BOONE, N.C. — Lynn McNeil '09, senior lecturer of French in Appalachian State University's Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures, has been named the 2026 French Teacher of the Year by the North Carolina chapter of the American Association of Teachers of French (NC-AATF).
McNeil was presented with the award during the Fostering Language Acquisition in North Carolina (FLANC) Fall Conference, held Oct. 3–4 in Winston-Salem.
Each year, NC-AATF recognizes one French educator in the state whose work demonstrates consistent, long-term, and significant contributions to French education in North Carolina. Recipients are selected for their strong pedagogy, impact on student learning, creativity, professionalism, and advocacy for French education both inside and outside the classroom.
For McNeil, those contributions extend well beyond her beginning and intermediate French courses at App State. Through study abroad, student organizations, cultural programming, and international education initiatives, she has worked to create opportunities for students to use French and develop intercultural skills in settings beyond the traditional classroom.
McNeil has co-led App State's Angers Summer Business Program since 2015, preparing students for their experience in France and coordinating cultural activities and excursions while abroad. When international travel was halted during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, McNeil and her co-leader adapted the program into a virtual experience, "Collaborate Virtually, Interact Globally," which connected App State students with students in France to collaborate on international projects. Her contributions to global education have also included supporting international educators through App State's Fulbright Teaching Excellence and Achievement (TEA) Program.
On campus, McNeil serves as faculty advisor for Le Cercle Français, or French Club, supporting opportunities for students to explore French and Francophone languages and cultures for more than 15 years. Her involvement has included conversation groups, cultural events, weekend trips, and visits from international speakers.
McNeil has also helped create opportunities for students across language programs to connect through events such as a multilingual Valentine's Day celebration. During International Education Week, she encourages students at all levels, including beginning language learners, to participate in "Language Out Loud," allowing them to build confidence by using their developing language skills publicly.
Her approach to teaching and student engagement has earned recognition within App State as well. McNeil is a member of the College of Arts and Sciences Academy of Outstanding Teachers and was named the college's Non-Tenure Track Teacher of the Year in 2025.
NC-AATF board members Mawuena Dabla of the South Academy of International Languages (left) and Susan Duemmel of Western Guilford High School (right) present Lynn McNeil '09 with the 2026 French Teacher of the Year award. Photo submitted
McNeil joined the Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures in 2008. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Romance Languages with a concentration in French from Wake Forest University, a Master of Arts in Liberal Studies with a concentration in Languages and Cultures from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, and a Master of Arts in Romance Languages with a concentration in French Teaching from App State.
As the 2026 NC-AATF French Teacher of the Year, McNeil received an engraved plaque, a one-year membership in the American Association of Teachers of French, and sponsorship to attend the FLANC Fall Conference. She will also be invited to lead a professional development session during next year's NC-AATF conference.
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About the Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures
The Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures offers courses that enhance students' understanding of other cultures and languages as well as their own, making them prepared for lifelong learning in a multicultural world. Learn more about the Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures
About the College of Arts and Sciences
The College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) at Appalachian State University is home to 17 academic departments, two centers, and one residential college. These units span the humanities and the social, mathematical, and natural sciences. CAS aims to develop a distinctive identity built upon our university's strengths, traditions, and locations. The college's values lie not only in service to the university and local community, but through inspiring, training, educating, and sustaining the development of its students as global citizens. More than 6,800 student majors are enrolled in the college. As the college is also largely responsible for implementing App State's general education curriculum, it is heavily involved in the education of all students at the university, including those pursuing majors in other colleges. Learn more about CAS
By Lauren Gibbs
October 8, 2026
BOONE, N.C.
A smiling woman with short brown hair and glasses wears a tan blazer over a black top and white collar, posed against a black background.
Lynn McNeil '09 is a senior lecturer of French in Appalachian State University's Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures. Photo by University Communications