Joan Debrah

Joan Debrah is a Lecturer in French at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, affiliated with the Department of Languages & Literatures of Europe & the Americas. She coordinates first- and second-year French courses and teaches upper-level classes in conversation, composition, and culture. Her professional roles include serving as a study abroad resident director in France (Angers, Annecy, Paris) and advising Pi Delta Phi (National French Honor Society) and the French club. She is currently the présidente of the AATF and has been active in HALT and high school outreach programs.

Joan holds an M.A. in French from UH Mānoa, along with undergraduate degrees in French and Spanish and secondary teaching credentials. Her career has focused on language education, cultural immersion, and fostering student engagement through study abroad opportunities. She has extensive experience in curriculum coordination and community outreach.

Her extra-curricular interests include kempo karate, hiking, and reading. Her journey in language learning began early, with exposure to Japanese, Spanish, Latin, and French, reflecting her lifelong passion for multilingualism.