Jane S. Smith

Jane S. Smith is an Associate Professor Emerita of French at the University of Maine, affiliated with the Department of Modern Languages and Classics. She holds a Ph.D. in Romance Languages from the University of Washington (1994), an M.A. in French Literature from George Washington University (1980), and a B.A. in French from SUNY Oswego (1977).

Her research focuses on North American French, French morphosyntax, discourse analysis, and language policy. Notable projects include a NSF-funded collaborative study on Franco-American French with the University at Albany. She has also explored information structure in Franco-American French and contributed to sociolinguistic research.

Smith served as Chair of Modern Languages and Classics (2010-2016 and 2017-2020), coordinated elementary and intermediate French programs, and pioneered online course development for French linguistics and North American French studies. She is a former President of the Atlantic Provinces Linguistics Association and actively integrates technology into language education.

Her professional activities include organizing the Maine State Summer Institute for Teachers of French and Spanish, advocating for world languages in Maine’s economic growth, and leading study-abroad programs in Québec and Western France.