Matt Kemp (PhD, 2006)

After completing my PhD at FSU, where I began my graduate studies as a Winthrop-King Fellow in 2001, I took up my current position as Assistant Professor of French at Kent State University in fall 2007.

When I joined the program at Florida State shortly after completing my BA, I knew that I was interested in all things related to France, but I was unsure as to the area in which to specialize for the PhD. In this regard, the structure of the FSU French program was ideal for somebody in my position in that it provides the perfect environment for students to identify and then pursue a research agenda tailored to their interests. The department offers a wide range of French courses spanning literary, cultural, historical, and political studies, and I benefited greatly from exposure to new, diverse, and rapidly evolving fields of French studies, many of which I had not studied before. The unique blend of traditional, literary courses taught by the department and the highly interdisciplinary scope of the Winthrop-King Institute for Contemporary French and Francophone Studies provides a highly enriching environment for graduate students who want to better understand the ways in which French and Francophone cultures now interface with an increasingly globalized world. This inter-disciplinary approach was reflected in my PhD dissertation, which compared reactions to 9/11 and its aftermath in France and the United States.

In addition to the classes themselves, I must mention the outstanding quality of professors who teach them. Not only are they experts in their subject areas – through their insights, their kind advice, support and guidance they provide excellent role models.

During my time at Florida State, I benefited greatly from the multitude of conferences, symposiums, and other events organized by the Winthrop-King Institute. Through this, I was able to build up a network of contacts with leading scholars in the field of French and Francophone studies including novelist and former French government minister, Azouz Begag, renowned historians such as Benjamin Stora and Henry Rousso, and political scientists such as Catherine Wihtol de Wenden. The Winthrop-King Institute was centrally involved in arranging and funding the fieldwork which I conducted in France while based at the Institut d’Histoire du Temps Présent in Paris in 2004 under the guidance of Henry Rousso.

The experiences and training that I gained as a graduate student of French at FSU were crucial in facilitating my appointment as an Assistant Professor at Kent State University, and I would recommend Florida State’s French program to potential students without hesitation.