Dr. Kelly Suero earned a new position, and she is excited about elevating the learning experience for students interested in different languages and cultures.
In August, Suero was appointed as the new chair for the world languages and cultures department. The department’s mission is to offer a range of diverse language courses that will help students learn more about the world and other cultural opportunities.
Suero said this new position is a privilege and an exciting opportunity that she’s ready to face head-on.
“In this role, I aim to champion a curriculum that equips students with the linguistic and intercultural competencies necessary to succeed in our increasingly globalized world,” Suero said.
According to Suero, she has always been around mentors that have molded her into becoming a passionate leader. With her new role, she hopes to use that passionate leadership to help students develop and grow passions of learning other cultures and languages.
“I believed I could contribute meaningfully as a leader, and I’m excited to now be able to do so,” Suero said.
Suero wants to bring even more language options to students alongside the Spanish, German, Japanese and Russian languages that the university already offers. She also hopes to introduce a curriculum that will shed light and educate students on underrepresented languages and cultures.
“Ultimately, my goal is to create an environment that nurtures global awareness and prepares students for success in an interconnected world,” Suero said.
That isn’t all Suero hopes to bring to students. Currently, Troy University doesn’t offer a Spanish major, only a Spanish minor. Suero hopes to change that.
“Reintroducing the Spanish major will give our students a competitive edge in the job market,” Suero said. “Research indicates that bilingual individuals earn 5 to 20% more than their monolingual counterparts, and many U.S. job listings now favor candidates who speak a second language.”
While some students may not consider learning a second language, Suero wants students to know there are many benefits that come with being bilingual.
“It enhances cognitive function, boosts memory and improves multitasking abilities,” Suero said. “Professionally, being bilingual is a major asset, as it’s highly sought after in fields like business, healthcare and education.”
For students, faculty and staff who want to know Suero on a more personal level, a fun fact about her is she has a “mini” pig named Sir Francis Bacon who weighs a “tiny” 200 pounds.
Along with Sir Francis Bacon, she has a cat named Binx, after her favorite Disney movie, Hocus Pocus.
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