Bryant University College of Arts and Sciences Fall/Winter 2022-23 Magazine

BRYANT

Saturday by the pond by student, Hannah Dreska

Letter from the Dean

Greetings, friends of the College of Arts and Sciences,

In April of 2022, CAS@Bryant collaborated with the incoming Provost, Rupendra Paliwal, and then Kirsten Hokeness (Science and Technology) and Joe Trunzo (Psychology) to propose and launch an expansion of the School of Health Sciences into the School of Health and Behavioral Sciences (SHBS). Under the leadership of Chair-turned-Director Hokeness and Associate Director Trunzo, the school was officially launched in May of 2022 after completing Bryant’s internal vetting process. In addition to the highly successful Physician’s Assistant graduate program, SHBS also features the highly indemand Psychology Department; the Biomedical and Biological Studies Department with programs in Biology (BS) and Health Sciences (BS); new programs in Exercise and Movement Science (BS) and Healthcare Analytics (BS); and a new Master of Science in Healthcare Informatics.

In the summer of 2022, CAS was presented with a unique opportunity to re-imagine itself and its future direction, and to create a structure that was visionary and conducive to innovative growth. After four months of conversations with faculty, CAS now features four interdisciplinary departments poised to create stronger programs that prepare our students for life and their future careers: the Department of Communication and Language Studies; the Department of Mathematics and Economics; the Department of History, Literature, and the Arts; and the Department of Politics, Law, and Society. The Liberal Arts curriculum in the College of Arts and Sciences is industry-focused and ever-evolving to assure that students have the personal, professional, and technical skills to excel in current and future job markets. The programs within the College of Arts and Sciences emphasize experiential learning and realworld application of a variety of analytical, creative, interpersonal, and technical skills. Our graduates understand that what they know, what they can do, who they are, and what they value are all essential features of a successful life and career.

In addition, at the beginning of fall 2022, we entered the implementation phase of our campus-wide revision to Bryant’s general education curriculum. After two years of conversations with faculty, staff, and students, a team of faculty and staff across

Student Affairs, Academic Affairs, and Student Success led by myself, Dean Madan Annavarjula of the College of Business and Associate Deans Terri Hasseler (CAS) and Diya Das (COB) created a forward-thinking model that we feel will better prepare students for the world ahead. Under the leadership of the inaugural Faculty Director of General Education, Dr. Ron Bobroff, Bryant’s new general education program helps students develop marketable skills (such as data analysis, intercultural communication, collaboration, and innovation and creativity) through thematic, interdisciplinary exploration of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Housed in CAS, the program is designed to equip students to understand complex global problems (such as poverty, gender inequality, and good health and well-being) and work collaboratively with classmates and community partners to find solutions to those problems. In this way, Bryant’s unique curriculum develops students that are not just real-world ready, they are better world ready.

Finally, CAS is poised to make a significant impact on experiential learning; diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice; life-long learning for current and future students and alumni; and community engagement. In short, CAS@Bryant- its programs, faculty, and students- are entering into a renaissance aimed at redefining Liberal Arts education in the 21st century. I look forward to sharing more about our progress in future issues. For now, please enjoy the amazing stories, successes, and opportunities in the pages of this edition.

Regards,

Dr. Veronica S. McComb, PhD Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences

Bryant University College of Arts & Sciences Magazine

Bryant University College of Arts & Sciences Magazine

Fall-Winter 2022/23, Issue 12

The Bryant University College of Arts & Sciences Magazine is published semi-annually.

Designer & Editor:

· Laura Williams

Contributors:

· Valerie Carrigan

· Amber Day

· John Dietrich

· Rick Gorvett

· Terri Hasseler

· Martha Kuhlman

· Christopher Morse

· Cedric Oliva

· Mary Robins

· Tom Zammarelli

· Staff Writer (Bryant News)

Editor’s Note

Upon reflection of my first year with Bryant University's College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), I am proud of our mission, the tour de force known as Dean McComb, and our dedicated faculty. It's been a whirlwind! This year, the College of Arts and Sciences evolved, as well as the Magazine. It is designed to showcase the best of what the College of Arts and Sciences offers. As I continue to work with numerous contributors to shape the magazine into a holistic reflection of the College of Arts and Sciences, it's clear to see the energy and enthusiasm that defines CAS. As Designer and Editor of the Magazine, I am excited to provide you with a glimpse into the College of Arts and Sciences during our Fall 2022 and Winter 2023 terms. Enjoy!

To contribute content for the College of Arts and Sciences Magazine, please contact Laura Williams, lwilliams2@bryant.edu.

Featured Contributor

Terri A. Hasseler has a B.A. in political science and English from St. Norbert University, an M.A. in British and American Literature from Marquette University, and a Ph.D. in English with a focus in Victorian literature and post-colonial literature and theory from the University of Washington.

Terri is the Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. Although Terri has contributed several articles, two notable feature stories not to be missed include a debrief of Bryant students studying abroad in Ireland (see page 18), as well as the Peace Paper Project (see page 28).

Bryant University College of Arts & Sciences

1150 Douglas Pike Smithfield, RI 02917

In Memoriam IrelandStudy AmeriCorp Team-up

Memorial for Professor William Graves. In memoriam for Professor Judy BarrettLitoff

Nearly 40 students spent three weeks in Ireland, learning about the history and culture of Ireland

Students in Com 491 worked with ServeRI to recruit for over 100 open AmeriCorps positions within the State of Rhode Island

Tupper Classic Writer’s Retreat

The inaugural Tupper Classic mock trial invitational competition brought together students from 11 schools, including Princeton, Brandeis, PC, Northeastern, and BC to match wits and test their legal strategies against one another

Sections On the Cover

The semiannual Writers Retreat provides participants with space, time, and support to engage in their writing projects

The Peace Paper Project uses hand papermaking to engage with community activism to provide a forum for talking about service, trauma, and community connections and to create beautiful pieces of art that reflect these conversations

Bridgett M. Davis visited Bryant for a workshop, as well as a reading of The World According to Fannie Davis

Freedom of the Wild by Maikou Kue

What motivated this piece was my admiration and love for my grandparents. As farmers of both fowl and produce, they taught me to appreciate the growth of nature and the strength and determination it has. Therefore, the inspiration for this piece comes from the feeling of freedom that can be derived from nature and the wilderness. I tried to capture textures that emulated those found in nature within many of the components of this piece, from the textures of feathers to the grain of wood or the feeling of mystery in dark waters. Ultimately, I had also hoped to capture the message that freedom is the perseverance of growth as well as trusting the unknown.

Peace Paper Project Writer’s Series

A ROUND T HE D EPARTMENTS

COMMUNICATION AND LANGUAGE STUDIES

Professor Mary Robins’ Small Group Communication class went on a photo opportunity scavenger hunt around campus as a first step in starting to build cohesion for their small group communication project. The class puts their learning into action - after completing a deep dive into the theories and concepts of communicating in groups, students work on several projects to raise awareness and fundraise for local veterans’ organizations, including Bryant Veteran’s Professional Network, Bryant ROTC, Toys for Tots, Operation Stand Down Rhode Island, and Dare to Dream.

This experiential learning opportunity has groups of students attending to both tasks and relationships in the project and practicing communication competence in formal meetings several times a week. Focusing on the completion of a philanthropic event allows them to uti-

lize and refine these skills. More specifically, students navigate group dynamics, work towards communicating effectively with diverse group members, and develop content geared towards public presentations.

You will see these events unfold on campus and over

Clockwise from le , back row: Amber Day, Professor and Chair, History, Literature, and the Arts; John Dietrich, Professor and Chair, Poli cs, Law, and Society; Rick Gorve , Professor and Chair, Mathema cs and Economics; Terri A. Hasseler, Associate Dean and Professor of History, Literature, and the Arts; Christopher Morse, Professor and Chair, Communica on and Language Studies; and Veronica McComb, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences

Christopher Morse

Students stand in front of Tupper statue

social media over the next few weeks, and members of the veterans’ organizations and the University will be on hand for student’s presentation of their awareness campaigns.

Languages in Action: Olivia’s testimonianzaand Patrick’s temoignage

In the Communication and Language Studies Department, students can start learning a foreign language at the introductory level and achieve advanced competency, giving them the opportunity to study and work abroad.

This is the case of student Olivia Angelo, who began her studies in IT105 and is currently abroad in Florence. Starting from a simple “Ciao, ciao!,” over the past three years, Olivia has achieved an advanced communicative level in Italian and reflects upon the positive aspects of her experience in Italy: “Being abroad has opened my eyes to a whole new world of opportunity. Working an internship while being in Italy has shown me the international business world and the different culture that comes with it!” Olivia immerses herself in the local culture, takes classes and is completing an internship while improving her linguistic skills. To this end, she adds that “[w]orking alongside other Italian women has improved my Italian skills and my confidence in speaking, and as I minor in Italian, going back to Bryant and taking future Italian classes is going to only benefit me and improve my Italian proficiency and confidence both inside, and outside of the classroom!”

Other students can join the program at an intermediate level and get to explore advanced topics before embarking on their study abroad experience. For instance, senior Patrick Roth completed FR404: French for Business and FR411: the Francophone World before heading out to

Olivia Angelo in front of Cupola del Brunelleschi in Florence

Patrick Roth in France

Students on the scavenger hunt Tupper was popular!

beautiful city of Aix-en-Provence tucked in sunny south of France. “As a junior studying French in Bryant University’s nationally ranked International Business Program, I am currently studying abroad in Aix-enProvence to participate in an immersive experience that offers a multitude of opportunities to continue my studies and improve my language skills.” Patrick benefits from this immersive experience and further adds: “[...] I live with a host family and eat dinner with them daily, during which we converse almost exclusively in French. The internship at a French company that I just recently completed also challenged me to quickly improve and adapt my comprehension and oral expression in a professional setting and learn new technical vocabulary. With only a month left in the semester, I continue to profit from this immersive learning experience and develop my abilities to effectively communicate in French.”

Campus visit: Consul General of France in Boston

us to offer our Spring Francophone film festival in collaboration with the FACE foundation, for the past three years.

Bryant at ACTFL in Boston this November!

In mid-November, we had the wonderful pleasure of welcoming Mr. Mustafa Soykurt, Consul General of France in Boston, Mr. Olivier Favry, Cultural Attaché and part of the consular team to our campus. During their visit they met with faculty members in the French program (Drs. Lees, Oliva and Perry), as well as other francophone and francophile faculty members and toured our campus. Students in the French program also had the opportunity to better understand the significance of both cultural and professional FrancoAmerican exchanges and collaborations. The French program extends their gratitude to the consular team for their continued efforts in strengthening FrancoAmerican educational opportunities in New England and their support for our programs which has allowed

This year’s most important conference for the teaching of Foreign Languages, ACTFL, took place in Boston. Dr. Cedric Joseph Oliva and his co-author Dr. Clorinda Donato from California State University, Long Beach offered a long-format presentation on innovative pedagogical strategies in the domain of teaching Italian to the emerging population of students who already speak English and Spanish in the United States to educators and professors from the US and Canada.

Their innovative textbook, Juntos: Italian for Speakers of English and Spanish was showcased during the threeday event; attendees met its authors

Dr. Cedric Joseph Oliva, second from right (seated), and Dr. Clorinda Donato, right (seated), promoted their innovate textbook, Juntos: Italian for Speakers of English and Spanish Consul General with students and faculty

Consul General with profs. Jane Perry and Cynthia Lees

after their presentation. ACTFL currently has “13,000 members [who] share a common goal: to inspire, educate and prepare today’s students for tomorrow’s world.” This year the convention gathered 5,000 language education professionals.

Kicking off 2023 abroad: LCS480: Italian Culture, History, and Gastronomy

This January, the LCS480 course: Italian Culture, History, and Gastronomy, will take 44 students on a unique research trip to northern Italy (Firenze, Milano, and Venezia) leading to several field trips (Modena, Murano, Perugia, and Parma).

Dr. Oliva, instructor of the course, conceived it as an immersive experience. The starting point for students will be to acquire basic Italian pre-departure (Ciao!) and become accustomed to referring to cities and foods they will encounter during the trip by their Italian names.

In this course, students will examine Italy’s cultural and historical connections with the rest of the world, including its early trading connections with France, Mediterranean countries, Africa, Asia, and the Americas. Students will also discover and study culinary or food-related literary and artistic representations and how they resulted from, evolved with, and shaped Italian gastronomy. Students will draw connections between their knowledge of Italian gastronomy and the Italo-American culinary experience with which they are already familiar.

During their experiential learning adventures on the Italian peninsula, students will visit farms, places of business and museums where culinary staples such as balsamic vinegar, coffee, olive and olive oil, pasta, salt, tomato, hand-made glass tableware, etc. will come to life.

Students will complete a giornale di bordo (travel diary), which they will share with the campus community upon their return.

HISTORY, LITERATURE, AND THE ARTS

Faculty Highlights

The History, Literature, and the Arts department welcomed two new faculty members this fall. Monica Ward, a lecturer in History, specializes in Early American and Indigenous history with a specific focus on the Native South before the 1830s. Her research is on Creek Muskogee history, geopolitics and identity, Ethnohistory, and the American Revolution. She also has a growing interest in Public History.

Shastri Akella, a new lecturer in Literary and Cultural

Monica Ward

Amber Day

Studies, is a double threat, with both a Ph.D. in Literature and an M.F.A. in Creative Writing. His first novel, The Sea Elephants, is due out in print this summer. In his fiction, Professor Akella depicts queer relationships (romantic and found families) that find a way to thrive even in the face of extreme resistance, and for his academic scholarship he engages in an interdisciplinary study of contemporary migrant literature and art, as well as global anglophone literature and film.

Our classes were packed with exciting events this fall. For instance, Professor Kuhlman brought artist, cartoonist, and printmaker Cathy Johnson into her Graphic Novel class. Johnson coached students in the creation of autobiographical comics.

Getting outside of the classroom, Professor Jennifer Horan took her philosophy students to the RISD museum where they studied the exhibition “Being and Believing in the Natural World” and Professor Joan Zaretti’s LCS 220: Creativity and the Arts class visited the RISD Museum to complete thumbnail sketches of portraits and watercolor impressions of paintings.

his mother’s actions in bringing national attention to his murder.

Our faculty have also been busy on their own research projects. Professor Ron Bobroff recently published an article on the influence of elite masculinity on Russia’s decision for war in 1914. Professor Jeff Cabusao published an article on Carlos Bulosan and Filipino collective memory. Professor Amber Day published an essay on the national controversies involving comedians Samantha Bee and Michelle Wolf. Professor Martha Kuhlman wrote a chapter about American women’s lives for the Cambridge History of the American Graphic Novel. And in the wake of his recent book publication, Screen Love: Queer Intimacies in the Grindr Era, Professor Roach gave invited presentations about his

Professor Roach and Professor Shastri Akella, in collaboration with the Women’s Center and Pride Center, took interested students to see a production of The Inheritance at the Trinity Repertory Theater, about the lives of gay men in New York a generation after the AIDS epidemic. Professor Brad Martin, in collaboration with the CDI, took HLA students to see the movie Till, about Emmet Till’s lynching and

work in Providence, California, Germany, and Austria. In addition, Professor Carrigan has been accepted for a prestigious artist residency this January with the Penland School of Craft.

Our current and former students are also accomplishing great things. Currently, Samantha Eastman is working on an honors thesis supervised by Professor Horan on gender relations and historical narrative into the present. LCS graduate Kayla Bathala recently returned to campus during the Day of Understanding to present and discuss her interactive art exhibit “Breaking Bias, Building Belonging,” which she created as part of her senior Honors Thesis, and another recent LCS alum, Mikayla Nogueira, has just been named a Forbes Top Creator as a result of her phenomenally successful makeup tutorials.

Cathy Johnson

Dr. Shastri Akella

The Inheritance at Trinity Repertory Theater

Professor Horan’s philosophy students visit to the RISD Museum

MATHEMATICS AND ECONOMICS

The Bryant Actuarial Mathematics Program was awarded the 2022 Casualty Actuarial Society University Award, providing international recognition for the quality and innovation of our actuarial science program. The award confirms our Actuarial Math program as being amongst the elite such programs globally, and is a testament to our excellent students and faculty.

Economics professors Laura Beaudin and Allison Kaminaga organized and presented the third and very successful Precollege Economics Program – a week-long immersion into economics for high school students – in August 2022.

Bryant Math (with the Council for Inclusive Excellence and the Providence Public Library) sponsored, organized, and ran Rhode Island’s First Annual 17 and Under Chess Tournament. Fourteen participants represented six different Rhode Island schools, and ranged in age from 9 to 17. The six schools represented were Central Falls High School, North Kingstown High School, Classical High School, Tollgate High School, Warwick Vets Middle School, and Sherman Elementary. The overarching goal was to reinforce intellectual endeavors of youth in RI, especially among low-income students. An expanded event is already being planned for next year.

The Applied Economics Competition, which involves

students in introductory economics classes, crowned its winning teams. In Macroeconomics, the first-place team was from Professor Briggs’ Econ 114, Section H class. Students on this team included Aiden Azevedo, Melissa Calixte, Kameron Christ, Brian Inger and Mathew Tataronia. In Microeconomics, the first-place team was

from Professor Sardar's Econ 113, Section I class. Students on this team included Nicholas Decelles, Jared Fraone, Kenneth Green, and Aidan Fedrizzi. (Todd Dilullo and Ryan Doherty were also on the team but are not shown in the picture.)

A Bryant student team (Julia Purdue, Nathan Hochberger, John Mancuso, Sam Pollack and Jack Scaramucci) participated in DataFest. They took runner-up for Best Use of Outside Data!

Former Bryant student Valerie Hartnett has begun her Ph.D. studies in Economics at Clark University this semester.

Bryant launches first-ever online, asynchronous Master’s in Actuarial Science

In the fall of 2023, early- to mid-career professionals can forge new paths to success through Bryant University’s online, asynchronous Master of Science in Actuarial Science (MSAS) degree The need for such a program has never been greater, says Rick Gorvett, Professor and Chair of the Mathematics Department and Director of the MSAS.

“There are just not enough strong actuaries,” Gorvett says, noting a recent Bureau of Labor and Statistics projection that anticipates a 21 percent growth in actuarial positions over the next decade. “The world has become

The first-place Macroeconomics team

The first-place Microeconomics team

Rick Gorve

a much riskier place than ever before, and so it is essential to have people who can identify, quantify, and manage risks.”

Traditionally rooted in insurance, actuarial skills have been adopted by health care, technology, financial services, and other industries as the data-driven economy grows.

“Everyone is faced with risk,” Gorvett says. “The economy falls apart without a superstructure of risk management and insurance.”

who are actuaries.” Currently, Bryant has four designated actuaries on its faculty.

Prospective students may have undergraduate degrees in actuarial science; others may be considering a second area of study or a career change. International students are also encouraged to apply, Gorvett says, since the online, asynchronous format provides a convenient opportunity to pursue such a degree. The curriculum is foundational, covering elements including mathematics, statistics, probability theory, economics, data science, and scientific and technical communication the latter of which aligns with actuarial society standards and is a differentiator among other in-person master’s-level programs.

“As we’re looking at systems thinking, risk is a fundamental factor of understanding our complex world and managing that complexity,” says Hasseler, adding that a potential growth area for the new program, which is accepting applications now, includes an interdisciplinary collaboration with Bryant’s School of Health and Behavioral Sciences to train future health actuaries. “There’s a lot of actuarial work to be done out there!”

POLITICS, LAW, AND SOCIETY

Bryant’s MSAS sets students on the pathway to professional actuarial designations, a rigorous process, says Terri Hasseler, Ph.D., Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. The MSAS will help prepare future actuaries for multiple exams and their careers.

“This program provides students with a pathway and some guardrails to progress toward actuarial certification, which is harder to do when you’re studying on your own,” Hasseler says. The program is 100 percent online and asynchronous, with five convenient start terms the first such program in the nation and is price competitively at $975 per credit, or $2,925 per three-credit course. Courses are offered in 10-week formats and students can enroll part or full-time, earning a degree in as little as one year. “You also have expertise you can call on, because you’ll be working with faculty

The department of Politics, Law and Society is pleased to welcome the addition of Anthropology to our disciplines, which also still include Legal Studies, Political Science, and Sociology. This allows natural synergy of those who examine society and government from multiple angles.

An early sign of this new focus is a Sociology course for Spring 2023 on the Social Determinants of Health that explores ways that domestic and international social conditions, forces, and systems influence health outcomes. We plan to further develop courses examining areas such as health, the environment, and inequality.

We also recently brought together faculty from several of our disciplines, the Physician Assistant program, and a representative from USAID, who oversees U.S government funded health initiatives in Southern Africa, to discuss Past, Present, and Future Pandemics from polit-

John Dietrich

“As we’re looking at systems thinking, risk is a fundamental factor of understanding our complex world and managing that complexity.”

The world continues to generate challenging issues for us to study in and outside of our classrooms. The war in Ukraine has brought renewed attention to war crimes and human rights violations, so our faculty have served as expert commentators, and we are hosting a talk by a former lawyer at the UN’s international tribunals. Protests in Iran are drawing global attention and led to a discussion by six Bryant faculty with deep ties to the country, who shared their personal stories and professional insights. The midterm elections stimulated discussion of not only particular races, but of the entire electoral system with students and faculty contributing ideas in in our Talking About Politics series.

Many CAS majors pursue careers in law. Here's a snapshot of some recent alums:

· Gianna Ceccarelli ('21 - PLW major) - scholarship recipient and 2nd-year law student at the University of San Diego School of Law, where she is Associate Editor of the San Diego International Law Journal

· David Abunaw ('16 - Intl/Global Studies major)scholarship recipient and 3rd year law student at the University of Pennsylvania Carey School of Law. David is spending a semester in Spain to pursue an interest in International Sports Law, and he is also Associate Editor of Penn's Journal of International Law.

· Melissa Rodriguez ('21 - Intl/Global Studies major) - scholarship recipient and 2nd-year law student at Suffolk University Law School

Food Oppression in New England

Grace Greenaway, Nilsa Lane, and Aly Snell worked with co-author Professor Nicole L. Freiner on "The NSLP and Food Oppression in New England during Covid-19". They presented their work at the New England Political Science Association Annual Meeting and then to the Bryant community. Their work explores how the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) plays

a role in national food politics and policies that affect access to food and food security. During Covid, there was a sharp decrease in NSLP participation that potentially left school students without nutritionally balanced meals.

Faculty Publications

In other research, department members wrote articles, book chapters, and reviews on a wide range of topics.

Books were completed by Katie Alidadi on justice and minority accommodations, Michael Bryant on post WW-II trials and Hitler’s Mein Kampf, and Gregg Carter on guns in America.

Grace Greenaway, Nilsa Lane, Aly Snell and Professor Freiner

Expert panel examines interdisciplinary approaches to combatting global health crises

legal studies and other issues will all be very crucial in the coming years.”

The panelists all drew from the lessons learned from past global health issues and their own experience to demonstrate the importance of an interdisciplinary approach and the impact that multiple disciplines, including law, anthropology, political science, and the health professions, can have in concert with one another.

The biggest problems require innovative, complex solutions. A recent Bryant University panel offered "A Multidisciplinary Look at Responses to Past, Present, and Future Pandemics" by bringing together a diverse and distinguished group of leaders from a variety of fields to share their perspectives on one of the key issues facing the world today.

Sponsored by Bryant’s School of Health and Behavioral Sciences and Department of Politics, Law, and Society, the panel’s participants included Suzanne LeclercMadlala, Ph.D., Senior Anthropologist at the US Agency for International Development (USAID), and several members of the University’s expert faculty including Alex Perullo, Ph.D., Professor of Anthropology; John Dietrich, Ph.D., Professor of Political Science and Chair of the Department of Politics, Law and Society; Professor of Anthropology; Andrea Boggio, J.S.D., Professor of Legal Studies; and Ashley Hughes, MSPAS, PA-C, Program Director for the University’s Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies. Together, they looked at the many important pieces that go into combatting a global pandemic, from understanding the problem to organization to direct response, and the myriad professions that make a difference in confronting international health crises.

That collection of expertise is crucial when addressing complex, multifaceted issues like public health, noted Dietrich. “Health isn't just about people in science labs or even people in white coats giving out vaccines,” Dietrich said. “It's a much more complicated thing. People who know economics, people who know anthropology, people who know political science, people who focus on

Leclerc-Madlala took the audience behind the scenes of her work at USAID, an independent agency of the U.S. federal government that is primarily responsible for administering civilian foreign aid and development assistance, to help them better understand the factors involved in preparing and implementing a global health response. She also talked about her work in South Africa during that country’s AIDS crisis, where she helped promote public health by examining the social determinants that affect illness.

Our future response to global pandemics, Leclerc-Madlala said, depends on our ability to work together and our will to address world-wide issues and aid others equitably. “There are big problems out there and they are complex problems, to be sure. But we can't lose hope in that complexity,” she said. She also noted that the next generation of professionals facing global crises, some of whom might have been sitting in the panel’s audience, represented a bright future for the field.

because

have

hindsight of some past major pandemics and how we've responded and that informs how we're going to respond going forward,” said Leclerc -Madlala. “So hopefully we've inspired some of the students to think about these big issues."

“I think being a young person at this time is very exciting

we

the

Panelists included (from le ): Alex Perullo, Suzanne Leclerc-Madlala, John Dietrich, Ashley Hughes, and Andrea Boggio

Suzanne Leclerc-Madlala

“There are big problems out there and they are complex problems, to be sure. But we can't lose hope in that complexity."

Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE)

Bryant's Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE) has strong representation from the College of Arts and Sciences. The CTE's leadership includes Politics, Law and Society faculty Ilisabeth Bornstein serving as Interim Director, and History, Literature, and the Arts faculty Ryan Marnane and Joan Zaretti, who are serving as Faculty Associate and 2nd-year Faculty Fellow, respectively. Gao Niu, faculty in the Mathematics and Economics department, is also a 2nd-year Faculty Fellow. Professors Bornstein, Marnane, Niu, and Zaretti work with CTE staff and colleagues from the College of Business and the School of Health and Behavior Sciences to support and enrich the practice of teaching and learning at Bryant University.■

MISSION

The College of Arts and Sciences at Bryant University fosters the development of ethical, global citizens driven by empathy, curiosity, and collaboration. The college promotes intellectual discovery, creativity, and critical thinking to prepare students to contribute personally and professionally to the development of a more just, equitable, and inclusive world.

Social Media Highlights

Memorial Service for Professor William Graves III

listen and assist others: “Bill could see the splendor in all of us. Where many of us stop conversations with others because we are too busy or because we have made a judgment about someone, Bill would make time to talk, to listen, to assist. In all my years of talking with Bill, I never heard him utter a disparaging word about anyone else. He treated other people as valuable, worthy, and important.”

On July 19, 2022, faculty, staff, and friends gathered on Bryant’s campus for a memorial service for Professor William Graves III. Professor Graves, who passed away in November 2020, was a vital part of Bryant’s community for more than three decades. As a linguistic anthropologist, he taught students the importance of understanding humanity in all its variations and permutations. He created or strengthened campus programs including International Affairs, Global Studies, Modern Languages, and Literary and Cultural Studies. He mentored both faculty and students on research and career aspirations. And, he conducted groundbreaking research using his fluency in many languages to interact and connect with people from different parts of the world.

The memorial service took place outside on the grassy knoll on the northwest side of the Unistructure building. In that location Bryant University planted a dogwood tree and laid a stone to commemorate Professor Graves’ commitment to Bryant. Associate Provost Wendy Samter opened the event describing her relationship with Professor Graves: “I miss him. I miss his thoughtfulness, his insight, his humor, his skepticism of administration, which I am now a part. I miss his thoughtfulness. I know that I am a better person because Bill was in my life. And I know that this community has benefitted greatly from all Bill did.”

Professor Alex Perullo then spoke about Bill’s ability to

Professor Janet Dean spoke about her connections to Bill and the knowledge that he had for many subjects, including poetry, which he could recite from memory. She read two poems, “Traveling Again” by Du Fu and “Search for Me” by Vladislav Khodasevich, which has the portent verse for the hot summer day on which the memorial took place: “There’s no parting between us, dear friend! Hear me now, I’m here. I am traced by your living and shivering hand that has stretched through the day’s molten blaze.”

Professor Graves’ wife of nearly fifty years, Lee Graves, spoke about the significance of the memorial and Bryant for her family. “Our families are grateful for such an incredible gift. The memory and dedication that Bill is receiving today belongs to everyone who was a part of his endeavors here. You can say that Bryant is the big tree that shaded and protected his family. Bill was also a tree who shaded and nurtured his students.”

Janet Dean reci ng poetry at the memorial service

Professor William Graves III

Finally, Associate Dean Terri Hasseler acknowledged the many people who worked on the memorial including planting the tree, organizing the carving of the stone, funding the project, and identifying the location of the memorial. She then read the words carved into the stone: “In memory of Dr. William Graves III, 1949-2020. Scholar, friend, polyglot, and global citizen who dedicated his career to the people and places of the world.” She continued, “This is a beautiful memorial to him. It is my honor to dedicate this in remembrance of a generous and compassionate colleague.”

Those who attended the memorial then laid stones around the memorial with personal messages that they wrote. Finally, Professor Amber Day closed the memorial service by stating that Professor Graves was interested in all of us and helped us with our work. As she noted, “He had this amazing ability to see us all.”

If you have a chance while on campus, please visit the memorial dedicated to Professor Graves on the northwest side of the Unistructure building.■

In Memoriam, Professor Judy Barrett-Litoff

As Professor of History, Judy Barrett-Litoff was one of Bryant’s longest-serving faculty members. She joined the Bryant community in August of 1972, in anticipation of Bryant College’s relocation from Providence to our Smithfield campus, and during her tenure shared her love of history and Bryant’s own history with hundreds of students.

Professor Litoff was a prolific author and considered one of the world’s preeminent scholars on the subject of World War II correspondence. Her many publications include Miss You; Since You Went Away: World War II Letters from American Women on the Home Front; Dear Boys, We’re in This War Too: World War II Letters from American Women in Uniform American Women in a World at War Bryant College Goes to War Her many awards include the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018, a Research and Publication Award in 1997 and 2005, a Herstory Award in 1996, and a Bryant Faculty Federation Distinguished Faculty Member Award in 1988. In recognition of her dedication to academic excellence and teaching, she was awarded the Bryant University Alumni Association’s Distinguished Faculty Award in 1989.

Professor Barrett-Litoff never lost her southern charm and could be counted on for wonderful peach cobbler and other dishes at faculty tailgates each year at Homecoming. She will be sorely missed, but her legacy will live on in the countless students, faculty, and staff she encouraged and mentored.■

Professor Graves’ wife, Lee Graves

Professor Judy Barre -Litoff

In August, a group of nearly 40 students spent three weeks in Ireland, learning about the history and culture of Ireland with stays in Sligo, Derry, and Dublin. The short-term study abroad experience provided opportunities for juniors and seniors, whose travel had been limited by COVID.

LCS480: Cultural Studies Abroad in Ireland and the in-country study was developed by Terri Hasseler, Associate Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences, and Cindi Lewis, Executive Director of Study Abroad. The course focused on Irish literary, artistic, cultural, and historical subjects of primarily the twentieth- and twenty-first centuries. Stephanie Carter, Director of the Academic Center for Excellence, joined the group on the trip and served as a course consultant and trip facilitator. Carter commented on the experience, “The opportunity to learn about Ireland's history and culture first-hand was invaluable. Throughout the three weeks we were in Ireland, the students learned about the complexities of the country in a way they could never have experienced in the classroom alone.”

Terri Hasseler (second from the right in the front row) and Bryant students stand in front of Glendalough Roundtower

The group spent a week in Sligo, the home of the William Butler Yeats Society and the location of Ireland’s oldest neolithic tombs, and two weeks in Dublin, visiting and studying some of the primary sites associated with the Irish Rebellion and with the nineteenth-century Potato Famine known as The Great Hunger. Junior Olivia Rondini commented, “During the study abroad program this summer, I made so many new friends and memories that will stick with me for the rest of my life. Learning about the history of Ireland while being in Dublin and getting to see things like the General Post Office and the Kilmainham Gaol really helped me put the struggles that the Irish faced into perspective.”

The group also traveled to Derry in Northern Ireland to visit the site of Bloody Sunday (1972) where 14 people were shot and killed by British soldiers during a peaceful protest against internment. Students watched film and video, and read critical histories, fiction, and poetry to understand the environment. Hasseler said, “This experience was an important way to learn about Ireland within the context of the cities and landscapes we studied. We used a great deal of film and video, but it is one thing to watch Derry Girls on the

Derry Girls mural in Northern Ireland

screen and another thing to walk the same streets as Erin, Michelle, Orla, Clare, and James; to see the

Students stand in front of Benbulben mountain in Northwest Ireland

About the travels and study, senior Peter Meade said, “LCS 480 was an unforgettable experience. Having the opportunity to learn outside of the classroom while traveling around Ireland with a remarkable group of people is something that I will not take for granted.” Hasseler said that, “the students were amazing, and their eagerness to learn and grow with each other was remarkable.”

More opportunities for travel and learning are coming over the course of the next year. Professor Cedric Oliva of the Communication and Language Studies Department conducted an LCS480 focused on a historical, gastronomical, and cultural tour of Italy. Oliva’s class traveled to Italy in January 2023.■

Northwest Ireland

Student present posters on their travels.

Bryant and ServeRI Team-up for AmeriCorps

During the second week of the semester, students applied to be team CEOs and four were selected. The CEOs drafted team members based on specific skills students brought to the project. In their teams, students build on their IDEA training to brainstorm possible solutions. Following their Design Thinking training and communication class lessons on small group communication, teams reached consensus on a direction to pursue.

Senior Communication Majors in Com 491 have been working with ServeRI, part of the Rhode Island Department of Education, this semester. Students have been charged with helping ServeRI to recruit for over 100 open AmeriCorps positions within the State of Rhode Island. Four teams have been researching and working on various solutions to help their client.

“The Communication faculty wanted our students to get more real-world experience, putting their expertise to good use” said Kristen Berkos, Associate Professor of Communication. “Although they could help any type of organization, we wanted to partner with a nonprofit organization in our community. One of the learning goals in communication is to influence public discourse, using communication knowledge to advocate for a course of action to address local and national issues. This partnership with ServeRI allows students to apply the skills they have been learning in their classes.”

On the second day of class, Adam Donaldson and Amanda Forget, of ServeRI, came to meet with students in the classroom. They explained how their limited resources make it challenging to fill many vacant positions in various Americorps roles. Students requested access to data about the current population of people serving in the roles, current communication materials, national style guides, and other relevant data.

“Having the opportunity to work with a nonprofit organization and look deeper into their demographics has taught me how the inclusion of diverse cultural groups is important not only to the organization, but also society as a whole,” said Alexandra Cusick.

Team CEO, Vaishnavi Velagapudi, has her team researching reasons recruitment messages haven’t been effective in recruiting members of particular demographics, and are working to create tailored messages to diverse audiences and to eliminate common barriers to applying. Other teams are working on social media campaigns, designing internships, and getting their message across to college students.

On October 27th, the ServeRI client returned to campus to meet with the student groups. They had the chance to hear the student solution ideas, learn about the research the students have been doing, and offered suggestions for the next steps.

The client returned to campus when students presented their final solutions to the client on December 1st. Each team will provide the client with a solution based in communication scholarship and theory. The students have also been invited to present their solutions to the Commission for National Community Service at their meeting on December 8th.■

Students and ServeRI roundtable

Tupper Classic Mock Trial Tournament Debut

The inaugural Tupper Classic mock trial invitational competition brought together students from 11 schools including Princeton University, Brandeis University, Providence College, Northeastern University, and Boston College to match wits and test their legal strategies against one another. Organized by Bryant University’s mock trial team, with partners across campus, the invitational is named for Bryant’s bulldog mascot and was an unqualified success.

“Holding an event like the Tupper Classic really helps to put Bryant mock trial, and the University’s Politics and Law program, on the map,” notes Andrew Hinckley ’23, president of Bryant’s mock trial student organization and the Classic’s lead organizer.

Creating a Classic

In intercollegiate mock trial competitions, students roleplay as lawyers and witnesses and are judged on their

persuasiveness and ability to analyze arguments. Invitational tournaments offer an important opportunity to practice their skills and prepare for regional-level competitions. The Tupper Classic is the only invitational mock trial tournament in Rhode Island and one of only a handful in the region, making it a vital staging ground for aspiring legal practitioners.

the

Although the tournament is brand -new, Hinckley reports there was immediate interest from a large number of schools: “This was an opportunity not only for Bryant students but also for every other school in the region."

The invitational was nearly a year in the making and required lots of organization, from managing logistics for the visiting teams to ensuring that the competition met American Mock Trial Association standards.

“We knew how big an undertaking this was. We knew it had to be a professional event and we had to consider

“I think the success of

Tupper Classic really demonstrates the strength of Bryant’s mock trial team, Politics and Law program, and College of Arts and Sciences.”

every detail,” says Hinckley.

In addition to the members of the Bryant mock trial team and other student volunteers, the Tupper Classic received invaluable support from the University’s Center for Student Leadership and Involvement, the Bryant Law Society, and University faculty (including Assistant Professor of Legal Studies and mock trial advisor Katayoun Alidadi, Ph.D.; Ilisabeth Bornstein, Ph.D., Lecturer in Legal Studies and Pre-Law Advisor; Terrance Turner, Instructor of Social Sciences; and Judy McDonnell, Ph.D., Professor of Sociology) as well as alumni and members of the local legal community who served as judges.

“This was a grassroots effort among many different people because there was a need for this,” Alidadi notes.

The effort paid off: Teams and judges praised the invitational for how well it was run.

“Andrew and his team have demonstrated project management at its best in organizing the Tupper Classic,” Alidadi says.

“They’ve taken everything they’ve learned in class and brought it to fruition in the form of a real competition with real stakeholders.”

For Hinckley, the Classic was an opportunity to show what Bryant students can do, both in the courtroom and beyond. “I think the success of the Tupper Classic really demonstrates the strength of Bryant’s mock trial team, Politics and Law program, and College of Arts and Sciences,” he says.

Prepared through experiential learning and key opportunities

Bryant’s Politics and Law and Pre-Law programs combine theory with practice to ensure that students receive the foundational education they need for success as the next generation of legal scholars and advocates. A focus on experiential education provides the real-world-ready knowhow necessary to excel in both law school and a

wide range of legal professions.

In addition to the Tupper Classic competition, new opportunities for Bryant Politics and Law students include a recently established Affiliation Agreement with Villanova University’s Charles Widger School of Law, which allows qualified Bryant students to gain direct, early access to one of the nation’s preeminent law schools. A “3+3” program will allow Bryant students to complete their undergraduate requirements in three years and then enroll at Villanova Law for three years to earn a Juris Doctor (JD). A “4+3” program will also be available to qualifying seniors who meet all requirements, allowing them to advance directly to Villanova Law upon graduating from Bryant.

The Tupper Classic was a great way to prepare for future opportunities like law school, say the members of Bryant's mock trial team. Competitors are held to strict standards in every element of the simulated trial in this case, a wrongful death suit involving a tragic plane crash from opening statements to cross-examining witnesses. The students prepare for both sides of the case in order to hone their legal acumen.

“Through Mock Trial, students develop an impressive list of important skills,” says Alidadi. “Verbal communication, advocacy, presentation, teamwork, strategy, confidence all tools they’ll need for success.”

Being able to test themselves through competition was an ideal counterpoint to their studies, the students say. “In our Politics and Law courses we’re acquiring the knowledge that we need for our careers. But competing in mock trial helps you develop what you need to apply that knowledge,” says Cat Harris ’23, who is vice president of Bryant's mock trial team and preparing for a career in law after college.

The skills students learn in mock trial are applicable no matter the field they plan to enter, says Accounting ma-

“In our Politics and Law courses we’re acquiring the knowledge that we need for our careers. But competing in mock trial helps you develop what you need to apply that knowledge."

jor Matthew Maciel ’23, who played a witness. “Skills like analyzing information, thinking on your feet, and being able to skillfully present ideas are areas needed no matter where you go.”

That first-hand, high-stakes experience students gain can be an invaluable learning tool. “Mock trial isn’t like preparing for a test or giving a presentation in class,” Hinckley states. “This is about taking everything you’ve learned, pulling out all the stops, and doing it for real.”

“There’s nothing like having to give your opening statement in front of a real judge,” Alidadi agrees.

he says. “I wanted to offer advice that would’ve been helpful to me.”

He was also excited to be part of the very first Tupper Classic. “I wanted to be there for the inaugural tournament because it’s an important event for the region,” says Ballester. “This is an extremely important opportunity for students and for Bryant because it cements Bryant’s mock trial team’s status as a player in the mock trial community.”■ by University Relations Staff Writer.

Bryant’s Faculty and Staff

Writers’ Retreat: A Successful Endeavor

A powerful alumni connection

The students also benefitted from the presence of the legal professionals who returned to adjudicate the competition and offer feedback after the trials were over. “We have so many successful alumni who feel like they really benefitted from their experience at Bryant and want to give back,” says Alidadi, who notes that alumni regularly come back to campus as guest speakers and in other capacities to share their experience and wisdom.

“It really shows how strong the Bryant connection is, and how many alumni aren’t just going on to careers in law but are also willing to come back to help others,” Hinckley adds.

Tomas Ballester ’20, currently a JD candidate at the Boston University School of Law, was excited to pay forward the opportunities and education he received while he was a Bryant student. “I’m proud to be a Bryant alumnus and I want to be there for future law students,”

On June 1, 2022, Provost Rupendra Paliwal’s first official day at Bryant University, took the time to visit the attendees of the semi-annual Faculty and Staff Writers’ Retreat. Held at the Krupp Library every January and May/June, the Writers’ Retreat provides participants with space, time, and support to engage in their writing projects.

The Writers’ Retreat creates a structured opportunity for faculty and staff to participate in small group planning and goal setting sessions, have ample time and inspirational space for independent work, and collaborate with a variety of consultants. Laura Kohl, Library Director

“It really shows how strong the Bryant connection is, and how many alumni aren’t just going on to careers in law but are also willing to come back to help others.”

and Stephanie Carter, Director of ACE and the Writing Center have led the planning, organization and facilitation of the retreats since their inception in 2011. Over the years they have had other support professionals, such as additional writing specialists or librarians assistants, most recently joined by Research and Instruction Librarian, Jodi Devine. They have hosted dozens of writers, made up of faculty and staff from across the Bryant community.

Altogether, retreat participants spend over 15 hours on their writing projects over two consecutive days. The attendees can choose among several reserved spaces to work on their projects, including a silent area, study rooms, and collaborative spaces based on their preferences and projects. The retreat also provides opportunities for writers to support one another and hear about the work being done by different faculty and staff members.

The retreat schedule builds in routines and approaches to encourage productivity and a comfortable environment. Each day begins with a round table conversation, where people share their projects, their goals, and their progress. From there, participants choose to dive into their projects on their own or meet with a retreat facilitator. Working with a writing specialist, they can discuss their projects, set goals, and receive feedback on their writing. Working with a librarian, they can get publishing support, including identifying a discipline, identifying potential publications, and reviewing impact factors and acceptance rates. Librarians also provide research sup-

port, including identifying library databases, working in Google Scholar, and accessing specific data.

Over the years, the benefits of these Writers’ Retreats have been noted by participants and coordinators alike. Specifically, the retreat allows faculty and staff to set time aside in their busy schedules for research and writing. They find that the dedicated time, sponsored by the Provost’s office, helps them achieve their writing goals more effectively. One participant has noted, “Having a time specifically allocated for several days toward research only is such an excellent opportunity. I am more productive in those two days than at any other point during the semester with respect to research.”

By designating a space and time for people to come together, with writing and research support, the retreat also creates a positive work environment for retreating writers. According to another participant, “ I have much more fun working on my writing projects at the retreats than I would if I was just plugging away on my computer at home or in my office, and I seem to get a lot more done during the retreats as well!” The communal meals add to a sense of camaraderie and productivity, as shared by another writer, “Eating together builds trust and collegiality and strengthens us as an academic community.”

Laura and Stephanie plan to continue hosting the Faculty and Staff Writers’ Retreat twice a year. The next retreat was in January, 2023. Anyone interested in learning more can contact them for details.■

Peace Paper Project and Socially Engaged Art

Peace Paper Project (PPP) conducted a week-long residency in the rotunda from October 17-October 21. An international community-arts group that works closely with veterans’ organizations and refugee communities, Peace Paper Project uses hand papermaking to engage with community activism; to provide a forum for talking about service, trauma, and community connections; and to create beautiful pieces of art that reflect these conversations.

Master Papermaking and founder of PPP, Drew Matott utilizes papermaking as a form of social engagement, art therapy, and fine art making. Printmaker Patrick Sargent joined Matott on what is Peace Paper Project’s fourth residency held at Bryant University. After twenty years of service in the U.S. Air Force, Sargent retired from the military and went on to study printmaking, using the GI

Bill. He is now a practicing artist, working with communities across the globe. Some of Matott’s initial work was with veterans and survivors of sexual assault, though he now works most often with refugee communities. Located in Hamburg, Germany, Matott’s primary activities are with newly arrived refugees from Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Displaced from their home by war and climate change, refugees often arrive with just the clothes on their back. After being settled, Matott helps the people pulp down those clothes and reconstitute them as new paper. On that paper, they reflect on their experiences, draw maps of their journeys, and create a compendium built from the memories of their passage.

Fibers of Service

The focus of Peace Paper Project’s residency at Bryant was “Fibers of Service.” Military uniforms and scrubs from Walter Reed Hospital were the source material for much of the papermaking, and students were asked to reflect on broad definitions of service in the military and medical fields both on our campus and in the world. In addition to hosting papermaking sessions for classes and the general public, Peace Paper Project worked closely with Bryant University’s veteran community. The Bryant Veterans Professional Network (BVPN) felt this residency brought greater awareness to the presence of veterans on campus.

Drew Mato

Peace papers drying

Senior and Treasurer of the BVPN, Robert Bressan played a significant role in bringing PPP to campus. Former corporal in the United States Marine Core, Bressan said, “Working with Drew and Pat was one of the most humbling and enlightening experiences of my academic career. Throughout this weeklong journey the knowledge, Passion, and Professionalism I was privileged to experience, and be a part of, brought a sense of belonging to our Bryant community while creating lasting memories and art that we can share for years to come. It was a privilege and an honor to be a part of such an amazing event.”

Bryant Community and Social Engaged Art Practices

At the heart of Peace Paper Project’s mission are socially engaged art practices. Socially engaged art focuses on

LCS 220: Creativity and the Arts classes attended the Peace Paper Project workshop the week before we began our studies of creative communities. What a wonderful project that so clearly demonstrates the intersection of communities, arts, activism, and healing."

For her students, the experience was transformative. Literary and Cultural Studies major and sophomore, Katelyn Howerton, stated, "People don't usually think twice about paper, but it was fascinating learning about how creating paper can guide people through their healing process." Junior, Rachel Vitarisi, directly connected with the materials used for the papermaking: "As someone who works in a hospital and wears scrubs, it was extremely interesting to see the clothes that I wear can be turned into paper." Junior, Dontae Lunan, summed up the experience: "My classmates and I are beyond appreciative for our involvement in the Peace Paper Project. It is amazing to be able to create paper from clothing and keep its value alive."

participation, social justice, and action. Dr. Terri Hasseler, Associate Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences and a practicing hand papermaker, commented that, “forms of creativity like hand papermaking can be used as a way to intervene in the world in both a deeply personal and a widely community-based approach.” PPP worked with many classes during their time at Bryant to put personal and community connections into action.

Dr. Joan Zaretti of the Department of History, Literature, and the Arts used the paper students made as the basis for a class assignment. Zaretti commented, "The

Bryant students make paper from the fibers of military uniforms

Professor Joan Zare works with her students in LCS220, Crea vity & the Arts

Robert Bressan

Bryant students observing Drew Mato

JROTC and Hope High School

The week residency culminated with a visit from the JROTC cadets from Hope High School. The cadets worked with Matott and Sargent on papermaking, spent time with representatives from Rhode Island’s ROTC community, enjoyed lunch in Salmonson (sponsored by Bryant’s ROTC program, the office of the Associate Provost, and the Registrar), and attended a closing ceremony for the week’s events. Hasseler commented that, “The College of Arts & Sciences has formed a wonderful connection with Hope High School. Hope High School has the largest JROTC program in Rhode Island, and it is wonderful to bring students to campus, to meet them, and to forge deeper connections between Bryant and Hope.” Johnny Rivera, Community Specialist at Hope High School said, “It was great to connect Hope High to the Peace Paper Project at Bryant University. Our students were able to learn about bigger initiatives being done in the world to promote world peace in a time where it's needed. Our students were captivated by

the paper making process and loved to get hands on and create artwork that has meaning.”

Hope High School 10th grader and JROTC cadet, Evan Wells, said that, “Our JROTC was honored to be a part of the Peace Paper Project. Seeing how these uniforms were being used in a creative way and not just thrown out to destroy the environment. They were used to make beautiful projects that promote peace.”

Gratitude and Support

Peace Paper Project’s residency was funded through the Student Involvement Fee Oversight Board and the sponsorship of the Bryant Veterans Professional Network, Student Government, and the College of Arts & Sciences. Many people on campus made this event possible, and thanks are given to Facilities, Bryant’s ROTC program, faculty Suite Coordinators, the Office of the Associate Provost, and the Registrar.■

Robert Bressan, Drew Ma ot, and Patrick Sargent

Printmaker Patrick Sargeant talking with Dean Veronica McComb

Hope High School students at Bryant University

The College of Arts & Sciences’ Visiting Writer Series focuses on social justice, difficult dialogues, diversity, and the inclusion of people of many experiences and identities. An important and unique element of the Visiting Writer Series is its focus on curriculum inclusion. In the last two years, the Visiting Writer Series reached nearly 1500 Bryant students, faculty, and staff and collaborated with over ten campus and student organizations. The events have been incorporated directly into first-year Gateway experiences.

The Visiting Writer Series has become an essential part of our work in the College of Arts & Sciences. That work would not be possible without the support and efforts of many people. Foremost, we would like to thank Dr. Barbara Allardice for her generous donation, which funded Professor Bridgett M. Davis’s visit to Bryant in November 2022.

Bridgett M. Davis is the author of the memoir, The World According to Fannie Davis: My Mother’s Life in The Detroit Numbers, a New York Times Editors’ Choice, a 2020 Michigan Notable Book, and named a Best Book of 2019 by Kirkus Reviews, BuzzFeed, NBC News and Parade Magazine. She is writing the screenplay for the film adaptation of the book, which will be produced by

She is author of two novels, Into the Go-Slow and Shifting Through Neutral, shortlisted for the Hurston/Wright Award, and writer/director of the award-winning feature film Naked Acts.

Davis’s visit to Bryant included a workshop on creative inspiration and a reading from her book, The World According to Fannie Davis. Students noted that the workshop and presentation taught them about systemic racism and its impact on African American citizens. They learned new techniques for writing, especially appreciating the activities she shared in the workshop. And they particularly enjoyed her guidance and advice on how to approach their college careers to not rush and be so busy planning all aspects of their life.

The Writer Series looks forward to bringing Etaf Rum, author of A Woman is No Man and Evil Eye to campus in March 2023.

The series is supported by the Office of the Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences; The Department of History, Literature, and the Arts; The Hochberg Women’s Cen-

Plan B Entertainment and released by Searchlight Pictures.

Bridge M. Davis addresses students and faculty

At Super Bowl LVI, Melissa Wamp ’18 was not thinking about being the first female to cover a Super Bowl as an NFL Live Content Correspondent (LCC). She was focused on giving fans a real-time experience bringing them as close to the action as possible. It was only after the stories of that day were told that she became aware of the milestone. “(The) opportunity allowed me to show other women that we are meant to be here and are here to stay,” she says.

Wamp’s journey to that Super Bowl has its roots in Bryant. In her sophomore year, as a member of the Bryant Women’s Lacrosse team, she tore her ACL for the second time. (She tore it the first time her freshman year). Wamp did not spend her time sitting on the sidelines. “That gave me the opportunity to really stop and think about what I wanted to do,” she says. She decided she wanted to be

Alumna Profile

involved in sports broadcasting.

Wamp says she looked to another Bryant student, Nicole Menner, ’17, Communication. Menner was a member of the Bryant Sports Network and an influence on Wamp. (Menner is currently a Sports Anchor for WLUK in Green Bay, Wisconsin). Wamp followed Menner, joining the Bryant Sports Network. She soon found herself on camera covering Bryant’s experience,” she says.

Wamp, a Communication major, drew inspiration from the classroom as well. She credits her classes with her becoming a successful content creator. “(Dr. Chris Morse and Dr. Julie Volkman) taught you how to create content and deliver messages, but they taught you how to do it, so it made a difference,” she says.

After Bryant, Wamp pursued a master’s degree, but that was cut short. An entry-level position opened with the National Hockey League’s New York Islanders, and she had to go for it. “In this industry, when the opportunity arises it won’t come back again, and you need to jump on it. I knew I had to take a leap of faith and believe in myself - which I did,” she says. She loved her job with the Islanders, but like many, she found her career on hold when COVID hit. Once again, it was time to reassess.

Wamp turned her sights to the National Football League (NFL). She was told it would be difficult if not impossible for a female to break through in the very male-dominated profession. An entry-level seasonal production job came up with the NFL’s Cincinnati Bengals. She submitted her work and was offered the position. Wamp packed up and headed West to cover the team.

Melissa Wamp

Melissa Wamp at Super Bowl LVI

Melissa Wamp on the field with her camera

At the end of that NFL season, she found herself without a job. She packed up and headed back East with her career in doubt. Once again, not sitting on the sidelines, Wamp decided to rent a camera, drive 13 hours, and independently cover the NFL Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama. No sponsors, no pay, and no guarantees, but her gamble paid off.

Her work was viewed on social media and led to an offer to work in production and social media with Major League Baseball’s Cincinnati Reds. Her independent work also caught the attention of the NFL, and Wamp was offered a position as an NFL LCC covering the Cincinnati Bengals. This time it was not seasonal. She had her own equipment, a loyal following, and the ride of her life as she followed the Bengals on their 2022 Super Bowl run. “I took some chances, and it paid off. I feel very blessed for every opportunity I have,” she says.

Wamp currently splits her time between MLB, the NFL, and freelance work through Creative Artists Agency. She credits taking risks, hard work, and her time at Bryant with keeping her in demand. “Storytelling was a common theme in my communication classes, and that is what I do. I tell a good story.”■

2023 Fellowships

For students seeking unpaid or extremely low-paid internships, the Summer Internship Fellowship awards up to $3,000 to help students meet costs. This can include summer tuition, travel, room and board, internships across the US, regionally, locally, and abroad. The application deadline is May 1, 2023 at 11:59pm.

In addition to “standard” Fellowships, the Amica Center has 3 unique Fellowships, for which funds are specifically allocated:

· The Leger R. Morrison Summer Internship Fellowship, generously endowed by Alumnae Judith Allen (’55), specifically funds a student interning at a cultural arts site (think: museum, theatre, library, nonprofit music venue, opera/symphony, a community center promoting cultural arts, parks, and more).

· The Sheryl Crowley (’60) Memorial Summer Internship Fellowship, generously funded by her daughter, Merritt Crowley, carries an additional $500 for an opportunity that requires significant travel or housing expenses (e.g., international or DC).

· The Amica Center’s own Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Summer Internship Fellowship funds one student interning at an organization or role that embraces and specifically addresses diversity, equity, and inclusion in its engagement with the community and people they serve.

· The Entrepreneurship Track Summer Internship Fellowship funds one student intern at an entrepreneurial startup organization.

For more information, please contact: Ally Baldwin - abaldwin@bryant.edu

Melissa Wamp photographing Cincinna Bengal’s Ted Karras

College of Arts & Sciences Dean’s List

Nicholas Albanese

Pedro Alorda Compres

Norberto Alvarado

Molly Anderson

David Antonetti

Katherine Antonio

Matthew Barbeau

Jake Barlow

Tyler Bartlett

Joseph Belsanti

Gracie Bishop

Valerie Blanchard

Hunter Boivin

Maria Bonwell

Joseph Bouchie

Alexia Brandao

Reed Bryant

Marissa Cabral

Jake Cardines

Margaret Carr

Devin Cavicchi

Aileen Charron

Danielle Chisholm

Charlotte Christo

Ryan Cimini

Hannah Cochran

Jaclyn Colucci

Gianna Cook

Ian Corne

Ethan Cowles

Andrew Cummings

Alexandra Cusick

Noah D'Ambrosi

Ashleigh Daniels

Renee Delos

Emily Dube

Jarrod Dube

Douglas Edert

Austin Edmonds

John Famiglietti

Emily Ferguson

Britney Fernandez

Anna Fijnvandraat

Mason Fox

Victor Fragoso Uriarte

Keira Francis

Anthony Frascogna

Sofia Frei

Brianna Frongillo

Aidan Gallagher

Nicole Gallagher

Emma Garrity

Isabella Gasso

Luke Gentile

Robert Glen

Shea Godin

Aidan Goltz

Jacob Goodman

Alexander Gordon

Kyle Gray

Grace Greenaway

Lindsey Guyton

Catherine Harris

Erika Hauser

Samantha Hazen

Madison Henry

Julia Herraiz

Nathan Hochberger

Katelyn Howerton

Aleixandria Hudson

Mariam Inagambaeva

Riley James

Brianna Jankowski

Timothy Jennings

Samuel Kamm

Mackenzie Kaut

Diamand Khalil

Carter Khoury

Allison Kostiw

Brian Kostiw

Ezekiel Kransdorf

Emma Lacey

Karli Lajeunesse

Cole Lakatos

Luke Lamontagne

Theodore Lanzaro

Danielle Latty

Marco Loccisano

Daniel Locke

Jeffrey Lopes

Arinzechukwu Maduka

John Mancuso

Daniel Mann

Olivia Manuel

Owen Marandino

Morgan Marckres

Jacob Marshall

Emily Masera

David McCain

Casey McCarthy

John McCue

Annie McDonald

Lucy McDonough

Rosemary McIlroy

Juan Medina

Joseph Mercier

Colby Milbrandt

Tristan Morlock

Katelyn Muia

Ellie Myers

Rachel Nally

Marta Neira Martinez

Vincent Nemergut

Kendahl Nye

Grace O'Donnell

Rand Paddack

Bryan Parker

Harry Patterson

Dylan Perez

Michael Petrarca

Colby Phillips

Delaney Pickering

Zachary Plante

Sam Pollack

Lauren Poor

Sophia Prazeres

Victoria Priestley

Julia Purdue

Abigail Rae

Ava Ranaldi

Aleksander Reilly

John Reilly

Dakota Reyes

Keith Ridley

Christian Romero

Halle Ross

Nadia Sabino

Justin Salois

Daria Sapronova

Owen Sawyer

Isabella Schmidt

Emily Schuele

Samantha Sczepanski

Lindsey Shearstone

Madison Sherriff

Victoria Silverman

Matthew Silvia

Megan Skousen

Mia Skowron

Derek Smith

Emerson Smith

Garrett Smith

Jordan Smith

Matthew Smith

Alyson Snell

Joshua Soares

Olivia Soffey

Krista Soldano

Samantha Stempel

Marissa Stern

Matthew Susich

Ethan Sussman

Sydney Swain

Camden Swan

Samuel Sweeney

Morgan Sylvia

Jason Tannenbaum

ChanBoremey Teng

Morgan Tesser

Allison Tessman

Ethan Tetrault

Earl Timberlake

Dalena Tran

Chelsea Tsalapatanis

Joshua Turner

Jenelle Valera

Talia Vicente

Daniel Vital

Austin Wainer

Ryan Walsh

Yixin Wan

Allison Wheaton

Grace Yost

Mia Zajac

Andrew Zeiser

College of Arts & Sciences President’s List

Nicholas Albanese

Reed Bryant

Jake Cardines

Jaclyn Colucci

Noah D'Ambrosi

Britney Fernandez

Keira Francis

Samantha Hazen

Aleixandria Hudson

Riley James

Brianna Jankowski

Carter Khoury

Danielle Latty

Marco Loccisano

Jeffrey Lopes

Daniel Mann

Morgan Marckres

Emily Masera

Juan Medina

Grace O'Donnell

Sam Pollack

Abigail Rae

Aleksander Reilly

John Reilly

Daria Sapronova

Lindsey Shearstone

Matthew Susich

ChanBoremey Teng

Chelsea Tsalapatanis

Allison Wheaton

Grace Yost

Letter from the Provost

Bryant’s academic excellence ecosystem is designed to invigorate intellectual curiosity and create globally minded and empathetic citizens who are innovative, analytical thinkers and purposeful, passionate leaders. Our unique interdisciplinary curriculum prepare graduates for careers and rewarding lives in a world of everaccelerating technological change and convergence.

From its inception in 1863, an entrepreneurial and nimble spirit has characterized Bryant and led to national recognition for exceptional outcomes, transformative experiences and for developing passionate, purposedriven leaders. We continue to evolve and are responsive to changing landscape. As Dean McComb’s message explains – and the articles in this magazine illustrate – College of Arts and Sciences has undergone intentional changes over the last year to position the College to be a leader in liberal arts education, that allows students to explore their intellectual and creative interests while developing skills that prepare them for rewarding professional opportunities. It also allows the College to squarely align its trajectory over the next several years with the goals of Vision 2030.

Building a strong and vibrant Graduate School has been an important focus of our efforts at Bryant, and Arts and Sciences is a key part of this process. In January 2023, CAS launched the Master of Science in Actuarial Science. This program builds on the strengths of our undergraduate program in Actuarial Math and offers opportunities for advancement for early- to mid-career professionals. With the launch of this new program and the anticipation of others in the future, Arts and Scienc-

es is a welcomed and appreciated part of our Graduate School development.

Another major achievement for the University, and particularly for the College of Arts and Sciences, is the development of our distinctive General Education Program focused on social impact through the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. These goals address some of the most complex and pressing challenges facing our world, including poverty, hunger, climate action, economic growth, and peace and justice. The junior summative course puts students in direct contact with community partners whose mission is to address these goals.

Yet another significant accomplishment has been the way in which the College has incorporated experiential education into its curriculum. As I peruse this issue of the Arts and Sciences Magazine, I am struck by the breadth and depth of experiential learning opportunities offered throughout each of the newly formed interdisciplinary departments. Our new model for short-term study abroad – developed and piloted within the College of Arts and Sciences – is an outstanding example of experiential education in action with more immersive experiences for our students, pushing them out of their comfort zone and helping them develop skills such as resourcefulness, adaptability, resilience, and empathy.

These, and the many other significant attainments described throughout this issue, matter. Recent data using College Scorecard information compiled by the U.S. Department of Education indicate that graduates from Bryant’s College of Arts and Sciences have higher earnings premiums than do their counterparts who graduate from other institutions. In fact, multiple CAS majors are in the top 5% median earnings nationally. Perhaps equally important, the data also show that the median debt of Bryant students is lower than the respective median debt for graduates in the same fields of study from other bachelor’s degree, private, non-profit schools.

Provost Rupendra Paliwal

The College of Arts and Sciences clearly has a meaningful and lasting impact on students’ lives.

Of course, none of this would be possible without the hard work and dedication of CAS faculty and leadership team. They continue to learn and embrace novel ways to teach, to conduct research and to develop creative work. They have also engaged in new ways with students, with each other, with their professions, and with the community. I offer my sincere gratitude to them for their continued dedication to the institution and for em-

bracing and reflecting the entrepreneurial and nimble spirit of Bryant.

The Vision 2030 strategic plan creates opportunities for strategic investments in signature academic programs, attracting and retaining globally renowned and diverse faculty, experiential education and learning spaces for College of Arts and Sciences to further enrich students’ lives and elevate the Bryant experience.

Be Bryant. Be part of Bryant’s future. Go Bulldogs!!

CAS@Bryant would like to thank all donors for their generosity and support for program development within the college.

A very special thank you to Trustee Eric Handa, Bryant Class of '97 (Economics) for the Dean's donor match challenge and Barbara Allardice, Friend of Bryant, for her contribution to the CAS Visiting Writer's Series

1150 Douglas Pike

Smithfield, RI 02917-1284

www.bryant.edu

At any time there are many Bryant initiatives to support. I am fascinated by the Visiting Writer Series. It is an opportunity to bring many of us out of our comfort zone. We broaden our understanding of diverse experiences and, at the same time, come together as we participate, discuss, listen and connect with each other.

My late husband David, Bryant ‘61, would be pleased that I have chosen to support the Visiting Writer Series.

Barbara S. Allardice, Ph.D.

Barbara S. Allardice, Ph.D.