Five Faculty Honored for Excellence in Teaching</h1> <article> <h1>Five Faculty Honored for Excellence in Teaching</h1> <p>eburnett — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 15:15:56 +0000</p> <span>Five Faculty Honored for Excellence in Teaching</span> <span><span>eburnett</span></span> <span><time datetime="2026-03-24T11:15:56-04:00" title="Tuesday, March 24, 2026 - 11:15">Tue, 03/24/2026 - 11:15</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Five 91ֱ�� faculty members have been recognized with Excellence in Teaching Awards for the 2024-25 academic year.</p><p>Presented annually, the awards recognize faculty across the college and conservatory who have demonstrated sustained and distinctive excellence in the classroom and beyond.</p><p>"The awardees represent the very best of undergraduate teaching and are deeply admired by colleagues and students alike for their mastery as pedagogues and their dedication to the learning and growth of their students,” says<a href="/node/4921"> David Kamitsuka</a>, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. “Their insights and mentoring will be a lifelong inspiration for their students."</p><p>Three college faculty and two conservatory faculty earn the honor each year.</p><p>“In their steadfast commitment to their students—and to all of our students—and their transformative work in and beyond the classroom and studio, these five individuals represent the highest ideals of the institution,” says Dean of the Conservatory <a href="/william-quillen" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="ae2f8811-f23e-458f-87e3-6d455d557536" data-entity-substitution="canonical" title="William Quillen">William Quillen</a>. “We are grateful to them for their extraordinary work and fortunate to count them as colleagues.”</p><p>A dinner reception was held March 19 at the home of President Carmen Twillie Ambar. The honorees are as follows:</p><div class="image_resized media-embed-resized" style="width:200px;"> </div> <p><a href="/grace-an" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="3b336afb-7a55-45fc-9ebc-8a894957b3c7" data-entity-substitution="canonical" title="Grace An"><strong>Grace An</strong></a><br><strong>Associate Professor of French and Cinema and Media</strong><br>“Grace An is a brilliant innovator in immersive pedagogies, leading our students on transformative experiences in France,” Kamitsuka says of An, a driving force behind the popular 91ֱ�� in Paris study-away program, which launched in fall 2025. “Students literally hear, see, touch, smell, and taste French culture through her multidisciplinary advanced courses.”</p><div class="image_resized media-embed-resized" style="width:200px;"> </div> <p><a href="/paul-brehm" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="0b425ae3-159b-4795-8db5-22eeb3e6864e" data-entity-substitution="canonical" title="Paul Brehm"><strong>Paul Brehm</strong></a><br><strong>Associate Professor of Economics and Environmental Studies</strong><br>“Paul Brehm is masterful in cultivating the virtuous educational circle of celebrated lectures and super-popular individual office hours,” says Kamitsuka. “He makes the study of economics into an adventure of discovery.”</p><div class="image_resized media-embed-resized" style="width:200px;"> </div> <p><a href="/dmitry-kouzov" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="b85376d2-ae5a-4e3d-abad-9f105194fa92" data-entity-substitution="canonical" title="Dmitry Kouzov"><strong>Dmitry Kouzov</strong></a><br><strong>Associate Professor of Cello</strong><br>“Dmitry Kouzov is one of the great cello pedagogues at work in the country today,” says Quillen. “In his time at 91ֱ��, he has not only cultivated an extraordinary studio; he's helped support the flourishing—artistically, personally, and more—of so many of our students through his engaging, inspiring work as a teacher and chamber music coach.” </p><div class="image_resized media-embed-resized" style="width:200px;"> </div> <p><a href="/gunnar-kwakye" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="a4ff3436-3ac9-4e9b-968d-9dad71694d40" data-entity-substitution="canonical" title="Gunnar Kwakye"><strong>Gunnar Kwakye</strong></a><br><strong>Robert W. & Eleanor H. Biggs Associate Professor of Neuroscience</strong><br>Kamitsuka notes that an incredible 33 91ֱ�� students have served as co-authors with Gunnar Kwakye on peer-reviewed scientific publications. “And that is just the tip of the iceberg regarding his integral role in the success of his students,” the dean says. “Professor Kwakye is a living legend as a mentor for our neuroscience students.”</p><div class="image_resized media-embed-resized" style="width:200px;"> </div> <p><a href="/james-oleary"><strong>James O’Leary</strong></a><br><strong>Frederick R. Selch Associate Professor of Musicology</strong><br>“Jamie O’Learly is not only one of the most respected musicologists of his generation,” says Quillen; “he's also an extraordinary pedagogue, consistently transforming students' lives through his extraordinary classroom teaching, his mentorship work directing individualized research, and more.”</p><hr><p>About the Excellence in Teaching Awards: Each year, College of Arts and Sciences faculty are selected for consideration through nominations presented to the College Faculty Council, which are then reviewed by a faculty committee. An award is presented in each division of the college: arts and humanities, social and behavioral sciences, and natural sciences and mathematics. The conservatory dean recommends a number of conservatory faculty to the Conservatory Faculty Council for consideration, and together they review and narrow the recommendations to two recipients.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Annual awards celebrate distinguished and sustained leadership across the college and conservatory.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2026-03-24T12:00:00Z">Tue, 03/24/2026 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Communications Staff</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2373">Awards and Honors</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=4303">A&S Faculty</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=3341">Conservatory Faculty</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=35261">Cello</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25356">French</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25351">Environmental Studies and Sciences</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=4861">Neuroscience</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25341">Economics</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25256">Cinema and Media</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=28856">Musicology</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-faculty field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/grace-an" hreflang="und">Grace An</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/dmitry-kouzov" hreflang="und">Dmitry Kouzov</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/james-oleary" hreflang="und">James O’Leary</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/gunnar-kwakye" hreflang="und">Gunnar Kwakye</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/paul-brehm" hreflang="und">Paul Brehm</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/french-and-italian" hreflang="und">French and Italian</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/cinema-studies" hreflang="und">Cinema and Media</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/neuroscience" hreflang="und">Neuroscience</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/economics" hreflang="und">Economics</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/environmental-studies" hreflang="und">Environmental Studies and Science</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/conservatory/divisions/strings" hreflang="und">Strings</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/conservatory/divisions/musicology" hreflang="und">Musicology</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">Honorees were celebrated at a March 19 dinner hosted by President Carmen Twillie Ambar. Pictured from left are Dean of the Conservatory William Quillen, Paul Brehm, James O'Leary, Gunnar Kwakye, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences David Kamitsuka, and President Ambar. Not pictured: Grace An, Dmitry Kouzov.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Tanya Rosen-Jones '97</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-article-header field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">0</div> </article> <article> <h1>Sumner Wallace ’24 awarded Teaching Assistant Program in France fellowship</h1> <p>dfrezza — Fri, 19 Sep 2025 19:37:42 +0000</p> <span>Sumner Wallace ’24 awarded Teaching Assistant Program in France fellowship</span> <span><span>dfrezza</span></span> <span><time datetime="2025-09-19T15:37:42-04:00" title="Friday, September 19, 2025 - 15:37">Fri, 09/19/2025 - 15:37</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p><strong>How does pursuing the Teaching Assistant Program in France (TAPIF) align with your post-college life and career goals? </strong><br>I had an incredible experience studying in France with Associate Professor of French <a href="/grace-an">Grace An</a>’s “Discovering Champagne” class a couple years back. The immersion boosted my speaking skills in a way that a class in the U.S. couldn’t. Since then, I’ve been eager to go back to France and develop my language skills further, while simultaneously helping French students develop theirs. </p><p>I believe being able to successfully communicate with others is one of the most fulfilling things we can do as humans. I’ve found this to be true in the writing and speaking centers while abroad and when working on creative projects. My <a href="/registrar/policies-procedures-forms/IM">individual major</a> (in Rhetoric and Media Studies) was all about how we make and share meaning, specifically in film and media, and I’m excited to continue my work in this area with TAPIF!</p><p> </p><p><strong>What specifically will you be doing in France and what are you looking forward to the most?</strong></p><p>Through TAPIF, I will be working with secondary students (ages 11-18) on their English speaking skills. I serve as a resource for students while they work on conversation, as well as an assistant in planning and delivering lessons for the head teacher. I’m most looking forward to integrating into my community and forming new relationships—and eating lots of cheese! </p><p> </p><p><strong>How did 91ֱ�� shape or influence you to pursue the TAPIF?</strong></p><p>When I was in Paris for Grace An’s class, I met a woman who had gone to Toulouse, France on Fulbright. She highly encouraged me to apply, and after learning so much in Grace’s class, I knew it was for me. I initially applied for a Fulbright to Switzerland last year, but I ended as a semi-finalist. This year, <a href="/danielle-abdon">Danielle Abdon</a> really encouraged me to go after Fulbright/TAPIF again, and it paid off!</p><p> </p><p><strong>What’s the best advice you’ve received from your 91ֱ�� faculty mentors?</strong></p><p>I’ve learned something from what they haven’t said to me. My most influential mentors— <a href="/cortney-smith">Cortney Smith</a>, Grace An, and <a href="/geoff-pingree">Geoff Pingree</a>—never said to me, “No, I don’t think you’ll be able to do that.” They’ve cautioned me that things I want to achieve will take work, or won’t be easy, but they’ve always believed in me and encouraged me… I have learned that determination means something, and good people will help you when they see you have it.</p><hr><p><a href="/fellowships">Connect with Fellowships & Awards</a> to learn more about the fellowships and awards opportunities available to students.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">The young alum heads to Europe to dive into a teaching assistantship.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2025-09-19T12:00:00Z">Fri, 09/19/2025 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Communications Staff</div> <div class="text-content field field--name-field-intro-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>After graduating from 91ֱ��, Iowa City native Sumner Wallace ‘24 spent a year working for the college as the Writing Associates Program Coordinator. “I had a wonderful time expanding on my work as a student writing associate,” she says. “I’ve gained invaluable communication skills and pedagogical experience.” Now she heads to France to begin her teaching experience. </p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2360">After 91ֱ��</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25356">French</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25271">Individual Major</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-article-header field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">0</div> </article> <article> <h1>Visiting Assistant Professor of Comparative Literature and French Anna Levett Receives Prestigious ACLS Fellowship</h1> <p>anagy — Wed, 01 Jun 2022 19:13:12 +0000</p> <span>Visiting Assistant Professor of Comparative Literature and French Anna Levett Receives Prestigious ACLS Fellowship</span> <span><span>anagy</span></span> <span><time datetime="2022-06-01T15:13:12-04:00" title="Wednesday, June 1, 2022 - 15:13">Wed, 06/01/2022 - 15:13</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p><a href="/anna-levett">Anna Levett</a>, visiting assistant professor of <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/comparative-literature">comparative literature</a> and <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/french-and-italian">French</a>, has been named the 2022 American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) Pauline Yu Fellow. This year, the ACLS Fellowship was awarded to 60 scholars out of nearly 1,000 applicants, following a rigorous, multi-stage peer review process. The Pauline Yu fellowship provides a $65,000 stipend and will support Levett's work on her first monograph, "Become Other: Sufism, Surrealism, and the Arab Mediterranean." </p> <p>The <a href="https://acls.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=308a35b2c3e34e9b41bea422d&id=925ba0a50c&e=0a94b4e76c">ACLS Fellowship program</a> supports exceptional scholarship in the humanities and interpretive social sciences that has the potential to make significant contributions within and beyond their fields. As with the 2021 competition, this year the ACLS Fellowship program focuses its support on early-career, untenured scholars, many of whom are facing significant disruption to their research and career ambitions due to the widespread social and economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Half of this year’s fellows are working outside the tenure track.</p> <p>Levett says the idea for her book project began many years ago when she read the essay “Maghrebi Surrealism” by the Algerian poet Habib Tengour. </p> <p>“The piece is a kind of playful manifesto where Tengour describes the essential surreality of life in the Maghreb, otherwise known as North Africa. He quotes the 12th-century Sufi mystic Ibn ‘Arabi, who wrote, ‘If my works show any kind of formal composition, this form is not intentional. I have written some of my works on the behest of Allah, sent to me during my sleep or through a revelation,’” Levett explains. </p> <p>“Tengour says, Ibn ‘Arabi was a surrealist—because he was writing poetry in a kind of semi-conscious, dream state, just as the original French surrealists prescribed. Tengour is not being completely serious, but I found the connection that he draws fascinating. Once I started looking into it, I realized that other Arab writers had also identified parallels between Sufism and surrealism. What are the implications of calling a 1,000-year-old religious practice “surreal,” a term that refers to an early 20th-century aesthetic movement? This is the question that I explored in my PhD dissertation, and that I am pursuing further in the book.”</p> <p>Levett says her research builds on the work of other scholars in thinking about surrealism and its manifestations in Arab literature. Her project also highlights the ethical and political dimensions of surrealism. </p> <p>“The thing that fascinates me about both Sufism and surrealism is that they both entail this mode of what I call ‘becoming other,’ where the idea is that your own ego or sense of self is destabilized and you become imprinted or even possessed by another force or subjectivity—whether that force is Allah, or the ‘surrealist voice.’</p> <p>“My argument is that Tengour and a handful of other Arab authors writing in the late 20th century see something liberating in this mode of ‘becoming other’––in particular, they see it as a means of liberation from the concept of ‘identity’ itself. In the late-20th-century Arab world, everyone was talking about identity, but these authors were more interested in poetry that destabilizes the self, rather than work that affirms or announces who that self is. Our current moment is also consumed with questions of identity, and so I like to think that my project draws on the work of these writers to help us conceive of other ways to think about art, politics, and community today.”</p> <p>In recent years, the ACLS has oriented more of its resources toward non-tenure-track faculty, who have less access to funds and less time to devote to research. At 91ֱ��, Levett teaches Introduction to Comparative Literature, Introduction to Literary Translation, and Art of Revolution, which examines the relationship between art and politics in the context of the Arab Uprisings that began in 2011. When the ACLS grant begins in January 2023, Levett plans to travel to Paris for a month to do archival research.</p> <p>“So much of my research is concerned with dreams—surrealist dreams, Sufi dreams, dreams of revolution. At the risk of sounding cliché, when I saw the news that I had won this fellowship, I felt like I was dreaming.”</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">The fellowship awards scholarship in the humanities and interpretive social sciences.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2022-06-03T12:00:00Z">Fri, 06/03/2022 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Amanda Nagy</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2363">Academics & Research</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2373">Awards and Honors</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2414">Faculty</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2377">Arts & Humanities</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2583">College of Arts and Sciences</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2391">Languages & Literatures</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25316">Comparative Literature</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25356">French</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-faculty field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/anna-levett" hreflang="und">Anna Levett</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/comparative-literature" hreflang="und">Comparative Literature</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/french-and-italian" hreflang="und">French and Italian</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">Anna Levett's current book project explores surrealism in Arab literature.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Tanya Rosen-Jones '97</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Watson Fellowship Winner to Explore Grief and Loss Across Cultures</h1> <p>ygay — Mon, 02 May 2022 19:22:07 +0000</p> <span>Watson Fellowship Winner to Explore Grief and Loss Across Cultures</span> <span><span>ygay</span></span> <span><time datetime="2022-05-02T15:22:07-04:00" title="Monday, May 2, 2022 - 15:22">Mon, 05/02/2022 - 15:22</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>The Thomas J. Watson Fellowship is a one-year grant for purposeful, independent exploration outside the United States, awarded to graduating seniors nominated by one of 40 partner colleges. Fellows conceive original projects, deciding where to go, who to meet, and when to change course. The fellowship provides a one-year stipend of $40,000.</p> <p>Gleydura, a spring 2022 91ֱ�� College graduate, will work with palliative care teams, researchers, community organizations, counselors, and hospitals to understand mourning across cultures and uncover resources to assist families dealing with the loss of a child. Gleydura, a double major in <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/psychology" target="_blank">psychology</a> and <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/french-and-italian" target="_blank">French</a> with a concentration in <a href="/education-studies" target="_blank">education studies</a>, plans to pursue a career as a child life specialist, where she can educate patients on their diagnosis, the procedures they will have, and the medical equipment and personnel they will encounter. </p> <p>“I want to make sure children feel as calm, comfortable, and normal as possible while facing medical hardships,” she explains. “Death is uncomfortable to many, so conversations about it are avoided. I want to offer care and compassion in those moments. I know the power of a strong support system in helping you persevere. In a world where 15,000 children die each day, there is an urgent need to understand the most effective and compassionate practices to support the bereaved.”</p> <p>Gleydura’s understanding of the deficits of care for children in the U.S. was heightened shortly after earning a Stamps Scholarship at 91ֱ��—an award that provides recipients with a $5,000 enrichment fund to benefit academic, professional, and personal development. In the fall of 2020, as many people worked and studied from home during the early phase of the pandemic, she used her scholarship to take online classes, which included an eye-opening course on death, dying, and grief in pediatric care.</p> <p>The need to promote change continued to propel her throughout her time at 91ֱ��. She tutored Eastwood Elementary School students in math and reading and worked as a classroom assistant at the 91ֱ�� Early Childhood Center, helping to care for children between the ages of 3-18 months. </p> <p>“One of my favorite parts of working in the infant room was watching the rapid development of the children and getting to assist them in meeting the appropriate milestones such as sitting unsupported, rolling over, and talking,” she says.</p> <p>Meanwhile, Gleydura’s academic research at 91ֱ�� helped forge relationships with professors who quickly became mentors. </p> <div class="obj-center"> <figure class="captioned-image"> <figcaption>This past year, Gleydura worked with <a href="/nancy-darling" target="_blank">Professor of Psychology Nancy Darling</a> on her Continuity of Close Relationships project, and spent the semester doing background research and evaluating data on adolescents’ behavioral and attachment continuity to determine if these are more influenced by parents, peers, or romantic partners. Photo credit: Tanya Rosen-Jones '97</figcaption> </figure> </div> <p>In a research project with psychology and environmental studies professor <a href="/cindy-frantz" target="_blank">Cindy Frantz</a> and environmental studies and biology professor <a href="/john-petersen" target="_blank">John Petersen ’88</a>, Gleydura took the lead on an effort to increase a person’s sense of “systems thinking” in an attempt to increase their likelihood of engaging in sustainable actions and behaviors. In two other projects with Frantz, Gleydura assisted with measuring the effectiveness of various high school educational programs and messaging from a social psychology perspective. She also performed data collection for a study that examined the effect of including pronouns in email signatures on feelings of inclusivity both for gender nonconforming people and gender-conforming people. </p> <p>Her French research project, completed in spring 2020, involved a team of her peers and Associate Professor of Sociology <a href="http://www.oberlin.edu/greggor-mattson" target="_blank">Greggor Mattson</a>, who investigated the social and legal implications of prostitution in France during the 19th century. For her part, Gleydura transcribed and translated passages from literary texts, police archive documents, and other materials. The project was later compiled into a presentation titled “Economic Desperation, Moral Apocalypse, and Everyday Paranoia: the Filles Insoumises of Paris.”</p> <p>“The most significant things that helped shape me as a person and a scholar were the connections I made with amazing professors, peers, and community members,” she says. “I could not have gotten to where I am today without the support, guidance, and mentorship that I received along the way.”</p> <p>Gleydura is currently completing an End-of-Life Doula Certificate. She hopes to find ways to improve pediatric care and interventions from an intellectual, cultural, and professional standpoint during her Watson year.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2022-05-02T12:00:00Z">Mon, 05/02/2022 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Yvonne Gay</div> <div class="text-content field field--name-field-intro-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Molly Gleydura’s desire to understand the grieving process and gain strategies that will assist families with the loss of a child will take her to New Zealand, Senegal, El Salvador, and Ireland this summer on a Watson Fellowship.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2373">Awards and Honors</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=3846">Engaged Liberal Arts</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25286">Psychology</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25351">Environmental Studies and Sciences</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25356">French</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25431">Sociology</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25251">Biology</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25226">Education Studies</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-faculty field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/nancy-darling" hreflang="und">Nancy Darling</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/john-petersen" hreflang="und">John Petersen ’88</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/cindy-frantz" hreflang="und">Cynthia (Cindy) Frantz</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/greggor-mattson" hreflang="und">Greggor Mattson</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/psychology" hreflang="und">Psychology</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/environmental-studies" hreflang="und">Environmental Studies and Science</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/french-and-italian" hreflang="und">French and Italian</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/sociology" hreflang="und">Sociology</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/biology" hreflang="und">Biology</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">Molly Gleydura '22</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Tanya Rosen-Jones '97</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>TAPIF Fellow Plans to Challenge the Educational Norms</h1> <p>ygay — Mon, 19 Jul 2021 18:20:49 +0000</p> <span>TAPIF Fellow Plans to Challenge the Educational Norms</span> <span><span>ygay</span></span> <span><time datetime="2021-07-19T14:20:49-04:00" title="Monday, July 19, 2021 - 14:20">Mon, 07/19/2021 - 14:20</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>While on a Teaching Assistant Program in France Fellowship, Jules Taylor ’21 hopes to learn who she is as an educator, while absorbing everything she can about the culture, language, and food of Paris.</p> <p>The Teaching Assistant Program in France (TAPIF) offers recipients the opportunity to teach English to French students of all ages for seven months. Each year, over 1,500 American citizens and permanent residents teach in public schools across all regions of metropolitan France and in the overseas regions of France such as French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique and Réunion. </p> <p>Taylor is assigned to Academie de Créteil, located just outside of Paris.</p> <p>“I studied abroad in Paris, France, and absolutely fell in love with the city,” says Taylor. “If I hadn’t experienced the amazing semester in Paris that I did, I’m not sure I would have the confidence to pursue an entire year in another country. I promised myself that I would find a way to return, so TAPIF was the perfect opportunity for me.” </p> <p>Taylor’s interest with languages began in elementary school, where she studied Spanish up until 5th grade and jumped at the opportunity to add French to her toolkit. She studied the language throughout high school and majored in <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/french-and-italian" target="_blank">French</a> and <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/sociology" target="_blank">sociology</a> at 91ֱ�� College. </p> <p>“I’m not sure exactly what it is about the language that I’m so drawn to, but there’s just something about it I can’t get enough of,” she says. </p> <p>Talor is currently in the process of applying to graduate schools back in her hometown of New York City. She hopes to pursue a master's degree in education. </p> <p>At 91ֱ�� College, Taylor served as a <a href="/bcsl/programs/ninde-scholars" target="_blank">Ninde Scholars</a> tutor within the 91ֱ�� city schools. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa—America’s most prestigious academic honor society—and is a <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/anthropology/awards" target="_blank">Comfort Starr Award</a> recipient. </p> <p>“Ever since I decided to pursue a career in education, I’ve been highly motivated by the dream that I could create a learning environment for <em>every learner</em>,” says Taylor. “Too often, students are left behind because the education system isn’t really built for every type of learner. Working from the source, the classroom, I wish to challenge the educational norms.” </p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2021-07-19T12:00:00Z">Mon, 07/19/2021 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Yvonne Gay</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2373">Awards and Honors</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=3846">Engaged Liberal Arts</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25431">Sociology</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25356">French</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/sociology" hreflang="und">Sociology</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/french-and-italian" hreflang="und">French and Italian</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">Jules Taylor at 91ֱ�� College’s Seeley G. Mudd Center.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Jonathan Clark '25</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Megan Grabill '21 Receives Fulbright Fellowship in Benin</h1> <p>anagy — Thu, 20 May 2021 16:12:08 +0000</p> <span>Megan Grabill '21 Receives Fulbright Fellowship in Benin</span> <span><span>anagy</span></span> <span><time datetime="2021-05-20T12:12:08-04:00" title="Thursday, May 20, 2021 - 12:12">Thu, 05/20/2021 - 12:12</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Megan Grabill ’21 hopes to deepen her knowledge of the culture and indigenous languages of Benin with a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship.</p> <p>Grabill, who majored in anthropology, comparative literature, and French, says the Fulbright in Benin appealed to her competency in French language and her previous research experience on the cultural heritage of Benin.</p> <p>During a summer internship with the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, Grabill assisted with research for a festival program on traditional knowledge and the environment in Benin. “My own research focused on Vodun and the role of organic materials in divination practices, as well as a bit of work on cultural heritage management and sacred groves.”</p> <p>Grabill says the Fulbright in Benin will provide an opportunity to deepen her knowledge of Beninois culture and facilitate moments of cultural exchange and understanding both in and out of the classroom. </p> <p>“I am hoping to learn some of the many indigenous languages in Benin (there are over 50, and it will depend on my site placement in the country). I also want to learn more about local art and music, as well as Vodun and related religious practices.”</p> <p>During her time at 91ֱ��, Grabill gained study abroad experience in France. In fall 2019, she took classes at the Sorbonne, Sorbonne Nouvelle, and Paris 8/Saint-Denis. She also participated in a winter term study abroad with the French department focusing on "Colonization and its Aftermath in Martinique."</p> <p>“Both of my study abroad experiences have placed me directly in a host family, which has both aided my language development and given me hands-on experience with cultural exchange,” says Grabill, who is from East Lansing, Michigan. </p> <p>Following the Fulbright fellowship, she plans to pursue a PhD in anthropology. She worked as a research assistant in the anthropology department and took cello lessons in the Conservatory of Music. </p> <p>“I hope that the skills I will develop in the next year will make me a more flexible, perceptive, and conscientious researcher,” she says.</p> <p>Outside of academics, Grabill says her experience working with 91ֱ�� College Folk Festival was influential for building relationships and learning about community engagement. She also served as treasurer for WOBC-FM, was a Peer Advising Leader, and was an attendant for the Allen Memorial Art Museum. </p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2021-05-20T12:00:00Z">Thu, 05/20/2021 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Amanda Nagy</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2373">Awards and Honors</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=24656">Anthropology</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25316">Comparative Literature</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25356">French</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/anthropology" hreflang="und">Anthropology</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/french-and-italian" hreflang="und">French and Italian</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/comparative-literature" hreflang="und">Comparative Literature</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">Megan Grabill will teach English and become immersed in the culture of Benin.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Jonathan Clark '25</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Student Brings Expertise to Discussion on Arab Youth and Resilience</h1> <p>anagy — Thu, 17 Dec 2020 16:50:16 +0000</p> <span>Student Brings Expertise to Discussion on Arab Youth and Resilience</span> <span><span>anagy</span></span> <span><time datetime="2020-12-17T11:50:16-05:00" title="Thursday, December 17, 2020 - 11:50">Thu, 12/17/2020 - 11:50</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p><strong>How did you get involved in this panel discussion with <em>The Hill? </em></strong></p> <p>I have been interning remotely with the Embassy of Jordan in Washington, D.C. this fall, which is how I stumbled upon this event. When the embassy received an invitation to nominate someone to take part in the panel discussion, they asked if I would be interested in speaking on the panel about Arab youth and employment in the COVID-19 era. As an Arab student graduating in the spring, I wanted to share my perspective on how I have been navigating the pandemic vis-a-vis post-91ֱ�� plans.</p> <p><strong>Before the pandemic, what were your plans and intentions after 91ֱ��? Did you plan to return to Jordan?</strong></p> <p>Since I arrived at 91ֱ��, I have been determined to go to law school in the United States. Unfortunately, the pandemic has forced me to pivot because my main goal now is to find opportunities to work or pursue studies in a country that is faring well in terms of economic recovery and containing COVID. With the fate of COVID being uncertain in both Jordan and the U.S., I have decided to put my law school plans on hold until it is safe to return to the U.S.</p> <figure class="captioned-image obj-left"> <figcaption>Courtesy of Marah Ajilat</figcaption> </figure> <p><strong>How has Jordan been affected by COVID-19—economically, socially, etc.? What job opportunities are in your region?</strong></p> <p>The economic and social risks imposed by the restrictions the government had put in place since March severely tested the government and the people’s resilience. The government was under immense pressure especially because it was responsible for hundreds of thousands of refugees in camps that do not allow for physical distancing. And the households surviving on a single paycheck (or none at all) due to high unemployment could not afford being unable to work anymore. The lack of opportunities in the country has forced people to move, either internally—from the south to the capital or the north, or externally—largely to the Gulf countries. I am fortunate that my preprofessional experience has helped me build a network that I could tap into for employment back home should I need to. Not everyone has had that privilege of spending their breaks doing unpaid internships. I have numerous friends who’ve been looking for a job for almost a year now. They are spending their time bolstering their qualifications and pursuing online courses to have their skills certified. These courses and certifications, however, come at a hefty cost.</p> <p><strong>In the discussion, you mentioned that the pandemic has made undergrads reconsider the value of traditional postgraduate opportunities since virtual learning is more convenient and less expensive. In your opinion, what kinds of online classes or skill building has value for those who are about to graduate and enter the job market?</strong></p> <p>Languages. I believe that learning a new language, especially languages that are highly demanded in one’s respective field, are always a great way to distinguish oneself from other candidates. Not only does it attest to one’s language proficiency, but also one’s discipline and dedication. It takes a lot to learn a new language but it always pays off.</p> <p><strong>“Resilience” was one of the topics in the discussion. Are there any courses or experiences you’ve had at 91ֱ�� that you think will give you a competitive advantage? </strong></p> <p>Absolutely. 91ֱ�� students are nothing if not resilient. I think our COVID numbers attest to that. Personally, the doors that 91ֱ�� opened for me tested my resilience the most: The internships, part-time jobs, research, and consultancy opportunities made me want to consider career paths other than law. At several points during my undergraduate career, I have questioned whether I really wanted to spend at least seven years to get a law degree, when I could have had a law degree in half that time back in Jordan. Now, I can confidently say that these opportunities only proved to me that I made the right decision by coming here and going down the longer path, rather than the easy one, even though my law school plans have had to be pushed back further.</p> <p><strong>You’ve been involved with ExCo. Did you participate in any other organizations or extracurricular activities? </strong></p> <p>I have joined a couple of student organizations at various points throughout my time at 91ֱ��, but being a student staff member in ResEd and an ExCo Committee member has taken up most of my time. I have been very invested in those two positions since, in my experience, they have prepared me the most for life after college. I strongly encourage every student to seek and get involved in opportunities that require handling responsibility independently as well as in a group. It teaches you what to look for in a positive work environment so you can approach your job-hunting with more clarity and confidence.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2020-12-17T12:00:00Z">Thu, 12/17/2020 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Amanda Nagy</div> <div class="text-content field field--name-field-intro-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Marah Ajilat, a fourth-year student from Jordan majoring in politics and minoring in French, recently participated in a student panel that discussed <a href="https://thehill.com/event/527936-aspiration-and-resilience-arab-youth-the-covid-19-era">Arab youth and employment in the COVID-19 era</a>. The event was a collaboration between <em>The Hill</em> and the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates. In this Q&A, Ajilat shares her perspective as an Arab student making postgraduate plans, the experiences at 91ֱ�� that she holds most valuable, and the skill she believes will give students a competitive edge. </p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2396">International Students</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2410">Students</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2363">Academics & Research</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2580">Experimental College (ExCo)</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25416">Politics</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25356">French</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/politics" hreflang="und">Politics</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/french-and-italian" hreflang="und">French and Italian</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">Fourth-year Marah Ajilat, seen bottom left, participates in a panel discussion hosted by The Hill and the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>A Flutist’s French Connection</h1> <p>eburnett — Fri, 15 May 2020 14:48:35 +0000</p> <span>A Flutist’s French Connection</span> <span><span>eburnett</span></span> <span><time datetime="2020-05-15T10:48:35-04:00" title="Friday, May 15, 2020 - 10:48">Fri, 05/15/2020 - 10:48</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p><em>91ֱ�� Conservatory experienced a record year in 2019-20 with <a href="/node/251036">five students</a> named Fulbright Finalists. We are proud to share their stories in this series.</em></p> <p style="text-align: center;">***</p> <p>Karisma Palmore’s first international plane ride came during the summer after her fourth year at 91ֱ��: a trip to northwest France for six weeks of study with flute teacher Frédérique Gruszecki. She wasn’t sure how significant the language barrier would be.</p> <p>“I thought<em> this is gonna be scary,</em>” she remembers today. “There’s no subtitles this time!”</p> <p>As it turns out, Palmore can hold her own in a number of foreign languages. A native of Cleveland, she will earn a double degree from 91ֱ�� this spring in flute performance and Romance languages. Her Spanish is better than her French, she says, and her French is better than her Italian.</p> <p>And it will get better still: Palmore learned in early May that she is a Fulbright finalist. Through the support of the U.S. Government-sponsored program, she will return to France in the coming year for continued studies with Gruszecki at the Rennes Conservatory. She also intends to conduct research on the impact of foreign languages on learning musical instruments—a point of interest that emerged from her own initial round of study with Gruszecki.</p> <p>“I noticed that the way she would describe things was so different,” Palmore says, noting how the part of the instrument she had always referred to as the “embouchure hole” her teacher called <em>the light</em>.</p> <p>“It seemed to me much more poetic. And it made me wonder how learning how to play music in French differs from English, and how it impacts the ways you interact with the instrument.”</p> <p>For Palmore, it’s a sort of extension of the new ways she has come to think about the instrument she has played for years. That process began in part through her experiences in 91ֱ��’s <a href="https://isis2.cc.oberlin.edu/con/connews/2017/book/index-h5.html#page=48">Performance and Improvisation</a> (PI) ensembles, which serve as a bridge between the conservatory’s classical and jazz musicians, through which they develop internal rhythmic awareness and pursue paths toward more innovative expression. For many classical players, like Palmore, that involves honing improvisational chops.</p> <p>A recent highlight of her 91ֱ�� experience was the opportunity to perform with the PI ensemble Genre Nova at the <a href="http://jazzednet.org/">Jazz Education Network</a> conference in New Orleans in January.</p> <p>“It’s really fun to play different kinds of music and to play in different ensembles,” she says. “I really had a great time playing in PI. It was truly such an unconventional ensemble. It was so fun to improvise, but not necessarily come at it from a jazz standpoint.”</p> <p>One of the most coveted undergraduate honors, Fulbright scholarships support international study for high-achieving students. While the spread of COVID-19 has significantly affected—in some cases canceled—the international travel plans of some Fulbright Finalists this year, Palmore thus far anticipates only an adjustment in her start date: January 2021 rather than fall of this year.</p> <p>With the extra time between now and then, she intends to refine her list of potential graduate schools, continue studying her instrument, and take occasional lessons with her 91ֱ�� mentor, <a href="/node/7131">Alexa Still</a>.</p> <p>“We’re friends, me and my flute, but I feel like we could be closer,” she jokes. “Right now, I’m pretty excited to just not be double degree for a few months!”</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2020-05-15T12:00:00Z">Fri, 05/15/2020 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Erich Burnett</div> <div class="text-content field field--name-field-intro-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Fulbright honor for Karisma Palmore ’20 supports international music studies and language research.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2373">Awards and Honors</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2356">Conservatory</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2357">Double Degree Program</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=35911">Flute</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25356">French</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-faculty field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/alexa-still" hreflang="und">Alexa Still</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/conservatory/divisions/winds-brass-and-percussion" hreflang="und">Winds, Brass, and Percussion</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/french-and-italian" hreflang="und">French and Italian</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Courtesy of Karisma Palmore</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Culture Writing with Sophie Kemp ’18</h1> <p>eulrich — Mon, 18 Feb 2019 21:38:37 +0000</p> <span>Culture Writing with Sophie Kemp ’18</span> <span><span>eulrich</span></span> <span><time datetime="2019-02-18T16:38:37-05:00" title="Monday, February 18, 2019 - 16:38">Mon, 02/18/2019 - 16:38</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p><strong>What has it been like working at Pitchfork?</strong></p> <p>I love working at Pitchfork; I've been reading the site for years and am constantly floored by the talent and kindness of all of my coworkers. I'm responsible for fact-checking most of the writing you see on the site, which basically means I spend my days going through articles with a metaphorical fine-toothed comb, looking for factual errors. When I'm not doing that, I get the opportunity to write quite a bit. I've written a few album reviews and a feature since I started here last July, which has been really special.</p> <p><strong>How have your experiences at 91ֱ�� helped you navigate your current job?</strong></p> <p>I've always been interested in culture writing. When I was a teen, I thought I wanted to focus on fashion, but then I got to 91ֱ�� and joined WOBC as a DJ. WOBC was a really big catalyst for me in terms of figuring out what I want to do. During my freshman year, I had a horrible 3 a.m. slot, which I actually loved, and then I continued with the station throughout my time at 91ֱ��. During my senior year, I was station manager, which was a really incredible opportunity. I love WOBC with all of my heart and would encourage anyone considering going to 91ֱ�� to take a tour of the station.</p> <div class="obj-center"> <figure class="captioned-image"> <figcaption>Sophie Kemp ’18 working at Pitchfork.<br> Photo credit: Sophie Kemp </figcaption> </figure> </div> <p><strong>In addition to your 91ֱ�� experiences, did you participate in any internships or off-campus opportunities as a student?</strong></p> <p>I had the opportunity to intern for NPR Music’s All Songs Considered desk and this very cool, very small startup called Talkhouse. A lot of my experiences with music writing happened outside of the space of 91ֱ��, and via those internships I was able to freelance write for places like NPR Music, Bandcamp, and Noisey.</p> <p>Sophie is gearing up to start a new job at Condé Nast, where she’ll be a fashion assistant and writing about fashion news for Vogue. In the future, she hopes to continue to write about pop culture in any and all capacities. You can find her articles and clippings on <a href="http://www.sophiefkemp.com/" target="_blank">her website</a>.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2019-02-18T12:00:00Z">Mon, 02/18/2019 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Phoebe Pan ’20</div> <div class="text-content field field--name-field-intro-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Sophie Kemp ’18 has been working at Pitchfork as an editorial fellow, exploring her interests in culture writing and drawing from her past experiences with <a href="https://www.wobc.org/" target="_blank">WOBC</a>.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2360">After 91ֱ��</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2389">Young Alumni</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25356">French</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25316">Comparative Literature</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/comparative-literature" hreflang="und">Comparative Literature</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/french-and-italian" hreflang="und">French and Italian</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">Sophie Kemp ’18</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Courtesy of Sophie Kemp</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Mallory Cohen '15 Receives Fulbright ETA Fellowship to Côte d'Ivoire</h1> <p>Anonymous — Mon, 07 Nov 2016 18:01:35 +0000</p> <span>Mallory Cohen '15 Receives Fulbright ETA Fellowship to Côte d'Ivoire</span> <span><span>Anonymous (not verified)</span></span> <span><time datetime="2016-11-07T13:01:35-05:00" title="Monday, November 7, 2016 - 13:01">Mon, 11/07/2016 - 13:01</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Malloy Cohen ’15, an art history major with a minor in French, has been awarded a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship (ETA) in Côte d’Ivoire. While there, Cohen will be living in Abidjan and teaching English to high school students. She will depart for Côte d’Ivoire in October and return in July 2017.</p> <p>Cohen has spent the year since graduation working as an intern in the Education Department of the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art. She has spent the majority of her time there working on social justice-oriented community engagement programming surrounding an upcoming exhibit about police brutality against people of color. She also leads conversational tours about contemporary art for school groups and contributes research to upcoming exhibits in MASS MoCA’s Kidspace gallery.</p> <p>She says she chose to pursue a Fulbright studying in Côte d’Ivoire for three reasons. The first was because of research on Ivorian youth movements she did for a French class in her senior year, and she says she saw this as a way to engage with those youth further. Another reason was to broaden her understanding of the French language. “I love French, but found most of my French classes at 91ֱ�� focused on the language and culture from a French point of view. I wanted to learn more about the language from a new, Ivorian perspective as an ETA, and I am especially excited to learn Ivorian slang, called <em>nouchi</em>,” she says.</p> <p>The third reason she chose Côte d’Ivoire is to continue learning about West African photography. While there, Cohen hopes to pursue a research project focusing on Ivorian street photography and portraiture—specifically, how the youth culture is being photographed, both by street photographers and young people themselves.</p> <p>The Arcadia, California, native says 91ֱ�� has prepared her for this opportunity by providing many teaching and tutoring opportunities, ranging from encouraging students to think critically and creatively about art while she served as a docent at the Allen Memorial Art Museum to tutoring local high school students in French through the Ninde Scholars program. Senior year she took part in the Writing Associate program, helping art history students improve their essays.</p> <p>After her fellowship ends, Cohen plans to attend graduate school for art history in the hope of eventually pursuing a museum career as a curator of contemporary art or a museum educator.</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2016-06-14T12:00:00Z">Tue, 06/14/2016 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Kasey Cheydleur</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2373">Awards and Honors</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2391">Languages & Literatures</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2389">Young Alumni</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25301">Art History</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25356">French</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/art" hreflang="und">Studio Art</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/french-and-italian" hreflang="und">French and Italian</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">Mallory Cohen ’15 has received a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship (ETA) to Côte d’Ivoire. </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Mallory Cohen</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> </main></body></html>