In the News
![A ‘fanajin’ of jebena with VMI cadets in the background.](/media/content-assets/images/news/2022-23/Jebena&Finjan-web-2-400x266.jpg)
Maj. Jason Schroepfer, assistant professor in the Dept. of Modern Languages and Cultures and director of the National Security Agency funded Arabic STARTALK program credits much of his success in his linguistic field work to jebena, a coffee drink traditionally enjoyed in Ethiopia, Sudan, and Aswan.
Cadets, faculty, and staff were able to sample dishes that represent the different language taught at VMI and learn about academic offerings as part of "Language and Culture Week at VMI" hosted by the Department of Modern Languages and Cultures.
![Riley Shultz ’24, Christian Cole ’24, and Parker Rice ’24 confer on debate strategy in the balcony overlooking the assembly at the Model Arab League.-Photo courtesy of Maj. Jason Schroepfer.](/media/content-assets/images/news/2022-23/armal_cadets_web-1-400x266.jpg)
Cadets participated in the annual three-day Appalachia Regional Model Arab League debate recently at Hollins University in Roanoke, Virginia. MAL helps prepare students to be knowledgeable, well-trained, and effective citizens as well as civic and public affairs activists.
![2022-23 Albertine Cinémathèque film series Presented by: Department of Modern Languages and Cultures and Dean’s Academic Speakers Fund](/media/content-assets/images/news/2022-23/FrenchFilms-2022-23.jpg)
The Department of Modern Languages and Cultures and Dean’s Academic Speakers Fund present four French films as part of the 2022-23 Albertine Cinémathèque film series. Albertine Cinémathèque expands access to French cinema and supports film programming at American colleges and universities.
The Department of Modern Languages and Cultures has been awarded a competitive $141 thousand grant called STARTALK for the 2023-2024 academic year. The grant is directly funded by the National Security Agency (NSA) and provides scholarships for for six credit hours of Arabic for 15 students.
![Burton Harris '23 portrait](/media/content-assets/images/news/2022-23/BurtonHarris'232023MLH003-copy-1-400x266.jpg)
Harris Burton ’23 uses her fluency with the French language to personally connect with children from a French speaking African nation.
![Julian Kim ’24](/media/content-assets/images/news/2021-22/JulianKim24-1-400x266.jpg)
As he looks ahead to completing his time at VMI, Kim hopes future cadets remember to focus on what is important and “find that balance between academics, physical fitness, and free time.”
![Post Briefs VMI overlay on fall foliage on post](/media/content-assets/images/news/faculty-initiatives/News-PostBriefsHeadlines-400x267.jpg)
Members of VMI's distinguished faculty have been hard at work not only on post, but also in the larger realm of academia, publishing essays, poetry, and cartoons.
![Promo photo of Lt. Col. Abbey Carrico for episode of With Good Reason](/media/content-assets/images/news/2020-2021/Carrico_WGR.jpg)
Lt. Col. Abbey Carrico, associate professor of modern languages and cultures (French) at Virginia Military Institute, will discuss how fictional representations of water help us make sense of life and death on public radio’s With Good Reason April 3-9, in an episode titled “The Waters.”
![Cadets study a map of Aramco’s oil fields in Saudi Arabia](/media/content-assets/images/academic-departments/modern-languages/Saudia-Arabia-trip-1-1-200x300.jpg)
In late November, three cadets and a faculty member took advantage of an unusual opportunity: an all-expenses-paid trip to Saudi Arabia.