Peadar Kavanagh, a French Studies and English Language and Literature graduate (class of 2016) recently accepted an offer from the University of Chicago to begin a PhD in French and Francophone Studies with English Language and Literature as a secondary discipline. Peadar, a Seattle native, credits the 1998 FIFA World Cup held in France and the comic books series of Tintin and Asterix as what originally attracted him to French studies.
Looking back on his UW experience Peadar thanks every member of the Department of French & Italian Studies "whose instruction and counsel have prepared" him to "pursue this discipline." In particular Peadar would like to recognize Professor Denyse Delcourt for supervising his final thesis which he views as a "trial for graduate studies" that guided him towards his PhD program. Furthermore Peadar says Senior Lecturer Hélène Vilavella Collins "ensured the foundation" of his language skills through the thorough and varied design of the French language program. Peadar is interested in French Moralism and plans to study Augustan Satire. The Department of French & Italian Studies congratulates Peadar and wishes him the best of luck in his future endeavors!