Meghan Gibbons

As a student in the Department of French and Francophone Studies for four years, I experienced a diverse range of courses and academic programs that not only helped sharpen my language skills, but broadened my perspective on cultural studies and deeply nurtured my love of French. I learned about the history of French colonialism and it’s impact on the environment, studied the complex evolution of the French constitution, and witnessed the progression of social thought in France through literature spanning the Middle Ages to the present day. I also benefited greatly from the Department’s extracurricular programs during my time as the Freshman Representative for the French Cultural Association and as a participant in the St. Omer Summer Internship program. Finally, as a senior, I traveled to Paris for a semester at Sciences Po, where my education at Georgetown enabled me to take a full course load in French and experience a life fully immersed in French culture. With the support of my advisor and several incredible faculty mentors, I was able to complete my senior thesis project on theories of care in the international security environment. I continue to feel grateful for the amazing level of dedicated and compassionate encouragement that I felt at every stage of this journey from the Department of French and Francophone Studies.  

 

After graduating in 2023, I worked for two years at the U.S. Department of State in the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor. My education in French and Francophone studies enabled me to contribute research materials on French-speaking African nations, prepare diplomatic materials for senior level officials in French, and even travel to Paris to liaise with international partner organizations. I now live in Cambridge, Massachusetts and work at the MIT Sloan School of Management developing online Executive Education courses on business development, AI technologies, and management strategies. I still enjoy traveling to Europe several times a year and actively seek ways to remain engaged with French language and culture in my daily life.