Jean Janecki

Dr. Jean M. Janecki joined the University of Massachusetts Amherst in Fall 2026 as a Lecturer in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese Studies. Originally from Chicago, she holds a B.A. in Spanish from Illinois Wesleyan University, an M.A. in Hispanic Studies from the University of Illinois at Chicago, and a Ph.D. in Spanish Literature from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where her dissertation, Towards a New National Image: The Pictorial and Poetic Surrealism of the Post Spanish Civil War Years, examined the intersection of visual art and poetry in postwar Spain.
 

Before joining UMass, she spent twelve years as Director of the Language & Culture Commons at Mount Holyoke College, transforming it into a thriving multicultural hub through cross-cultural programming, an AI Language Faculty Seminar, and Five College partnerships. Earlier, she was Assistant Professor of Spanish and Director of the Language Resource Center at the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse, where she led study abroad programs to Spain. Her broader background in international education includes work as a Spanish Lecturer at the University of Wisconsin–Parkside, Assistant Director of the Barcelona study abroad office at UIC, and language instruction and interpreting in both Chicago and Madrid.

Dr. Janecki's scholarly and professional interests bridge Modern Spanish Literature, Hispanic film, and art history — particularly Spanish Surrealism — with instructional technology for language teaching and learning. She is a frequent invited speaker and author on AI in the language classroom and language-center leadership, including a 2026 keynote at Harvard University, "Sowing Sustainability: Creating Fertile Grounds and Planting Seeds for Language and Culture Growth" (Boston Area Language Pedagogy Association), and a 2025 plenary address at the IALLT conference in Hawaii, "How to Teach Language Faculty about AI and Not Die While Trying." Her recent publications include a co-authored chapter in the Language Center Handbook 2025 (IALLT) and articles in FLT Magazine and The Journal of Creative Library Practice.

She is Past President of NERALLT (New England Regional Association for Language Learning Technology) and a member of CLAC, CALICO, and IALLT. Dr. Janecki has a strong interest in student leadership and international exchange programs and remains deeply engaged in community-building across the Five College campuses.

• Janecki, J.M. (April 2026) Invited Keynote: "Sowing Sustainability: Creating Fertile Grounds and Planting Seeds for Language and Culture Growth" Boston Area Language Pedagogy Association. Harvard University. 
• Janecki, J.M. (August 2025). Tips and Tools for Using AI in the Language Classroom. Invited Workshop Leader, Framingham State University, MA.
• Janecki, J.M. (June 2025). How to Teach Language Faculty about AI and Not Die While Trying. Plenary presentation at IALLT, Hawaii.
• Janecki, J.M. & Lewis, M. Human Resources Strategies for Language Centers: Lessons Learned and a Look to the Future. In E. Lavolette & A. Kramer (Eds.), Language Center Handbook Language Center Handbook 2025. (August 2025). Auburn University, AL: International Association for Language Learning Technology.
• Janecki, J.M. (January 2022) “Developing Student Staff: Keys for Organization and Motivation” Five College Professional Development Webinar.
• Janecki, J.M., Borrega, P., & Flynn, C.M. (August 2021) “The Five College Hub: Connecting Libraries Across Campuses” The Journal of Creative Library Practice.
• Janecki, J.M. (October 2020) “Enhancing Global Learning: Integration of Languages in Interdisciplinary Frameworks” co-presenter Association of American Colleges & Universities Global Learning Virtual Conference.