Where Land Meets Art: Maya Miller ’26 Awarded a 2026 Thomas J. Watson Fellowship</h1> <article> <h1>Where Land Meets Art: Maya Miller ’26 Awarded a 2026 Thomas J. Watson Fellowship</h1> <p>kviancou — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 20:35:12 +0000</p> <span>Where Land Meets Art: Maya Miller ’26 Awarded a 2026 Thomas J. Watson Fellowship</span> <span><span>kviancou</span></span> <span><time datetime="2026-04-06T16:35:12-04:00" title="Monday, April 6, 2026 - 16:35">Mon, 04/06/2026 - 16:35</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p><strong>Maya Miller ’26 has been awarded a 2026 Thomas J. Watson Fellowship, a one-year grant that supports purposeful, independent exploration outside the United States. </strong></p><p>A double major in <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/gsfs">gender, sexuality, and feminist studies</a> and <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/creative-writing">creative writing</a>, with minors in studio art and comparative American studies, Miller will travel to New Zealand, Australia, Costa Rica, Iceland, Japan, China, and the United Kingdom. </p><p>Along the way, Miller will work with farmers, ceramicists, and artists whose practices engage both land and material, as part of a project that explores “the intersection of agriculture and art, and how clay, soil, and ceramics preserve cultural traditions.” </p><p>Miller answered these questions about the Watson project:</p><p><strong>Can you describe what your Watson work will entail?</strong></p><div class="image_resized align-left media-embed-resized" style="width:314px;"> </div> <p>My Watson starts with an admittedly broad question: How can art-making reflect, repair, and reimagine our relationship with the natural world? Clay, soil, and earth are inextricably linked. For millennia, humans have harvested, cured, and shaped earth into vessels essential to daily life. While ceramic and agricultural technologies share origins, they have grown into more disparate practices in the United States.</p><p>During my Watson year, I want to explore how the intersections of ceramic and land-based work might offer frameworks, rituals, and methodologies for regenerating our ecological and social soils. I’ll spend time with farmers, ceramicists, and artists working at these intersections, learning from their practices, ecologies, and communities.</p><p><strong>In what ways does what you’ll be doing build on your existing work—and in what ways does it open new pathways for you?</strong><br><br>I’ve been working on farms on and off since graduating from high school. It’s actually what first brought me to the Midwest—to a farm in rural Illinois. Farming opened up a new sensorial language for me, one rooted in relationships with the nonhuman and the material, and one that challenged my preexisting ideas of personhood and agency.</p><p>I love the care work of tending to plants and animals. It can be meditative and is similar to clay work—both invite collaboration with materials that are agentive and demanding of care.</p><p>This past summer, I worked as a farmer at an artist residency in the Adirondacks. I spent much of my day digging in the soil, running after sheep, carrying water to the chickens, or repairing pig fencing. In the evenings, I was in the clay studio, writing, or just talking, laughing, and cooking with the artists in residence. </p><p>I started to ruminate on the parallels that typically get drawn: Pottery makes dishes, farming makes food; potters and farmers alike work with their hands. And true, there is also something deeper.</p><p>My honors thesis in GSFS explores clay as a material with epistemological agency. In its way of being, clay can act as a kind of ontological mirror and a creative methodological tool for queer and disability theory. It shows how slowness, decomposition, and bodily negotiation can be generative conditions, foregrounding interdependence and undoing myths of autonomy and control. </p><p>This work is rooted in my own experience and thus somewhat autoethnographic. The Watson year will allow me to expand my thinking outward—to learn from other people, practices, and cultural relationships to land and material.</p><p>There is a pathway at the intersection of land and ceramics that I’ve only just begun to glimpse. We are all of this earth, whether our connections feel deep or tenuous. I’m interested in living into that idea and seeing where it leads.</p><p><strong>How did 91ֱ�� shape or influence you to pursue this fellowship? </strong><br><br>The Watson was suggested to me while I was trying to narrow the focus of my honors research. Rather than dismissing my too-big set of questions, I was encouraged to consider the fellowship as a way to explore them. </p><p>More broadly, I’ve been lucky to study with professors who encouraged me to think creatively and across disciplines. In a GSFS class with Thao Nguyen, I was encouraged to pursue a project on disability studies and ceramics practice, even when I couldn’t find existing scholarship at that intersection. That work became the seed of my honors thesis. </p><p>My thesis advisor, <a href="/kj-cerankowski">KJ Cerankowski</a>, has encouraged me to push against [conventional] academic writing and explore connections that might not seem obvious at first. I love the GSFS department and how it encourages and teaches us to think in expansive and experimental ways.</p><p>I’ve also taken <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/art">studio art</a> and <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/creative-writing">creative writing</a> classes with amazing professors such as Amanda Hodes, Sam Cohen, Katherine Berta, and Abby Sherrill. They have encouraged me to see art as a space of inquiry—of searching, becoming, and imagining. </p><p>I also spent three winter terms working with 91ֱ�� alumnus Theo Helmstadter in his pottery studio in Santa Fe. A lifelong potter who harvests his own clays, Theo has been an incredible mentor. I’m grateful for the broader 91ֱ�� community and these kinds of connections.</p><div class="image_resized media-embed-resized" style="width:533px;"> </div> <p><strong>How does pursuing the Watson align with your career goals and trajectory?</strong><br><br>I am interested in many things—perhaps too many. I want to work in the arts, work with my hands, write, and create. A year spent exploring both art and land with artists and makers is a great gift. I also imagine some version of my future self tending to a flock of sheep, so I do intend to spend time in the hills with sheep along the way.</p><p>More abstractly, this fellowship comes at a liminal moment between student life and whatever comes next. The Watson gives me the chance to stay in that in-between a little longer—to live inside the question of trajectory, rather than trying to resolve it too quickly. </p><p>It’s a privilege, and I hope it helps me find ways of living with the kind of curiosity, care, and attention that the world, like clay, continually asks of us. </p><hr><p><a href="/fellowships" target="_blank"><em>Connect with Fellowships & Awards</em></a><em> to learn more about opportunities for 91ֱ�� students.</em></p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Miller will travel to five countries to explore how ceramics and agriculture can repair our connection to the land.</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="2026-04-06T12:00:00Z">Mon, 04/06/2026 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Office of Communications</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=4080">Fellowships</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=4148">Creative Writing</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=4269">Studio Art</a></div> <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=25361">Gender, Sexuality, and Feminist Studies</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25326">Creative Writing</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/creative-writing" hreflang="und">Creative Writing</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/gsfs" hreflang="und">Gender, Sexuality, and Feminist Studies</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 Maya Miller</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>Historian Jennifer L. Morgan ’86 Wins MacArthur Fellowship</h1> <p>eburnett — Tue, 01 Oct 2024 15:49:16 +0000</p> <span>Historian Jennifer L. Morgan ’86 Wins MacArthur Fellowship</span> <span><span>eburnett</span></span> <span><time datetime="2024-10-01T11:49:16-04:00" title="Tuesday, October 1, 2024 - 11:49">Tue, 10/01/2024 - 11:49</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Jennifer L. Morgan, a historian and professor whose work explores the lives of enslaved women and deepens our understanding of the origins of race-based slavery in early America, has been awarded a MacArthur Fellowship for 2024. Morgan is a 1986 graduate of 91ֱ�� College.</p> <p>Popularly known as the “Genius Grant,” the <a href="https://www.macfound.org/programs/awards/fellows/">MacArthur Fellowship</a> is one of the nation’s most prestigious honors, recognizing talented, creative, and inspiring people who have shown exceptional originality in a variety of fields. Each fellow receives a stipend of $800,000 with no strings attached.</p> <p>Morgan is the 15th graduate of 91ֱ�� to be named a MacArthur Fellow and the third in the last three years. She follows composer and pianist <a href="/news/courtney-bryan-04-wins-prestigious-macarthur-fellowship">Courtney Bryan ’04</a>, who won in 2023, and writer and educator <a href="/news/kiese-laymon-98-earns-macarthur-foundation-honor-2022">Kiese Laymon ’98</a>, a 2022 honoree.</p> <p>91ֱ�� has produced more MacArthur Fellows than any other liberal arts college in the nation.</p> <p>A lifelong New Yorker, Morgan earned a BA from 91ֱ�� College in the self-designed major Third World Studies and a PhD in History from Duke University in 1995. She is a professor of history in the department of Social and Cultural Analysis at New York University, and the author of two books and numerous journal articles. </p> <p>Morgan’s first book, the groundbreaking <em>Laboring Women: Reproduction and Gender in New World Slavery</em> (2004), prompted one reviewer to compare her sensitive analysis of the meaning of childbearing and motherhood under slavery to Toni Morrison’s literary exploration of those themes in <em>Beloved</em>. Her second book, <em>Reckoning with Slavery: Gender, Kinship, and Capitalism in the Early Black Atlantic</em> (2011), won the Mary Nickliss Prize in Women’s and/or Gender History from the Organization of American Historians and the Frederick Douglass Prize, awarded by the Gilder Lehrman Center for the Study of Slavery, Resistance, and Abolition.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Specialist in early American slavery has earned acclaim for extensive research and writing on the subject.</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="2024-10-01T12:00:00Z">Tue, 10/01/2024 - 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=2368">Alumni</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2583">College of Arts and Sciences</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=4821">Africana Studies</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25361">Gender, Sexuality, and Feminist Studies</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/africana-studies" hreflang="und">Africana Studies</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/gsfs" hreflang="und">Gender, Sexuality, and Feminist Studies</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 John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation</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-flex-content field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden vertical-spacing--basic field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <div id="obj-32153" class="paragraph paragraph--type--pb-el-bq paragraph--view-mode--default"> <blockquote class="blockquote--quotemark" data-text-color-red data-text-size-giant> <p>I know that I’ve had an impact on my students. I know that I’ve had an impact on the field, but to have that acknowledged at such a huge scale just feels astonishing to me. I still can’t quite believe that it’s happened.”</p> </blockquote> </div> </div> <div class="field__item"> <div id="obj-28167" class="paragraph paragraph--type--para-el-copy paragraph--view-mode--default o-flex--basic-copy basic-copy"> <p>Currently on leave from NYU, Morgan is a fellow at the Cullman Center for Scholars and Writers at the New York Public Library. She is working on <em>The Eve of Slavery</em>, a book about African women in 17th-century North America—and notably Elizabeth Key, who sued for freedom in 1656 on the grounds that her father was a free white man.</p> <p>She credits all of it—her extraordinary scholarship and her Genius Grant—to the late Adrienne Lash Jones, the first tenured Black woman in 91ֱ��’s <a href="/node/3431">Africana Studies (then Black Studies) Department</a> and the third in the college’s history. Jones was celebrated for introducing an Africanist perspective to the emerging <a href="/node/3426">Gender, Sexuality, and Feminist Studies</a> program, for her relentless pursuit of a more just world, and for her formidable presence on campus.</p> <p>Jones was “not some kind and sweet and soft mentor,” says Morgan, speaking by phone while walking through Times Square en route to her “egghead heaven” at the library. “She was hard and she was a little scary. She didn’t take any foolishness, and as a result, she made me work harder—more than any other professor that I had at 91ֱ��. I wouldn’t have gone to graduate school in history. I wouldn't have thought about doing Afro-American women’s history without her. She gave me something to aspire to—this model of what was possible. And that’s what set me in motion.”</p> <p>Morgan learned of her MacArthur honor via phone call. Her initial reaction was disbelief. “I sort of yelled <em>What? What are you saying?</em> And I feel like tears just shot straight out of my head.”</p> <p>The reality of her accomplishment is still sinking in. “You know, like many academics, you see the MacArthur list and you just think <em>What a testament to the fact that your work makes a difference</em>. As a professor, as a historian who works in the early modern period, I don’t do work that’s super popular—I don’t work on the civil rights movement, for example—it’s slightly more esoteric. I know that I’ve had an impact on my students. I know that I’ve had an impact on the field, but to have that acknowledged at such a huge scale just feels astonishing to me. I still can’t quite believe that it’s happened. And I feel incredibly humbled and honored.”</p> <p>As for her stipend, Morgan is interested in using some of it to investigate other ways of telling important stories—to share the history she has uncovered about the experiences of Black women in colonial America with more people than graduate students and other historians. She wants a wider audience to know about these women, to understand “this is why what they went through is important in the history of this country—and in the way that we tell the history of this country.”</p> <p>Learn more about Morgan at <a href="http://jenniferlylemorgan.com">jenniferlylemorgan.com</a>.</p> </div> </div> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Health for All</h1> <p>tapplega — Tue, 20 Jun 2023 14:55:35 +0000</p> <span>Health for All</span> <span><span>tapplega</span></span> <span><time datetime="2023-06-20T10:55:35-04:00" title="Tuesday, June 20, 2023 - 10:55">Tue, 06/20/2023 - 10:55</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Annie Griffith found her passion for reproductive health issues stoked by ongoing conversations soon after she arrived in 91ֱ��. Those campus connections inspired her to become involved on a national level—and this year led her to an Obie mentor in a somewhat unlikely place.</p> <p>In January, Griffith completed a Winter Term internship at All Families Healthcare, a reproductive health clinic in rural Whitefish, Montana, where she worked under the guidance of nurse practitioner <a href="https://www.allfamilieshealth.org/about-us">Helen Weems ’91</a>, the clinic’s director. A former <a href="/node/3196">environmental studies</a> major at 91ֱ��, Weems was celebrated locally for rebuilding All Families after its original location was intentionally destroyed, then for successfully suing the state of Montana to expand abortion access. Inspired by Weems' monumental victory—and with key support from biology professor <a href="/node/5196">Maureen Peters</a>—Griffith secured an internship at Weems’ clinic during Winter Term of her junior year.</p> <p>Now a rising senior with majors in <a href="/node/3366">psychology</a> and <a href="/node/3426">gender, sexuality, and feminist studies</a>, Griffith gained unique insight into the clinic’s day-to-day operations and the lives of the people who depend on them. "I was exposed to all aspects of a small, community-engaged, reproductive health-care clinic,” she says. “This included learning about administrative and clinical facets, research projects, continuing education, and community outreach." </p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Annie Griffith turned to Montana to serve in an 91ֱ�� alumna’s reproductive health clinic.</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="2023-06-20T12:00:00Z">Tue, 06/20/2023 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Tyler Applegate</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=2402">Winter Term</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=3897">Internship</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=3830">Pre-Medicine</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=3898">Stem</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=25361">Gender, Sexuality, and Feminist Studies</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25286">Psychology</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="/maureen-peters" hreflang="und">Maureen Peters</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/sara-verosky" hreflang="und">Sara Verosky</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/gsfs" hreflang="und">Gender, Sexuality, and Feminist Studies</a></div> <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/global-health" hreflang="und">Global Health</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">Annie Griffith (right) with Helen Weems ’91, director of All Families Healthcare in Whitefish, Montana, where Griffith served as an intern.</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 Annie Griffith</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-flex-content field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden vertical-spacing--basic field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <div id="obj-32093" class="paragraph paragraph--type--pb-el-bq paragraph--view-mode--default"> <blockquote class="blockquote--quotemark" data-text-color-red data-text-size-large> <p>One of the things I find both interesting and disheartening about the health-care industry is the amount of medical gaslighting and trauma people experience upon entering a doctor’s office.”</p> <p style="text-align: right;"><em>— Annie Griffith</em></p> </blockquote> </div> </div> <div class="field__item"> <div id="obj-27737" class="paragraph paragraph--type--para-el-copy paragraph--view-mode--default o-flex--basic-copy basic-copy"> <p>But the impact of Giffith’s experience extends far beyond the daily tasks she performed. From her clinic co-workers, and particularly Weems, she came away reassured by a field that had previously left her feeling discouraged. “One of the things I find both interesting and disheartening about the health-care industry is the amount of medical gaslighting and trauma people experience upon entering a doctor's office,” she says. </p> <p>Nuances of human interaction are central to Griffith’s 91ֱ�� studies too. She is a psychology research assistant under professor <a href="/node/6336">Sara Verosky</a>, with whom she has worked on experiments that focus on how people make judgments about one another based on facial perceptions.</p> <p>The compassion she witnessed at All Families turned her passion into a drive to pursue a career that supports reproductive rights, and she credits 91ֱ�� with fostering that devotion. She considers campus a safe space for students to express their beliefs, grapple with societal issues together, and expand their understanding and expertise. She trained to be an abortion doula with the 91ֱ�� Doula Collective, where she learned how to care for people experiencing abortions. During spring semester, she presented at 91ֱ��’s <a href="/node/453552">Reproductive Justice Symposium</a>, joining fellow students in detailing practical implications related to abortion access in Ohio since the overturning of <em>Roe v. Wade</em>. Her presentation included resources currently available as well as those no longer available as a result of the Supreme Court decision.</p> <p>Griffith believes that academic institutions are the perfect place to cultivate sexual and reproductive health advocacy. “The best way for 91ֱ�� to be supportive of their students who are passionate about these topics would be to support, advocate for, and fund the organizations that are already in place,” she says, emphasizing the importance of the Sexual Information Center (SIC) and Survivors of Sexual Harm and Allies (SOSHA), among other groups.</p> <p>To Griffith, the simple things—such as donations of time, money, and activism—go a long way in alleviating the challenges faced by citizens in regions that are restricted in their access to reproductive health care. “Vote in local and national elections, call your representatives, talk to your older relatives who may have different opinions, and share your story,” she says.</p> <p>Perhaps more than anything, Griffith’s journey underscores the transformative power of a dedicated community. </p> <p>“Working at the clinic reinforced my passion for reproductive justice and health care equality,” she says, “and reminded me how important this work is.”</p> </div> </div> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Ana María Díaz Burgos Earns Excellence in Teaching Award</h1> <p>anagy — Thu, 18 May 2023 15:30:23 +0000</p> <span>Ana María Díaz Burgos Earns Excellence in Teaching Award</span> <span><span>anagy</span></span> <span><time datetime="2023-05-18T11:30:23-04:00" title="Thursday, May 18, 2023 - 11:30">Thu, 05/18/2023 - 11:30</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p> 91ֱ�� has recognized six faculty members with <a href="/news/six-faculty-receive-2021-2022-excellence-teaching-honors">Excellence in Teaching Awards</a> for the 2021-22 academic year. The annual Excellence in Teaching Award recognizes faculty in the college and conservatory who have demonstrated sustained and distinctive excellence in their teaching at the college and conservatory.</p> <p>Associate Professor of Hispanic Studies <a href="/ana-maria-diaz-burgos">Ana María Díaz Burgos</a> specializes in Spanish and Spanish American early modern literature and culture with an emphasis on gender studies and social history. Her research explores the impact of institutional practices and legal systems on the creation of female subjectivities in Hispanic territories. Her work has appeared in a variety of academic journals and edited volumes.</p> <p>Most recently she published the chapter “Marital Pains, Heterodox Cures: Alternative Economies of Sorcery and Witchcraft in the Inquisition of Cartagena de Indias” in <em>Women Facing the Inquisition</em> (2021) and co-edited the dossier “Yo llana estoy’: jerarquías, transgresiones y despliegues de género en América hispana colonial (1492-1898)” for Revista de Estudios de Género y Sexualidades (2022). Her book <em>Tráfico de saberes: Agencia femenina, hechicería e inquisición en Cartagena de Indias 1610-1614</em> (Iberoamericana-Vervuert 2020) studies the first inquisitorial prosecution of female sorcery in early seventeenth-century Cartagena de Indias. </p> <p>“Associate Professor Ana María Díaz Burgos brings her superb pedagogical skills to a wide range of language, literature, culture, film and history courses in Hispanic Studies, while making the most of our extraordinary Special Collections and Allen Memorial Art Museum resources,” says Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences David Kamitsuka. “Ana has a rare talent for highlighting the contemporary relevance and significance of centuries and cultures often far removed from our students’ present-day experiences.”</p> <p>Díaz Burgos teaches Spanish language classes and early modern literature and culture courses in the Department of <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/hispanic-studies">Hispanic Studies</a>, some of which are cross-referenced with the Gender, Sexuality, and Feminist Studies Program. Collaborating with the Special Collections and the Allen Memorial Art Museum has played an essential role in her courses to increase students' opportunities to engage with class material. For instance, students in her classes this spring have written bilingual labels and are planning public programming initiatives for the exhibition “What is in a Spell?: Love Magic, Healing and Punishment in the Early Modern Hispanic World,” which she and Hannah Kinney, Curator of Academic Programs, are curating.</p> <p>"I am truly honored to receive this award along with this amazing group of peers, Díaz Burgos says. “I am thankful to my students' curiosity and willingness to explore topics that at times seem completely foreign to them. I am inspired by the generosity and openness of my colleagues inside and outside my department and from the Special Collections and the Allen Memorial Art Museum, from whom I continuously learn how to create spaces for conversation and debate with and for students. This recognition is a motivation to continue building bridges that go beyond the classroom."</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Díaz Burgos teaches Spanish language classes and early modern literature and culture courses in the Department of Hispanic Studies.</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="2023-05-18T12:00:00Z">Thu, 05/18/2023 - 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=2414">Faculty</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2576">Excellence in Teaching Award</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=3501">Teaching & Research</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2377">Arts & Humanities</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=4796">Hispanic Studies</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25361">Gender, Sexuality, and Feminist 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="/ana-maria-diaz-burgos" hreflang="und">Ana María Díaz Burgos</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/hispanic-studies" hreflang="und">Hispanic Studies</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">Jennifer Manna</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Taking Passion to the Pavement</h1> <p>tapplega — Fri, 05 May 2023 17:14:08 +0000</p> <span>Taking Passion to the Pavement</span> <span><span>tapplega</span></span> <span><time datetime="2023-05-05T13:14:08-04:00" title="Friday, May 5, 2023 - 13:14">Fri, 05/05/2023 - 13:14</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>91ֱ��’s <a href="/node/55501">Bonner Scholars</a> program has been connecting classrooms to communities for more than 30 years. Operated by the <a href="/node/4416">Bonner Center for Community-Engaged Learning, Teaching, and Research</a> and supported by the national <a href="http://www.bonner.org/">Bonner Foundation</a>, the scholars program provides four-year community service scholarships to approximately 60 91ֱ�� students who are the first in their families to attend college or come from underrepresented populations. Bonner Scholars participate in intensive, developmental community-engagement experiences throughout their time at 91ֱ��.</p> <p>Each year, approximately 15 incoming first-year students are selected as Bonner Scholars. Their experience is guided by designated student leaders, who lead community projects and engage with the entire campus community about service opportunities. Fourth-year Bonner leader Ari Leandry majors in <a href="/node/3216">comparative American studies</a> with minors in <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/history">history</a> and <a href="/node/3426">gender, sexuality, and feminist studies</a>, and an integrative concentration in <a href="/node/322091">journalism</a>. Her previous Bonner work has revolved around <a href="https://prochoiceohio.org/">NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio</a>—a reflection of her deep passion for reproductive justice and mutual aid. A native of nearby Lorain, Ohio, Leandry finds herself serving the very community in which she was raised.</p> <p>We asked Leandry about her life as a Bonner Scholar.</p> <p><strong>Can you describe the Bonner Scholar Program to someone who is unfamiliar?</strong></p> <p>The Bonner Scholar Program provides an outlet for students passionate about social justice and service to further engage with their greater college community. Bonner enables these students to build connections that will help them personally and professionally. </p> <p><strong>How has your service corresponded to social issues you care about?</strong></p> <p>I was always interested in engaging with reproductive justice efforts, but I did not know how to pursue this interest. Through Bonner, I had support to seek out opportunities to work with reproductive justice organizations in Ohio and understand how I can turn this passion into an actual career. I was able to explore my interest in reproductive justice and grassroots activism. I built connections in my field that I otherwise would not have found if it weren't for Bonner's encouragement of exploring academic and personal interests through service. I appreciate the diversity of service opportunities that Bonner provides, and I feel fortunate to have been able to connect with reproductive justice advocates in Ohio and build a greater personal network in this issue area.</p> <p><strong>How has your Bonner experience influenced your time at 91ֱ��?</strong></p> <p>Bonner allowed me to build strong relationships and connections with other students who shared my passion for community service and social justice. Through Bonner, I was able to participate in meaningful and impactful service projects, which not only contributed to the community but also allowed me to develop my skills in leadership and teamwork.</p> <p><strong>What have you learned about the 91ֱ�� community through your service?</strong></p> <p>One of the things that I have learned is the extent to which social justice and equity are at the forefront of people's minds. I have also learned about the importance of collaboration and partnership in addressing community needs.</p> <p><strong>What is unique to you about the Bonner Scholar Program?</strong></p> <p>What makes Bonner unique is the tight-knit community that accompanies it. The support and guidance of the Bonner staff and my fellow Bonner Scholars helped me navigate the challenges of college life and find a sense of belonging on campus. They provided me with resources, advice, and encouragement that allowed me to thrive academically and personally.</p> <p><strong>Share a fond Bonner memory!</strong></p> <p>I loved getting to connect more deeply with my fellow Bonner Scholars at our Fall Bonner Retreat in 2021!</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Dedication to reproductive rights fuels the service of Bonner Leader Ari Leandry.</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="2023-05-05T12:00:00Z">Fri, 05/05/2023 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Tyler Applegate</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=2381">Bonner Center</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2382">Community Service</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=25311">Comparative American Studies</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25381">History</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25361">Gender, Sexuality, and Feminist Studies</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=181496">Journalism</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-american-studies" hreflang="und">Comparative American Studies</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/history" hreflang="und">History</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/gsfs" hreflang="und">Gender, Sexuality, and Feminist Studies</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/journalism" hreflang="und">Journalism</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 Ari Leandry</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Students Lead Reproductive Justice Symposium March 10-11</h1> <p>anagy — Thu, 09 Mar 2023 20:29:11 +0000</p> <span>Students Lead Reproductive Justice Symposium March 10-11</span> <span><span>anagy</span></span> <span><time datetime="2023-03-09T15:29:11-05:00" title="Thursday, March 9, 2023 - 15:29">Thu, 03/09/2023 - 15:29</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Visiting scholars and 91ֱ�� student researchers will generate discussions on reproductive health and justice in the post-Roe era during a symposium hosted by the <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/gsfs">Gender, Sexuality, and Feminist Studies</a> (GSFS) Department on March 10 and 11. </p> <p>The symposium follows GSFS programming that has included two course modules exploring the recent overturn of Roe v. Wade. The campus community has an opportunity to attend a series of workshops led by invited experts whose work addresses sexual and reproductive health and justice from a variety of multidisciplinary perspectives. </p> <p>On Friday, March 10, students will present individual and group research projects from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the <a href="/center-engaged-liberal-arts">Center for Engaged Liberal Arts</a> (A-level of Mudd Center). The exhibits will highlight research and creative work that centers on reproductive justice. From 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., symposium experts will participate in a roundtable discussion in Craig Lecture Hall. </p> <p>On Saturday, March 11, students can choose from seven different pop-up classes that cover a range of topics. Based on seating and demand, <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1PKwR9Q1CqZ66UnsDf9ExmaZ9uco47YmCatY6_CM9ydc/edit">participants may sign up</a> for more than one class. The deadline to sign up is March 10. All classes will be held in CELA.</p> <p>Beginning at 10 a.m., Ash Williams will lead “Increasing Abortion Access 101.” A reproductive justice organizer, Williams advocates for abortion access by funding abortions and training abortion doulas.</p> <p>Three concurrent workshops will be offered at 11 a.m.:</p> <ul> <li>Chris Barcelos will lead “Mobilizing Coalitional Politics to Fight Back Against Banning Abortion, Criminalizing Trans Healthcare, and Maintaining White Supremacy.” The workshop will help participants to make connections between the Dobbs decision, anti-trans legislation, and bans on critical race theory in schools. Barcelos is Assistant Professor of Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at the University of Massachusetts Boston and the author of Distributing Condoms and Hope: The Racialized Politics of Sexual Health.<br> </li> <li><a href="/news/sparking-interest-sexual-health-education">Tory Sparks ’17</a> will ask “What is the role of sex education post-Dobbs?” and will cover the basics of the career path to becoming a professional sex educator. Sparks is a Michigan-based independent sex educator, facilitator, consultant, and trainer, and a student at Widener University in the dual degree MSW/ MEd in Human Sexuality Program.<br> </li> <li>From the <a href="/mrc">Multicultural Resource Commons</a>, staff members Katie Graham and NiK Peavy will teach “Parenting with Pride: An Unconventional Guide to Having Children.” The workshop will explore the ways in which different family structures can be formed, such as queer or otherwise “unconventional” ways to become parents, the inequities that may come with the process, and how to navigate them. </li> </ul> <p>Three workshops will be held from 1:30 to 3 p.m.:</p> <ul> <li>“So you want to be an advocate?” Led by Jordyn Close and Anastasia (Ana) Martinez, the class will cover different kinds of advocacy. Close is deputy director with Ohio Women's Alliance (OWA) and board president of Abortion Fund Of Ohio, Ohio’s only statewide abortion fund, providing practical support across the Midwest. Martinez is senior campaign manager for OWA.<br> </li> <li>91ֱ�� Doula Collective and the Reproductive Justice Alliance present “Understanding Abortion Doula Work: History and Reproductive Justice.” The 91ֱ�� Doula Collective is a student, community, and volunteer-run organization based in 91ֱ�� (not affiliated with 91ֱ�� College). The group is dedicated to providing free and compassionate support to people who are terminating their pregnancies.<br> </li> <li>Margaret Velto ’22, an outreach coordinator for the Kentucky Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, will lead “Not All Religions: An Interfaith Lens on Reproductive Justice.” Velto will discuss how different faith traditions, including Christianity, protect and support access to choice and freedom of decisions.</li> </ul></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="2023-03-09T12:00:00Z">Thu, 03/09/2023 - 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=2390">Events</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2377">Arts & Humanities</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2413">Social Sciences</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2392">Social Justice</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=25361">Gender, Sexuality, and Feminist Studies</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/gsfs" hreflang="und">Gender, Sexuality, and Feminist Studies</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">The Gender, Sexuality, and Feminist Studies department is hosting a reproductive justice symposium March 10-11.</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">Alice Koeninger</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Riley Davis '22 Receives Fulbright to Argentina</h1> <p>anagy — Thu, 05 May 2022 16:02:23 +0000</p> <span>Riley Davis '22 Receives Fulbright to Argentina</span> <span><span>anagy</span></span> <span><time datetime="2022-05-05T12:02:23-04:00" title="Thursday, May 5, 2022 - 12:02">Thu, 05/05/2022 - 12:02</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Riley Davis will graduate this spring with a strong foundation in teaching English to non-native speakers, as well as a keen awareness of her position in doing global work, as she prepares for an eight-month Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship in Argentina. </p> <p>Davis has left no time to spare throughout her undergraduate career in 91ֱ��. She has double majors in <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/hispanic-studies">Hispanic studies</a> and <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/latin-american-studies">Latin American studies</a> with minors in <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/anthropology">anthropology</a> and <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/gsfs">gender, feminist, and sexuality studies</a>. In addition to her coursework, Davis has taught Spanish lessons to local youth through the <a href="https://www.oberlinsites.org/">Spanish in the Elementary Schools</a> program; co-taught a course on the United States citizenship exam through her involvement with the <a href="https://www.lorainelcentro.com/">El Centro</a> Volunteer Initiative; and served as a teaching assistant for a handful of lower and upper level Hispanic studies courses. </p> <p>Through her work with El Centro, Davis also volunteers to teach English to a local family on Sundays. She has taken classes in language pedagogy, introduction to linguistics, and advanced linguistic anthropology, all of which have affirmed and encouraged her passion for language and language-learning.</p> <p>“I feel like this is the right next step after 91ֱ��,” says Davis, a resident of Chapel Hill, North Carolina. “After being a student for so many years, I’m looking forward to being able to share my knowledge and to be a resource for those whom I can support.”</p> <p>The Fulbright program begins in March 2023 and will last for eight months. Davis has studied abroad in Latin America twice—first during a 2019 Winter Term group trip to Guadalajara, followed by a Winter Term trip in 2020 called Amazon Learning, in which she lived with an indigenous community in Ecuador for several weeks. </p> <p>“In both experiences, I grew extremely close with my families and I enjoyed learning most about their lives and relationships,” Davis says. “I’m excited to see how the culture of Argentina compares and contrasts with the countries in Latin America I am more familiar with. I’m curious to see how the country’s history of European immigration has shaped the art, architecture, and language of Argentina, as well as how these influences interact with indigenous communities, and to explore how cross-cultural interactions have shaped the different provinces of the country. Of course, I’m also looking forward to interacting with the students and faculty wherever I’ll be teaching.”</p> <p>Davis recently completed her honors thesis in Hispanic studies. Outside of academics, she is a member of 91ֱ��’s all-gender jazz and folk a cappella group ’Round Midnight, and she works as a manager of the 'Sco, 91ֱ��’s bar and music venue.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Davis is looking forward to applying her experience in language and teaching.</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="2022-05-05T12:00:00Z">Thu, 05/05/2022 - 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=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=3781">Hispanic Studies</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2376">Study Away</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2402">Winter Term</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=4796">Hispanic Studies</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25276">Latin American Studies</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=24656">Anthropology</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25361">Gender, Sexuality, and Feminist Studies</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25236">Linguistics</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/hispanic-studies" hreflang="und">Hispanic Studies</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/latin-american-studies" hreflang="und">Latin American Studies</a></div> <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/gsfs" hreflang="und">Gender, Sexuality, and Feminist Studies</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">Riley Davis '22 will embark on a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship in Argentina beginning in March 2023.</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>Cassandra Gutterman-Johns Awarded Fulbright ETA to Czech Republic</h1> <p>anagy — Mon, 02 May 2022 16:44:41 +0000</p> <span>Cassandra Gutterman-Johns Awarded Fulbright ETA to Czech Republic</span> <span><span>anagy</span></span> <span><time datetime="2022-05-02T12:44:41-04:00" title="Monday, May 2, 2022 - 12:44">Mon, 05/02/2022 - 12:44</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Fourth-year Cassandra Gutterman-Johns is excited to teach, travel, and reach outside her comfort zone with a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship in the Czech Republic beginning in August 2022. </p> <p>A theater and creative writing major with minors in gender, sexuality, and feminist studies and comparative American studies, Gutterman-Johns will apply the teaching experiences she learned from serving as a course writing associate in the <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/rhetoric-and-composition">Rhetoric and Composition Department</a> and a creative writing associate in the <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/creative-writing">Creative Writing Program</a>, as well as the skills in creative problem solving, collaboration, and implementing systems for communication and organization through her work in the <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/theater">Theater Department</a>.</p> <p>This year, she served as the LabSeries Production Manager in the theater department. She has also stage managed a number of mainstage productions and worked in the electrics and paint shops in the theater.</p> <p>“I’m looking forward to having an immersive experience and stepping outside of my comfort zone, as well as getting to see more of the world after not traveling for a few years and missing out on my study abroad program because of the pandemic,” says Gutterman-Johns, a resident of Salem, Oregon. “I’m hoping to learn more about pedagogy and education, and gain a clearer sense of what career path will be right for me.” </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">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 class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2363">Academics & Research</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2377">Arts & Humanities</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2372">Performing 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=25326">Creative Writing</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25441">Theater</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25311">Comparative American Studies</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25361">Gender, Sexuality, and Feminist Studies</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/creative-writing" hreflang="und">Creative Writing</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/theater" hreflang="und">Theater</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/gsfs" hreflang="und">Gender, Sexuality, and Feminist Studies</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/comparative-american-studies" hreflang="und">Comparative American Studies</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">Fourth-year Cassandra Gutterman-Johns will teach and immerse herself in the culture of the Czech Republic.</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>The Lives of African American Women are Shared in a History Design Lab Project</h1> <p>ygay — Thu, 02 Dec 2021 15:48:18 +0000</p> <span>The Lives of African American Women are Shared in a History Design Lab Project</span> <span><span>ygay</span></span> <span><time datetime="2021-12-02T10:48:18-05:00" title="Thursday, December 2, 2021 - 10:48">Thu, 12/02/2021 - 10:48</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>After graduating from 91ֱ�� College in 1957, Sylvia Hill Williams played a key role in moving the presentation of African art away from stereotypical displays to scholarly nuanced exhibits at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. In her role as an archivist, Ruth Anna Fisher, a 1906 91ֱ�� graduate, produced knowledge about Black history within a space traditionally dominated by white men. </p> <p>Their stories, and those of other women, are explored in the History Design Lab project’s <a href="https://afamwomen.historydesignlab.org/" target="_blank">African American Women Intellectuals</a> (AAWI).</p> <p>The <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/history/history-design-lab" target="_blank">History Design Lab</a>, an initiative of the <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/history" target="_blank">Department of History</a>, is a collaborative community of students, faculty, and staff who work on original research-based history projects. Lab members discuss new ideas and explore how resources and methods can be used to reimagine the way history is engaged by the viewer. The lab currently oversees three projects: <a href="https://oberlinost.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">On Second Thought</a>, a student historical blog and journal; 91ֱ�� History as American History; and the AAWI project.</p> <p>The AAWI project arose from a spring 2020 Research Methods in Black Women’s Intellectual History course. The final project of the course evolved into a digital web page which then gave rise to a History Design Lab project.</p> <div class="obj-center"> <figure class="captioned-image"> <figcaption>Visit https://afamwomen.historydesignlab.org to view the African American Women Intellectual website.</figcaption> </figure> </div> <p>Currently, AAWI features 12 Black women in 12 separate exhibits. An “item” tab provides detailed information about archival material presented, and all of the exhibits are categorized by centuries. </p> <p>“Rather than just focus on the women themselves as a typical biography would, AAWI’s scholarly biographies center more on the scholarly and intellectual work of these Black women, such as their theses, operas, and speeches,” says Meredith Warden ’23, a biography contributor and associate editor of both AAWI and On Second Thought projects. </p> <p>For instance, the <a href="https://afamwomen.historydesignlab.org/exhibits/show/rhiannon_giddens" target="_blank">AAWI biography on Rhiannon Giddens ’00</a> centers largely around the musician’s own research of the banjo. “The history of the banjo [brought to America by enslaved African people but commercialized by white minstrel musicians] is complex, painful, and necessary to uncover and share,” writes biography author, Ella Causer ’21. “Giddens currently sees uncovering the banjo’s history as her life purpose.” As Causer continues, Giddens’s biography is told through sections that delve into her opera studies and MacArthur Award. </p> <p>“As with any history-based project, the primary sources only tell so much about the person and their motivations, thoughts, and feelings,” explains Warden. “This was definitely a challenge while I was reading primary sources written by the person my biography focused on and deciding what narrative I was going to tell about her intellectual work. But that’s what I love about historical research—there are so many different ways to interpret these primary sources. The possible narrative I see in this woman’s work would probably not be the same as what someone else would see. Ultimately, [collaborating with] other people can help determine whether the narrative of a scholarly biography is compelling.” </p> <p>Emily Spezia-Shwiff ’21, who graduated from 91ֱ�� with majors in history and musical studies and a minor in gender, sexuality, and feminist studies, welcomed the space the History Design Lab and AAWI provided. As a former senior editor of the AAWI project and biography contributor, Spezia-Shwiff credits the AAWI project with allowing her to develop research, writing, and pedagogical skills, while teaching her how to disseminate information on complicated historiography, narrow wide ideas into compelling research topics, and work within someone else’s writing style to provide constructive feedback and edits. </p> <p>“One of my favorite parts of studying history is uncovering and telling narratives that have been ignored and neglected,” says Spezia-Shwiff. “ I decided to take on this project because I wanted to continue highlighting these stories and create a large database of Black women intellectuals.”</p> <p>Spezia-Shwiff hopes visitors to the site will be encouraged and inspired as well.</p> <p>“I hope viewers will ponder what it means to be a Black women intellectual,” says Spezia-Shwiff. “I hope these narratives will inspire viewers and encourage them in their own avenues. I encourage potential viewers to think critically about their view of history, [and ask]: Who is being left out of popular narratives? What stories may be lost or hidden throughout history?” </p> <p>In January, the History Design Lab will offer a Winter Term component, where participants will learn the basics of digital humanities tools, perform research in 91ֱ��’s archives, and produce a piece of work as part of one of HDL’s current projects.</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="2021-12-02T12:00:00Z">Thu, 12/02/2021 - 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="text-content field field--name-field-intro-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>A history project moves from the classroom to an ongoing digital platform that focuses on the lives of extraordinary African American women closely associated with the college.</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=2363">Academics & Research</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=25281">Musical Studies</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25381">History</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25361">Gender, Sexuality, and Feminist Studies</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/musical-studies" hreflang="und">Musical Studies</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/gsfs" hreflang="und">Gender, Sexuality, and Feminist Studies</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/history" hreflang="und">History</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">During the 2020 Winter Term History Design Lab Institute, Brooke Blackmon Bryan, associate professor of writing, aesthetics and digital studies at Antioch College, held a Supporting and Sustaining Oral History-Powered Projects workshop.</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">Yvonne Gay</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Julia Rohde '21 Receives Teaching Residency Fellowship from UPenn</h1> <p>anagy — Wed, 07 Jul 2021 20:21:26 +0000</p> <span>Julia Rohde '21 Receives Teaching Residency Fellowship from UPenn</span> <span><span>anagy</span></span> <span><time datetime="2021-07-07T16:21:26-04:00" title="Wednesday, July 7, 2021 - 16:21">Wed, 07/07/2021 - 16:21</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Throughout their time at 91ֱ��, Julia Rohde '21 always knew that they wanted to be a teacher. Now, Rohde is applying their love of interdisciplinary learning with a fellowship in the University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education.</p> <p>For the next two years, Rohde—a history major with minors in comparative American studies, gender, sexuality, and feminist studies, and the education concentration—will teach middle and upper school English at Riverdale Country School in the Bronx, New York, while simultaneously earning a master’s in education through UPenn’s Independent School Teaching Residency. Throughout the residency, Rohde will work closely with a mentor at Riverdale—where the head of both the middle and upper schools are 91ֱ�� alumni. </p> <p>“I'm incredibly grateful that I attended a liberal arts school where I could explore many different academic interests without focusing solely on a future career,” says Rohde, who is from Valparaiso, Indiana. “As an English teaching fellow at Riverdale, I will get to share my love for interdisciplinary learning with students. I didn't major or minor in English at 91ֱ��, but virtually all of my courses engaged with the discipline and made me a better writer and reader. I am excited to show students that your courses should overlap, and you can make connections across disciplines.”</p> <p>At 91ֱ��, Rohde tutored with America Reads and the <a href="/bcsl/programs/ninde-scholars">Ninde Scholars Program</a>; was a writing associate for <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/rhetoric-and-composition/writing-resources/esol">English for Speakers of Other Languages</a>; and served as a <a href="/dean-of-students/pal">Peer Advising Leader</a>. Rohde also was involved in teaching middle school sex education in 91ֱ�� and worked in the children's department of the 91ֱ�� Public Library through the President's Public Service Fellowship, in addition to being a member of the <a href="http://osca.wilder.oberlin.edu/">91ֱ�� Student Cooperative Association</a> for four years. </p> <p>Following the fellowship, Rohde hopes to continue teaching.</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="2021-07-07T12:00:00Z">Wed, 07/07/2021 - 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 class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2363">Academics & Research</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2377">Arts & Humanities</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=25381">History</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25311">Comparative American Studies</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25361">Gender, Sexuality, and Feminist Studies</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25226">Education Studies</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/history" hreflang="und">History</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/comparative-american-studies" hreflang="und">Comparative American Studies</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/gsfs" hreflang="und">Gender, Sexuality, and Feminist Studies</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">Julia Rohde '21.</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> </main></body></html>