Student Spotlight: Honorine Rouiller

| Mon, 11/14/22
Honorine Rouiller
Honorine Rouiller is a doctoral student pursuing a degree in contemporary French and Francophone studies. Photo by Roger Batlle Lacort.

Born and raised in France, Honorine Rouiller is a doctoral student pursuing a degree in contemporary French and Francophone studies through Florida State University’s Department of Modern Languages and Linguistics, part of the College of Arts and Sciences. She completed her bachelor’s degree in English language, literature and civilization at the Université du Maine, France, in 2016 and her master's degree at the University of Arizona in 2018. Now, Rouiller’s dissertation investigates discrepancies between the French official accounts of the Algerian War and the lived experiences of those who survived it — including French soldiers, pieds-noirs (former settlers of European descents in Algeria), and Maghrebi immigrants — and sheds light on the ethical implications of foreign and domestic policy in France that led to the social fracture in the country beginning in the 1980’s.

What year in school are you and when do you expect to graduate?

I am in my fifth and last year. I will graduate in May 2023.

Tell us a little about your background. What brought you to FSU?

I grew up in a small town in the countryside of France, Le May sur Evre. After high school, I moved to Lorient, France, in 2010, where I started my bachelor’s degree. I failed my second year, but I see it as the best thing that happened to me, as it changed the course of my life. I decided I wanted to live abroad, so I moved to San Francisco, California, to work as an au pair where I stayed with my host family for two years. After that, I went back to university in France for a year where I studied hard and was selected as an exchange student to complete my last year of college at Agnes Scott College in Decatur, Georgia. Following a suggestion from a colleague to pursue a master’s degree, I attended the University of Arizona where I pursued a degree in French literature, taking many classes in second language teaching and Francophone literature. One of my mentors recommended FSU because of the Winthrop-King Institute for Contemporary French and Francophone Studies, and in the end, I decided to come here.

What aspect of your research do you find most fascinating?

The Algerian War was one of the longest and most brutal decolonization wars of the 20th century. It pitted the French army against the Algerian nationalist movement and ended with Algeria winning its independence after 132 years of colonialism. I am passionate about the memory of the Algerian War because my maternal grandfather was a soldier then, and my dissertation compares autobiographical graphic narratives written by children of French soldiers, pieds-noirs, and Maghrebi immigrants over the past ten years. I look at how second and third-generation post-war authors address the unethical discrepancies between the French official accounts of the Algerian War and the lived experiences of their family. I also investigation why these authors mobilize the medium of graphic narrative to inform identity construction in contemporary France.

What do you find most important about the services Winthrop-King Institute provides? Any favorite experiences there so far?

I am grateful for the opportunities the Winthrop-King Institute has offered me. I received travel awards that allowed me to attend important national and international conferences where I was able to discuss part of my dissertation chapters. At these conferences, I gained constructive and thoughtful feedback on my research in addition to developing my network.

I also received a fellowship that allowed me to spend time in Angoulême, France, at the Research Center for Comic Books. I read all the comic books written about the Algerian War and its aftermath as well as comic books discussing Maghrebi immigration that are unavailable in the United States.

Tell us about your work with the Office of Graduate Fellowships and Awards. What have been some of your most meaningful experiences there?

The most meaningful experience at OGFA has been serving as the project manager of GradImpact: Digital Narratives. This project emerged out of an interest to amplify the lived experiences, contributions, and impact of graduate students at FSU. Since 2017, the Digital Narratives team has used storytelling to bring to life the stories of FSU graduate students and alumni through videos interviews and written narratives. My favorite part is interviewing graduate students for Coffee and Conversation, I have interviewed over 100 students with more interviews planned.

Who are the faculty or staff members that have helped or inspired you?

I am extremely grateful for my mentor and thesis director, Michelle Bumatay, assistant professor of French in the Department of Modern Languages and Linguistics, because not only is she very supportive, but she also cares about my success and my wellbeing. I would not be where I am without her support and advice.

I am also very grateful for Racha Sattati, office manager of the Winthrop King Institute, because she does a fantastic job behind the scenes for the institute and the Department of Modern Languages and Linguistics in addition to providing priceless moral support for graduate students.

What do you like to do when you’re not doing schoolwork or research?

When I am not doing schoolwork or research, I love cooking, baking and taking pictures of what I make. Hosting friends and setting beautiful tables make me happy. With my husband, we love traveling and discovering new places.

Although you might miss FSU, what are you looking forward to after you earn your Ph.D.?

There are too many things that I want to do after graduation. I am looking for a career that would enable me to use the skills that I have acquired as a teaching assistant in French and as a graduate assistant for OGFA. After I earn my Ph.D., I am looking forward to celebrating with my family and friends. I want to go to the local library, pick books that have nothing to do with my research and read them without feeling guilty!