Greetings from the Dean's Office!
This month sees the return of staff, faculty, and students, and it is truly wonderful to see the campus come to life again! This issue of We are Wilkinson contains terrific examples of our faculty’s local community and global outreach, concrete illustrations of the enduring relevance of the arts, humanities, and social sciences. We are concluding the Engaging the World: Leading the Conversation on the Significance of Race with the launch of a
podcast series and two blockbuster events, including a signed book give-away, Robert E. Lee and Me: A Southerner's Reckoning with the Myth of the Lost Cause, to the first forty registrants for the event (see details below). To mark the 51st anniversary of Earth Day, Wilkinson College’s Sixth Annual Public Policy conference will focus on fighting
climate change.
If you would like to share a story for an upcoming newsletter,
please contact wilkinsoncollege@chapman.edu.
Pictured Above: Lisa Sanditz' piece "Color Farm" is featured in the Escalette Permanent Collection of Art's virtual exhibition. According to Sanditz, this work “was inspired by driving by Q-lab in Miami Dade County. Q-lab is a company that tests the durability, lightfastness, weathering, etc. of industrial products, largely by exposing them to the sun." To read more about the piece, click here.
Professor Tom Zoellner Wins 2020 National Book Critics Circle Award in Nonfiction
Professor and New York Times bestselling author Tom Zoellner (English) is the winner of the 2020 National Book Critics Circle Award in Nonfiction for his book, Island on Fire: The Revolt That Ended Slavery in the British Empire, which features a day-by-day account of this transformative uprising, preserving the voices and struggles of Jamaican and enslaved peoples.
"Perseverance" by Arantza Guerena
22nd Annual Holocaust Art & Writing Contest
The Rodgers Center for Holocaust Education and the 1939 Society's Annual Holocaust Art & Writing Contest
welcomed participants from 220 schools from 32 states and 12 different countries.
Students reflected upon their own experiences of isolation, fear, and loss as they created work inspired by “Sharing Strength, Sustaining Humanity" and heard from guest speaker, Holocaust survivor and diarist Peter Feigl.
Dr. Veronique Olivier
Facilitates Virtual Exchange with French Students
Dr. Veronique Olivier's (World Languages and Cultures) project, "Representation of Childhood" was selected for the elite Transitioning to Virtual Exchange program. OIivier received a $7,500 grant awarded to faculty members who are creatively maintaining French-American collaboration by integrating virtual exchange and global learning in their curricula.
Engaging the World: Leading the Conversation on the Significance of Race Podcast Series
Building on the amazing success of the Engaging the World: Leading the Conversation on the Significance of Race initiative, Wilkinson College
announces the launch of a ten-part podcast series that offers additional in-depth conversation with scholars, artists, filmmakers, and activists to explore the themes of racial inequality, systemic racism, racial terrorism, and racial justice and reconciliation.
Kira King ('15)
Career Corner: Alum Kira King & Changing Your Career Trajectory
Career Advisor Erin Berthon sits down with Alum Kira King ('15, Psychology, Business) to discuss changing her career path from entertainment finance to her dream job of being a writer. King shares how Wilkinson College elective coursework significantly impacted her career path and led to success of The Soul in the Mirror, her debut book of poems.
Public Policy Conference: Fighting Climate Change
As the 51st Anniversary of Earth Day approaches, California policy makers will gather at Chapman’s sixth Annual Public Policy Conference, Fighting Climate Change, to examine the details of climate change policy and raise both questions and possible solutions to the issue, focusing on responsible steps that must be taken ensure a greener and safer future.
Gift of the Month
Wilkinson College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences has received a generous gift from friends of Chapman University, Bill and Ronna Shipman whose dream is to provide the next generation of students with a better understanding of our world and country. We are proud to announce that the Shipmans have established the Bill and Ronna Shipman Distinguished Speaker Series in Presidential Studies. This series will be funded with a $90,000 gift over two years and another $125,000 endowment gift over five years, which will continue to fund guest speakers within the Presidential Studies program for many years to come.
If you are interested in having a deeper conversation on how to support your passions through Wilkinson College please contact Mary Shockey, Events and Development Coordinator at shockey@chapman.edu.
Events
Click to learn more.
April 8, 2021 at 7 p.m.
Thursday (April 8) at 7 p.m., attend a Virtual Evening of Holocaust Remembrance, part of the Sharing Strength — Sustaining Humanity Lecture Series hosted by the Rodgers Center for Holocaust Education.
Click to enlarge.
April 12, 2021 at 1 p.m.
Monday (April 12) at 1 p.m., join Engaging the World: Leading the Conversation on the Significance of Race for Robert E. Lee and Me: A Southerner's Reckoning with the Myth of the Lost Cause, a conversation with Dr. Ty Seidule. Dr. Jennifer D. Keene, Dean of Wilkinson College, and Justin Riley,
Associate Director of Student Community Support and Development, will moderate the event, and a complimentary signed copy of Robert E. Lee and Me: A Southerner's Reckoning with the Myth of the Lost Cause will be given to the first 40 registered guests.
Click to enlarge.
April 16, 2021 at 12 p.m.
Friday (April 16) at 12 p.m., join Engaging the World: Leading the Conversation on the Significance of Race and The Delp-Wilkinson Peace Studies Lecture Series for Women in the Forefront of Change in the U.S. and Globally, A Conversation with Barbara Ransby, with an introduction by Professor Prexy Nesbitt, Presidential Fellow in Peace Studies.
Click to learn more.
May 1, 2021 at 11 a.m.
On Saturday (May 1), join the Sebastian Paul and Marybelle Musco Chair in Italian Studies for Food & Culture: An Italian Perspective, a though-provoking celebration of Italian food culture. The event will feature talks by influencers, scholars, and chefs, including Dr. Daniele Struppa, President of Chapman University, Zachary Nowak, Food Historian at Harvard University, Dario Cecchini, Renowned Tuscan butcher from The Chef's Table, and Bruno Serato, Chef and Founder of Caterina's Club.
Commencement Updates
The largest and most festive event of the academic year is here. Join Chapman graduates, family, and alumni to celebrate the graduation of the Class of 2020 and the Class of 2021!
Wilkinson College Commencement will be held Sunday, August 1, 2021, at 11 a.m. for 2020 graduates and Sunday, August 8, 2021, at 11 a.m. for 2021
graduates.
There is no limit to how many guests students may invite to their ceremony, however, they will be required to reserve tickets on guests’ behalf. A link to reserve tickets will be available in June. Guests who cannot attend in person may view livestream of the ceremony provided by Chapman University that can be viewed at several locations on or off campus.
Visit the Commencement Website frequently for updates and other important information. Chapman University looks forward to celebrating our student's achievements.
Students must submit their RSVP between April 15 and May 31, 2021 to guarantee their name is listed in the printed program. Late RSVPs submitted between June 1 to July 29, 2021 will not be guaranteed a name listing in the printed program, although students will still be able to participate in Commencement ceremonies.
Deadline to order regalia without expedited shipping costs: June 24, 2021.
Final Deadline for students' RSVP to participate in a commencement ceremony: July 26, 2021.
Wilkinson Alumni News
Check out what some of our awesome alumni are doing:
Ryan Gattis ('01, English) recently published his fourth novel, The System, a crime-thriller set in South L.A.
Naomi Coe ('05, Studio Art) wrote her first book, Your Perfect Nursery: A Step-By-Step Approach to Creating the Nursery of your Dream, set to be released on April 6. Coe founded @littlecrowninteriors, an interior design studio.
Dew Heskett ('14, Broadcast Journalism, Anthropology) is the official Presidential Videographer for President Joe Biden and worked as the traveling videographer for the Biden-Harris campaign and transition.
We want to know what you've been doing with your degree!
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