About the Department

The Romance Languages have been taught at the University of Cincinnati since 1875. In 1900 the University organized the Graduate Division, offering the PhD for the first time. That year UC also reorganized the languages, separating Romance Languages and German, which had been taught previously by one professor of French and German and another of Spanish and Italian.

Twenty-nine graduate students were enrolled in 1900, of whom 8 were studying French and 4 were studying German. More than 100 years later, 30 full-time students are pursuing MAs in French and Spanish and the PhD in Romance Languages and Literatures.

In 1900, a total of 297 students were enrolled in Romance Languages. In 2005, more than 6500 students took courses in French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, and Arabic.

The heads of Romance Languages for the past hundred years have been Lowanne Jones (2000-), Kirsten Nigro (1999-2000), Sara Friedrichsmeyer (1998-99), Jean-Charles Seigenuret (1997-98), Heather Arden (1996-97), Judy Muyskens (1995-96), Ed Couglin (1994-95), Judy Muyskens (1987-94), Jean-Charles Seigneuret (1982-87), Kornel Huvos (1977-82), Patricia O'Connor (1976-77), Donald Bleznick (1967-72), Robert Esquenazi Mayo (1966-67), James Doolittle (1961-66), L. Clark Keating (1957-61), Martin Jerome Hubert (1938-56), Phillip Ogden (1910-38), Marco F. Liberma (1903-10), F.J.A. Davidson (1900-03), and Charles F. Sebald (French & German, 1895-1900) and Paul F. Walker (Spanish & Italian, 1895-1900).