Un An Déjà: A Year of Reflection, Gratitude, and Possibility

As I mark my first year as Executive Director of Alliance Française d’Austin, I find myself pausing to reflect on just how much can happen in a year.

Un an déjà. One year already.

When I stepped into this role, I knew I was joining an organization with a meaningful history and an important mission. What I have come to appreciate even more deeply is that Alliance Française is about so much more than learning French. C’est avant tout une histoire de rencontres. It is about connection, curiosity, discovery, and the doors that open when we share a language and culture.

This first year has taught me to listen—to our members, students, instructors, volunteers, partners, and supporters. I have learned that AFA is strongest when it draws upon the ideas, energy, and passion of its community. I have also learned that growth often begins with something simple: a conversation, a new friendship, a partnership, a new student walking through our doors.

Over this past year, we have laid important groundwork for the future of AFA. We have strengthened relationships, explored new partnerships, expanded our programming, and continued to ask ourselves: Quelle est la prochaine étape?

I believe the answer is an Alliance Française that honors its history while embracing what is possible.

Austin is a vibrant, growing, and increasingly international city, and that presents an extraordinary opportunity for us. Nous avons une belle histoire à raconter — et encore beaucoup à écrire. We have a beautiful story to tell—and so much more to write.

Looking ahead, my vision is for AFA to be a welcoming home for everyone who wants to engage with French and Francophone cultures: those beginning their French journey, those rediscovering a language they once knew, those seeking professional or cultural connections, and those who already speak French and want to preserve their language, share their culture, and pass it on to the next generation.

Because language is more than words. It carries memories, traditions, stories, and a sense of belonging. Préserver une langue, c’est aussi préserver une partie de son histoire.

One year in, I am filled with gratitude for what we have accomplished—and even more enthusiasm for what lies ahead. Thank you to everyone who has welcomed me, shared an idea, volunteered, taken a class, attended an event, or supported our mission.

Merci. And thank you for being part of the Alliance Française d’Austin community.

L’avenir est à nous. The future is ours to shape.

Ensemble, continuons à écrire la suite de notre histoire.

With gratitude,

Diana Sáenz, Ph.D.
Executive Director
Alliance Française d’Austin