Greetings from the Dean's Office!
Happy New Year! We begin 2022 with the challenge of negotiating (once again) the ebbs and flows of the pandemic, but also with renewed appreciation for all the exciting undertakings detailed in this edition of We are Wilkinson. In December, our new Student Advisory and Leadership Council hosted a wildly successful Wilkinson Winterfest gathering to celebrate the end of the fall semester with games, crafts, ice-cream, and Wilkinson pride merchandise raffles! The Council meets monthly with the Dean, engaging in conversation and collaboration to enhance the student experience within Wilkinson College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences.
If you would like to share a story for an upcoming newsletter,
please contact wilkinsoncollege@chapman.edu.
Pictured Above: The Wilkinson College Student Advisory & Leadership Council at Wilkinson Winterfest! Pictured (left to right): Ru Chen ('23, Art History), Bell Wyman ('22, Sociology), Taylor Banks ('23, History, Business), Marisa Quezada ('22, Sociology), Nicole Katz ('22, Political Science, Sociology), Victoria Mas (22, Sociology), Lauren Bramlett ('23, English Literature & Rhetoric, Dance), Owen Agbayani ('25, English Literature & Rhetoric), Kaye Valdez ('22, Creative Writing, Political Science), Bernadine Cortina ('24, English Literature & Rhetoric).
Toshio Yamane, #180, photography, c. 1986
First-Year Students Curate "This Land is Your Land" Art Exhibition
The students in Dr. Fiona Shen’s First Year Focus (FFC) class, “Exploring the Escalette Collection of Art: An Experiential Journey,” collaboratively curated an art exhibition for Wilkinson College's Engaging the World: Leading the Conversation on Environmental Justice initiative. The exhibition, located on the first floor of Roosevelt Hall, offers commentary on themes of environmental injustice.
Women's & Gender Studies Celebrates Inaugural FEMFEST 2021
The Women’s and Gender Studies (WGST) interdisciplinary program hosted their first FEMFEST, a (soon-to-be annual) event where WGST students, instructors, and friends gathered to celebrate feminist scholarly work and to build a stronger feminist community on campus. Dr. Angelica Allen (Africana Studies), Micol Hebron (Art), and CK Magliola (Women's and Gender Studies) gave mini-lectures in addition to student and guest performances highlighting feminist art.
Pictured (left to right): Wilkinson College Dean Jennifer Keene, Dr. Bill Tsutsui, Executive Vice President, Provost, and Chief Academic Officer Norma Bouchard, and Dr. Alexander Bay (History).
Dr. Tsutsui Talks Godzilla & Environmental Anxiety
Engaging the World: Leading the Conversation on Environmental Justice
welcomed Dr. Bill Tsutsui, award-winning scholar and Godzilla superfan, who presented “Godzilla and the Imagination of Anxiety, from Hiroshima to COVID-19.” Tsutsui explored how Godzilla served as a medium through which the Japanese people reclaimed their identity post-World War II, and a tool for understanding and controlling environmental threats, past and present.
Faculty Books: Being Somebody & Black Besides
“Being Somebody and Black Besides: An Untold Memoir of Midcentury Black Life” by George B. Nesbitt, co-edited by Prexy Nesbitt and Zeb Larson, is the story of a Midwestern Black family living through the tumultuous twentieth century. "I promised him that I would somehow get his ‘SOMEBODY,’ published" said Presidential Fellow in Peace Studies Prexy Nesbitt, who turned co-editing his uncle’s memoir into a labor of love.
Career Corner: Advice for December Graduates
Career Manager Erin Berthon discusses the internships and employment opportunities available to students graduating early. Find out how you can set yourself apart from the rest and take advantage of early graduation as a career-building opportunity.
Gift of the Month
During this holiday season, we wish to thank the Wilkinson faculty and staff that have given generously to the support of Wilkinson College throughout the year. Dr. William Cumiford (’63, Alumnus and Professor of History) is an advocate of Wilkinson College’s Engaging the World: Leading the Conversation programing and all things Chapman. We are thankful and humbled by his gift to the Wilkinson College Fund for Academic
Excellence. Due to his generosity, Wilkinson College will continue to promote its discussions on humanity, unity, and justice and strive to graduate students
as global citizens.
Wilkinson Parent Council
Wilkinson College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences is excited to announce the formation of its first-ever Parent Council. If you are interested in drawing upon your professional and personal interests to work with Dean Jennifer Keene and support Wilkinson’s strategic interests, or you would like more information, contact Mary Shockey
Parent Spring Summit
Save the date! Friday and Saturday, February 11 and 12, join us for several events, including the annual State of the University Address, presented by Daniele C. Struppa, Tours, Meet the Career Advisors, Faculty Master Classes, and more.
Friday, February 11 at 1 p.m.
“This Land is Your Land” Student-Curated Art Exhibition Tour
Join the Escalette Permanent Art Collection for a guided art tour through Roosevelt Hall, home of Wilkinson College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences. View a student-curated art exhibit about environmental injustice, "This Land is Your Land," as well as recent acquisitions in Smith Hall. The tour begins at the front steps of Roosevelt Hall. Limited space available.
Saturday, February 12 at 1 pm.
A Chat with the Dean & Special Presentation with Career Manager
Attend "Dialogue with the Dean," a Q&A session for parents to learn more about the undergraduate experience at the Wilkinson College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences. You will also have the opportunity to meet Career Manager Erin Berthon and learn about all the resources that are available to your student to prepare them for life
after Chapman.
Wilkinson Alumni News
Check out what some of our awesome alumni are doing:
Katherine Gallagher ('11, English) is a writer and sustainability expert at Treehugger, largest modern sustainability information site, where she recently published "Is Oyster Sauce Vegan? Overview, Ethics, and Alternatives." Gallagher covers wildlife conservation, environmental issues, and sustainable travel.
Jonathan Moch ('20, MFA Creative Writing) is a film director, writer, and producer. Moch is currently the CEO of Good Knight pictures.
Sydney Snyder ('10, Fine Art, Anthropology) is a multi-disciplinary artist and art educator. This is her tenth year teaching art in a classroom setting. Sydney works with students of all intellectual and physical abilities at an inclusive model charter school.
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