Faculty and Staff Notes

Renee Romano, Robert S. Danforth professor of history and professor of comparative American studies and Africana studies, has been appointed a distinguished lecturer by the Organization of American Historians (OAH). The OAH distinguished lecturer program operates as a speakers bureau dedicated to American history.

Sandy Zagarell has coedited a special issue of the journal Legacy about African American writer, activist, and educator Alice Dunbar-Nelson (1875-1935). With coeditor Kate Adams, Zagarell authored the essay “Recovering Alice Dunbar-Nelson for the Twenty-First Century,” which appears in that issue. See the Legacy website for the issue abstract.

The gallery of images that includes two previously unknown images of Dunbar-Nelson (one with then-husband Paul Laurence Dunbar) can be seen here.

Deborah Campana, head of the conservatory library, presented a paper, "Free in the Ether: Digital Scores for Music Research," at the national meeting of the American Musicological Society held in Vancouver in November 2016. Under the auspices of the Music Library Association as the editor of their journal, Notes, she also hosted a conference reception to acknowledge author contributions.

Margaret Kamitsuka, associate professor of gender and religion, has been appointed as book editor of the Academy Series that is sponsored by the American Academy of Religion and published by Oxford University Press. This highly selective series is devoted to publishing books that originate as dissertations in the field of religious studies. Kamitsuka serves a four-year term in this position.

Associate Professor of Computer Music and Digital Arts Thomas Handman Lopez '89, composed the music for Inflatable Trio, performed at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles in February 2017. The program also features Oberlin alumnus and choreographer Lionel Popkin, along with Oberlin alumna and dancer Carolyn Hall.

Professor of Politics Stephen Crowley’s opinion article, “What Will Putin do Without America as His Enemy?” appeared in Newsweek.

Professor of Mathematics Robert Bosch was the subject of an article in Proceedings of the National Academy of Science,"Solving a Math Problem to Create Art."

Visiting Assistant Professor of Dance Holly Handman-Lopez was acknowledged for Superior Achievement by the Cleveland Critics Circle 2016 Theater Awards for her choreography of Mr. Burns at Cleveland Public Theatre. The production was directed by Matthew Wright.

Professor Cindy Franz is quoted in Yale Climate Connections on climate change communication.

Visiting Assistant Professor of French Laura Atran-Fresco was interviewed on November 8, 2016 by Jean-Pierre Dubé for the newspaper Francopresse and on November 22, 2016 by Michel Doucet for the radio show Format libre on Radio-Canada Acadie. Both interviews address the recent publication of her book Les Cadiens au présent: Revendications d’une Francophonie en Amérique du Nord, by the University Laval Press, in the series “Langues officielles et sociétés.”

The work explores strategies to address the Cajun population's demands for recognition of cultural and linguistic identity in contemporary Louisiana. These strategies are divided into three areas. First, Louisiana's integration into the French-speaking world, particularly in the North American context. Second, processes of institutionalization to counter linguistic erosion, in public spaces, as well as in French immersion curriculum and higher education. Lastly, awareness-raising among young people, whether students or young professionals, this age class being potentially best poised to defend the future of the vernacular language and culture.

Through the analysis of self-validation strategies employed by contemporary Cajuns to reaffirm their language, culture, and identity, Les Cadiens au présent offers models for cultural resistance to strengthen the French-speaking community.