November 2021

Message from the Dean

Hello everyone,

I hope November is off to a great start for you. I would like to offer an early recognition of our friends and colleagues who served our country, as we approach Veteran’s Day on Thursday.

There are a host of accomplishments noted by community members below. Congratulations to Melissa Stuart, MNPL ’15, elected to the Redmond City Council and Toshiko Grace Hasegawa, BACJ '10 and MACJ ’19, elected to the Port of Seattle Commission.

We are also very happy to share the $1M endowment gift to the Indigenous People’s Institute we received earlier this week. We talked about grant support in the All-College meeting on Tuesday, several opportunities are listed below. More events are coming back in person, including the first in-person theater in the Lee Center since 2019, starting Wednesday, November 10.

Shared Governance

David V. Powers, Dean, College of Arts and Sciences, Seattle University

Faculty

Ken Allan, PhD, Associate Professor, Art History, published a review of “Black Refractions: Highlights from the Studio Museum in Harlem” in College Art Association’s open-access online journal. The exhibition toured to Seattle’s Frye Museum this past summer.

John H. Armstrong, PhD, Assistant Professor, Environmental Studies, published “Taking control to do more: how local governments and communities can enact ambitious climate mitigation policies,” in the Journal of Environmental Policy & Planning. While local governments have emerged as policy leaders on climate change, evidence indicates that many of the policies enacted do not significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This study focuses on ambitious climate policymaking, examining the stakeholders involved and their concerns, including the role of local control. The study analyzes Community Choice Aggregation in California, an impactful climate policy that local governments have pursued throughout the state over the past decade. A qualitative-driven approach is used, including interviews with policymakers and stakeholders in five areas of the state that adopted the policy and two areas that voted against it. An interconnected effort of local elected officials and grassroots groups led the policymaking process, driven by concern about climate change and a desire for local control. Grassroots engagement can be critical in building support and coalitions for ambitious climate policies. Stakeholders and governments embraced local control to shape policies to match their priorities and achieve a variety of co-benefits.

Onur Bakiner, PhD, Associate Professor, Political Science, published an article titled “Truth Commission Impact on Policy, Courts, and Society” in the Annual Review of Law and Social Science.

Andrew G. Bjelland, Professor Emeritus, Philosophy, published “How can the American eagle fly on one wing?

Rebecca Cobb, PhD, LMFT, Assistant Clinical Professor and Clinical Coordinator, Couples and Family Therapy has been offered a book deal with Routledge for her proposal for an edited book on “The Therapist’s Notebook for Systemic Teletherapy: Creative Interventions for Effective Online Therapy.”

Kathleen Cook, PhD, Chair and Professor, Psychology, the primary investigator for NSF RED grant “Revolutionizing Engineering Education through Industry Immersion and a Focus on Identity,” presented Building Design Experience and a Greater Sense of Community through an Integrated Design Project at the Frontiers in Education conference in October. This work extends a paper presented at the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) in June 2021, Making the “New Reality” More Real: Adjusting a Hands-On Curriculum for Remote Learning. The paper, Engineering with Engineers: Fostering Engineering Identity, was also presented at ASEE 2021.

Christie Eppler, PhD, LMFT, Program Director and Professor, Couples and Family Therapy, will present “Ultimate Mysteries in Systemic Therapy” at the virtual Systemic Family Therapy Conference, November 10 to 12. She presented “Meaningful Experiences of Relational Teletherapists during the Coronavirus” for Seattle University's Office of Sponsored Projects Lightening Talks on October 28.

Brooke Gialopsos, PhD, Assistant Professor, Criminal Justice, Criminology, and Forensics, o-authored a chapter entitled: “Fear of terrorism: Nature, reactions, and consequences” in the book “Theories of terrorism: Contemporary perspectives.”

Kimberly Harden, EdD, Instructor, Communication and Media, was interviewed by KIRO TV for “Gonzalez withdraws attack ad condemned as racist.

Jacqueline Helfgott, PhD, Professor, Criminal Justice, Criminology, and Forensics, and Director, Crime & Justice Research Center, and William Parkin, PhD, Associate Professor, Criminal Justice, Criminology, and Forensics, published an Op-Ed with Crosscut, “Seattle survey wants to know: How do you feel about public safety?

Audrey Hudgins, EdD, Clinical Associate Professor, Matteo Ricci Institute, presented her work on assessment in community-engaged learning contexts at the October 2021 Assessment Institute hosted by Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI). Her presentation, titled “Civic Identity Development in a Critical Service-Learning Context: (De)constructing identity, power, and privilege using the Civic-Minded Graduate Rubric 2.0,” was based on her 2020 article in the Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education. The session was moderated by Dr. Kristi Lee, SU College of Education. She also hosted Mexican colleagues Elena Ayala Gali, chair of the International Relations Department at Universidad Iberoamericana Puebla, and Fr. Alfredo Zepeda, SJ and Monica Cuetara of Radio Huayacocotla, for a 10-day visit to Washington state to begin the research design process for a bi-national project examining the experiences of H2A migrant workers in Wenatchee valley and the experiences of their families in Huayacocotla.

Marco Lowe, MPA, Adjunct Faculty, Institute of Public Service, was interviewed by KOMO 4 News for “Davison leads in race for Seattle City Attorney.”

Kira Mauseth, PhD, Senior Instructor, Psychology, spoke to Seattle Met for the article, “Some of Us Are in a Disaster Cascade.”

Alexander Mouton, MFA, Chair and Associate Professor, Art, Art History, and Design, was a 2020 King County Art Projects Grant recipient through 4Culture and was an SU 2020 Summer Faculty Fellowship recipient for his photobook project, To A Place in Time, Held Within Four Walls.

Christopher Paul, PhD, Professor, Communication, appeared on Twitch with Saffista, on “Theory Questing with Christopher Paul.”

James Risser, PhD, Professor, Philosophy, recently published several book chapters and articles. “The Task of Understanding in Arendt and Gadamer.” Arendt Studies, vol. 5 (2021); “Philosophical Hermeneutics, Language and the Communicative Event,” in The Cambridge Companion to Gadamer, 2nd revised ed., Cambridge University Press; “Poetry, Art, and the Arts,” in The Gadamerian Mind, Routledge; “Heraclitean Hermeneutics,” in Tidvatten: Festskrift till till Hans Ruin, Södertörn Philosophical Studies.

Carmen Rivera, MA, Criminal Justice, Criminology & Forensics, was interviewed for “King County Conservatives Discredit Progressive POC Candidates as ‘Defund’ Extremists” for the South Seattle Medium.

Patrick Schoettmer, PhD, Instructor, Political Science, was interviewed by KOMO 4 News for “Updated elections results show Bruce Harrell maintains strong lead over M. Lorena González.”

Kirsten Moana Thompson, PhD, Professor and Director, Film Studies, co-edited “Animation and Advertising,” with Malcolm Cook. The book received a commendation by the McLaren-Lambart Award for Best Scholarly Book in Animation Studies, Society for Animation Studies in October, 2021.  The Adjudication Committee said “ Animation and Advertising sets a new bar with the astonishing breadth of its historical and industrial scope, as well as the scholarly depth of its numerous individual case studies. The book definitively establishes a close and reciprocal relationship between animation and advertising, which has been woefully neglected by decades of scholarship in both fields.” The book also received the Honorable Mention for Best Edited Collection from the British Association for Film, Television and Screen Studies in April, 2021.

Charles M. Tung, PhD, Professor and Chair, English, co-organized the roundtable “Posthuman Scale and the Care to Come” and presented “Scenes of Instruction and Education in Deep Time” at the Association for the Study of the Arts of the Present Conference, Oct 27-30, 2021.  Tung was invited to participate in the media studies symposium Do Memes Think? at the Viceroy Chicago, sponsored by the Arts and Humanities Council at Indiana University, Bloomington, Nov. 4-6, 2021.

Sam Howe Verhovek, BA, Adjunct Faculty, Public Affairs and Environmental Studies, appeared at Town Hall Seattle on November 5 to discuss his book, “Invisible People: Stories of Lives at the Margins,” a tribute to the work of his friend and former colleague, the late Pulitzer Prize–winning writer Alex Tizon. Appearing with him in conversation was Tizon’s widow, Melissa Tizon.

Zachary D. Wood, PhD, Assistant Professor, Institute of Public Service, was interviewed by KOMO News for “Seattle U professor breaks down policy differences on homelessness in Seattle mayor race.” He is quoted in a national Reuters story, “Democratic cries to 'defund police' fade in U.S. mayoral races as crime surges.”  He was also elected to the Board of Directors of the Community Development Society, a 50-year-old professional association of community development scholars and practitioners.

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Alumni

Toshiko Grace Hasegawa, BACJ '10 and MACJ ’19,  was elected to the Port of Seattle Commission.

Sonia Nelson, MFA ’16, was named the first Development Coordinator for Donkey Mill Art Center in Holualoa, Hawaii.

Janelle Simms, MFA ’16, joined SU Advancement as Assistant Director. Previously, she worked with American Diabetes Association (ADA) where she served as a Development Manager, and an Associate Manager of Donor Relations, for the past four years. She also managed Tour de Cure—the ADA’s big giving-day style event—honing complex project and event management, volunteer coordination, and multi-channel marketing skills.

Melissa Stuart, MNPL ’15, was elected to the Redmond City Council.  As a nonprofit leader, Melissa has championed the well-being of kids and families in our region.

Stephanie Verdoia, Political Science, ’15, was interviewed for “Prepare, work hard, learn and grow: Life lessons learned by former Brighton athlete.” She was a award-winning SU soccer player and is now a lawyer with a Seattle firm.

Debra Webb, MFA'13 has co-founded Future Arts, a hybrid non-profit/creative agency bridging art, technology, and community. The mission of Future Arts is to unleash a pulse of togetherness that cultivates cultural and creative disturbances.

Charlotte West, History and International Studies, ’02, joined Open Campus in their first cohort of national reporters. She will cover the future of postsecondary education in prisons, writing in-depth stories, publishing a regular newsletter, and collaborating on projects with their Local Network of higher education reporters.

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Students

Bree Calhoun, major in Communication and Media, Strategic Communication, and McKenzi Williams, Bachelor of Social Work Candidate, were both honored the Western Athletic Conference preseason awards. Calhoun earned Preseason All-WAC Second Team in both coaches' and media voting, while Williams earned Second Team in the coaches' voting.

Amanda Feng, MFA'21 recently joined Future Arts (co-founded by MFA alum Debra Webb), bringing strategic marketing and social media acumen to our team of womxn-led creative disruptors.

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Announcements

College of Arts and Sciences Works in Progress Series
Professors Andrew Johnson and Alexander Mouton will discuss their projects on November 18, 12:30-1:30 p.m. on Zoom. Please join us to learn of our colleagues' fascinating work and give them feedback. Quite serendipitously, the two topics in this first event have a synergy in their interrogation of authoritarianism through the lenses of social science and art.

  • Professor Andrew Johnson (Political Science): Bureaucrats with Guns: or, how we can abolish the police if we just stop believing in them
  • Alexander Mouton (Art, Art History, and Design): To A Place of Time, Held Within Four Walls

Videos: Newest Events
The recording of the Indigenous Peoples Institute Second Annual Honoring Indigenous Voices: Interweaving the Work of Storytelling and its Relationship to Inner Growth is available on the event website here.

The video recordings of three events are available on our Arts, Lectures, and Events page.

  • A Conversation with Judge LaDoris Hazzard Cordell:  In “Her Honor”, Judge LaDoris Hazzard Cordell provides a rare and thought-provoking insider account of our legal system, sharing vivid stories of the cases that came through her courtroom and revealing the strengths, flaws, and much-needed changes within our courts. Joining her in this conversation was Judge Anita Crawford-Willis, a graduate of Seattle University and its Law School, Presented by Elliott Bay Book Company; Northwest African American Museum; and Seattle University College of Arts and Sciences, Criminal Justice, Criminology & Forensics Department; School of Law; and Black Law Student Association.
  • A Conversation with Tamiko Namura: Dr. Nalini Iyer, Pigott-McCone Endowed Chair in the Humanities. and the English Department welcomed Dr. Tamiko Nimura, who spoke about her recent book, “We Hereby Refuse: Japanese American Resistance to Wartime Incarceration.” This graphic novel about Japanese Americans is co-authored with Frank Abe and artists Ross Ishikawa and Matt Sasaki.
  • Homelessness: After All the Time and Effort, Why Is It Getting Worse?: panelists include: Marc Dones (they/them), CEO of the King County Regional Homelessness Authority; Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan (she/her); Tiffani McCoy (she/her), advocacy director for Real Change News; and Jon Scholes (he/him), president and CEO of the Downtown Seattle Association. The event was moderated by Larry Hubbell, professor at Seattle University, and Joni Balter, contributing columnist and lecturer at SU.

Department of Performing Arts and Arts Leadership
Is seeking a full-time, tenure track, Assistant Professor in Arts Leadership, beginning fall quarter 2022. Responsibilities for this position include teaching arts management courses at the graduate and undergraduate level, progressive and continuing scholarship (which may include scholarship based on professional practice), advising students, supervising graduate thesis projects, and departmental and university service. See the full job description and apply here

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Pathways to Professional Formation

Planning for LinkUp, our annual mentoring event, is underway. Save the date: January 26, 2022 from 4 to 6 p.m. More to come soon.

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Recruitment and Retention

Thank you to everyone who helped with Fall Preview Day on November 6.

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Funding Opportunities

Association for the Sociology of Religion - Fichter Research Grant – February 1, 2022 deadline

Fichter Research Grants are awarded annually by ASR to members of the Association involved in promising sociological research on women in religion or on the intersection between religion and gender or religion and sexualities.  The proposed research must be sociological in nature but applicants come from a variety of disciplines.  Applicants must also be members of the Association for the Sociology of Religion at the time of application.

NEA Grants for Arts Projects – February 11, 2022 deadline

These grants support artistically excellent projects that celebrate our creativity and cultural heritage, invite mutual respect for differing beliefs and values, and enrich humanity. Cost share/matching grants generally range from $10,000 to $100,000. A minimum cost share/match equal to the grant amount is required.

NEH Summer Institutes for Higher Education Faculty – February 15, 2022 deadline

This NEH program provides higher education faculty across the nation the opportunity to broaden and deepen their engagement with the humanities.  The one- to four-week professional development programs allow participants to explore recent developments in scholarship, teaching, and/or curriculum through study of a variety of humanities topics. Seminars provide a focused environment in which sixteen participants study a specific humanities topic under the guidance of established scholars.  Seminars have few, if any, visiting faculty.  Seminars emphasize sustained interaction among the participants and project director(s) through discussion of common readings and conversations about scholarship and teaching.  Substantial time is made available for reflection, work on independent or collaborative projects, and related advising. Institutes allow twenty-five to thirty-six participants to study a humanities topic with a team of experienced scholars.  Institutes typically have more meeting time than seminars.  Project leaders and participants mutually explore connections between scholarship and teaching.  Some time is reserved for work on individual or collaborative projects. 

Department of Education - Undergraduate International Studies and Foreign Language Program  - expected March deadline

This program provides funds to plan, develop, and carry out programs to strengthen and improve undergraduate instruction in international studies and foreign languages.

NEA Creative Writing Fellowships – expected March deadline

The National Endowment for the Arts Literature Fellowships program offers $25,000 grants in prose (fiction and creative nonfiction) and poetry to published creative writers that enable recipients to set aside time for writing, research, travel, and general career advancement. The program operates on a two-year cycle with fellowships in prose and poetry available in alternating years. For FY2023 (March 2022 deadline) fellowships in poetry are available and guidelines will be available in January 2022.

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Of Gifts and Gratitude

Indigenous Peoples Institute

Please join the Indigenous Peoples Institute in raising our hands in gratitude for the just over $1 million dollar donation received this month. Our benefactor is a long-time friend of Fr. Pat Twohy who dedicated their career to education. This is the largest single gift received for IPI and one of the largest gifts given to the college.

Seattle U Gives – Save the Date February 24, 2022

The Arts and Sciences 2021 Seattle U Gives campaign was our most successful yet, and it’s due to the many departments and programs who participated.

Now is the time to get ready and plan out your involvement in this year’s 24-hour online giving day. You have the opportunity to set up a dedicated fundraising page and challenge to entice your alumni, friends and community partners to support your work.

Arts and Sciences Marketing and Communications will have an extensive social media campaign leading up to and through the day, so your messages will be amplified.

We (Kathleen Jones and Katie Chapman) will reach out to each program to line up some basic details to get your program set up – please participate. We will need the following from you:

  • The contact who will send emails/post on social media (at least 1 can be more)
  • Nomination of any alumni/donors who may support a challenge gift (Katie can follow up on asking them)
  • Two to three preferred images that represent your department
  • One to three sentences about your department and how donations may help.
  • We will need this information before the December holiday break.

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Events

Wayfinder
Now through mid-March, Wednesday - Saturday, 1 - 6 p.m.
Hedreen Gallery, Lee Center for the Arts
We are proud to reopen for the Fall 2021 Faculty and Staff Exhibition. This event marks the reopening of the gallery after 18 months of closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Works on view in this exhibition represent a snapshot of the creative lives and conversations that are a part of this vibrant arts program. Some artists and scholars have chosen to share their most recent work, others share work in progress, and others revisit works from years past. The department invites viewers to enjoy these works in conversation, meet the visual arts team, and reconnect with community in the gallery setting. This exhibition features artwork and scholarship from Dawn Cerny, Francisco Guerrero, Alexander Mouton, Naomi Kasumi, Claire Garoutte, Arturo Araujo, Josef Venker, Trung Pham, Em Olson, Melinda Hurst Frye, Tara Champion, Lucas Boyle, and Hasaan Kirkland. 

In addition to viewing works in the physical gallery, please enjoy our online exhibitions, Favorites 2021 and Short Run Slideshow Series running online through December 2021

The Vampire or The Bride of the Isles
November 10-14,  Lee Center for the Arts, purchase tickets here.
The most popular melodrama of 1820 London returns to life in new modern adaptation! Directed in a “live radio theatre” format, the audience will watch a small cast playing many characters, creating the sounds, scenes and voices in this good versus evil tale of dark doings on a romantic island off the coast of Scotland. Adaptation and Direction: Ki Gottberg; Set: Visiting Guest Artist and Professor Emeritus Carol Wolfe Clay; Sound: Dominic CodyKramers Costumes: Harmony Arnold; Lights: Amiya Brown. Extremely limited COVID-safe seating and all SU policies in place.

Homecoming 2021
November 11-14, on Campus and beyond.
Check out the schedule here.

Kinesiology Mobile Lab Open House
November 16, 12:30-1:30 p.m., in front of the Jim and Janet Sinegal Center for Science and Innovation.
The mobile lab will provide undergraduate and graduate students valuable research opportunities in communities throughout the region. The mobile lab will demonstrate Seattle U’s commitment to community engagement in a variety of partners. It also illustrates the potential for developing interdisciplinary approaches to field research, engaging a wide variety of sectors with interest in human function and performance and the positive impact that exercise can have on the whole person. Join us for special demonstrations.

The Art of Perception
November 16, 6-8 p.m., Casey Commons
Amy Herman is a lawyer and art historian who uses works of art to sharpen observation, analysis, and communication skills. Seattle U COVID-19 safety protocol information here.

All is Bright
December 4, 7:30 p.m. (premiere), YouTube
Seattle University Choirs present a seasonal celebration in song and word. Dr. Leann Conley-Holcom, Director; Dr. Lee Peterson, Assistant Director and Pianist. Featuring University Chorale, Chamber Singers & University Singers. Watch it here.

LinkUp: An Alumni and Student Mentoring Event
Save the Date: January 26, 4-6 p.m.
More details to come An informal event where Arts & Sciences undergraduate and graduate students meet alumni, discover shared interests, discuss professional plans and ideas, and learn from their experience.

Eurydice by Sarah Ruhl
February 16-27, various times,
Lee Center for the Arts
Presented by Seattle University Theatre. Directed by Sunam Ellis. Dying tragically on her wedding day, Eurydice is prematurely plunged into the underworld. Reunited with her father there, she struggles to remember her past life and love. Filled with fantastical characters roaming a surreal landscape, this contemporary retelling of the traditional Orpheus myth, recenters the hero's journey on the heroine, in a touching, darkly comic examination of loss and love. More information here.

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College and Academic Calendar

Academic Calendar

Find the most recent Academic Calendar dates here.

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Graduate Program Information Sessions and Open Houses

The Dean’s Monthly Memo is published the second full week of the month, September through December and February through June. Send your updates at any time to Karen Bystrom. The next deadline is Tuesday, November 30 for the December memo. A reminder that we do not publish in January.