Greetings from the Dean's Office!
This week marks the beginning of the spring semester, an exciting time of the year as seniors complete their capstone projects and prepare for graduation. We Are Wilkinson extends a special welcome to our new transfer and first-year students, who will soon discover why we fondly refer to Wilkinson as “the heart and soul of Chapman University.” In recognition of Black History month, we have included stories on new art and newspaper database acquisitions that focus on Black lives. We invite our extended Wilkinson community (students, faculty, alumni, parents, and donors) to further explore Black history by attending this month’s Engaging the World: Leading the Conversation on the Significance events. Finally, we are pleased to announce the launch of a new Wilkinson College Parent Council, which you can read about below.
If you would like to share a story for an upcoming newsletter,
please contact wilkinsoncollege@chapman.edu.
Pictured Above: Ivan Forde's piece "Morning Raid," featured in the Escalette Permanent Collection of Art's virtual exhibition: Begin/Again: Marking Black Memories. To read about this art collection, click here.
January 6, 2021: A Day That Will Live In Infamy?
Watch the Office of Research's latest Ask The Experts for a compelling discussion of the unprecedented storming of the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. Faculty from Wilkinson College and Fowler School of Law offered insights into the legacy of the event and the role of social media, politics, and white supremacy.
New Newspaper Database Spurs Research Into Black History
This month students and faculty gain access to a new database which houses nationally distributed, regionally diverse, historical Black newspapers and provides students and faculty with perspectives and information on Black experiences in the 19th and 20th-century life not found in mainstream newspapers.
Formerly incarcerated students attend class taught by Dr. Victoria Carty (Sociology)
Wilkinson Professor Spearheads Partnership with Underground GRIT
The brainchild of Wilkinson College Sociology professor Dr. Victoria Carty, the Chapman University and Underground GRIT Partnership helps students impacted by the criminal justice system re-enter society from juvenile hall, prison, and US Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention by inviting them to participate in courses taught by Chapman University Faculty.
How Grad School Inspires a Sustainable Writing Life
“What’s grad school like?” Elizabeth Tran and Hannah Montante, graduate students in the MFA in Creative Writing program, discuss the challenges of remote instruction and provide their insights into how to view the initial inconveniences of the pandemic as an advantage.
Career Corner: Wilkinson Alum Makes His Dream Into A Career
Career Advisor Erin Berthon spoke with alumni Jeffrey Griffith ('11, History, Business Administration) about how his degree helped him turn his hobby as a hockey card enthusiast into a career as a successful author and businessman.
Black History Matters: New Escalette Acquisitions
In honor of Black History Month, We are Wilkinson is spotlighting two artists whose work the Escalette Collection of Art acquired last year to feature in the Dean's Suite. Both of these works stood out to us because of the meaningful way they memorialize Black lives and history.
February Events
Click to learn more.
February 10, 2021 at 4:00pm
On Wednesday, (February 10th) at 4 p.m., join Wilkinson Alumni Chats for a conversation with alumni Nolan Dunbar ('10, International Relations), where he will discuss his career journey from Chapman University to his position as a writer for the hit show, Jack Ryan.
Photo by Hakeem Adewumi, Untitled, Dallas, Texas, 2020. Purchased with funds from the Ellingson Family.
February 11, 2021 at 10:00am
On Thursday, (February 11) at 10 a.m., join Escalette Collection artist Hakeem Adewumi and Dr. Angelica Allen, Assistant Professor and Co-director of Africana Studies, for Photographing Black Queer Identities, a discussion of Adewumi's work. Central to Adewumi's work is the process of redefining and defying identity through the lens of Blackness and queerness.
Click to enlarge image.
February 12, 2021 at 12:00pm
On Friday (February 12) at 12 p.m., join a discussion with Dr. Prexy Nesbitt (Peace Studies) and Dr. Peter Simi (Sociology) about Driving While Black: Race, Space, and Mobility in America, which chronicles the history and personal experiences of African Americans on the road from the advent of the automobile through the seismic changes of 1960s and beyond.
February 24, 2021 at 6:00pm
On Wednesday (February 24) at 6 p.m., join Engaging the World: Leading the Conversation on the Significance of Race for Black Health Care: Past and Present, a panel discussion co-sponsored by Wilkinson College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences and Crean College of Health & Behavioral Sciences.
Join the Dean and Career Advisor at the Parent Spring Summit on Thursday, February 25 at Noon to learn more about the undergraduate experience within the Wilkinson College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences and resources available to your student to prepare them for a successful career.
Wilkinson College Parent Council
Wilkinson College is excited to announce the formation of its first-ever Parent Council.
Members of the Wilkinson Parent Council will play an integral role supporting the college’s strategic initiatives. Council members will draw upon their professional and personal interests to advise Dean Keene in building the community partnerships and outreach required to fulfill these goals.
The mission of Wilkinson College is to foster rigorous inquiry among our students through a curriculum grounded in the liberal arts that is scholarly, creative, interdisciplinary, and experiential. Wilkinson College plays an important and unique role in the educational journey of every Chapman student and aims to ensure that graduates are prepared to assume their responsibility as global citizens, acting knowledgeably and providing compassionate leadership in our community and world.
Interested parents may contact Wilkinson College Development Coordinator Mary Shockey by email at shockey@chapman.edu.
Wilkinson Alumni News
Check out what some of our awesome alumni are doing:
Connor Traut ('16, Political Science, Economics) was elected Mayor of Buena Vista.
Joanna Nelius ('17, MFA Creative Writing) joined the Game Development Advisory Board at the Dale E. and Sarah Ann Fowler School of Engineering. She was also recently interviewed for two podcasts, Slate.com's "Thrilling Tales of Modern Capitalism" and Lawson Media's "Gameplay," and co-hosts her own podcast, "Tell Us What's in the Box," about relationships in horror media.
Jasmine Smith ('20, Graphic Design) works for Harbor Distributing as a Web to Print designer, where she automates advertising posters for potential accounts to promote their product and brand.
We want to know what you've been doing with your degree!
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