Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies Spring 2024 Newsletter

Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies

Spring 2024 Newsletter

Editor: Joan Ondari

Welcome to this Spring Edition of the MA-IS Newsletter,

We hope your semester is going well.

MA-IS Writing Consultant

An online writing consultant is staffed to assist currently-enrolled ETSU students in the Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies program with their writing assignments. Students may work one-on-one with our consultant Dr. Veronica Limeberry, a 2014 alumnus who graduated with distinction in the Master of Liberal Arts in Gender and Diversity Studies program at ETSU and thus understands the unique writing and research demands of this degree.

The consultant provides peer-oriented support outside the formal classroom, assisting students with all aspects of interdisciplinary writing. She can coach students through the process of evolving a thesis, aligning work with stated intentions in a prospectus, and evaluating and utilizing sources more effectively.

Contact the MA-IS Writing Consultant at MALSWRITINGCONSULTANT@GMAIL.COM

For more information, click here

Where are they now?

Lydia Githinji

In the spring of 2023, I had the honor of graduating with a Master of Arts in Liberal Studies degree, with a specialization in Gender and Diversity Studies. Embarking on this academic path proved to be an immensely wise decision, given the program's comprehensive embrace of interdisciplinary concepts. This specialization, focusing on gender and diversity, addressed issues pertinent to a wide demographic, enriching my educational experience significantly.

The rigor of the curriculum and the enhancement of my writing abilities are aspects of the program I particularly valued. The faculty, under the adept leadership of Dr. Jill LeRoy-Frazier, provided unwavering support and understanding throughout my studies. Additionally, I must extend my profound gratitude to my thesis committee chair, Dr. Chelsie Dubay, for their incredible patience and guidance, which were invaluable to my academic journey.

Currently, I am pursuing a doctoral degree in Early Childhood Education at ETSU, where my research interconnects with early childhood narratives—a continuation of my commitment to expanding my academic and professional horizons. The foundational skills and knowledge acquired during my master's program remain pivotal to my ongoing journey in both professional advancement and personal growth.

Dr. Veronica Limeberry

Dr. Veronica Limeberry has just finished her Ph.D this past December from American University in International Relations with an emphasis on food sovereignty and indigenous rights.

Thomas Hilton

Thomas Hilton is completing his Master of Science in Information Sciences next month from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

Book Recommendation: Dr. Chad Harris

The Book 'Wayward lives, Beautiful Experiments' explores the dynamic shifts in black women's intimate lives in early 20th-century Philadelphia and New York. These women challenged societal norms, forging unconventional relationships and redefining concepts like marriage and work. Through a blend of historical research and literary imagination, the book highlights their pursuit of freedom and desire, often overlooked in traditional narratives. It portrays these women as agents of change who transformed urban culture through their radical aspirations and refusal to accept oppressive conditions.

Book Recommendation: Thomas Hilton

Is modern-day nihilism getting you down? Looking for meaning in everyday life? All Things Shining by Hubert Dreyfus and Sean Dorrance Kelly dives into how we can restore a sense of sacredness in everyday life by exploring classic literature such as Homer's Odyssey and Melville's Moby Dick, and provides us with a dose of Christian and secular philosophy as well. This book is great for anyone looking to find more meaning in their lives, or anyone interested in looking at these classic works of literature in a new way. A great choice for anyone familiar or unfamiliar with the discipline of philosophy!

Book Recommendation: Dr. Jill Leroy-Frazier

I recommend Barbara Kingsolver's Pulitzer Prize-winning Demon Copperhead, a fictional account of one young man's journey through opioid addiction—both his own and that of his family and friends—in Southern Appalachia. Demon's life account begins as the young son of a single mother and continues through his experiences with neighbors who try to help him, foster parents who exploit him, friends who mislead him, and finally his own resilience and recovery. It's a long, sad, story, but it's also full of hope for this place we love and call home.

Courses of Interest - Summer 2024

APST 5957 - Special Topics: "Intro to Beekeeping in Appalachia"

HDAL 5017 - Homelessness, Hunger, and Poverty Politics

MEDA 5000 - History & Philosophy of Librarianship

PMGT 5750 - Public Financial Management

SOWK 5347 - Indigenous Approaches to Environmental Justice in Social Work

Courses of Interest - Fall 2024

ANTH 5957 - Special Topics: "Sociolinguistics"

APST 5150 - Appalachia & Religion

APST 5690 - Appalachian Community Engagement

AVST 5315 - Topics in Archival Studies: "Archives and Memorials: Witch Trials and the Place of Memory in the Atlantic World"

COMM 5317 - Rhetoric of Diversity & Identity

CDST 5150 - Introduction to Interdisciplinary Study in STEAM and the Professions

ENGL 5507 - Literature in Film: Feminist Adaptions

LEAD 5467 - Leadership Theory and Practice

PMGT 5300 - Nonprofit Development

MALS 5350 - Theory and Practice of Regionalism

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Division of Cross Disciplinary Studies

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Johnson City, TN 37614

423-439-4223

cdst@etsu.edu