Janet Schmitz
French, Literature

JANET SCHMITZ teaches French courses from beginning through advanced classes in such areas as film, theater, francophone and French civilization. She also teaches courses in English literature. She grew up in Kansas City, where she received a B.A. with honors from Avila College. Her M.A. is from the University of Wisconsin-Madison where she was a Woodrow Wilson Fellow. She pursued extensive further graduate work at Wisconsin, Universite Laval, Quebec. Canada, the Universite d'Avignon and the Sorbonne in Paris.

Before coming to Wayne State College she taught at the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools; in Elgin, Illinois; in Winnebago, Nebraska; and at Kearney State College. She is sponsor of the WSC French Club; a member of Delta Epsilon Sigma honorary, Pi Delta Phi honorary, and Alpha Mu Gamma honorary; is a long time member, past president, and secretary of the Nebraska Chapter AATF; and is a member of the national American Association of Teachers of French. In addition to coordinating the annual Modern Language Day and other campus language activities, she has led numerous study tours for WSC students to France, and sponsors study abroad programs at Universite Laval, Quebec, and teaching abroad opportunities in France.

Her research interests include French film, 19th and 20th century French literature, and especially Symbolist poetry. She has attended several NEH Seminars for College Teachers and has presented at conferences on topics in film, literature and pedagogy in the U.S. and in Nice, France. She is a former Chairman of the WSC Faculty Senate and has been active on campus committees. She is a recipient of the Burlington-Northern Faculty Achievement Award for Excellence in Teaching, and the 2001 Star Award from the Nebraska International Language Association. Her further interests are in music, as a former choral music instructor and organist, as well as pianist, accompanist, and church cantor. She also enjoys French cooking.