Scholar of Francophone Literature Named Singer Professor

Morgantown, WV, June 30, 2006:  Dr. Janice Spleth is the second professor to be appointed to the Armand E. and Mary W. Singer Professorship in the Humanities for her work in the Department of Foreign Languages, housed in the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences at West Virginia University.

Dr. Spleth earned her PhD in French at Rice University in 1973 and joined the faculty at WVU in 1974.

In 2007, she will organize the African Literature Association annual meeting, to be held at WVU. She will be joined by Dr. Sandra Dixon, assistant professor of Spanish and specialist in Afro-Hispanic literature, who will be serving as co-convener. In addition to funding from the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences and the Department of Foreign Languages, Dr. Spleth and Dr. Dixon are receiving support from the Africana Studies Program, the Center for Black Culture and Research, the Department of English, the Department of History, the Office of International Programs and the Center for Women’s Studies.

“I am looking forward to being able to bring well-known writers, filmmakers and scholars in African literature to WVU and participating in this exciting campus-wide celebration of African culture,” Dr. Spleth said.

She has also worked on previous projects with Dr. Armand Singer. “It has been a privilege for me to have known the Singers,” she explained. “I have learned a great deal working with Professor Singer on the WVU Philological Papers and on WVU’s annual colloquium on literature and film, and have developed a great appreciation for his individual dedication to advancing knowledge, his immense creative energy, his high personal standards, and his unflagging intellectual curiosity and concern.”

Established in 1999 by the Singers and their daughter Fredericka Ann Hill and her husband Tomas Hill, the Armand E. and Mary W. Singer Professorship in the Humanities is intended to encourage and reward interdisciplinary work in the humanities with the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences.

Mary Singer, late wife of Dr. Armand Singer, earned her PhD from Duke University and joined the faculty at WVU in 1945 where she taught Latin, French and English for 27 years. Dr. Armand Singer, Professor Emeritus in the Department of Foreign Languages, former chair of the Program for the Humanities, editor-in-chief of the West Virginia University Philological Papers, specialist in the legend of Don Juan, experienced adventurer, and advocate for the humanities in West Virginia, has taught at WVU for 66 years.

“My daughter and I are very pleased with the choice for the Professorship,” Dr. Singer said. “Dr. Janice Spleth has had a really sterling career and we couldn’t be happier.”

“Dr. Janice Spleth is an internationally recognized scholar in the area of Francophone literature,” remarked Dr. Jeffrey Bruner, chair of the Department of Foreign Languages. “And she has been very successful in introducing her research into her courses to broaden her students’ knowledge of, and appreciation for, Francophone literature and writers.”

For more information, please contact Dr. Janice Spleth at Janice.Spleth@mail.wvu.edu.

W-V-U