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New $10 million grant to promote equity leadership and educator well-being
LAWRENCE — The SWIFT Education Center, part of the Life Span Institute at the University of Kansas, was awarded a $10 million federal grant to promote equity leadership and educator well-being among educational leaders in Black, Hispanic and Native American communities. School leaders’ professional learning will focus on developing student social and emotional competencies as well as ways to promote the well-being of educators.
KU will host Women in the US Intelligence Community conference
LAWRENCE — The Intelligence Community Center for Academic Excellence (IC CAE) at the University of Kansas will welcome women from the U.S. intelligence community for a conference from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 30 at the Jayhawk Welcome Center. The program is free and open to the public, but registration is requested.
KU Common Book Program announces 2023-24 events
LAWRENCE — The University of Kansas Common Book Program will host a slate of activities and events surrounding the 2023-24 Common Book selection, “Parable of the Sower,” by American science fiction writer Octavia Butler. These include author and artist talks, panel discussions and Common Book marathon reading.
Timothy Paulson to serve as director for University Press of Kansas
LAWRENCE — The University Press of Kansas board of trustees, composed of provosts from each of the six Kansas Regents institutions, has appointed Timothy Paulson as director of the University Press of Kansas. Paulson will succeed Mike Haddock, who has served as interim faculty director of UPK since July 2022. Paulson currently serves as general manager at Brentwood Studios, a media production company based in Nashville, Tennessee.
Trans identity and Catalan independence share key perspectives, research finds
LAWRENCE – When Marta Vicente was researching various aspects of transgender identity, one surprising word kept coming up: colonialism. Her new article “Rethinking Identity: Transgender Studies and Catalan Independence” finds trans people and those who favor Catalonia’s independence from Spain often express their identities as being political bodies that seek recognition as autonomous entities. “There’s a sense of breaking free from subordination of political powers,” said Vicente, a professor of history and of women, gender & sexuality studies at the University of Kansas.
Full stories below.
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Contact: Nicole Perry, SWIFT Education Center, 785-864-3391, [email protected], @SWIFTSchools
New $10 million grant to promote equity leadership and educator well-being
LAWRENCE — The SWIFT Education Center, part of the Life Span Institute at the University of Kansas, was awarded a $10 million federal grant to promote equity leadership and educator well-being among educational leaders in Black, Hispanic and Native American communities.
The three-year award comes from the Supporting Effective Educator Development (SEED) program, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, Department of Education. SWIFT will provide for principals and leadership teams professional learning and networking opportunities with historically Black, Hispanic-serving and Tribal university faculty to foster a more diverse educational workforce. School leaders’ professional learning will focus on developing student social and emotional competencies as well as ways to promote the well-being of educators.
“We are at a moment in education when many pressing concerns converge. We face an urgent need to make transformative changes in our systems to bring equity, safety, security and freedom into education, and at the same time our educators are facing intense burnout due to multiple and overlapping crises,” said Amy McCart, research professor and SWIFT co-director. “We have to offer educational leaders the strategies they need to both make change for their students and support their own well-being.”
In addition to McCart, the project is being led by SWIFT’s Dawn Miller, associate director of partner engagement and systems design; Melinda Mitchiner, associate director of partnership development and business operations; and J. Hoon Choi, assistant research professor and associate director of research and evaluation.
The project will support over 50 principals and their leadership teams in schools that serve Black, Hispanic and Native American communities. Partner schools and districts will be San Diego (California) Unified Schools, Cumberland County (North Carolina) Schools, Sunnyside (Arizona) Unified Schools, Millington (Tennessee) Municipal Schools, Green Dot Charter Schools (Memphis, Tennessee), Perea Elementary (Memphis, Tennessee) and Arrow Academy of Excellence (Shelby County, Tennessee).
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Contact: Mike Denning, Office of Military Graduate Programs, 785-864-1684, [email protected]
KU will host Women in the US Intelligence Community conference
LAWRENCE — The Intelligence Community Center for Academic Excellence (IC CAE) at the University of Kansas will welcome women from the U.S. intelligence community for its first event this academic year from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 30 at the Jayhawk Welcome Center.
The Women in the U.S. Intelligence Community conference will feature officials from the CIA, FBI, the U.S. Cyber Command and Department of Energy. Following the conference introduction by Barbara Bichelmeyer, KU provost and executive vice chancellor, discussions will include:
1. Cynthia Storer, veteran CIA senior terrorism analyst, and Beth Bailey, KU Foundation Distinguished Professor of History, who will discuss Storer’s role for “Sisterhood: The Women Who Tracked Bin Laden.”
2. Jeanette Milazzo, assistant special agent in charge of the FBI Kansas City office, and Hannah Britton, KU professor of political science and of women, gender & sexuality studies, who will discuss FBI’s efforts to counter human trafficking in the heartland.
3. Following the keynote interviews, Storer and Milazzo will join Lindsey Maier and Candy Smith, U.S. intelligence officers from the Department of Energy and Army, respectively, for a moderated roundtable on the representation of women in the intelligence community. Jorhena Thomas, a veteran FBI senior leader and current director with the nonprofit girlsecurity, will serve as moderator for the panel.
The program is free and open to the public, but registration is requested.
The IC CAE program is a workforce development program funded by Office of the Director of National Intelligence for the purpose of increasing diversity within the U.S. intelligence community. KU is partnered with minority-serving institutions Dodge City Community College, Garden City Community College, Seward County Community College and Kansas City Community College, which comprise the Kansas consortium. For more information about the KU IC CAE program, visit https://iccae.ku.edu/.
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Contact: Wendy Conover, KU Libraries, [email protected], @KULibraries
KU Common Book Program announces 2023-24 events
LAWRENCE — The University of Kansas Common Book Program will host a slate of activities and events surrounding the 2023-24 Common Book selection, “Parable of the Sower,” by American science fiction writer Octavia Butler.
Students, faculty and staff across the university are encouraged to engage with this important book and participate in the conversations and activities taking place around campus throughout the academic year. Prior familiarity with the book is not required to join in the events.
Free copies of “Parable of the Sower,” are available via the request form for classes or personal use. Books can be picked up at Watson or Anschutz libraries, or access the book online through KU Libraries.
Common Book events in connection with “Parable of the Sower” will take place across campus during the 2023-24 school year. The events page on the Common Book website will be updated throughout the fall and spring semesters.
View the KU Common Work of Art: “Parable of the Sower: Oya’s Dream”
Through Jan. 7, 2024, Spencer Museum of Art
Each year the Spencer Museum selects a work of art to provide a visual pairing with KU Common Book. This year’s KU Common Work of Art, “Parable of the Sower: Oya’s Dream,” by Fahamu Pecou, is featured in the Spencer’s fall exhibition “Black Writing,” which explores the power, politics and complexities of language in contemporary Black culture, a collaboration in celebration of the 40th anniversary of KU’s History of Black Writing program.
Black Forager
7 p.m. Sept. 6, Liberty Hall, 644 Massachusetts St.
The Commons hosts Alexis Nikole Nelson (@BlackForager) at Liberty Hall.
Slow Art Sunday: “Parable of the Sower: Oya’s Dream”
2-3 p.m. Sept. 10, Spencer Museum of Art
Slow Art Sundays allow you to spend time getting to know one great work of art through relaxed contemplation and guided conversation. September’s Slow Art Sunday focuses on “Parable of the Sower: Oya’s Dream.”
“Saving the World Through Science and Fiction,” exhibition opening
Oct. 5, Haricombe Gallery, Watson Library 3 West
The Haricombe Gallery on Watson Third Floor West hosts two major collaborative exhibitions per year with a keynote speaker and reception marking the exhibition’s debut. Explore the gallery at your leisure throughout the semester or visit online.
“Saving the World Through Science and Fiction,” discussion panel
Oct. 12, Haricombe Gallery, Watson Library 3 West
As an extension of the Haricombe Gallery on Watson Third Floor West, a panel of scholars will present their work in this public event.
Edwards Campus book discussion, “Parable of the Sower Debrief”
4:30-6 p.m. Nov. 14, KU Edwards Campus Hawk’s Nest
Join Student Services and DEI Initiatives for a welcoming and cozy night to discuss the book and the importance of Butler’s work. RSVP for this event.
Marathon reading of “Parable of the Sower”
10 a.m.-5 p.m. Nov. 29 and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Nov. 30, Spencer Museum of Art
Participate in a live marathon reading of “Parable of the Sower” to experience Butler’s world-building within the “Black Writing” exhibition. You may sign up to read here. Copies of the book will be available. Sponsored by the Spencer Museum of Art, History of Black Writing, KU Common Book Program, Hall Center for the Humanities, Department of English and Gunn Center for the Study of Science Fiction.
Artist talk: Fahamu Pecou on creating “Parable of the Sower: Oya’s Dream”
4-5 p.m. Nov. 30, Spencer Museum of Art
Join Pecou as he discusses the KU Common Work of Art. The work symbolizes the new beginnings that emerge when one embraces the inevitability of change.
Author visit by N. K. Jemisin
7:30 p.m. April 25, 2024, Woodruff Auditorium
New York Times bestselling writer N.K. Jemisin, who composed the preface to the most recent edition of “Parable of Sower,” is an acclaimed science fiction and fantasy author, winning the prestigious Hugo Award three times in a row (the first author in history to do so). Come hear Jemisin read from her “Broken Earth” trilogy and speak about the influence of “Parable of the Sower” and Butler on her work.
The KU Common Book program is a campuswide initiative that fosters critical thinking and generates opportunities for shared experiences and conversation about topics and issues of significance in today’s world. The program is presented via partnership among KU Libraries, the Hall Center for the Humanities and the Division of Academic Success.
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Don’t miss new episodes of “When Experts Attack!,”
a KU News Service podcast hosted by Kansas Public Radio.
https://kansaspublicradio.org/when-experts-attack
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Contact: Savannah Rattanavong, Office of the Provost, 785-864-6402, [email protected], @KUProvost
Timothy Paulson to serve as director for University Press of Kansas
LAWRENCE — The University Press of Kansas board of trustees, composed of provosts from each of the six Kansas Regents institutions, has appointed Timothy Paulson as director of the University Press of Kansas.
Paulson will succeed Mike Haddock, who has served as interim faculty director of UPK since July 2022. Paulson currently serves as general manager at Brentwood Studios, a media production company based in Nashville, Tennessee.
“I’m thrilled to join the press and contribute to its ongoing success on behalf of the consortium universities and in service to its community of scholars and authors,” Paulson said.
As director, Paulson will serve as a focal point for organizational decision-making, strategic development and public outreach for the press. Paulson brings more than 20 years of experience in media and publishing to the press. He begins his new role Oct. 1.
Paulson will work closely with staff, editorial board members, authors, scholars and reviewers to acquire and publish scholarly and regional books. Among other responsibilities, Paulson will collaboratively develop strategies to build the publishing program of the press and promote the press to the faculty at consortium universities and other constituent groups.
“On behalf of the trustees, we are excited to have Tim join the University Press of Kansas as its next director,” said Charles Taber, chair of the UPK board of trustees and Kansas State University provost and executive vice president. “His years of leadership experience in media publishing and production will fuel the press’s continued growth and pursuit of knowledge.”
From small nonprofit publishers to multinational media companies, Paulson has held varied leadership positions, including in trade, academic and educational categories. In his most recent role, Paulson oversaw the strategy and execution of product, marketing and distribution activities for Brentwood Studios.
He previously served as vice president and publisher at HarperCollins Christian Publishing, where he oversaw the publication of multiple New York Times bestsellers, as well as general manager at Kalmbach Media. Paulson spent most of his career at 1517 Media, where he led several strategic growth initiatives, business acquisitions, market expansion efforts, new digital platform strategies and the creation of an award-winning animation studio.
Paulson earned a master’s degree in business administration from St. Cloud State University, a master’s degree in divinity from Luther Seminary and a bachelor’s degree in religion from Saint Olaf College.
The University Press of Kansas was founded in 1946 and represents the six state universities in Kansas: Emporia State University, Fort Hays State University, Kansas State University, Pittsburg State University, the University of Kansas and Wichita State University. The press is located in KU’s West District and functionally operates as a department of KU, while being governed by the board of trustees.
The press has more than 3,000 published books to its credit and publishes about 45 new books annually. The press specializes most broadly in history in addition to regional titles.
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The official university Twitter account has changed to @UnivOfKansas.
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Contact: Jon Niccum, KU News Service, 785-864-7633, [email protected]
Trans identity and Catalan independence share key perspectives, research finds
LAWRENCE – When Marta Vicente was researching various aspects of transgender identity, one surprising word kept coming up: colonialism.
“There’s a sense of breaking free from subordination of political powers,” said Vicente, a professor of history and of women, gender & sexuality studies at the University of Kansas.
“That’s really interesting because of the political component but also the geographical component; colony has to do with the landscape and the state. Yet colony is also about the body.”
Her new article “Rethinking Identity: Transgender Studies and Catalan Independence” finds trans people and those who favor Catalonia’s independence from Spain often express their identities as being political bodies that seek recognition as autonomous entities. By merging trans and independence narratives, she provides a new perspective on notions of identity as they apply to discussions over national sovereignty. Her piece is published in Catalan Review.
The Catalan independence movement is a political movement that seeks national sovereignty for the area known as Catalonia, which lies on the northeast part of the Iberian Peninsula. Barcelona is the capital of this region.
“It has some political autonomy, but it’s not a separate country. People who support the independence movement are seeking for it to become a separate country with its own government,” she said. “For comparison, it’s somewhat similar to the Quebecois minority in Canada or Scottish independence in the U.K.”
For trans people in this region, the geography of the body runs parallel to the geography of the nation — and both are connected to emotional processes difficult to pin down. Vicente notes that debates over identity, its meaning, prominence and recognition have proven central in both transgender and Catalan independence narratives.
Is the concept of identity more important now than it’s ever been before?
“I think this has always been important, but now it’s even more so because so many people are testing the boundaries of identity assigned to individuals at birth and in childhood. Historically, there has always been a search for one’s true, authentic identity. Now it’s more visible with modern means of communication, like social media, where you can discuss that in the public sphere,” she said.
This has compelled many people to now rethink concepts of what identity truly means.
“Like the sovereignty of the body goes beyond the personal body into the geographical body,” she said. “I see these all as connected.”
Vicente first became intrigued by this correlation when analyzing the emotional component of identity.
“What makes this particularly thought-provoking is that when it’s emotional, it becomes invisible to the eye. And if it’s invisible, then establishing someone’s identity is very difficult,” she said.
A native of Barcelona, Vicente has been at KU since 1997. She is the author of “Debating Sex and Gender in Eighteenth-Century Spain” (Cambridge, 2017), and of the articles “The Medicalization of the Transsexual: Patient-Physician Narratives in the First Half of the Twentieth Century” and “Transgender: A Useful Category? Or, How the Historical Study of ‘Transsexual’ and ‘Transvestite’ Can Help Us Rethink ‘Transgender’ as a Category.” Her expertise focuses on queer studies, queer theory, feminist history and sexuality.
“I’ve been working on trans studies for eight years, but in the back of my mind, there is always a sense of, ‘I’m not a trans person. I’m not part of that community,’” she said. “But I am part of this Catalan independence movement. So I can claim a personal connection to this one.”
She hopes the article can help people see trans not as something isolated, but as part of a changing political environment that we are all living in and experiencing.
Vicente said, “In a way, how individuals are seeking to obtain sovereignty over their own bodies is not so different from nations who are seeking the same thing.”
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