Mary Claire Chao

4430 Post Rd, East Greenwich, RI 02818 ▪ 785 979 8033 ▪ mary_chao@brown.edu

Education
Brown University, Providence, RI
Degree: PhD, French studies Expected May 2024
University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS
Degree: M.A. (with honors), French and Francophone language, literature, and culture May 2017
St. Olaf College, Northfield, MN
Degree: B.A., French January 2010
French-language certification: DALF C2 - Diplôme Approfondi de Langue Française March 2011
Research Interests
16th-century French literature and society, female writers and narrative strategies, the Querelle des femmes, and
“social media” of the Renaissance.
Teaching
French Language Instructor Lawrence, KS June 2017
Employer: University of Kansas Language Training Center
Co-teaching an intermediate level, intensive French language course geared towards United States military personnel.
In addition to planning daily lectures presenting and reviewing French vocabulary and grammatical concepts, a strong
emphasis was placed on creating and implementing communicative language activities.
SLI-Paris Program Graduate Assistant Paris, France June-July 2016
Employer: University of Kansas, Department of French & Italian
Facilitating a French immersion environment for KU undergraduates over the two-week travel period of the program
as well as during the 5-week Paris stay. Organizing weekly museum tours and walking tours of Paris. Grading written
compositions, oral presentations and student participation.
Graduate Teaching Assistant Lawrence, KS Aug. 2015-May 2017
Employer: University of Kansas, Department of French & Italian
Instructor for introductory and intermediate level French courses at the University of Kansas. Course goals
included acquisition of basic and intermediate French grammar and vocabulary as well as an introduction to French
and Francophone culture. Experience using Blackboard course management system.
T.A.P.I.F. English Teaching Assistant Rennes, France Oct. 2010-April 2011
Employer: Education Nationale (French Ministry of Education)
English teaching assistant in two schools in Rennes for the academic year 2010-2011; the École Élémentaire
Torigné and the Collège des Hautes Ourmes. Working with French students levels CE2 through 3ème (ages 7-14)
teaching English conversation using immersion language techniques.
Honors and Awards
David Dineen Pedagogical Award May 2016
Award for excellence in graduate studies May 2017
Publications
Book reviews
“Caroline Durand. Nourrir la machine humaine: Nutrition et alimentation au Québec, 1860-1945.” Chimères, vol
33, no. 1, 2016, pp. 112-113.
Translations
Dambre, Marc. “In the Wake of the Hussards, a Young Modiano Writes against the Tide.” Yale French Studies,
translated by Mary Claire Chao, vol. 133, 2018, pp. 27–38.
Professional Experience
Tier1 Bilingual Support and Onboarding Agent Providence, RI July. 2018- Aug. 2018
Employer: Erply Ltd.
Working as part of an international team of support agent and project managers. Responsible for French and
English support calls and new-client onboardings. Translating and writing new documentation, interfacing with
clients in French and English on training and support calls. Onboarding and training new US and Canadian clients.
Intern Coordinator Kansas City, MO Sept. 2016-May 2017
Employer: Alliance Française de Kansas City
Working with the AFKC on a weekly basis to lead three teams of interns from BlueValley CAPS charter school in
Kansas City. Meeting weekly with teams of students to set specific objectives for AFKC fundraising and member
outreach as well as planning the annual AFKC business roundtable event.
Project Manager and Translator Rennes, France Dec. 2010-Aug. 2015
Employer: id2m S.A.R.L.
Multilingual project management and translation from French into English (UK, US and English for non-native
speakers). Working with an extensive portfolio of international clients. Exchanging in French and English with
international clients, partner agencies and subcontractors on a daily basis.

Technical Skills
Graphic design and photo editing: Adobe InDesign, Adobe Photoshop
CAT software: Trados Studio 2015, CafeTran
Languages
French: Excellent reading, writing, speaking and aural
Middle French: Excellent reading knowledge
Old French, Latin, Spanish: Reading knowledge
References
Virginia Krause, Professor of French Studies
Department of French Studies
Brown University, Providence, RI
Email: virginia_krause@brown.edu

Gretchen Schultz, Professor of French Studies

Department of French Studies
Brown University, Providence, RI
Email: gretchen_schultz@brown.edu

Bruce Hayes, Professor of French

Department of French, Francophone & Italian Studies
University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS
Email: bhayes@ku.edu

John T. Booker, Associate Professor of French

Department of French, Francophone & Italian Studies
University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS
Email: tbooker@ku.edu