Love Speaks Every Language

These SLLC students met their spouses while studying language.

Love can blossom in the most unexpected places, and for some couples, the UMD School of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures is where it all began. Between attending classes, studying abroad and living in the Language House, Terps can find love anywhere! This Valentine’s Day, meet two couples that met during their time studying language at Maryland:

 Elizabeth Galvin ’06 and Aaron Galvin ’07

Their love story began at the BWI Airport during their junior year of college. Elizabeth and Aaron were preparing to board a flight for the Maryland-in-Nice program. While waiting to board their plane, they realized they had been in the same French Composition and Style class during their sophomore year and lived in the same residence. As French majors, their schedules were bound to overlap.

“Our time studying abroad in France has always been one of our best memories. We're so thankful to Maryland for bringing us together. We now have two sons, and our eldest is in a French immersion elementary school in Montgomery County. We use our French skills to help him practice—full circle!” Elizabeth shared.

The couple started dating in 2006 after returning from studying abroad and married in 2013. Elizabeth is associate director of the interdisciplinary business honors program at the University of Maryland, and Aaron is a chief physician assistant at Montgomery Cardiology in Rockville. They have been married for 12 years.

David Mandell ’92 and Marissa Mandell ’93

The pair met  in the Language House Café in fall 1991. The Language House had only been open for three years at that point, and David was one of the inaugural students. He was part of the Spanish cluster, while Marissa was in the Italian cluster. They arranged to go on a double date with friends, hit it off, and have been inseparable ever since.

They married in 1996, several years after graduation, and will celebrate their 29th wedding anniversary in May 2025. “During our time at UMD, the Language House served as our primary source of education, socialization, friendship and entertainment. Relationships formed in this unique environment have withstood the test of time, and our marriage is one of many meaningful relationships that have been fostered by this special environment,” Marissa said.

David is now a pediatric otolaryngologist and an associate professor at three medical schools in South Florida, working with a large Spanish-speaking population. Marissa earned a degree in pharmacy and has dedicated herself to raising their three daughters. To this day, she uses her Italian skills to stay in close contact with her AFS exchange family in Sardegna, Italy.

Inset photo courtesy of Adobe Stock.