New-found love for Latin leads double major down a different career path

Melissa Gann, a graduating senior from Lewisville, Texas, applied to Texas A&M University with every intention of becoming an equine veterinarian. The only problem was Gann’s real passion for literature. So, during her senior year in high school, Gann began leaning towards the idea that she might want to major in English, but decided not to tell anyone.

After a semester as a biomedical science major, Gann followed her gut instinct and switched her major to a bachelor of arts in English in January of 2005.

A language requirement for her degree in English led Gann to take Latin and eventually “fall in love with the language.”

Gann decided to add the classics minor because she would only need two more classics courses after the already required 14 hours of Latin. Through interaction with the classics faculty, Gann learned that the major would be available beginning fall 2007 and decided to upgrade her minor to a major.

“The classics faculty is amazing and so helpful in getting me into the major once it was started,” Gann said. “Dr. Kallendorf and Dr. Ciccolella each offered to facilitate a directed study so I would have enough Latin to finish out the major and be prepared for the state certification test.”

The double major has already served Gann in more ways than even she expected. She was able to pass both the English/language arts/reading and Latin certification tests (it is worth noting that the Latin certification test is very hard to pass upon first try) and got a job teaching high school English and Latin at Cy-Lakes High School in Houston.

“I believe having both backgrounds has made me more marketable as a teacher,” Gann explained.

Gann is also getting her masters of education in curriculum and instruction through the post-baccalaureate program at Texas A&M and will finish August 2009.

Gann says the post-baccalaureate program is what helped her decide what she wanted in her future career.

“Everyone said, ‘Teach! Teach! Teach!’ However, I was not certain that I wanted to, or even how to go about getting certified,” Gann said. “I had very little direction as far as my career and was not sure what I would do with my degree.”

Although hearing about the post-baccalaureate program her freshman year—while still a biomedical science major—Gann knew very little about it, but upon stumbling on it again in August, decided to apply.

The result? She took 18 hours both senior semesters as well as a “mini-mester” course in May to complete her prerequisites.

The good news? Gann received her first 4.0 last semester and hopes for another this semester.

"Melissa is one of the best students I've ever taught--she blends a real passion for Latin with a love of English literature and the way the two fields come together,” said Craig Kallendorf, Gann’s professor in both classics and English. “She’s also a funny, down-to-earth person, the kind of teacher that high school students love. They'll learn from her, and have fun doing so."

Through her eight Latin classes at Texas A&M (that’s 26 hours!) Gann has grown to truly love the language.

“Latin changed my life and my career,” Gann said. “All those classes and professors helped me to grow and helped to equip me with the necessary tools to pursue a career teaching Latin.”

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Contact: Holly Lambert, hollyalyselambert@libarts.tamu.edu, 979.862.4879