Humanities News

Year of the Slug: A look back at 2012 at UC Santa Cruz

Higgs boson, condors, pumas, the Grateful Dead Archive … 2012 was yet another year of discoveries, breakthroughs, newsmakers, and honors for UC Santa Cruz. Here’s a look back at a few highlights of the year at UCSC.

New literary magazine inspired by UCSC past and present

Beautifully and elegantly designed with an impressive array of fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry and art, Catamaran is a new literary magazine headquartered in downtown Santa Cruz.

In memoriam: Don Rothman, beloved teacher of writing

Don Rothman, a leading voice for writers and writing during a distinguished 39-year career at UC Santa Cruz, died in his sleep Wednesday night at his Santa Cruz home. He was 67.

Two UCSC professors elected 2012 AAAS Fellows

Chemistry professor Ilan Benjamin and linguistics professor Sandra Chung were elected AAAS Fellows.

Philosophy Dept. to host state regional ‘Ethics Bowl’ at UCSC

California college students will compete on December 1 in a state regional Ethics Bowl tournament, hosted for the very first time on the UC Santa Cruz campus by the Philosophy Department.

A Night of Poetry and Music with M. NourbeSe Philip

The UC Presidential Chair in Feminist Critical Race and Ethnic Studies presents an evening with acclaimed poet, writer, and lawyer M. NourbeSe Philip, accompanied by a jazz duo led by UCSC music professor Karlton Hester.

History grad student to study in Japan on Fulbright-Hays fellowship

Dustin Wright, a Ph.D. student in the UCSC History Department, has received a $43,800 Fulbright-Hays doctoral fellowship to pursue research in Japan.

UCSC event to reflect on cultural tolerance in wake of tragic shooting at Sikh Temple

Last August, a lone gunman opened fire at a Sikh Temple in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, killing six people and wounding four others. On November 15, UCSC will present a panel discussion and dinner to explore what can be learned from the Wisconsin tragedy.

UCSC celebrates launch of new Ph.D. program in Feminist Studies

The UC Santa Cruz Feminist Studies Department officially celebrated the launch of its long-awaited Ph.D.program with a kick-off reception at the Chancellor’s house.

Extraordinary achievement, social consciousness celebrated at gala event

Honorees of 6th annual Founders Celebration Dinner share one of UCSC's core goals: 'Leaving the world a better place'

UCSC to host free public conference exploring philosophy in multicultural context

Is philosophical inquiry bound by history, geography or culture? Should the philosopher be responsible to the public? On October 20, UCSC will host a free public conference examining the relationship between philosophy and its multicultural context.

Award-winning UCSC alumna celebrates publication of new memoir

After two acclaimed novels about the Mexican immigrant experience, UCSC alumna Reyna Grande is now celebrating the release of her new memoir--"The Distance Between Us"--with a reading at Bookshop Santa Cruz on Oct. 14.

UCSC alumna thrives promoting arts and humanities in Obama White House

“I often say, only partly facetiously, that I have the best job in Washington D.C.,” notes UC Santa Cruz alumna Rachel Goslins, executive director of the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities, an advisory committee to the White House on cultural issues.

Founders Celebration highlights research and ideals of UC Santa Cruz

The sixth annual Founders Celebration Friday, October 12 will feature a free public lecture by Martin Rees, Astronomer Royal of the United Kingdom, followed by a gala dinner honoring Rees, Gordon and Betty Moore, George and Gail Michaelis-Ow, UCSC alumnae Shannon Brownlee, and UCSC distinguished professor Gail Hershatter.

Linguistics grad off to Germany on Fulbright Scholarship

2012 UCSC Linguistics graduate Kelsey Kraus will spend the next year living and working in Germany as the recipient of a prestigious Fulbright Scholarship.

UCSC taps Tang Museum director to lead innovative museum project

The UC Santa Cruz Arts Division announced today that John Weber—currently Dayton Director of the Frances Young Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, New York—has been hired to guide the development of a new institute of the arts and sciences.

History Dept. to host international conference on Chinese culture

A group of internationally renowned scholars will convene to explore and rethink aspects of modern Chinese culture, religion, and society from various Eurasian and global perspectives on September 7-8 at UC Santa Cruz.

Humanities professors awarded UC Presidential Chair

Feminist Studies professor Bettina Aptheker and Literature professor Karen Yamashita have been appointed to a UC Presidential Chair in Feminist Critical Race and Ethnic Studies on the UCSC campus.

Crossing the boundaries of media-focused computer science, digital humanities and arts

Interaction between media-focused computer science, the digital humanities and digital arts have the potential to drive major progress in interactive media creation and understanding.

UCSC alum’s third CD offers haunting ‘optimistic melancholy’

Rolling Stone magazine has described Emily Jane White’s songs as “melancholy as a rainbow glimpsed through the bars of a prison window.”

Shakespeare Santa Cruz launches new season July 24

Shakespeare Santa Cruz (SSC) will kick off its 31st season on Tuesday, July 24. Nearly 60 UCSC students and alumni help make it happen.

Year of the Slug: Great UCSC moments in 2011-12

From the Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame to cancer research to its ranking as one of the top “young” universities in the world, UCSC stood in the spotlight this year.

Spotlight on outstanding work: Student Achievement Week recognizes accomplishment

Computer programmers, actors, robotics students, apprentice astronomers and fine artists showed off their skills during this year’s Student Achievement Week celebration.

‘Chimichangas and Zoloft’: alumna earns raves for off Broadway debut

UCSC alumna Fernanda Coppel has been garnering rave reviews for her latest play Chimichangas and Zoloft, now at the Tony Award-winning Atlantic Theater in New York City.

UCSC History Professor contributes cover story to The Nation magazine

The June 11 issue of The Nation magazine features a cover story by UC Santa Cruz history professor Dana Frank.

Humanities lecturer named one of ‘Best 300 Professors’ by Princeton Review

German Studies lecturer Walter Campbell has been named one of The Best 300 Professors by the Princeton Review.

Recognizing excellence in teaching at UCSC

The 2011-12 Excellence in Teaching Awards honored eight caring professors who inspired their students at UCSC. UCSC Chancellor George Blumenthal presented the awards at the Stevenson Event Center on campus.

Acclaimed alum, writer, and web pioneer David Talbot comes to UCSC May 22

The UCSC Humanities Division will present An Evening with David Talbot, Tuesday, May 22. The best-selling author and founder of Salon will read from his new book,'Season of the Witch'

Grad students present impressive array of research projects at symposium

Graduate students from across the divisions presented their work at the 8th Annual Graduate Research Symposium.

A day in the sun for UCSC staff members

Santa Cruz Arts Commission names Humanities lecturer Artist of the Year

UC Santa Cruz humanities lecturer Gary Young has been named 2012 Artist of the Year by the Santa Cruz County Arts Commission

Graduate students present research at annual symposium May 11

Graduate student research will be on display at the University Center on Friday, May 11, during the annual Graduate Research Symposium.

Teaching luminaries share classroom secrets at Academic Forum

The large crowd that attended the Academic Forum at the Humanities Lecture Hall —one of the cornerstones of the UCSC Alumni Reunion Weekend—had a rare opportunity to hear these and other teaching secrets of renowned educators, ranging from social psychologist Elliot Aronson to noted feminist studies professor Bettina Aptheker.

Irena Polic helps connect Humanities to the lives of everyday folks

In her role at the Institute for Humanities Research, Irena Polic’s mission is to help the great thinkers in the UC system connect their ideas to the lives of everyday folks.

India film star to appear at screenings hosted by UCSC’s Satyajit Ray Film Center

Actress and filmmaker Aparna Sen to speak at UCSC Media Theater (April 21) and Nickelodeon Theater (April 22)

Anne Callahan wins 2012 Alumni Association Outstanding Staff Award

Anne Callahan, academic human resources manager for the Humanities Division, is this year’s recipient of the UCSC Alumni Association Outstanding Staff Award, honoring employees who go above and beyond.

UCSC professor joins acclaimed writers for new Passover 'users manual'

Two weeks ago, author Jonathan Safran Foer (Everything Is Illuminated, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close) went on the Stephen Colbert show to promote his latest book New American Haggadah...

UCSC poet Gary Young to be featured on Garrison Keillor's Writer's Almanac

Garrison Keillor is scheduled to read a poem by UC Santa Cruz's Gary Young on Keillor's Writer's Almanac on Thursday, March 22.

UCSC to showcase UC-wide research in Humanities at Museum of Art & History

The UC Santa Cruz Institute of Humanities Research will host the 2nd annual gathering of the UC Society of Fellows in the Humanities on April 21, at the Museum of Art and History. A free public event, it will showcase the exceptional research efforts underway in the field of Humanities--both at UCSC and throughout the entire UC system.

Peter Kenez to deliver annual UCSC Spring Emeriti Faculty Lecture

A Holocaust survivor and native of Hungary, Peter Kenez is a scholar of the history of Russia and the former Soviet Union. On March 15, he will present the annual UCSC Emeriti Lecture on the topic: “The Coming of the Holocaust.”

UCSC professor named second Poet Laureate of Santa Cruz County

UCSC emeritus professor of education and creative writing David Swanger has been named the second Poet Laureate of Santa Cruz County.

Nikki Giovanni stirs up Martin Luther King Jr. Convocation crowd

Poet, activist and distinguished professor Nikki Giovanni had a crowd of nearly 1,000 people clapping, shouting and busting up laughing at the 28th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Convocation and 4th annual Tony Hill Awards.

UCSC history professor contributes latest op-ed on Honduras to NY Times

One of the top academic experts on Honduras in the United States, Dana Frank has spent the past decade researching the area. Her latest op-ed was published in the New York Times on Jan. 26.

UCSC to host ‘What is a Reader?’ day of events, Jan. 26

On Jan. 26, UC Santa Cruz will host a full day of "What Is A Reader?" events, with workshops plus a free public lecture by novelist, essayist, and book historian Alberto Manguel

9th annual Scholarship Benefit Dinner to support UCSC students

UC Santa Cruz will host its ninth annual Scholarship Benefit Dinner--one of UCSC's premier fundraising events--on Feb. 25 in San Jose. The proceeds provide significant undergraduate scholarships and fellowships for students.

Iraqi-born Israeli bringing Jewish Mid-East music to UCSC

Yair Dalal--who creates music that bridges both Arab and Israeli cultures--is coming to campus for both an academic lecture and a public concert, presented by Jewish Studies in collaboration with the Music Department.

UCSC receives $247,000 gift to support Sikh and Punjabi Studies program

UC Santa Cruz has received $247,000 to establish an endowed fund in support of the Humanities Division’s Sikh and Punjabi Studies program.