Bio
Professor Nicolas André is the Director of the Haitian Studies Program and a Teaching Professor of Haitian Creole and French at Florida International University (FIU). He brings to FIU a lifelong passion for languages and education, shaped by his academic training in Linguistics and Language Learning at Université d’État d’Haïti and Indiana University, along with completed coursework in Educational Leadership. His work combines scholarship, creativity, and community engagement, with a focus on advancing Haitian Creole language and culture in higher education.
André’s professional contributions include a number of publications that reflect his dedication to language preservation and pedagogy. Among these are the Haitian Creole-English Bilingual Dictionary (2007), Qui trop embrase mal éteint(2011), and the co-edited volumes Pen nan boutèy diven nan panyen banbou I & II (2002). He also co-authored Kreyòl Pale: A Haitian Creole Textbook for Beginners (2025), a free, open-access resource designed to expand access to Haitian Creole instruction. In addition, he is the creator of the Haitian Creole course on Duolingo, which has made Kreyòl widely available to learners around the world.
A founding member of the Haitian Creole Academy, André is also active in several professional organizations, including the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages, the Florida Education Association, the National Education Association, and the Haitian Studies Association. He is deeply committed to student engagement and serves as advisor to the Haitian student club at FIU, supporting students both academically and personally.
Outside the classroom, André is passionate about music and literature. He plays the guitar and saxophone, composes music, and draws inspiration from works such as Martin Gray’s memoir Au nom de tous les miens (For Those I Loved) and Steven Spielberg’s film Amistad. Although his early career path pointed toward engineering and medicine (he trained as an X-ray technician at age 15 and worked in the field for more than five years) André ultimately discovered his calling in teaching. Known for his energy, positivity, and enthusiasm for learning, he has devoted his career to sharing the joy of languages with students and building bridges across cultures.