Kate White, PhD in Slavic and East European Languages and Literatures, Class of 2015

Summer 2012 FLAS Fellowship Recipient for Advanced Russian

Where do you work and what is your current position?

I am the Assistant Director of Language Learning Services in the Student Success Center at Temple University in Philadelphia. I oversee our language tutoring program, including our staff of more than 30 undergraduate and graduate language tutors for more than 14 languages (including Russian). We also hold weekly language conversation tables and various events for students. Here’s our website with more info: https://studentsuccess.temple.edu/. I also have a website if that’s at all useful: https://akatewhite.com/ 

Tell us how you got there.

I have worked at three universities since graduating from Ohio State. First, I was a postdoctoral fellow at Rice University in their Center for Languages and Intercultural Communication. In that position I taught Russian courses, created and held workshops for language faculty, and collaborated on various research projects about language learning. After that I was a postdoctoral researcher and program manager at Western Michigan University in their Center for Research on Instructional Change in Postsecondary Education. I managed a large, NSF-funded professional network, the Accelerating Systemic Change Network, which brings together practitioners and researchers to advance STEM education programs. In both positions I gained experience with program management, evaluation, and administration.  

In my current position I use those skills I gained at Rice and WMU as well as my graduate studies in Russian and second language learning. I direct the language tutoring program, coordinate training and professional development for our tutoring staff, and help students who are learning languages. I collaborate with colleagues across the university to support international students and language learners. I also teach – I’ll be teaching a linguistics course in the fall. 

 How has your FLAS from CSEEES helped you throughout your post-graduate life?

My trip to Russia in 2012 (with the FLAS) had a great impact on my studies and my work after I graduated. It was, of course, very helpful to improve my Russian abilities in Moscow. In my first position after I graduated, I was a postdoctoral fellow in the Center for Languages and Intercultural Communication at Rice University. My research involved study abroad (and interactional competence) and I contributed to the creation and assessment of Rice’s proprietary study abroad programs for various languages.

I often discuss study abroad and fellowships with students and give advice – my own experiences abroad have been extremely helpful as I advise students about their options. I have given many workshops and taught courses on topics such as intercultural communication and interactional competence, and I draw on my own experience abroad to approach such topics with more sensitivity and openness.

What was your focus or research interest when you studied at OSU?

I was a PhD student in the Slavic Department – I studied second language acquisition and Slavic linguistics.  

If you work in academia, what advice would you give to current and prospective PhD students?

I know looking ahead to the job market can be frustrating (and often demoralizing). There are many ways to pursue your interests beyond the tenure-track, which is becoming increasingly unattainable. Sometimes it might feel like you are only good at one thing, but the skills you build in graduate school are valuable and the work you do is important. There are many ways to use your language skills, teach, work with students, and conduct research in various careers, and your experience as a graduate student prepares you for more opportunities than you might think. 

What inspires you?

Working with students! They inspire me every day.