ELSAH, IL, January 21, 2025 - Duncan Charters, PhD, has been selected for inclusion in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected based on current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
Dr. Charters has made significant contributions to the field of language education, particularly at Principia College, where he has served for more than five decades. As a professor emeritus and currently visiting faculty, he has dedicated his career to teaching Spanish language, culture and literature, with expertise in the Spanish picaresque novel and Golden Age literature, as well as the international language Esperanto. The innovative approaches to language education developed by Dr. Charters have helped shape the college's curriculum to better support their intercultural competence, including the application of technology to enhance students' communication with native speakers.
Before joining Principia College in 1974, Dr. Charters gained valuable experience as a lecturer at Humboldt State University and Wabash College. At Indiana University, he served as a teaching associate and preceptor for first- and second-year language courses. He was in charge of lesson planning for 500 first-year students and their instructors, guiding a major change by moving grading "off the curve" to a more efficient and objective system with computer enhancement to improve accuracy of testing, while developing more effective language acquisition. His instructional experience also includes teaching at the School for International Training (World Learning) and San Francisco State University.
In addition to his teaching responsibilities, Dr. Charters has been actively involved in promoting the Esperanto movement internationally. Over the past six years as president of the World Esperanto Association (UEA), he has supported increased efforts to work with UNESCO through conferences to enhance awareness of language discrimination and communication issues across different fields. He is gratified that his early commitment to fostering a greater international community within Principia College has supported the college's reaching a leading position in the country, with a height of over 40% international students on campus.
The academic journey of Dr. Charters began at the University of Cambridge, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts with honors and a Master of Arts in modern and medieval languages. He furthered his studies at Indiana University Bloomington, obtaining both a Master of Arts and a doctorate in Spanish language and literature. His ability to appreciate and exemplify an understanding of diverse perspectives in collaborating effectively with colleagues, leading to positions as Department Chair and academic Humanities Division Head, has been pivotal in fostering a rich learning environment. In these roles he has continued to influence curriculum development and educational strategies.
Outside of his professional life, Dr. Charters enjoys reading and watching films, particularly those in Spanish, and has an interest in film history development. In addition, he values spending time with his family both at home and in many travel adventures. Looking ahead, he aspires internationally to create an educational environment that fosters mutual understanding and shared values among younger and older learners across ethnic and social backgrounds and cultures. He also advocates for enhanced efficiency in language learning to cultivate comfort among individuals from various cultural backgrounds, ultimately contributing to a more peaceful global community through enhanced access to real-life communication, including intercultural exchanges and collaborative activities, not only in person but also virtually.
About Marquis Who's Who®:
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Who's Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. The suite of Marquis® publications can be viewed at the official Marquis Who's Who® website, www.marquiswhoswho.com.
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