Introduction
The School of Literatures, Cultural Studies and Linguistics at UIC organizes the annual In/Between Conference in an effort to initiate conversations about issues of interest to us as humanists, to share our current research, and to foster a sense of shared intellectual community. The 2025 conference will be held on February 27-28 in University Hall 1501 and 1750. The theme for the 2025 conference is “Language for the Common Good.”
In/Between 2025: February 27 and 28
All panels will take place in 1501 University Hall unless otherwise noted.
2025 Keynote
4:00-5:00 in UH 1501
Keynote Speaker: Professor Lionel Cuillé (Washington University)
Literature, Culture, and Healthcare: A New Frontier for Language Programs
How can we reposition our language departments as vital contributors to STEM fields while preserving our commitment to literature and culture? This presentation explores the role of language departments in the growing field of Medical Humanities, using the creation of the French for Health Professionals (Français Professionnel de la Santé) pathway at Washington University in St. Louis as a case study. I will share concrete strategies for revitalizing language programs by aligning them with high-demand fields without sacrificing our core mission. By integrating courses that address the intersection of language, culture, and healthcare, we can demonstrate the essential role of linguistic and cultural competence in professional domains while simultaneously strengthening our departments.
Lionel Cuillé (Washington University)
Lionel Cuillé is teaching professor of French at Washington University in St. Louis (WashU). An “agrégé de lettres” and a specialist in French poetry, Cuillé is the founder and director of the French Connexions Center of Excellence. He has spearheaded a “French for Health Professionals” track at WashU, further reinforcing his commitment to connecting French studies with professional and interdisciplinary fields. This “filière de recrutement” has successfully attracted PreMed students to advanced French literature courses. His innovative approach to curriculum development aims to make the study of French relevant to emerging student niches, including those interested in health, global health, and political sciences.
2025 Faculty Book Showcase
Faculty Book Showcase (1501 University Hall)
John Ireland (French and Francophone Studies): Theater, War, and Memory in Crisis: Vichy, Algeria, the Aftermath (U of Michigan P)
Julia Vaingurt (Polish, Russian, and Lithuanian Studies): Soft Matter: The Poetics of Weakness in Late Soviet Socialism (Northwestern UP)
Karen Underhill (Polish, Russian, and Lithuanian Studies): Bruno Schulz and Galician Jewish Modernity (Indiana UP)
Yann Robert (French and Francophone Studies): The Last Judgement of Kings / Le Jugement dernier des rois (Annotated Translation) (Bucknell UP)