Message from the Dean's Office
The summer is speeding along, and we are looking forward to welcoming the class of 2024! First year students, be on the lookout for a special “Welcome to Wilkinson” pride package mid-month. Most students only know their professors as instructors, but Wilkinson faculty are also productive, cutting-edge scholars, artists, and writers. This summer, the dean’s office published the first annual Faculty and Staff Yearbook to catalog a year’s worth of scholarly and creative activity along with significant operational improvements by staff (check out “meet our crew” on Instagram). Take a look at the 2019-20 Faculty and Staff Yearbook online flipbook (or accessible pdf) and learn what your professors are doing when they are not in the classroom!
If you would like to share a story for an upcoming newsletter,
please contact wilkinsoncollege@chapman.edu.
Pictured Above: The Wilkinson College word cloud designed by current Graphic Design student Santina Busalacchi ’21. You can read about Busalacchi's work in our Voice of Wilkinson feature from November.
Funded COVID-19 Research in Ethnic Communities & Mental Health
Dr. Georgiana Bostean (Sociology/Environmental Science & Policy) is a member of two research teams that have been awarded funding for COVID-19 related research. The first seeks to explain differences in health behaviors and outcomes in ethnic communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. The second looks at negative mental health impacts of COVID-19 stay-at-home orders.
Read more about Dr. Bostean's two projects analyzing the growing impact of the pandemic on health, society, and the economy.
Disability Studies Embarks on Innovative Partnership with Engineering
This Fall, "Introduction to Disability Studies" will be co-taught in a partnership between Dr. Art Blaser (Peace Studies/Political Science) and Dr. LouAnne Boyd (Fowler School of Engineering) under a new title worthy of their innovative partnership: “Peace Politics and Human Centered Design and Engineering."
Read more about how the course will bring together students of the humanities and engineering to meld disability theory studies with human-centered design and engineering.
20th Century History Featured in Voces Novae
Celebrating its twelfth anniversary, the latest issue of the award-winning, student-run e-journal Voces Novae: Chapman University Historical Review published by the History Honors Society, includes seven student-written papers, all by senior History majors.
Read our story on the team's editorial process as well as highlights from the students' papers by clicking below.
Career Corner: Higbee & Associates Raise the Bar on Internships
Wilkinson College Career Advisor Erin Berthon writes on internships in a remote landscape, and how one law firm is going above and beyond to give their interns a robust program in professional development and career-readiness.
"Italy Awaits!" Historical Endowment Furthers Italian Studies Program
A generous endowment by Marybelle and Sebastian P. Musco will significantly reduce the cost of travel classes for Italian Studies. The endowment marks a historical moment for the Italian Studies program, fostering its growing regional and national prominence.
While students will have to wait a little longer to fulfill their dreams of travel to Italy the means have been established and the opportunities will soon become a reality.
Faculty Books: Rocks, the Timeless Bridge Between Man and Nature
“Contemporary Viewing Stone Display” is a newly published collaborative work featuring Richard Turner, Department of Art Faculty Emeritus, that provides an alternative perspective on the ancient practice of creating stone displays, including a section of contemporary viewing stone displays from all over the world.
Click below to read the Voice of Wilkinson's conversation with Turner on the new book.
A Return to Campus
We remain hopeful that we will receive approval to return to campus in the fall, even as we exercise caution. As we move forward, we will follow mandated guidelines and adapt to changing circumstances while remaining flexible and patient. Pending the approval of a return to campus, students, faculty and staff will be asked to follow required protocol to stop the spread of COVID-19, including but not limited to wearing face coverings and maintaining physical distancing. Those on campus will also be asked to comply with symptom monitoring and testing. If approved to return in the fall, our campuses will look and feel very different. But, if we work together to stay healthy and slow the spread of COVID-19 we will have a much better chance of remaining on our campuses. Read more about the protocols for the return to campus.
August Events
During the summer, we will be continuing our Engaging the World virtual film series as a prologue to Wilkinson College’s new annual interdisciplinary examination of one pressing societal issue concerning the college-age generation coming Fall 2020.
Our next film, CHISHOLM '72: UNBOUGHT & UNBOSSED features pioneering politician Shirley Chisholm as the subject of this lauded documentary. The nation's first African-American congresswoman, the passionate Chisholm launches a campaign for the nation's presidency in the 1972 election, and wins an impressive amount of support, given the era and the still-prevailing prejudices of many voters. The film takes a close look at her presidential run, providing interviews with Chisholm and the dedicated individuals who worked on her groundbreaking campaign.
On Friday, August 14th from 1 - 2 p.m., join us for a discussion about the film with Dr. Charissa Threat. Access to view the film through Kanopy is only available only to current students, faculty, and students. Others may have access through their local libraries.
Join Special Agent Evette Rivera to learn about the many opportunities with the FBI including the Collegiate Hiring Initiative and the Honors Internship Program.
This is your chance to get an insider's look into what it takes to get into and thrive at the FBI. Hear about the recruitment process, ways to stand out in the application, screening and interview process, organizational culture, diversity initiatives and recruitment practices, and what you can do now to prepare yourself for a successful career with the FBI.
On Tuesday, August 4th at noon the 40 minute discussion will be followed by a 20 minute Q&A, giving you the chance to engage with, and obtain advice from your host — so come with your questions!
Creative & Cultural Industries Podcast
Catalyst: A Creative Industries Podcast
In the final episode of the fourth season, Ryan Haley sits down with Shannon Halverson to discuss what CCI means, and why they believe it is an important part of the Chapman campus. Then Shannon turns the tables, and interviews Ryan about this fall’s podcasting class. They discuss work done in CCI 304 during the fall 2019 semester, and the kinds of changes and improvements he wants to make for the upcoming 2020 fall class.
Listen in to this thrilling wrap up of Catalyst’s fourth season!
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As the Heart and Soul of Chapman University, Wilkinson is constantly making new memories and writing the story of our college.
Be a part of that story.
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Wilkinson Alumni News
Check out what some of our awesome alumni are up to:
Dr. Jessica Ayo Alabi ('99, Peace Studies) is currently the Chair of Sociology, Gender Studies and Ethnic Studies at Orange Coast College as well as the president and owner of Alabi Community Consulting, LLC, an applied sociology, research, and professional development firm.
Noah Fell ('12, Graphic Design) is currently the Lead Marketing Art Director at the global company InMobi, a mobile advertising and marketing company.
Syd Kotar ('19 Political Science, Chemistry) went on to earn their master's in Global and International Studies: Science, Technology and Innovation at the University of Salamanca and now works at Southern California Coastal Water Research Project.
We want to know what you've been doing with your degree!
Submit your news to wilkinsoncollege@chapman.edu.
Support Wilkinson College
Wilkinson College, home to nine departments, numerous centers and programs, and the heart and soul of Chapman University, invites you to support our vibrant intellectual community where our students thrive with a personalized education of distinction that leads to inquiring, ethical, and productive lives as global citizens.
