Dr. Lynn McGovern, Ph.D. is a Professor Emerita of Spanish and Cultural Studies and Past Academic Director of Short-term Study Abroad at Merrimack College. She is the past President of FLAVA (Foreign Language Association of Virginia), headed the BCA (Brethren Colleges Abroad) program at Bridgewater College in Virginia and was Director of Sweet Briar College Junior Year in Spain until she accepted her current position as Full Professor with tenure at Merrimack College.

Dr. McGovern has a significant body of research and publications in contemporary Spanish and Latin American Literature including, Contando historias: las primeras novelas de Lourdes Ortiz (Telling Stories: the first novels by author Lourdes Ortiz). She has presented and published articles on the impact of education abroad and strategies for helping students become more inter-culturally competent.

She has presented nationally and internationally at ACTFL (American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages), MLA (Modern Language Association), and other venues on the value of multicultural experience at home and abroad and is the recipient of numerous related honors, awards, and grants.