News

MCC faculty member appointed chair of strategic MLA committee

MARSHALLTOWN – Amee Schmidt, a faculty member at Marshalltown Community College, has been appointed as chair of the Modern Amee-Schmidt-MCC-Faculty Language Association (MLA) Committee on Community Colleges. The committee’s recent initiatives have been vital to the association’s efforts to expand the national focus on community college humanities study.

Founded in 1883, the MLA is a leading professional organization for scholars and teachers of language, literature, cultures, and writing studies. With over 20,000 members worldwide, the MLA offers a variety of programs and services to support its members, including an annual convention, professional development opportunities, and a comprehensive research database.

The expanding profile of the MLA Committee on Community Colleges, which was formed in 1997, attests to the growing recognition of the critical role that community colleges play in language education. Schmidt’s appointment as chair of this committee is a testament to her expertise and commitment to advancing the field.

As chair, Schmidt will lead the committee’s efforts to develop MLA programming, recommendations, and initiatives related to community college language education. This includes addressing issues such as conditions of employment, staffing, curriculum, articulation with secondary schools and four-year institutions, faculty preparation and recruitment, and the encouragement of scholarship about teaching in the community college.

“I am honored to serve as chair of the MLA Committee on Community Colleges,” said Schmidt. “This is an important opportunity to advocate for the unique needs of our students and faculty, and to ensure that community college language programs are supported and valued.”

Schmidt has been a member of the MLA Committee on Community Colleges since 2022. She is also a member of the MCC English faculty.