Dr. Audra Merfeld-Langston. Photo by Marie-Hélène Le Ny

Dr. Audra Merfeld-Langston, associate professor of French at Missouri University of Science and Technology, has been named chair of the department of arts, languages, and philosophy. She served as interim chair of the department from Jan. 1-Oct. 31.

“In the nearly one year that she has spent as interim department chair, Dr. Merfeld-Langston has advocated tirelessly for her faculty, and has worked hard to connect them with meaningful opportunities for professional development,” says Dr. Stephen Roberts, vice provost and dean of the College of Arts, Sciences, and Business at Missouri S&T.

Under her leadership, arts, languages and philosophy faculty have received grants to develop study abroad programs and online courses, participated in leadership development programs, and contributed to professional conferences. In fact, the department is offering two new faculty-led study abroad programs in summer 2017 – a three-week trip to Germany and Austria led by Lorie Francis, assistant teaching professor of music, and a four-week trip to Nicaragua led by Merfeld-Langston.

“She also works to increase opportunities for students, and has spearheaded efforts to develop a Latin American Studies for Technical Applications minor and to connect first-year students with faculty research mentors in the department,” says Roberts. “I look forward to working with Dr. Merfeld-Langston in the years to come.”

A member of the faculty since 2007, Merfeld-Langston earned a Ph.D. in French and francophone studies from Pennsylvania State University that same year. Before joining the Missouri S&T faculty, she served as coordinator of the French Summer Intensive Language Institute at Penn State.

Dr. Merfeld-Langston also serves on the executive board for the Greater St. Louis Chapter for the American Association of Teachers of French, and in November she hosted a workshop at S&T for K-12 and higher education French teachers from across Missouri. Merfeld-Langston remains an active researcher and grant writer, collaborating with colleagues from across campus, as well as from universities in Central America.

“I am very honored to serve the department, and I am excited about creating new opportunities for the S&T community,” says Merfeld-Langston. “I look forward to showcasing the many talents of our students, faculty and staff.”