The College of LAS has named six faculty members as recipients of two named professorship positions. 

That list includes professors Silvina Montrul and Harriet Murav, who both received Marjorie Roberts Professorships in Liberal Arts & Sciences. The professorship is named for the late Marjorie Roberts, from the University of Illinois Class of 1923. Upon her death, she left part of her estate to the College of LAS. The professorships are granted to recipients based upon their record of scholarship, contributions to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and contributions to public engagement.

Brief descriptions of the recipients follow:

Silvina Montrul, professor of Spanish and Portuguese and linguistics, is a renowned scholar in bilingualism; her research focuses on understanding how bilingual individuals’ language experience shapes their linguistic knowledge. She has also fostered research by founding and directing the Second Language Acquisition and Bilingualism lab in the School of Literatures, Cultures & Linguistics.

Harriet Murav, professor of Slavic languages and literatures, is also Catherine and Bruce Bastian Research Professor in Global and Transnational Studies and a Center for Advanced Study Professor. Her work is dedicated to innovative scholarship within Russian and Jewish studies. She is known for her service to the university, having served as head of her department, among other roles. 

Ella Dame and Maggie Knutte

Editor's note: A version of this story first appeared on the College of LAS website.