

Nevada State College, USA
English and Secondary Education

Giselle is an undergraduate student at Nevada State College who is double majoring in English as well as in Secondary Education (English). She plans to pursue a Ph.D. in comparative literature with an emphasis on research focused on Chicana/x multimodal storytelling and advocacy.

 

Huirui Zhang

McGill University, Canada
English Drama and Theatre, and Art History

I hope to become a curator who pays particular attention to performance arts and other time-based practices. My current research interest lies in the artistic representation of the Chinese immigration experience in theatrical performances. In addition, given the increasing digitalization in the art industry that the Covid-19 pandemic bought in front in 2020, I hope to investigate how the pandemic shifts how audiences consume performance art/visual representations of non-white experiences.

Karlina González

CUNY Hunter College, USA
English Literature and Japanese

Karlina is currently finishing their undergraduate degree in English literature and Japanese. In the future, they hope to pursue intensive Japanese language study in Japan before beginning a graduate program in English, Comparative Literature, or East Asian studies. They hope to continue their research on Anglophone and Japanese fan-culture and the role of fan-production in counter-hegemony.

Nicolás Díaz

Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Chile
Spanish Linguistics and Literature

Once I finish my Bachelor of Arts in Spanish Linguistics and Literature I plan to enter a graduate program in literature, ideally one that will allow me to teach. I have a special interest in the connections between literature and history, especially in the South American context, so I hope to further delimit what I am interested in pursuing research-wise in the next few years. My dream is to become a professor.

Peiyun Jiang

Mount Holyoke College, USA
English and Politics

Peiyun Jiang is a recent graduate from Mount Holyoke College who double-majored in English and Politics. She is a writer of poetry and hybrid texts and is interested in Asian American and 20th-21st c. Chinese literature.

Peter Appleby

California Lutheran University, USA
Political Science and German

In my studies I have not only been able to explore the heritage and meaning within German culture but also to understand the place that the German identity stands in a diverse world. After finishing my undergraduate degree I hope to gain valuable experience working for an NGO and then pursuing a masters graduate program in Comparative Literature, which would primarily include German and literature studies. As a career, I am interested in teaching the German language and culture to others partially because of the impact the subject has had on my education and life, as well as for the value that comes with sharing ideas with others.

Rani Srinivasan

Queens College (CUNY), USA
English and Comparative Literature

Rani double majored in English and Comparative Literature. In her final undergraduate semester, she studied South Asian literature and postcolonial theory at the University of Oxford. When she returned to New York City, she entered the Queens College English Master’s program and began teaching English at Queens College. Her research interests are politics, postcolonialism, decolonialism, and South Asian and Asian American literature. Her master’s thesis used Arundhati Roy’s The God of Small Things to consider the problematic connection between liminality and structural violence in postcolonial India. After obtaining her Ph.D., she wants to continue teaching and using her work to assist communities marginalized by sociopolitical injustices.

After the workshops, participants share what they learned, the biggest takeaways from the MFF program, and their experiences as MFF mentees. Let’s hear it from them!

What do they have to say?

Hear about the Mentoring for the Future program directly from past mentees!

Where are they now?

Our mentees have been offered admission to graduate programs at universities around the world!

Georgetown University

King’s College London

CUNY Graduate Center

University of New Mexico


Universität des Saarlandes

The University of Edinburgh

Emory University

University of Michigan

University of Southern California

Virginia State University

University of York

University of California Riverside

University of Ghana

University of Pittsburgh

University of Glasgow

University of Cape Town

University of Kentucky

Indiana University Bloomington

Penn State

National University of Singapore

University of Louisville

New York University

University of Virginia

Trinity College Dublin

University of Massachusetts Amherst