Marie-Magdeleine Chirol Hill

Marie-Magdeleine Chirol Hill is a Professor of French and Program Coordinator of French Cultural Studies at Whittier College's Department of Modern Languages & Literatures. She holds a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature from the University of Maryland. Her research focuses on the motif of ruins in 19th-21st century literature and African cinema, alongside pedagogical innovations in language teaching. Chirol has been honored with the Chevalier dans l'Ordre des Palmes Académiques (2012), the Hazel Cooper Jordan Endowed Chair (2013-2019), and the AATF Dorothy S. Ludwig Excellence in Teaching Award (2019).

Chirol's academic contributions include over 30 peer-reviewed articles, books like Gaston Kaboré, Conteur et visionnaire du cinéma africain, and numerous pedagogical publications. She annually hosts French theater performances at Whittier, including works by Beckett and Sartre. Active in professional organizations, she serves as Vice President of Communication for the Southern California AATF chapter.