News from the School of IAS

Margaret Chiavetta publishes her first book and discusses why kids need more fictional characters with special needs

Margaret Chiavetta (MFA in Creative Writing & Poetics ’14) has published her first book, The Alchemist’s Theorem: Sir Duffy’s Promise, which is the first book in a planned five-part series. The series features a middle grade hero who registers on the autism spectrum. Recently ParentMap.com conducted an interview with Chiavetta to find out why kids need more fictional characters with special needs. In the interview Chiavetta says:

October 14, 2016

Pedersen, Lambert, and Gustafson facilitate workshop at the Association for Contemplative Mind in Higher Education national conference

IAS faculty members Alice Pedersen, Amy Lambert, and Kristin Gustafson attended the Association for Contemplative Mind in Higher Education national conference in Amherst, MA, where they facilitated a workshop entitled "Risk, Roles, Reflection in Contemplative Learning: Exploring via Liberating Structures." In the workshop, they reflected on the different ways their disciplines position them in relation with their objects of study, and ...

October 12, 2016

Howard Hsu publishes photo essay and article on nuclear waste and the Tao Aborigines in Orchid Island,Taiwan

IAS faculty member Howard Hsu has published a series of photographs and an article in The Diplomat magazine on Taiwan's nuclear waste stored on Orchid Island, home of the Tao Aborigines. The photo essay and article examine the struggle and current political climate for removing the radioactive waste imposed on the indigenous community - originally without their consent or approval. View ...

October 10, 2016

David Nixon and Kristy Leissle publish The Monolith Volume IV: Mostly Dark Matter

IAS faculty members David Nixon and Kristy Leissle stewarded publication of the fourth volume in their annual collection of science fiction short stories. The Monolith Volume IV: Mostly Dark Matter, is now available in print. Since 2013, Nixon and Leissle have published the most philosophically provocative literature by first year students in their Discovery Core I class, Philosophical Explorations of Science Fiction. This year ...

October 6, 2016

Kristin Gustafson publishes three new columns in Clio Among the Media

IAS faculty member Kristin Gustafson published three new columns in Clio Among the Media: Newsletter of the History Division of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication and was re-elected in August as the Division's Teaching Standards Chair. Gustafson’s columns are part of her role. The column published in the spring 2016 issue discusses how online videos make journalism history accessible. The column published in the ...

October 5, 2016

Denise Vaughan interviewed by KING5 on vice presidential debate

IAS faculty member Denice Vaughan was interviewed by Seattle’s KING5 for a segment titled “What to expect in Tuesday's VP Debate.” “I think it's going to be a little boring, and in a good way,” said Vaughan in the segment that aired last night. “They cannot mess up. They need to do well, and that’s the only bar. So, if they do exceptionally well, whatever…but if they do poorly, it could be awful.”

October 4, 2016

Ben Gardner selected as a speaker in Humanities Washington Speakers Bureau

IAS faculty member Ben Gardner was selected as a speaker in Humanities Washington Speakers Bureau, 2017-2018. Humanities Washington sparks conversation and critical thinking using story as a catalyst, nurturing thoughtful and engaged communities across Washington state. The roster of 31 Speakers Bureau presenters is made up of professors, artists, activists, historians, performers, journalists, and others—all chosen not only for their expertise, but also for their ability to inspire discussion with people of all ages and backgrounds. Gardner’s presentation ...

October 4, 2016

Amaranth Borsuk performs and speaks in New York and Colorado

IAS faculty member Amaranth Borsuk was recently in New York to take part in an event at legendary art nonprofit The Kitchen: "Electronic Literature Organization: We Have Always Been Digital." The afternoon of new media writing included established and emerging artists whose born-digital work spans apps, augmented reality, bots, generative poetry, live writing, video, and even work for the Amazon Echo. Hosted and curated by artist Illya Szilak, the event included Abraham Avnisan, John Cayley, David Clark, Caitlin Fisher, Ian Hatcher, Porpentine Charity Heartscape, Flourish Klink, Tan Lin, Nick Montfort, Kia Miakka Natisse, and Allison Parrish. Borsuk also ...

September 28, 2016

Dan Berger participates in roundtable on prisoner organizing and publishes in Black Power 50

IAS faculty member Dan Berger participated in a roundtable discussion for Process, the blog of the Organization of American Historians, on prisoner organizing in the 1960s and 1970s. The three-part roundtable discussed the history of prisoner organizing, research methods for those studying the history of prisons and prisoners, and the relevance of this history and scholarship on contemporary criminal justice policy. Berger also ...

September 23, 2016