“Engaging with faculty members from a wide range of institutions enriches our own research, but it also carries over into the classroom since we come away with exciting, often inspirational, ideas,” said Dr. Rita Bode, professor of English Literature at Trent University Durham, speaking about the importance of attending events like the Northeast Modern Language Association’s (NeMLA) 46th annual convention held recently in Toronto.

Trent University was well-represented at NeMLA with professors from multiple disciplines in attendance, including: Dr. Ramiro Armas Austria (Spanish – Modern Languages and Literatures); Dr. Rita Bode (English Literature); Dr. Victoria de Zwaan (Cultural Studies); and Dr. Aisha Jamal (German – Modern Languages and Literatures). Trent professors participated on a wide range of interesting panels, showcasing the diversity of their research on topics like “Latin American Vanguards and Technological “Progress;” L. M. Montgomery’s engagements with transportation; Raymond Federman’s critifiction; and “Re-defining ‘Germanness.’”

NeMLA is the largest of the regional MLA’s (Toronto had 1800 participants) and while the conference is always in an East coast city, attendees come from all over North America as well as abroad.

Prof. Bode, who is a past president of the organization, noted that despite NeMLA’s growth, it has retained its welcoming atmosphere for scholars at all stages of their careers and its consistently excellent program that includes both traditional and emerging approaches to scholarship in modern languages and literatures.