Staff Bios
Dr. Brent Keever, Resident Director for Session I, received his B.A. in English and Literary Criticism from Princeton University and his Ph.D. in English and Modern Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. He has taught and lectured all over the U.S. and throughout France on such topics as satire and humor; the literary and cinematic representations of sound, mysticism, and technology; and ethics in cartoons. His research interests include the history of critical theory and criticism, film studies, musicology, and modernist poetry and prose. An avid translator and film sub-titler, he has worked with the French children’s literature group, l’école des loisirs, as well as with French politicians. He is currently working on a project that throws into question certain theories about listening and sharing.
Dr. Hannah Taïeb, Resident Director for Session II, has a Ph.D. from NYU in anthropology, based on fieldwork in a rural center in Morocco. Hannah settled permanently in France in 1992, where she was the co-editor of a multilingual, multidisciplinary review, Mediterraneans. She taught intercultural and interpersonal communication at the American University of Paris for several years and has been working at the CIEE Study Center since 2001. She runs yearly seminars on various aspects of diversity, including themes like “Anti-Semitism and Islamophobia” and “Religion in Prison,” and teaches and lectures on Intercultural Communication.
Lucie Laureillard has a Master’s degree in French language teaching and is a doctoral candidate in linguistics at the Université de Paris VIII. She organizes cultural events and outings, and is responsible for the conversation exchange program.
Jean-Philippe Primout has an M.A. in foreign language instruction and another Master’s degree in European Studies. On top of holding down the front desk, Jean-Philippe handles IT and other technical issues, manages the library and médiathèque, makes sure that the classrooms are well-equipped, and is always there to answer student questions and make sure they make the most of their time in Paris.