Dr. Cécile Ruel is a Teaching Assistant Professor of French in the Romance Studies Department. Originally from France, she earned a B.A in English from the Université de Caen-Normandie. She went on to complete an M.A and a Ph.D. in French Modern Studies in the US. Her research interests are 20th-21st century French and Francophone literature, culture and thought, with special interests in travel narratives, film, visual studies, environmental studies and ecopoetics. She teaches intermediate to advanced level language courses, as well as literature and culture courses. She is the co-organizer of the ROMS Film Festival taking place every semester at UNC.