Dr. Barbara Berthold will serve as the next Assistant Chair of Modern Languages, effective Fall 2023.
Dr. Barbara Berthold is a Senior Lecturer that holds a PhD from the University of Bremen, Germany. Dr. Berthold is an engaged and respected faculty that is currently leading and/or is a member of various committees: UEP, Proficiency Initiative (that includes the revamping of the curriculum of all 1000-level language courses), MODL Career Fair, among others.
“Dr. Barbara Berthold will bring continuity to the great work done by our colleague and former Associate Chair, Dr. Sonia Kania,” MODL Chair Ignacio Ruiz-Pérez said. “She will help to maintain the institutional memory of our department going forward.”
Dr. Berthold is also the director of the minor in MODL-Teaching and was supervisor of GLOBAL 2301, a core course offered by MODL. She has not only supervised this course, but also revamped it to teach it online. In addition, she oversees MODL’s Lunch & Learn sessions, MODL in-house professional development program.
“I am grateful for the trust put in me and excited about the opportunity to serve our students, faculty, and staff in this new role. Multilingualism and intercultural competence are the cornerstones of thriving societies. MODL has a track record when it comes to providing experiences that foster both. I look forward to building on our strengths to ensure that each student receives the preparation they need to succeed in their career and life,” Berthold said.
Dr. Berthold is Coordinator of German, which includes a minor in German. Furthermore, along with Drs. Iya Price, Pete Smith, and Lonny Harrison, she has been awarded two STARTALK grants for critical languages. She is also recipient of a grant from the Goethe Institut to create a lab of German (SPARK!). SPARK labs provide free language education in the community and guided teaching experiences for UTA students. In Spring 2023, she was awarded the William S. Ward Endowment Award at UT Arlington.
Dr. Berthold replaces Dr. Sonia Kania, who has served MODL as Chair (2016-2020) and Associate Chair (2020-2023).
“Dr. Kania’s legacy is visible in various initiatives undertaken in our department,” said Ruiz-Perez. “We will always be indebted to her.”
