Dr. Joan F. Marx was named Chair of the Department of Languages as of January 1, 2005. This is Dr. Marx’s second opportunity to serve her department as Head, having already done so from 1993-1997. She also served as Assistant Dean of the College.
Dr. Marx is Professor of Spanish, and she is also the Director of the Spanish Program. A member of the class of 1977, she earned her B.A. degree in Spanish and Political Science at Muhlenberg College. In 1980, she received her Masters Degree in Romance Languages from Ohio University and in 1985 she completed her Ph.D. in Spanish Literature at Rutgers, The State University.
Dr. Marx has been a member of the faculty at Muhlenberg College since 1984. She has received the Christian R. and Mary F. Lindback Foundation Award for Distinguished Teaching at Muhlenberg College (1991), the Louis Bevier Graduate Fellowship at Rutgers University (1983-4), and the Phi Sigma Iota Romance Language Award at Muhlenberg College (1977).

Dr. Marx specializes in contemporary Latin American literature, specifically, the Mexican and Mexican-American narrative. Her professional work includes scholarly publications in national and international literary journals as well as presentations of her work at national and international literary meetings. In addition, she has presented scholarly papers on the use of foreign language technology in the classroom as part of her work on the Mellon Project at national and international meetings.
She is a member of the Modern Language Association (MLA), the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese (AATSP), the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL), and of the Middle Atlantic Council for Latin American Studies (MACLAS). She serves as a member of the MACLAS Board of Directors (2004-present), as an Associate Editor and as Chair of the Arthur P. Whittaker Prize Committee for best recent book publication for 2004

Accompanied by the image of another great lover of literature, Dr. Kipa looks forward to more time for reading.

Dr. Marx replaces Dr. Albert Kipa, who served as Chair and Head of the Department from 1989-93 and from 1997-2004. During his tenure as Department Head, the College saw four College presidents and significant changes in academic policies and student interests. His focus on academic research and other scholarly pursuits has been unwavering. Dr. Kipa holds the title of Professor in German and Russian and is the John and Fannie Saeger Professor in Comparative Literature. He is Muhlenberg’s sole Professor Laureate, an honor bestowed in recognition of his many years of service and scholarly activity. After his spring sabbatical, Dr. Kipa will return to teach in the fall.



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