| A Message From the Chair, David Hammer |
What could such a vision [of environmental destruction] create other than woe and tears? Joanna Macy writes that until we can grieve for our planet we cannot love it - grieving is a sign of spiritual health. But it is not enough to weep for our lost landscapes; we have to put our hands in the earth to make ourselves whole again. Even a wounded world is feeding us. I choose joy over despair. Not because I have my head in the sand, but because joy is what the earth gives me daily and I must return the gift. Robin Wall Kimmerer
We're all grappling right now, and in oh so many ways. There are the urgent, sudden challenges of the pandemic and the much older, persistent challenges of racism; there are the still relatively novel challenges of environmental destruction, climate change, fires and hurricanes. There are the truly ancient challenges of greed and corruption, arrogance and disregard.
And here I am, supposed to open this Bulletin with "A Message From the Chair," which has me (1) humming a tune from Hamilton (Oceans rise, empires fall..."), and (2) wishing (again!) that the assumption of an office would automatically provide wisdom. It helps to read, though - I recently finished Robin Wall Kimmerer's Braiding Sweetgrass.
Maybe this is worth offering as my message: We have work to do, I mean we as educators, and we should consider how to focus that work: What sorts of preparation have people had in their lives to prepare them to handle the challenges of this moment? What sorts of preparation could we arrange, for ourselves and for the learners we support, to handle the challenges ahead?
Maybe it would help people grapple with racism to have studied more about its history in the United States, from the beginning - the central role of African American slave labor, the destruction and displacement of Native cultures and communities. Maybe it would help people understand the progress of research on SARS-CoV-2 to have had experience doing science themselves, in their classes, grappling with evidence and ideas and ambiguity. How can we as educators help students learn how to learn, to hear and engage with others' very different thinking, to balance humility and conviction?
It's playing a long game, doing this work, and we'll need stamina for it. Kimmerer has me think to "choose joy over despair," although if you read Braiding Sweetgrass, you'll see she doesn't think that's so simple a thing to do. (Even the Dalai Lama speaks of having trouble, at the end of a long day.) But she makes an effort to see the gifts, and to be grateful for them, and I hope we can too.
* I'm available Fridays 12-1 pm in my office, 204 Paige Hall, or in my Zoom room, tufts.zoom/us/my/davidhammer. |
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Looking Forward
This year we welcomed our incoming students virtually, during our September 1st Orientation on Zoom. Following faculty introductions and program overviews, Professor Shameka Powell showed clips from Wyatt Cenac to spark discussion about reimagining education. Students, faculty, and staff met first in small groups and then reconvened to create one overarching vision statement. The result was a statement recognizing hard truths but infused with hopeful conviction. (Maybe joy?) Orientation documentation will be forthcoming in newsletters and on our website.
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Looking Back
Let's take a moment to celebrate the perseverance of the Class of 2020! Completing graduate work amidst the global pandemic required unwavering commitment and renewed fortitude. Congratulations, 2020 graduates, and best wishes for continued strength for your new work this year. Cheers!
And please stay in touch.
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Pamela Bower-Basso Awarded 2021 Higher Education Art Educator of the Year
Art Education faculty member, Pamela Bower-Basso, was recently awarded 2021 Higher Education Art Educator of the Year. Each year the Massachusetts Art Education Association (MAEA) recognizes highly qualified individuals active in the field of art education today: leaders, educators, students, scholars, researchers, and advocates who make significant contributions to the profession. Pam's passion and dedication to the arts and creative learning make a powerful impact on our community! CONGRATULATIONS, PAM!
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Erin Seaton Featured in Tufts Now
Teaching Toward Equity: A Time to Rethink, an article in the latest Tufts Now, features Senior Lecturer Erin Seaton. She emphasizes the immediate necessity of addressing issues surrounding racial inequity both within and outside of the classroom, stating: "We're in a moment we can't run away from...We can't escape the conversation about race, racial identity, white supremacy, and how that impacts students and the classroom." In an effort to respond to the needs of her students, Erin reorganized the coursework for Identities and Education (ED 191-03) , addressing the subject of racial identity in the classroom from the start of the semester, rather than halfway through the course. "Students are much more willing at this moment to be brave and bold," she says..."The idea is not to go back to the way things were, but to really think about what we teach."
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| Alum Dara Kwayera Imani Bayer Serving as Inaugural Transformative Justice Program Coordinator |
MAT Political Science '11 alum, Dara Kwayera Imani Bayer, is currently serving as the Inaugural Transformative Justice Program Coordinator at Brown University, where she "oversees projects that aim to address violence and instances of harm through accountability and healing rather than punitive or legal measures." Dara's graduate work at Tufts included participation in the UTTC program, an internship at Boston Arts Academy, and visiting the Maranyundo Girls School in Nyamata, Rwanda, through the Maranyundo Initiative.
"I thought a lot about how schools like Maranyundo Girls School and Boston Arts Academy shape the lives of young people...from Rwanda and from Boston neighborhoods. At MGS teachers and administrators recognized the humanity of their students--that's a given and that's how the teachers engaged their minds. There were clear structures in place; discipline is not exerted as social control...In this case there is the example of two Africa-American girls from Boston discovering the meaning of common ancestry as a foundation for building understanding for their futures." |
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Alum Bridget Castonguay O'Leary Named Massachusetts Early Childhood Art Educator of the Year 2020
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MAT Art Education '09 alum, Bridget Castonguay O'Leary, was named the Massachusetts Early Child Art Educator of the Year 2020. Bridget is currently an art teacher in Dedham, MA, and teaches hundreds of early childhood students. She is a leader in art integration with a focus of interdisciplinary work in art+reading+STEM. CONGRATULATIONS, BRIDGET!
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Alum Mirko Chardin, Co-author of Equity By Design
MAT English '03 alum, Mirko Chardin, is the Founding Head of School of the Putnam Avenue Upper School in Cambridge, MA. He delivers keynotes across the nation on equity, social justice and personal narrative and recently co-authored "Equity by Design: The Power and Promise of UDL" with Katie Novak. Published by Corwin, the book "is intended to serve as a blueprint for teachers to alter the all-to-predictable outcomes for our historically under-served students."
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Alum Jennifer Salazar Recipient of the Pamela Civins Rookie of the Year Award
MAT History '11 alum, Jennifer Salazar, currently a Fenway High School Humanities teacher, recently received the Pamela Civins Rookie of the Year Award from Boston Partners in Education. The selection committee commended her passion for teaching and equity stating: "Ms. Salazar is extremely supportive of her students and her curricula is all about representing the marginalized histories in public education." CONGRATULATIONS, JEN!
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We're excited to welcome Ira Caspari, who joins Tufts as an Assistant Professor of Chemistry and Education. Ira studied for her PhD at the University of Giessen, in Germany, doing research on students' reasoning in organic chemistry. What drives Ira are her fascination for causality and complex reasoning, her interest in diversity, and her passion in caring for others. She has taught chemistry in multiple settings, from high school students and pre-service teachers in Germany to undergraduates from diverse backgrounds at the University of Massachusetts in Boston, where she just completed a postdoc. During her postdoc, she broadened her research lens by taking on a sociocultural perspective that allows her to focus on social and cultural interactions during chemistry teaching and learning. Ira's position was made possible by a gift from the McDonnell Family Foundation, as part of creating the Institute for Research and Learning and Instruction (IRLI), which Ira will help lead. |
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A staff member will be available on-site Tuesdays & Thursdays between 10am-4pm. Please contact April Bergeron or Michelle Pare at least 1 day in advance to schedule your timeslot.
Registration and course related questions can be redirected to April B. at april.bergeron@tufts.edu
For payment inquiries connect with Michelle P. at michelle.pare@tufts.edu
Video and equipment assistance contact Michelle F. at michelle.falcon@tufts.edu
Media Center
Due to the impact of COVID-19, reservations must be made in advance for using the media center computers. Currently, we are limiting use to three students at one time. Please note it's the responsibility of those reserving the space to disinfect, follow the capacity and other space limitations. To make a reservation, please contact April B. or Michelle P.
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Picture A Scientist - Film Screening and Panel Discussion
This month the Tufts Psychology Department is sponsoring Picture A Scientist, which is a two part virtual event open to all members of the Tufts community. First, during September 23-27, viewers can log in (free of charge) and watch the virtual screening of the film Picture A Scientist, which documents the stories of three women in science and their experiences with sexual harassment, bullying, and unequal treatment. It's an excellent film that provides personal experiences as well as compelling data. Second, on September 30 at 7:30 pm, a panel of women in STEM here at Tufts will assemble via Zoom webinar to comment on issues raised by the film, share any experiences they have had (if applicable), and respond to any questions. The panel includes: Prof. Laurie Baise (Civil and Environmental Engineering), Prof. Kelly McLaughin (Biology), Prof. Ellen Pinderhughes (Child Study and Human Development), Prof. Jessica Remedios (Psychology), and Prof. Kim Ruane (Math).
Event Links:
Register for the free film screening. You should receive a link to the film via email by Sept. 22.
Register for the panel webinar.
View film trailer.
NPR story and additional film details attached.
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Tufts University Art Galleries - Student Advisory Board Positions
The Tufts University Art Galleries (TUAG) is building a Student Advisory Board in order to incorporate student voices into TUAG affairs and make TUAG resources more available and relevant to the student body. Members of the Board will be expected to attend (virtual) meetings weekly and complete approximately 4 hours/month of work outside of the weekly meetings for a total of approximately 8 hours/month during the academic year. Board members will be compensated with a stipend of $300 per semester. All majors are encouraged to apply. Position details and application information attached.
Tufts Institute of the Environment Student Certificate Programs and Internship Opportunities
Tufts Institute of the Environment (TIE) will be continuing their regular, environmental programming, and will be launching several new, virtual initiatives. They are encouraging all Tufts students, faculty, and community members to sign-up for their newsletter and to view their orientation webpage for a full brochure and more information.
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