Vanessa Herold Arnaud Memorial Foundation
Honoring a Life of Grace, Purpose, and Love
The Vanessa Herold Arnaud Memorial Foundation was created to celebrate the remarkable life and legacy of Dr. Vanessa Herold Arnaud—beloved wife, mother, daughter, sister, professor, mentor, and friend. Vanessa lived with a deep sense of purpose and an open heart, dedicating her life to education, culture, and the well-being of others.
Through this foundation, we honor her enduring spirit by supporting causes that reflect her passions: language, learning, cross-cultural connection, and human kindness.
This site shares Vanessa’s story, her professional achievements, and the profound impact she had on all who knew her. It also serves as a platform to continue her work—by investing in people, ideas, and programs that carry her legacy forward.
About Vanessa
Dr. Vanessa Herold Arnaud was a scholar, educator, and deeply compassionate whose presence left a lasting impact on everyone she met. Born with an innate curiosity, Vanessa pursued a life grounded in learning, love, and service.
She earned her Ph.D. in French and Francophone Literature from UCLA, combining intellectual rigor with a genuine love for language and cultural exploration. Her academic journey was fueled by a passion for the French-speaking world, which she shared with thousands of students over the years.
Vanessa was a beloved professor at California State University, Sacramento, where she taught courses in French language, literature, and civilization, as well as interdisciplinary courses in the Honors College. Known for her creative and student-centered approach, Vanessa brought energy, joy, and originality to every classroom she entered. Her dedication to her students earned her Sacramento State’s prestigious Outstanding Faculty Award for Teaching in the College of Arts & Letters.
Beyond the university, Vanessa was a devoted cultural ambassador. As President of the Alliance Française of Sacramento, she worked to foster community engagement with French culture and build bridges through language, storytelling, and shared experience. She also presented her scholarly work at national and international conferences, including the Modern Language Association.
Vanessa’s life was as much about kindness as it was about accomplishment. Her love of travel, the arts, literature, and family was matched only by her generosity of spirit and unshakable integrity.
She is remembered not only for her professional achievements, but for the grace with which she lived, the warmth she extended to others, and the joy she brought into the world. Vanessa’s legacy lives on in her students, her family, her community, and now—through the work of this foundation—in future generations of learners and dreamers.
Inaugural Project: Memorial Scholarship
In keeping with Vanessa’s lifelong dedication to education, cultural exchange, and student growth, the Foundation is proud to announce its inaugural initiative:
The Vanessa Herold Arnaud Memorial Scholarship, which will support both undergraduate and graduate students pursuing immersive international experiences through study abroad and research.
This scholarship honors Vanessa’s belief in the transformative power of global learning—especially the way language, literature, and lived cultural experience can shape understanding, empathy, and purpose.
Award recipients will be selected based on academic promise, intellectual curiosity, and a clear desire to explore global cultures through travel, study, and scholarly research. Whether learning in the streets of Paris, engaging with local communities, or conducting literature research, each scholar will carry forward Vanessa’s passion for cultural connection and human understanding.
By supporting students in their journeys abroad, we hope to plant the same seeds of discovery, compassion, and global citizenship that Vanessa cultivated so beautifully throughout her life.