Language and Culture

Major

BA

Meet Our Faculty

Department Chair

Gari Laguardia
Associate Professor of Spanish and Literature
Co-Chair of Language and Culture
- BA, Columbia University
- PhD, University of Pennsylvania
gari.laguardia@purchase.edu

Full-Time Faculty

Carlos Amado

Assistant Professor of Communications and French
- BA International Development, Brigham Young University
- MBA International Administration, Thunderbird School of Global Management
- MA French Studies, Brigham Young University
- MA French, Vanderbilt University
- PhD French, Vanderbilt University

Part-Time Faculty

Ernesto Menedez Conde

Adjunct Assistant Professor of Language and Culture

PhD, Duke University
Patrizia Farina

Lecturer of Italian
- BA, University of Pisa (Italy)
- PhD, University of Alberta (Canada)
patrizia.farina@purchase.edu
Xiang He

Adjunct Assistant Professor of Chinese and Asian Studies

PhD, NYU
Camilla Jantke-Chiappari

Lecturer of German
- BA, Humberside Business School (UK)
- BA, Fachhochschule Münster (Germany)
- MA, Manhattanville College
c.jantkechiappari@purchase.edu
Liat Kadosh

Lecturer of Hebrew

MA, Bar Ilian University and Laura/Alvan Siegal College of Judial Studies
Dianey Lujan

Lecturer, Language and Culture
Andoveloniaina Rasolofo

Lecturer of French
- Licence-ès-Lettres, Maitrise-ès-Lettres, University of Antananarivo (Madagascar)
- MA, University of Cincinnati
- PhD, University of Oregon
a.rasolofo@purchase.edu
Chris Reineck

Lecturer, Language and Culture
Deborah Symons

Lecturer of Spanish
Mary Waller

Lecturer of Spanish
- BA, University of Leeds, England

Contributing Faculty

Robert Watson

Lecturer of Cinema Studies

BA, Baylor University
MA, University of Leeds (UK)
PhD, Vanderbilt University

Faculty Emeriti

James Cookman
Associate Professor Emeritus of Language and Culture (French)
- BA, Iona College
- MA, New York University
Maria Gagliardo
Associate Professor Emerita of Spanish and Literature
- Maestra Normal Nacional (Argentina)
- BA, MA, Hunter College, City University of New York
Naomi Holoch
Associate Professor Emerita of French and Literature
- BA, Oberlin College
- Licence-ès-Lettres, University of Aix-en-Provence (France)
- PhD, Columbia University
Gregorio Rosenblum
Associate Professor Emeritus of Spanish and Drama Studies
1940-2023
- BA, University of Chile
- MFA, Karlova University of Prague
Ronnie Scharfman
Professor Emerita of French and Literature
- BA, Bryn Mawr College
- Licence-ès-Lettres, Maitrise-ès-Lettres, University of Aix-en-Provence (France)
- MPhil, PhD, Yale University
- Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching
Renneth Sorhaindo
Associate Professor Emeritus of Language and Culture (Spanish)
- BA, Iona College
- MA, Hunter College, City University of New York
- MSc, Lehman College, City University of New York
- PhD, Pennsylvania State University
- Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Professional Service
David Villecco
Associate Professor Emeritus of Language Arts
- BA, Iona College
- MA, St. John’s University
- PhD, Universidad Interamericana (Mexico)
Kalin Wang
Faculty Emeritus of Chinese
- BA, Peoples University of Beijing (China)
kalin.wang@purchase.edu
Philippa Wehle
Professor Emerita of French, Drama Studies, and Literature
- BA, Bucknell University
- MA, Middlebury College
- PhD, Columbia University
- Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching