Amber Shumard '10
2006 - 2010
Majors and minor: French major, Spanish major, International Studies minor
Amber Shumard was selected as the Department of Languages, Literatures and International Studies Outstanding Graduating Senior. Shumard majored in and has high proficiency in both Spanish and French and minored in International Studies. Additionally, she has studied Russian, German, Latin, Portuguese and Italian. She participated in three summer abroad programs and worked as a tutor in the language resource center.
In business, it’s all about relationship building, and speaking with partners in their native language creates a stronger business relationship. It shows you have taken the time to learn their language and they greatly appreciate it, allowing you to connect on a higher level.
I pursued a degree in French coupled with an International studies minor at NMU, and the benefits have been amazing in both my professional and personal achievements. In my current job, where I have been the past five years, I advanced into the role of Global Event Manager and Corporate Governance Secretary for an international executive search network of 40 offices worldwide where my language skills have proven to be a necessity. I have used my French throughout the past 5 years in my role including for translation of website content as well as with partner level colleagues at our global meetings that I have planned and attended in over 10 countries.
During my studies at NMU, I only knew that I was passionate about learning the French language and culture, hoping someday to have a career utilizing the language skills and cultural knowledge I was working so hard to obtain. As graduation neared, I knew that in order to have a serious career, I would need either an internship or opportunity with direct hands-on experience exposing myself to the French language. My advisor and French language professor, Dr. Nell Kupper had recommended that I apply for the Teaching Assistant Program in France (TAPIF) and so I took her recommendation and would have to say it was one of the best decisions I could have made and extremely advantageous to my future career path. I spent one of the most memorable years in Lyon, France, teaching middle school students English all while strengthening my French language skills, exploring many small towns, being a gourmand in the gastronomic capital and learning valuable life lessons. I was living out my dreams as the French language had always fascinated me and each and every day I was surrounded by it learning all of its nuances.
Upon completion of the TAPIF program, I returned to the US to start looking for an entry level job in midst of a hard hit economy and global recession. While I decided to not embark on the teaching path but rather get into business, I found during the interviewing process the TAPIF experience on my resume was a great conversation piece and showed employers not only did I have proficiency in French but also that I had work experience abroad, providing to be invaluable. Thinking back to my time at NMU and my passion to French, little did I know it would present such great career opportunities and I’m certainly happy I chose that path which I’m enthusiastic will lead to many more great global opportunities.
