Pursuing a higher education, in order to have an impact on the global community, is important to Elisabeth M. Lore, a doctoral student in the Comparative Literature department. Lore’s ultimate goal is to become a professor in the subject area that has done so much for her growth, Comparative Literature.

As a comparative literature student, Lore has had the opportunity to study in Paris, France. Wanting to bring a little bit of family with her, she was able to take along her pet rabbit, Sauti (pictured), who brought immeasurable joy not only to her, but to her host family as well.

While in France, Lore got to interact with Azouz Begag, an author she is writing about in her dissertation. “Meeting Begag and having an opportunity to hear him speak gave me quite a bit of insight into his concerns and hopes for the underprivileged, immigrant community in France,” says Lore. Her participation in the University of California Education Abroad Program, which was funded with a grant from the French department, was beneficial to her studies.

Lore is specializing in French, Caribbean and Multilingual Literatures. “My current research focuses on what I call 'Mediating Literature',” she says. “In this type of literature, the authors appear to make conscious efforts to facilitate relationships between members of two conflicting cultures that have come together through immigration.” She also likes her ability to do interdisciplinary work and the encouragement she receives from directors in her program to do so. “Many of my colleagues have included film studies, environmental studies, and second language acquisition, as well as many other disciplines in our program.”

The flexibility that came with being a part of the Comparative Literature department at UC Davis was a major factor in Lore’s decision to attend UC Davis. Upon visiting, she met several of the professors whose interests would coincide with what she hoped to focus on in her research. “I feel privileged to be able to pursue my doctorate here at UC Davis,” she says.

She has enjoyed studying and meeting many great professors and students on campus, as well as serving as an teaching assistant and instructor for undergraduate students. The benefits from her teaching experience with UC Davis students are great. “I will take a lot of memories from my time at UC Davis,” says Lore.