Spring Magazine Dean’S Welcome Spring 2015
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Spring Magazine Dean’s Welcome Spring 2015 We welcome spring and the beauty of its message, both literal and figurative, that this is a time to start fresh, to bloom, and to smell the roses. The School of Humanities is itself springing forward—six faculty books have published since January with three more coming out in April, innovative new courses are being offered, our students are completing award-winning research and we continue to build relationships with foundations and community leaders who believe in our mission. Inside of this magazine, we pick up from where we left off in our Annual Report. You’ll get an in-depth look at what our faculty, students and alumni are accomplishing. I express my gratitude to professors Jonathan Alexander, Erika Hayasaki, Tiffany Willoughby-Herard, Claire Jean Kim and Kristen Hatch for sharing their latest research with us; to students Jessica Bond and Jazmyne McNeese for letting us see how studying the humanities is shaping their worldviews and life ambitions; and to alumnae Pheobe Bui and Aline Ohanesian for showing us where a humanities education has taken them today. I encourage you to keep in touch with us and the school’s latest developments by joining on us Facebook and Twitter and by staying tuned every second Tuesday of the month for timely faculty-led insight into today’s most topical issues via Humanities Headlines, our exclusive webinar series. If you are local, take a look at the events listed at the end of the magazine--we’d love to see you there. Sincerely, Georges Van Den Abbeele Dean, School of the Humanities SCHOOL UPDATES SPRING | 2015 3 Humanities Studio Embodies UCI’s Global Mission with Language Tools & World-Class space where students and faculty can learn, teach, and conduct research with support from staff who understand their needs,” said Franz. Knowing multiple languages and how to deftly utilize and navigate Adding to this theme of engagement is the wealth of historic art a range of technologies are arguably two of the most important currently available for viewing throughout the studio. Acquired by skills a global citizen can have. Globalization and technology make Graham Arader, a well-known his¬tor¬ical art dealer and founder of it increasingly seamless to connect with others around the world, Arader Gal¬leries, and facilitated by Georges Van Den Abbeele, dean but also more necessary than ever to create multilingual citizens of the School of Humanities, the studio now features natural history who understand the histories, values and traditions of other watercolors, woodcuts, engravings, lithographs, chromolithographs cultures. and maps dating from the 16th to 19th centuries and valued at approximately $1 million. The School of Humanities has offered instructional and technological services to both students and faculty since its founding 50 years ago that aim to create this type of citizen. Originally called the Language Lab and housed in what was called the Humanities/ Fine Arts building (now Murray Krieger Hall & Humanities Hall), Humanities Studio/Academic Resources & Technology has seen many transformations over the years. Working in tandem with Humanities Computing, the studio houses three computer labs, audio visual equipment and other technological tools, offers language-learning services, hosts the SPEAK test, and provides a “We want to foster an environment where students can look up venue for workshops and other events. from their computer screens to enjoy and learn about the varied botanical prints, maps, and other treasures that can enhance their Judi Franz, Director of Humanities Studio, who came into studies in the Humanities,” said Franz. Several classes in history and employment by the School of Humanities in 1988, has led many Humanities Core have already given assignments to their students of the changes to the studio’s technology-based academic services. that incorporate our art installation. When Franz began her tenure in the then Language Learning As we celebrate the continual growth of the Humanities Studio, we Resource Center, she was featured in the Daily Pilot in an article also express our gratitude to Franz and wish her the best of luck as about the center and its translation referral services. In the article, she moves into a new role in campus wide classroom technology Franz recalls the time a woman in labor needed an Arabic translator support. Dwayne Pack, director of computing for the School of and mentions the center’s language-learning videotapes. As we Humanities, will be taking on primary administrative responsibility. near the 50-year anniversary of UC Irvine’s establishment, this article reminds us how far both the center/studio and technology The Humanities AR&T studio is open to the public, with limited have come. Franz has guided the studio’s transition from analog hours. Because it is a technology lab and student resource center, to digital, added a small teleconference space, and hosted an the schedule varies each week. There are weekly calendars posted international conference on language learning technology. outside of the gallery space, as well as on its website here. Last year, Franz led the rebranding of the space, changing its name If you’d like more information, or to schedule your visit in advance, from the Humanities Instructional Resource Center (“HIRC”) to the please contact Arianne Schultheis, Operations Manager, at (949) Humanities Studio/Academic Resources & Technology. The name 824-6344 or [email protected]. change is meant to reflect that the studio “is an active, productive Art History Internship Thrives Thanks to the generosity of the Friends of Art History, the department has collaborated with the San Diego Museum of Art’s Department of Asian Art to offer a paid internship with curator Dr. Marika Sardar. Please contact the department of Art History for more information. La Casa Nuestra AHUA members gathered in the Neoclassical Panel room at the La Casa Nuestra is an on-campus living-learning residence Getty Center. (L-R) Effie Seong, Chelsea Trinh / Back Row (L-R) Gladys Preciado, Philana Li, Paulina Daquiz, Leilani Yamanishi, Alex Garcia, Nadya Kasimoff, and Eric Colbert. Photo credit: Chelsea designed for students seeking a way to study the Spanish Trinh language and culture in an immersed environment. To that end, participating in-residence students have signed a NEW Religious Studies pledge to hablar español (“Spanish only”) on a daily basis, as House long as they are “at home” at La Casa Nuestra. Professor Emeritus Keith Nelson and Krista Kernodle, resident advisor have organized informal faculty “fireside chats” (with refreshments) for interested students. Professor Cecelia Lynch January events included friendly and informal conversation spoke on January 15 on religion and humanitarianism. Professor exchanges with UCI’s Spanish faculty, a home-cooked Jack Miles spoke on February 12 on the history and practice potluck dinner with the Dean and Professor Armin of religious conversion. On March 3, professor Roxanne Varzi spoke on religion and the Middle East – the Culinary Arts house Schwegler. In February, La Casa hosted a salsa dancing event residents were invited, and a Persian supper was served. The in their common room. Religious Studies house will host the Honors house in April. Religious Studies House is located at #1050 in the Arroyo Vista “We are happy to see the growing warmth of this residence housing village. community and are proud to sponsor this house” – Hector Limon, UCI Arroyo Vista Housing Students who are interested in the Religious Studies House in 2015-2016 should indicate their interest now to RS House faculty advisor Prof. Emeritus Keith Nelson ([email protected]). SPRING | 2015 5 State of the School Breakfast The School of Humanities hosted its inaugural State of the School Breakfast Briefing event, which provided an informal and intimate opportunity for select donors to hear the latest updates from the school, and to share in the Dean’s vision for the future of the humanities at UC Irvine. We were pleased to host 20 of our close friends and community leaders in early February for a traditional breakfast spread and informational report, delivered by Dean Georges Van Den Abbeele, Associate Dean for Research, Julia Lupton, and Associate Dean for Curricular Development, Jim Herbert. Our guests shared that this breakfast was a great way to kick-start their week, and that they were pleased to learn about our recent faculty and student accolades, our burgeoning community partnerships and outreach programs, the launch of new inter-school initiatives, and our forthcoming endowed chairs in Armenian Studies and in Indic Religious and Civilizational Studies. To view the Dean’s presentation and remarks, click here to watch the 30-minute video. New Courses/Reqs Art History • New course: Ancient Empires, focusing on the interconnections between India and Iran from c. 600 BCE through 600 CE. Film & Media Studies • Working with the Art Department on a digital production minor History • Revised requirements for the major • New course topics include: Terrorism, Global Crises, Soccer, Global Warming, Genocide, Bioscience: Ethic and Diversity (which is a new partnership with Public Health), Japan’s Modern Revolutions, California Dreaming, The Two Koreas, Technological India, US Urban/Suburban development, What to Eat (food history) • Continuing to grow its history internship class, offered in the Fall Spanish and Portuguese • New graduate seminar on “Gender and Revolution in Mexico” Humanities Network Receives Competitive $5.7M Grant The Humanities Network, overseen by UCI-based UC Humanities Research Institute, will support humanities research, UC-wide This January, the UC Office of the President announced that the Humanities Network received a prestigious UC Multicampus Research Programs and Initiatives award (“MRPI”) for $5.7M. MRPI awards support innovative multi-campus research collaborations that strengthen UC’s position as a leading public Homecoming research university.