Kerry Mullan

Kerry Mullan teaches French language and culture at all proficiency levels, and sociolinguistics. Her main research interests are cross-cultural communication and differing interactional styles – particularly those of French and Australian English speakers. She also researches in the areas of intercultural pragmatics, discourse analysis, language teaching and conversational humour in interaction.

Awards:
2023 Dean’s Award for Excellence in Engagement (mentoring), School of GUSS
2020 Research Excellence Leadership Award, School of GUSS
2016 Chevalier de l'Ordre des Palmes Académiques, Government of France
2012 Dean's Award for Teaching Excellence and Outstanding Contribution to the Development of the Diploma of Languages, School of GUSS,
RMIT University
2011 ALTC Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning
2010 Teaching Excellence Award, Higher Education (Humanities and the Arts), RMIT University
2010 Teaching Excellence Award, School of GUSS, RMIT University
2009 Teaching Excellence Award, School of GUSS, RMIT University
2007 Outstanding PhD Thesis Award, La Trobe University


Community Engagement

President, ISFAR (Institute for the Study of French Australian Relations)
Research committee member, ISFAR (Institute for the Study of French Australian Relations)

The Institute for the Study of French-Australian Relations (ISFAR) was founded in 1985. ISFAR conducts research and serves as a resource centre in all areas of French-Australian relations – historical as well as contemporary – and in the sciences and technology as well as in the humanities. Australia’s geographic situation means that ISFAR is particularly well placed to contribute to the advancement of knowledge of French-Australian relations in the Indo-Pacific region. The Institute organises a number of scholarly, educational and cultural events each year. Its meetings and colloquia cover a wide range of activities, reflecting its members' broad range of interests. Its publication, The French Australian Review, published twice yearly, records the results of research on French-Australian connections.

Chair of the Board, Australasian Humour Studies Network
The Australasian Humour Studies Network (AHSN) is dedicated to research into comedy and humour-related topics and to connecting humour scholars in different academic disciplines and locations across the world. The network has grown from 40 members and 10 discipline areas from its inception in 1997 to over 450 scholars and practitioners in more than 25 different disciplines and professions. The network offers a program of annual conferences, webinars and other resources, including links to the International Society for Humor Studies (ISHS), other regional humour research groupings and the International Summer School in humour and laughter. AHSN conferences encourage participation from all disciplines, perspectives, practitioners, and academic specialists, since multi-disciplinary enquiry is key to achieving significant insights into the complexity of humour.

Book Review Editor, The Journal of French language Studies
The Journal of French Language Studies is a bilingual journal that publishes significant work on French theoretical and applied linguistics. It is published by Cambridge University Press.

Convenor, The Melbourne Salon
The Melbourne Salon is a joint venture between RMIT University, the Institute for the Study of French-Australian Relations and the Alliance Française de Melbourne. It is a place where curious and open-minded people can engage in French-Australian cross-cultural dialogues. Talks are usually in English; subsequent discussions take place in French or English. The Melbourne Salon aims to broaden understanding of French and Australian perspectives on contemporary topics through conversation, debate and discussion, drawing participants from a wide range of backgrounds: academics, journalists, writers, musicians, educationalists and others who share an interest in discussing ideas in a convivial atmosphere.

Other professional memberships:

- AFM (Alliance Française de Melbourne)
- AHSN (Australasian Humour Studies Network)
- ALAA (The Applied Linguistics Association of Australia)
- AFLS (Association for French Language Studies)
- AFTV (Association of French Teachers in Victoria)
- ASFS (Australian Society for French Studies)
- Australian Linguistic Society
- Community Languages Australia Academic Forum
- French Assist Melbourne, Honorary French Consulate, Melbourne
- ISFAR (Institute for the Study of French-Australian Relations)
- ISHS (International Society for Humor Studies)
- LCNAU (Languages and Cultures Network for Australian Universities)
- MLTAV (Modern Language Teachers’ Association of Victoria)
- Pacific Interest Group, University of Melbourne
- RIRH (Réseau interdisciplinaire de recherches sur l'humour)
- RFP (Réseau Francophone de Politesse)
- Social Equity Research Centre