Prof. Franck Salameh wins Lewis Prize
Prof. Franck Salameh was awarded the prestigious Bernard Lewis Prize from the Association for the Study of the Middle East and Africa, for his recent essay on the subject of antisemitism.
CONGRATULATIONS Prof. Salameh!
Israel Palestine in World Religions: Whose Promised Land?
Please join us for a talk based on Professor Ilan Troen’s most recent book by the same titl.e. It will examine “Israel/Palestine” positions and positionalities within the great monotheistic traditions.
Ilan Troen is Emeritus of the Stoll Family Chair in Israel Studies (Brandeis, 2017) and the Lopin Chair of Modern History (Ben-Gurion University, 2007). He is former president of the Association for Israel Studies, dean of Humanities and Social Sciences at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, and director of the Ben-Gurion Research Institute and Archives in Sede Boker, Israel. He is also the founding editor of "Israel Studies" (Indiana University Press), and has authored, co-authored, and edited a dozen books on American, Jewish and Israeli history.
Monday, November 17, 2025 4pm to 6pm
Devlin 101
Recent books by Maxim D. Shrayer
Immigrato russo: Tre novelle. Translated into Italian by Rita Filanti. Afterword by Stefano Garzonio. Rome: WriteUp Books, 2024.
Nabokov on the Heights: New Studies from Boston College. Edited by Maxim D. Shrayer. Boston: Academic Studies Press, 2025.
Zion Square: Poems. Teaneck, NJ: Ben Yehuda Press, 2025.
Parallel’noe pis’mo/Parallel Letters. Zug, Switzerland: Sandermoen Publishing, 2025.
Nabokov on the Heights - Publication Event
Join us on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, at 4:30pm, in Gasson Hall 100, to celebrate the publication of Nabokov on the Heights: New Studies from Boston College.
Curated by Maxim D. Shrayer, Professor of Russian, English, and Jewish Studies, this unique volume features contributions by former undergraduates and graduate students who participated in Shrayer’s research seminar, as well as English Department faculty who work on Nabokov. Meet a panel of contributors and delve into the complex themes and rich language of Nabokov’s works.
Nina Khaghany BA’24 recently completed an MA in English at Columbia University.
Matthew Lyberg BA’98 is Dir. of Quantitative Investments at Manulife Investment Mgmt.
Katie Pelkie, MA ’24 is pursuing an MFA in creative writing from Syracuse University.
Eric Weiskott is Professor of English at Boston College and author of Cycle of Dreams.
Moderated by Maxim D. Shrayer, Chair of the Department of Eastern, Slavic, and German Studies, and author of Zion Square.
German Studies Success Stories! Congrats!
Herzlichen Glückwunsch!
Congratulations to Boston College German Studies students!
2025 Graduating Class
Leopold Brickner [major]
Samuel Brown [minor]
Alexander Hopman [minor]
Christina Menke [minor]
Timothy (TJ) Prame [major]
Payton Robinson [major]
Christopher Roberts [minor]
Hector Tyser [minor]
Patrick Zimmermann [major]
Advanced Study Grant Recipients
Tianmu Wei (‘26), $2500 for Thesis Research in Germany
Aalok Bhattacharya (‘27), $2500 for Language Acquisition in Germany
Ava Lynch (‘27), $3000 for Language Acquisition in Germany
Study Abroad in 2024-25
Dylan Berry, University of Tübingen
Thomas Dohoney, Summer Abroad: Vienna Art & Architecture
Bridget Frauenheim, Summer Abroad: Vienna Art & Architecture
Annabelle Langford, Summer Abroad: Vienna Art & Architecture
Sophia Lovejoy, IES Vienna
Claire Mengel, University of Tübingen
Sarah Meyler, Summer Abroad: Vienna Art & Architecture
Aria Nafziger, Summer Abroad: Vienna Art & Architecture
Rachel Wegener, IES Vienna
Korean Language Table Continues to Foster Community
The Korean Language Table continued in the Spring 2025, meeting three times throughout the semester in the Lyons Hall Cafeteria. Led by Professor Seung Hee Jeon of the Department of Eastern, Slavic, and German Studies, in collaboration with Prof. Kyung-Jin Rhee, Prof. Jaehee Ju, and Prof. Young Suk Park, the Table fosters Korean conversations and provides Korean food for the participating BC students and faculty members. This initiative provides a valuable space for student-professor interaction, Korean speaking skills, and community building.
Boston College Hosts Successful Korean Studies Programs Showcase
The Global Korea Project and the Korean Language Program at Boston College proudly presented the first annual Korean Studies Programs Showcase on Friday, April 25, 2025, at Connelly House. The event was well attended by students, faculty, and community members, celebrating a successful year of Korean studies at BC.
The showcase featured a diverse array of final projects from students enrolled in Korea-related classes. Highlights included a South Korean drama discussion site, a family history booklet written in Korean, and research-based final papers on topics such as South Korean overseas adoption and controversies surrounding "Comfort Women." These presentations provided valuable insights into the various levels of Korean studies and language proficiencies taught at BC.
The event also included lively Q&A sessions, allowing attendees to engage directly with the presenters and delve deeper into their research and projects. Performances by students taking Korean language classes added to the cultural richness of the event, showcasing contemporary Korean culture. The reception that followed was festive, with a variety of Korean foods served, adding to the celebratory atmosphere.
Professors Seung Hee Jeon and Ingu Hwang, who spearheaded the event, expressed their gratitude to all participants and attendees for making the showcase a memorable and enriching experience. For more information about the Korean Studies Programs at Boston College, please contact: Prof. Seung Hee Jeon and Prof. Ingu Hwang.
Korean Language Program Participates in the 6th Region-Wide Korean Speech Contest; Two BC Students Win Honors
On April 12, 2025, the Boston College Department of Eastern, Slavic, and German Studies participated in the 6th New England Korean Speech Contest, hosted by Wellesley College and co-sponsored by the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Boston, the New England Association of College Korean Educators, and the American Association of Teachers of Korean. Altogether, 21 students from eight different institutions—BC, Brandeis, Brown, Harvard, MIT, Smith, UMass Amherst, and Wellesley—delivered speeches on various topics, ranging from the origin of pumpkins to women’s participation in protest movements. In this festive gathering, held to celebrate the impressive efforts and accomplishments of regional college students studying Korean, we shared our enthusiasm about Korean culture, while enjoying performances by traditional Korean dance, music, and taekwondo teams from Wellesley.
With three Boston College students participating in the competition, the Korean Language Program is pleased to announce that Seo Yeon Kim, taking Advanced Korean II, won second prize in the advanced level. And, Aaliyah Pina, currently in Intermediate Korean II, won third prize in the intermediate level. We congratulate all of the students on their success and are pleased to share their achievements and our joy with the Boston College community.
Boston College Hosts Successful Panel Discussion on Nobel Laureate Han Kang
On March 10, 2025, Boston College's Asian Studies Program hosted a panel discussion titled "Urgency! A Panel Discussion on the Winner of the 2024 Nobel Prize in Literature, South Korean Novelist Han Kang." The event, held in McGuinn Hall 121, was well attended by students, faculty, and community members.
Han Kang, the first Asian woman to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature, was honored for her “intense poetic prose that confronts historical traumas and exposes the fragility of human life.” Her works resonate deeply in today's world, where crises in democracy and the environment are ever-present. The panel featured distinguished experts: Prof. Ji-Eun Lee from Washington University in St. Louis, Prof. Min Song from the English Department, and Prof. Seung Hee Jeon, the first English translator of Han Kang’s work. Prof. Franziska Seraphim, Director of Asian Studies, chaired the discussion.
Panelists explored the relevance of Han Kang’s literature through their presentations. Prof. Ji-Eun Lee discussed “History and Memory in Han Kang's Works,” followed by Prof. Min Song, who examined “Han Kang and the Persistence of Soft Power.” Prof. Seung Hee Jeon addressed “The Poetic Prose of Han Kang: Challenges in Translation.”The event concluded with a lively Q&A session, followed by a kimbop reception celebrating Korean culture and cuisine.
The event was co-sponsored by the Department of Eastern, Slavic, and German Studies, the Global Korea Project, and the Department of English. We congratulate all participants and extend our gratitude to the panelists and attendees for making this event a resounding success.