News from Obermann Center for Advanced Studies

December 2018

Events

Dec. 6 - The U.S. / Mexico Border in Context - A pop-up Obermann Conversation
Jan. 24 - Book Ends informational meeting
Feb. 13 - Multiple Pathways to Recovery: An Obermann Conversation about Addiction Research and Treatment Services
Feb. 22 - Iowa City Darwin Days
Mar. 7- Andrew W. Mellon-funded Humanities for the Public Good symposium
Apr. 4-6 - 2019 Obermann Humanities Symposium, Misfitting: Disability Broadly Considered

Deadlines

Feb. 5 - Book Ends, A Book Completion Workshop, second round of 2018-19 applications

News & Achievements

David Stern edited and published Wittgenstein in the 1930s: Between the Tractatus and the Investigations (Cambridge University Press, 2018) based on his 2015 Obermann Summer Seminar
Pam Wesely, former Obermann Fellow-in-Residence, published the second edition of her book Words and Actions: Teaching Languages through the Lens of Social Justice (ACTFL, 2018)
Kat Litchfield, former Obermann Graduate Fellow, was featured in article about the Liberal Arts Beyond Bars program
Janice Byrd, former Obermann Graduate Fellow, was awarded the 2018 Advancing Diversity Award by Kent State University, where she is Assistant Professor in Counselor Education and Supervision

U.S. / Mexico Border in Context

Dec. 6 pop-up Obermann Conversation provides context to current events

Several University of Iowa faculty members will help us to understand current events in the Borderlands during a pop-up Obermann Conversation at the Iowa City Public Library, Thursday, Dec. 6, 4:00-5:00 pm. Speakers include Lina-Maria Murillo (History and GWSS), Rene Rocha (Political Science), and Kristy Nabhan-Warren (Religious Studies and GWSS).

Philosophy Scholar and Mental Health Advocate

Tammy Nyden, Digital Bridges-Obermann Fellow, develops mental health storytelling project

Following her son's diagnosis with a mood disorder, Tammy Nyden began searching for resources and support for children and families affected by mental health issues. Finding none, she started a statewide organization. Since then, she has brought her training as a philosopher to bear on this widespread but often silent issue.

"I used to ask myself, 'What should I do as a scholar? What should I do as an activist?'" says the Grinnell College faculty member. "I still have to ask myself these questions for practical reasons, such as, 'Which hat am I wearing when I apply for this grant?' But in terms of the actual work, this distinction is less important to me . It's all the same work."

2019 Obermann Graduate Fellows Announced

Fifteen students representing 14 departments and three colleges will participate in the Obermann Graduate Institute the week of January 7. The students will learn about definitions, theory, and the current landscape of public engagement, including publicly engaged teaching and research, from faculty leaders Teresa Mangum (Obermann Center, GWSS, and English), Rachel Williams (University Ombuds, GWSS, and Art & Art History), Carolyn Colvin (Teaching & Learning and Language, Literacy, & Culture), Jennifer Kayle (Dance), and Steve Warren (History and American Studies). They will be assisted by Obermann Senior Fellow Lisa Covington (Interdisciplinary PhD) and Jennifer New (Obermann Center).

Meet the 2019 Graduate Fellows

Interdisciplinary Research Grants

Summer 2019 awardees announced

Five groups have been awarded Obermann Interdisciplinary Research grants to work on projects at the Center next summer. One of Obermann's longest running programs, these grants foster collaborative scholarship and creative work by offering pairs or trios time and space to exchange new ideas leading to invention, creation, and publication. Past recipients have produced major grant proposals, a medical app, a book translation, theatre productions, and journal articles. Congratulations to the following groups!

Achoques: Mike Gibisser, Cinematic Arts, and Mary Helena Clark, School of Art, The Cooper Union
Doing Things Together: Ensemble Dance Improvisation for Collective Action: Jennifer Kayle, Dance, and Ali Hasan, Philosophy
Improving Listening Skills in Dementia Care: Equipping the Listeners of People with Dementia with Effective Communication Strategies: Kaitlin Cannava, Communication Studies; Howard Butcher, Nursing; and Lisa Segre, Nursing (with consultant Elizabeth Parks, Colorado State University)
The Influence of Socioeconomic Status on Spoken Word Recognition in School-Aged Children: Kristi Hendrickson, Communication Sciences & Disorders, and Stephanie De Anda, Special Education & Clinical Services, University of Oregon
Teachers of Color in Iowa: An Exploration of Race-Related Stress, Job Satisfaction, & Quality of Life: Ain Grooms, Educational Leadership & Policy Studies; Ebonee Johnson, Rehabilitation & Counselor Education; and
Duhita Mahatmya, College of Education

Imagine PhD

UI part of consortium to support career exploration

The University of Iowa is one of more than 80 members of the Graduate Career Consortium, representing 56 academic institutions and professional organizations. Together, the consortium has developed ImaginePhD, a free online career exploration and planning tool for PhD students and postdoctoral scholars in the humanities and social sciences. Visitors to the site can:

assess their career-related skills, interests, and values
explore careers paths appropriate to their disciplines
create self-defined goals
map out next steps for career and professional development success

As the Humanities for the Public Good program at the UI develops, the Obermann Center looks forward to working with the UI Graduate College on the ImaginePhd initiative and similar opportunities.