BOONE, N.C. — Dr. Darci Gardner, associate professor of French in the Appalachian State University Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures and director of High Country Humanities, is the recipient of a grant from the Modern Language Association of America (MLA). Throughout the next year, Dr. Gardner will receive funding to develop and offer a new academic course and accompanying speaker series on career paths in the humanities.
Made possible by a generous grant from the Mellon Foundation, the MLA's initiative, MLA Pathways: Recruitment, Retention and Career Readiness, equips humanities departments and programs with the tools, networks, knowledge and resources to help students find success throughout their education and after graduation. Pathways Step Grants provide grants of up to $10,000 to support individual faculty members or small, local teams developing ways to improve recruitment, retention or career readiness of undergraduate students in literature, language, writing, culture, area studies and related disciplines.
With the funding, Gardner plans to develop a one-credit course that will introduce a wide range of viable career options and provide guidance on how to secure formative experiences during college. The assignments that students will complete—such as compiling a list of scholarship/award deadlines, drafting an internship application or cover letter and participating in a relevant service activity or community project—will help them acquire the practical skills and experiences necessary to become career-ready.
To connect students with a variety of perspectives, the course will include three Zoom panels and six guest speakers during class meetings. Students will hear from alumni employed in different sectors of the workforce and from faculty members who are able to address different types of professional development. Gardner plans to advertise the dates and topics of the class meetings featuring guest speakers in advance, and some of these talks will be open to all undergraduate students at App State.
In fall 2025, the following class sections will benefit from guest speakers sponsored by this grant: US 2004-112, US 2005-152 and HIS 3531/LLC 2530/PHL 2530/REL 2530/WRC 2531. Students have until August 19 to add one of these one-credit courses to their schedules.
“The goal is to help students pursue practical experiences that will take them where they want to go,” Gardner said. “Identifying career pathways can be a daunting task for undergraduates in a rural area, since many regional and national employers do not have offices or internship programs near campus. Fortunately, App State’s humanities faculty, staff and alumni have insights into a panoply of opportunities, and the MLA grant will help connect students with these resources.”
“We are excited to be partnering with the Career Development Center on this project and hope to complement and extend other ongoing efforts across campus, including this year’s Common Reading Program,” added Gardner.
Gardner earned her bachelor's degree in comparative literature from Vanderbilt University and her doctorate in French with a minor in Italian from Stanford University. She joined the Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures in 2014. Gardner specializes in French literature of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Her research and teaching explore cognitive approaches to literature and emphasize intersections between literature and other arts.
Appointed director of High Country Humanities in 2023, Gardner has previously secured grants from North Carolina Humanities and the Watauga Arts Council to support programming on humanities topics, including “Connecting Local and Global Rural Cultures” (2023-24) and “Bridging the Divide between Classical Music and Folk Traditions: Béla Bartók’s Legacy” (2024-25).
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About the Career Development Center
The Career Development Center at Appalachian State University supports the mission of the university and its Division of Student Affairs in developing lifelong learners and leaders by engaging and challenging students within a culture of care and inclusion. Students who participate in the center’s services are able to identify core values, beliefs and skills and use them to articulate relatable career goals; acquire transferable skills and relevant experiences for future professional endeavors; and utilize resources that are available to gain experiential learning opportunities and cultivate professional networks. Learn more at careers.appstate.edu.
About the Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures
The Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures offers courses that enhance students’ understanding of other cultures and languages as well as their own, making them prepared for lifelong learning in a multicultural world. Learn more at dllc.appstate.edu.
About High Country Humanities
High Country Humanities at Appalachian State University aims to foster a greater understanding and appreciation of the humanities across the High Country region of North Carolina. The program supports faculty in their scholarly activities, promotes their collaborations with community partners and organizes events that help their expertise reach the wider public. High Country Humanities is an initiative of App State’s College of Arts and Sciences, with support from the Division of Academic Affairs. Learn more at hchumanities.appstate.edu.
By Lauren Gibbs
June 16, 2025
BOONE, N.C.
Dr. Darci Gardner is an associate professor of French in the Appalachian State University Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures and the director of High Country Humanities, a collaboration between App State's College of Arts and Sciences and community partners in Watauga County.
Dr. Darci Gardner is an associate professor of French in the Appalachian State University Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures and the director of High Country Humanities, a collaboration between App State's College of Arts and Sciences and community partners in Watauga County.