IES Abroad Celebrates Outstanding Faculty Members with Annual Faculty Awards

Marie-Jo has been teaching with IES Abroad Nantes since 2009. Her two French language classes, French Language in Context: Emerging Independent Abroad and French Language in Context: Competent Abroad, have been incredibly rigorous and supportive environments for our IES Abroad Nantes students to perfect their French language skills. Center Director Thibaut De Berranger said: "Marie-Jo Grenon is a very committed teacher in her two French courses and her teaching internship seminar. She is constantly innovating to adapt her teaching each semester to the needs of her students. Her dedication continues to benefit the alumni who solicit her and whom she always helps with a smile!" 

This dedication and care was reflected in the student nominations, as well. One said, "She is the most caring and sincere teacher I have had since elementary school. She corrects any grammar mistakes and fully explains them to you, so you know what to do next time.” Another commented on her excellent teaching style, stating: “Madame Grenon was one of the best professors I have ever had. She was kind, patient, and understanding with her students. She understood me as a learner and gave me the encouragement I needed to step outside of my comfort zone while speaking a foreign language. I will always remember her from my time in France.”

Maria has been with IES Abroad for an impressive 25 years. She created two courses for IES Abroad Milan, Literature and the City and Investigating the Mafia, to encourage students to pursue Humanities courses while abroad, offering the city's rich history as a backdrop to their coursework. She is also an avid translator and a published author, and her wide variety of intellectual pursuits engage students throughout their time in Milan. 

Roberto Andreoni, Ph.D., IES Abroad Milan Center Director, spoke of Dr. Sepa's dedication to teaching saying, "Maria Sepa is essential to the IES Abroad Milan faculty. I treasure her friendship and collaboration as a committed teacher, a critical observer of the pedagogical evolution of American academe, and a precious, spontaneous, advisor about all intercultural aspects of our programs and curriculum."

Incredibly high praise for Maria was reflected in every student nomination, including: “Professor Sepa is one of the most fantastic instructors I have ever had. Her course challenged me to be a better thinker, writer, and Italian language speaker...My language and critical thinking skills grew more under Professor Sepa than they did in four previous semesters of Italian.” One student said: “Ultimately, her class was transformative in how I view the world and my perspective on Italian language and culture. There were countless times that I was able to engage with my host family or neighbors in conversations that would not have been possible without her course.”