Franklin NossiterFrench Alumnus, Class of 2021

What year did you graduate from Emory?

2021

What was your major(s)?

French Studies and Political Science

What are you doing today? 

I am a conflict analyst for the International Crisis Group in Dakar, Senegal. I work on politics and security in a variety of countries in West Africa. I do research, write reports, and carry out advocacy related to conflict resolution in the Sahel and West Africa. Prior to this and while I was still at Emory, I worked on peacebuilding in West Africa as an intern for The Carter Center.

What is your current job title?

Analyst, Sahel and West Africa at the International Crisis Group.

Did you write an honor’s thesis or do a capstone project? If so, on what?

I did a capstone project comparing depictions of sovereignty in the films Mandabi by Ousmane Sembene and Winter in the Blood by James Welch.

How have your French Studies helped pave your career path today? 

My classes in the French Studies program helped re-ignite my interest in political and social issues in Francophone West Africa. I grew up in Francophone contexts in Senegal and France, but my classes with the French Studies program allowed me to more critically engage with many of the phenomena and power dynamics I had seen around me growing up. My French classes at Emory helped me realize that I wanted to continue exploring these issues in a professional context.

How have your French Studies helped you become the person you are today?

French is my second language. My French classes at Emory, and multilingualism more broadly, have been key in shaping me as a person. I feel comfortable living in Senegal and a variety of other non-Anglophone countries. I am also able to engage on issues in the Francophone world on their own terms, without comparing them to an Anglophone reference. Neither of these would be possible without strong language skills. Being multilingual has shown me how truly diverse and fascinating the world is, and has allowed me to explore a small corner of that diversity more effectively and more deeply than if I only spoke English.

What advice would you give to students thinking about a major in French at Emory today?

That learning French opens students up to a world that covers large parts of Africa, Europe, and the Middle East, and not only France itself. Students thinking about a major in French at Emory ought to consider all of the doors that this major could open.