2021 WLL Graduates

Outstanding Graduate Student in Spanish - Miguel Ángel Romera-Álvarez

Extremely intelligent, highly organized and totally committed to the goal at hand, Miguel is a true role model for all students.

- Dr. Rafael Correa, Professor of Spanish, Coordinator, M.A. in Spanish Program

Miguel Ángel Romera-Álvarez grew up in Granada, Spain and completed his undergraduate degree in Hispanic Philology at the Universidad de Granada.  During his undergraduate career, he conducted research in Spanish dialectology and sociolinguistics by conducting interviews about regional dialects of Spanish at a local bus station and in his village.  He also published poetry and wrote a textbook entitled Introduction to the Workforce: Spanish for Business as his capstone project.  In 2018, he began the M.A. in Spanish program at CSUSB, where he served as a Teaching Assistant in Spanish during academic year 2019-20.  While completing his coursework for the M.A. in Spanish, he also published several works of poetry in Voices, the literary magazine of the Department of World Languages & Literatures.  Miguel Ángel explained that the university has fostered an appreciated of diversity: “CSUSB has helped me adapt and integrate myself into a new country. I had a good base knowledge of U.S. culture and society but after my time at CSUSB, I have come to appreciate the great variety of world cultures, ethnicities, and influences that make this land so special. I believe that respecting and caring for this diversity is our future and mine as well.”  After graduating in 2021, he hopes to complete a Ph.D. in Spanish and become a university professor.

Miguel Ángel Romera-Álvarez is an exceptional student, one of the top 1% of students of my entire career at CSUSB.

- Dr. Carmen Jany, Professor of Spanish and Linguistics

Outstanding Student in French - Karl Taylor

Karl Taylor (B.A., magna cum laude, French and Francophone Studies) joined our French program at CSUSB in 2017 for the sheer joy of immersing himself in the French language and culture, having already studied French at the Académie française de Pasadena and Chaffey College. Karl embarked on this new adventure (setting his sights on purchasing a home in the French countryside with his wife, Maria) after retiring from a distinguished career in the military and law enforcement.  After four years of active duty in the United States Marine Corps, during which he held several leadership positions and was awarded The Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with Combat Distinguishing Device, he joined the Arcadia Police Department.

With his wealth of life experience, enthusiasm for all things French, and commitment to excellence, Karl has been a tremendous asset to our program and university. A caring, energetic student with a thirst for knowledge and new experiences, Karl loved sharing anecdotes from his travels to France and practical tips for learning French while motivating others to achieve their goals. During his French studies, and throughout his career, Karl continuously demonstrated his belief that the key to success is perseverance and the secret to happiness is pursuing your dreams while helping others. It is therefore no surprise that he has extended an open invitation for his classmates to visit the historic stone cottage in France that he and his wife have now lovingly restored. And a few adventurous spirits have already expressed their desire to take him up on his kind offer. Vive la France !

We are delighted to recognize him as this year’s Outstanding Undergraduate in French and offer him our warmest congratulations.

[Excerpt from Dr. Liz Martin's Recommendation Letter.]

B.A. in Spanish Graduates