2021-22
The Year in Review
Message From The Dean
I chose to come to the University of Maryland as the dean of the College of Arts and Humanities because of this institution’s commitment to fearlessly and positively impacting our society. I am glad to join this intellectual community, and I am proud of what ARHU does.
Our disciplines are essential to helping society evolve. Throughout history, as those in power have sought to limit freedoms—where we can go, live or learn; who we can love; what we can do with our bodies—artists and humanists have offered the context and content for understanding these threats and protecting our freedoms. Now, as we continue to find our way out of a global pandemic and prepare to encounter new ones, artists and humanists are providing crucial knowledge and insight to contextualize this moment. Our work seamlessly interlocks and undergirds other disciplines to provide meaningful and sustainable solutions that will ultimately protect our freedom to choose pathways to whole, healthy, productive lives.
At a time and in a society that often privileges other fields, the choice to pursue work and knowledge in the arts and humanities is a necessary one. We know that solutions to our grand challenges—be they technical, medical, economic or legal—are more sustainable and all-encompassing if they are grounded in the arts and humanities. What must we do to continue to bring our essential perspectives to the academy and to society?
This is our mission at this moment. We chose our fields deliberately and with deep commitment and we love what we do, but we also know that our work is indispensable to how we shape a more equitable world and better modes of democratic citizenship. This is apparent as we look back at our accomplishments in the classroom, in research and in service, as documented in the pages that follow. It shows that we are an innovative intellectual community that partners in myriad ways with disciplines across this campus.
I’m grateful to Dean Bonnie Thornton Dill for her excellent stewardship of ARHU over the past 11 years, and I’m honored to follow her as the next dean of this great college. Along with new and returning students, faculty and staff, I know we will make a difference for future generations of local and global citizens who are depending on us to produce the content and the context needed to understand who we have been, who we are now and who we might be in the future.
Learn more about Stephanie Shonekan's appointment in "Mizzou Administrator, Professor of Music and Black Studies Named ARHU Dean."
Student Excellence
Alumni Spotlight
Reginald Dwayne Betts ’09
Reginald Dwayne Betts ’09, English, whose imprisonment as a teen inspired his career as a nationally recognized poet and lawyer advocating for incarcerated individuals, was awarded a 2021 MacArthur Foundation fellowship, known as the "genius grant." He also opened the “Freedom Library” exhibition at the National Building Museum, which gives visitors a chance to see libraries installed in prisons across the country through his organization Freedom Reads.
Alum Receives MacArthur ‘Genius Grant’
Marci Rodgers M.F.A. ’16
Costume designer Marci Rodgers M.F.A. ’16 designed the outfits for this fall’s film “Till,” which focuses on Emmett Till’s mother’s pursuit of justice after her son’s lynching. Last year her work appeared in a Super Bowl spot for Michelob Ultra featuring sports legends Serena Williams and Peyton Manning and the Netflix film “Passing,” which follows the divergent paths of two Black women, one of whom “passes” as white, in 1920s New York.
Creating Style to Augment SubstanceMore Stories of Student and Alumni Excellence
Undergraduate
- Arts & Humanities-in-London; New study abroad program launching Spring 2022.
- After Loss, ‘Learning to Breathe Again’: TDPS student channels grief through a musical version of the classic story of “Little Women.”
- Creating Community Connections: During her years at UMD, graduating senior Erin Namovicz ’21, a double major in Spanish and criminology and criminal justice, took her language skills and interest in law to the local community.
- Engineering New Opportunities: Andreas Osiander ’21 is finding creative ways to blend his majors in art history and engineering to make an impact on the arts.
- 2021 Dean’s Scholars Awards Recipients: ARHU students celebrated for academic excellence.
- Preparing for a 'Sustainable Career in the Arts': Marlia Nash ’24, a trombone performance major with a minor in arts leadership, is taking advantage of multiple opportunities at UMD.
- Fusing Art, Science and Technology : Hartley Carlson ’23, a studio art major on a pre-med track, is finding creative ways to explore neuroscience through his artmaking.
- Peering Into White House History: Emma O’Kane ’23, a double degree student in history and English, is currently a publications intern at the White House Historical Association.
- Serving the Community Through Dance: Communication major Christina Alemayehu ’22 is blending service, dance and entrepreneurship.
- Thinking Critically to 'Do Good in the World': Finance and philosophy double major Jennifer Wang ’22 landed a job at Bank of America, where she will finance large-scale renewable energy projects around the world.
- 2022–23 ARHU Fulbright Recipients: Four ARHU students receive the prestigious grant.
Graduate
- D.M.A. Students Move Into Retirement Community: Fifth class of student artists-in-residence make personal and musical connections at Collington, A Kendal Lifeplan Community.
- ‘Exiled’ From the Stage: Ph.D. student’s experimental theater project to get audiences moving.
- Local Music History on Shuffle: UMD doctoral candidate’s playlist amplifies county’s artistic legacy.
Alumni
- Letters of Hope and Familiarity: Alum’s new book highlights African Americans’ relationship to Lincoln.
- UMD Alum Performs With His 11-Member Brass Ensemble This Sunday: Trumpeter Nathan Clark ’13 and his ensemble, the Barclay Brass, work with students, stage lively performance during their residency with The Clarice.
- A Walk Through East Baltimore's American Indian 'Reservation': Alum creates tour of her peoples’ history—and continued presence—in East Baltimore
- Women’s Work: In new book, alum historian chronicles the grassroots work to recognize women’s sacrifices, service during World War I.
- From the Writing Center to Penguin Random House: English and American studies alum Jordan Aaronson ’16 touts her experiences at UMD with helping her land a dream job in publishing.
- The Next Chapter for British Lit at UMD: Alum’s bequest aims to create appreciation of classic works in new generations, support the College of Education and Terps from foster homes.
- Finding ‘Lost History’ in Your Glass : Alum helps continue family’s mead-making tradition, honoring Holocaust survivor and winery founder.
- Alumnus Jason Max Ferdinand Returns to UMD as Director of Choral Activities: The accomplished choral conductor said he’s eager to continue to grow the School of Music’s strong program.
- Alumni Association Honors Eight at Celebration of Terps: Awardees include accomplished authors, an athlete, an academic and more.
Faculty and Staff Excellence
Notable Faculty Books
Associate Professor of American Studies La Marr Jurelle Bruce received a 2022 outstanding book award from the Caribbean Philosophical Association for his 2021 book “How to Go Mad Without Losing Your Mind.” The Nicolás Cristóbal Guillén Batista Outstanding Book Award is intended to award a work that contributes to “Caribbean thought and philosophical literature.” Learn more about Bruce's exploration of Black radical creativity in this Q & A.
Professor of English and Comparative Literature Ralph Bauer’s work “The Alchemy of Conquest: Science, Religion, and the Secrets of the New World” was awarded the Modern Language Association of America’s Aldo and Jeanne Scaglione Prize for Comparative Literary Studies. Read more about the book in "Comparative Literature Professor Wins Modern Language Association Award."
Professor and Chair of the Department of American Studies Psyche Williams-Forson’s “Eating While Black: Food Shaming and Race in America” was highlighted by Publisher’s Weekly in a list of Health Books of 2022. Learn more by reading the Q&A with Williams-Forson, "No Appetite for Racist Stereotypes."
The documentary film, “The Soldier's Opinion,” which premiered at the Jerusalem Film Festival, grew from Associate Professor of History and Jewish Studies Shay Hazkani’s research for his book “Dear Palestine: A Social History of the 1948 War.” Hazkani is credited as a co-creator and scriptwriter.
Senior Lecturer in the Department of Art History and Archaeology Aneta Georgievska-Shine’s “Vermeer and the Art of Love” was named by Christie’s as “one of the best new art books” of 2022.
Maude Casey, professor of English, imagines the lives of 19th-century women confined in a Paris hospital in her new fictional book, "City of Incurable Women." Learn more about the book in "Prisoners, Patients and Performers."
Additional Stories of Faculty And Staff Excellence
Appointments and Service
- Patrick Warfield Appointed Associate Dean for Arts and Programming: Professor of musicology will direct campuswide Arts for All initiative and support programming in the College of Arts and Humanities.
- Professor of English Jessica Enoch Appointed ARHU ADVANCE Professor: The position supports women faculty members’ career advancement at UMD.
- ARHU Recognizes Staff for Their Length of Service: Staff members have worked for 5, 10, 15, 20, 35 and 40 years at UMD.
- ARHU Faculty Named Professor Emeritus/Emerita: 13 retired faculty members receive the prestigious title.
- ARHU Faculty Earn Promotion and Tenure: 29 faculty members have received promotion and/or tenure.
- 2021–22 New Faculty Appointments: The college welcomes a new faculty cohort.
- ARHU 2021 Service Award Winners Announced: Six exceptional members of the ARHU community received an annual service award.
- Professor and Director of Choral Activities Edward Maclary to Retire After Two Decades of Service: Esteemed choral conductor and pedagogue built partnerships with major performing arts organizations and leaves lasting legacy.
- Bonnie Thornton Dill, Longtime Dean of UMD’s College of Arts and Humanities, to Step Down this Spring: The pioneering scholar of intersectionality helped usher in a more diverse faculty, power up collaboration and research and launch interdisciplinary, arts-tech centered programs.
- Linda Aldoory Named Dean of American University’s College of Arts and Sciences: In ARHU, Aldoory strengthened research, spearheaded the Campaign on Race, Equity and Justice and addressed a wide range of faculty concerns.
- Terrence “Terry” Dwyer Will Lead The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center: Dwyer brings more than 30 years of experience leading major arts presenting organizations across the United States.
- Fall 2022 Leadership Appointments: Dean Bonnie Thornton Dill announces new leadership appointments.
- GerShun Avilez Appointed Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: The Professor of English will continue to advance DEI practices across the college.
Research and Scholarship
- Digging Into Digital Lit, Bit by Bit: English professor’s new book explores how modern-day literature is made, preserved and studied.
- English Department Launches ‘Committee for Antiracism, Accessibility, Respect, Equity, and Social Justice’: Scheduling Coordinator Sarah Woldekidan discusses plans for revamped committee.
- Researcher Studies What’s Behind Baby Talk: A new study by linguistics Professor Jeffrey Lidz shows children grasp syntax earlier than you might think.
- Professor Foon Sham Featured in Sculpture Magazine: Professor Sham speaks with curator Sarah Tanguy in Sculpture Magazine.
- Drum Roll for Latest Discovery District Arrival: School of Music lecturer opens studio space, percussion instrument rental
- An Operatic Star Who Raised Others’ Voices: Grad student helped process Library of Congress’ collection of legendary singer Jessye Norman.
- Podcast: Ruth Zambrana Argues Structural Racism is a Social Determinant of Health: Clinical medicine has been slow to accept racism as a legitimate topic of examination.
- Why we obsess over the details of a nuclear apocalypse - The Washington Post: Speculating about doomsday scenarios can provide a paradoxical comfort.
- A Peek Inside … Music Education Assistant Professor Robin Giebelhausen’s Office: Colorful puppets, ukuleles create inviting space for songs and learning.
- Hearing Echoes of Battle to Get Seat Belts to ‘Click’: Historian’s Smithsonian-sponsored project to explore tension between mandates and public safety.
- Black Theater and the Refusal to Wait for Freedom: Assistant Professor of English Julius Fleming, Jr.’s new book explores how theater energized a “radical refusal to wait” during the civil rights movement.
- Gabrielle Lucille Fuentes’ Story Collection Unfurls A Family’s Shadows, Myths: ‘Are We Ever Our Own’ is a multigenerational history of the fictional Armando Castell family told mostly through women narrators.
- ARHU Faculty Awarded Funding to ‘Reimagine Learning’: The grants are from UMD’s Teaching and Learning Transformation Center.
Public Humanities and Partnerships
On March 10, The Harriet Tubman Department of Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies celebrated its second annual commemoration of Harriet Tubman Day and the bicentennial of Tubman’s birth. Speakers included Ernestine (Tina) Wyatt, a descendant of Harriet Tubman and a UMD alum. The event considered Harriet Tubman’s historical presence in Dorchester County, Maryland, before her self-emancipation and her ongoing legacy towards “freedom” as a daily politic and practice.
A Day to Remember Harriet Tubman
New York Times journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones discussed The New York Times Magazine’s Pulitzer Prize-winning “1619 Project” as part of the 2021-22 Arts and Humanities Dean’s Lecture Series. She was in conversation with former ARHU Dean Bonnie Thornton Dill; it was Thornton Dill’s final Dean’s Lecture Series event.
Looking Back to ‘1619’
Planet Word
University of Maryland language science scholars are conducting research at the Planet Word museum in downtown Washington, D.C.A $440,000 grant from the National Science Foundation is funding a partnership between UMD, Howard University and Gallaudet University and Planet Word to advance research and public understanding about the science of language. (Photo by Duhon Photography, courtesy of Planet Word).
NSF Grant Funds Research at Planet Word MuseumThe Arts
Twenty faculty members from the Department of Art exhibited their work at the UMD Art Gallery’s triennial Faculty Exhibition.
The Clarice received a $35,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to support an Artists in Residence program, which will bring regional and national artists to the university to develop new work and engage with local community organizations, area residents and UMD staff, students and faculty.
Kenneth Elpus, professor of music education in the School of Music, is launching a research lab at UMD that will survey 4,000 K-12 public schools to learn about their educational programming across music, theater, dance and visual arts. Elpus received $150,000 in funding from the National Endowment for the Arts for the project.
Additional Stories about the Arts
- Fighting Fear With a Fandango: Production at The Clarice explores anxieties and joys of the undocumented.
- UMD student music groups impress as they return to in-person performances: "Breaths hitched as David Neely’s hands suspended above the glitz and glam of the Thalea String Quartet in the Dekelboum Concert Hall at the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center on Oct. 8."
- UMD performances exploring the possibilities of dance – Stories Beneath the Shell: "Two of the University of Maryland’s dance MFA students will be introducing new ways of dance during their in-person Fall MFA Dance Thesis Concert from Oct. 15-17."
- ‘Latin American Collage: Uncommon Perspectives’ illuminates Latin artists at UMD: "A collection of sounds swept the halls of the Gildenhorn Recital Hall in The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center on Oct. 26 during a new concert, 'Latin American Collage: Uncommon Perspectives.'”
- Upbeat 'Little Women: the Broadway Musical' uplifts at UMD - DC Theater Arts: "An evening of delightful entertainment by the University of Maryland School of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies."
- Fall Dance Concert at The Clarice spotlights creativity, emotional choreographies: "The University of Maryland theatre, dance and performance studies school’s Fall Dance Concert included performances by students that encompassed a variety of music, emotions, dance styles and costumes from its opening night on Nov. 18 to its close on Sunday."
- Three UMD bands return to The Clarice for Kaleidoscope of Bands: "The University of Maryland’s University Band, Maryland Community Band and Mighty Sound of Maryland Marching Band came together for Kaleidoscope of Bands, a joint performance on Friday night."
- UMD seniors bring personal stories to life through dance - The Diamondback: "University of Maryland’s theater, dance and performance studies school put on an experimental dance series on Dec. 3 and 4 that proved dancers can also be successful choreographers."
- ‘A Kind of Ache’: builds a world for the queer community - The Diamondback: "A single white spotlight illuminated performer Sarah Hennies as she gently beat a large drum with one puffy mallet. A large sculpture was suspended from the ceiling in the center of the stage. It was a large wheel with wooden drum sticks, magenta aluminum pipes that looked like wind chimes and pan lids on rods all hanging like it was an oversized baby mobile."
- Review: UMD Repertoire Orchestra tells passionate stories from Sicily to the ‘New World’ - The Diamondback: "The gentle strings of Pietro Mascagni’s Cavalleria Rusticana filled Dekelboum Concert Hall with lush sounds of passionate melodies Dec. 7."
- UMD ensembles perform traditional Japanese and Balinese music: "The University of Maryland’s UMD Japanese Koto Ensemble and UMD Gamelan Saraswati Ensemble came together for an afternoon of music and celebration at The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center Sunday."
- UMD’s Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols returns to Memorial Chapel: "The annual Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols returned for its 20th year after last year’s virtual performance."
- Dance students steal the spotlight with intimate performances: "Last week’s University of Maryland theatre, dance and performance studies school Experimental Performance Series gave dance students the opportunity to do just that through a series of intimate and personal choreographies."
- Five moments in Mahler’s ‘resurrection’ symphony to look forward to: "Death and resurrection will happen at The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, in the Dekelboum Concert Hall, on Friday. The University of Maryland Symphony Orchestra will tell Gustav Mahler’s deeply human story in collaboration with singers from the University of Maryland Concert Choir."
- On Stage, Women Create Space of Their Own: TDPS kicks off Women’s History Month with a play about a group of women who bond over their loneliness, fears and secrets.
- “Grass is Green” premieres at The Clarice – Stories Beneath the Shell: "The world premiere of “Grass is Green” premiered at The Clarice as a part of the visiting artist series on Mar. 10."
- School of Music faculty perform pieces celebrating Jewish culture and history: "UMD music faculty perform a recital to honor Jewish composers at the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center on April 23, 2022."
- UMD students perform original compositions for New Music at Maryland - The Diamondback: "The University of Maryland highlighted original compositions in “New Music at Maryland,” a concert showcasing works created by student composers, on April 18."
- UMD music school’s ‘Classically Dope’ concert will blend hip-hop and classical: "This past April, there was a rehearsal inside Dekelboum Concert Hall, and the members of the University of Maryland wind orchestra stood up, leaving their traditional seated set-up behind."
- Havana-based Malpaso Dance Company steps out at The Clarice - DC Theater Arts: Four pieces showcased ten dancers’ drive, indomitable spirit, and unassailable technical abilities.
- UMD’s Japanese Koto Ensemble celebrates 50th anniversary: "The University of Maryland’s Japanese Koto Ensemble and the Washington Toho Koto Society performed at The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center on April 24, celebrating its 50th annual spring recital."
- The National Orchestral Institute + Festival | WJLA: Washington ABC7 — "The Clarice is offering orchestral performances, all at a cost you choose. Richard Scerbo, Director of the National Orchestral Institute and Festival discussed the opening season."
- I Hear a Symphony : National Orchestral Institute + Festival returns to UMD.
Arts for All
UMD’s Arts for All initiative partners the arts with the sciences, technology and other disciplines to develop new and reimagined curricular and experiential offerings that nurture different ways of thinking to spark dialogue, understanding, problem solving and action. It bolsters a campuswide culture of creativity and innovation, making Maryland a national leader in leveraging the combined power of the arts, technology and social justice to collaboratively address grand challenges.
Broadening The Arts UmbrellaRead More About Arts For All
- UMD launches initiative to integrate arts with science and technology - The Diamondback: "The University of Maryland launched its Arts for All initiative Monday, which aims to integrate the arts with science and technology."
- Ten Can’t-Miss Features at NextNOW Fest 2021: Annual UMD arts extravaganza returns with immersive projections, art-making workshops and outdoor music pop-ups.
- NextNOW Fest had something for everyone this year: "For two hours, students doubled over in laughter at skits and cried at heartfelt musical performances by AwBi and Benny Roman."
- A New Vision for Violin Instruction : AI-powered app to eyeball posture, form for solo practice.
- Cutting-Edge Technology Brings Slasher Comedy to Life : “Hookman” makes use of new technology to create an immersive experience at the intersection of theater and film.
- ‘Hookman’ sells out in its debut at The Clarice - The Diamondback: "Hookman premiered at The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center on Saturday night to a sold-out crowd."
- Family’s $2.5M Gifts to Provide Resources for Art and Education, New Outdoor Exhibition Space: Clarvits’ gifts will fund innovation in the arts, support College of Education students.
- Get ‘Immersed’ in Arts and Tech: New showcase highlights students’ work in virtual and augmented reality, other emerging media.
- UMD pioneers immersive media design major, merging computer science and art: "The University of Maryland is debuting an immersive media design major this semester, the first undergraduate program in the country that synthesizes art with computer science."
- Making ‘Place’ Through Art and Design: In a new creative placemaking minor, students partner with communities to envision public spaces.
- A Symphony on the Streets: Vijay Gupta, violin prodigy and social justice activist, to visit campus this week.
- 2021–22 Arts and Humanities Dean’s Lecture Series: Vijay Gupta: View photos and watch a video from the violinist and social justice advocate’s visit.
- Inaugural David C. and Thelma G. Driskell Award for Creative Excellence: We welcome submissions from emerging scholars and artists who will create new artistic or scholarly work that furthers the Driskell Center’s mission.
- Seeing Juneteenth: How Black artists bring the celebration of freedom to visual life.
