THE YEAR IN REVIEW ACADE MIC YEAR 20 2 0 – 2 0 2 1
What a year. I am so proud of the resilience, ingenuity, and commitment of Simmons faculty, students, staff, alumnx, and friends. Words fail to describe the disruptions and losses of a global pandemic that fundamentally changed daily life and required tremendous adaptation in how we live, learn, and gather as a community. Nonetheless, faculty and students showed up. Ifill faculty moved all of our undergraduate and graduate programs online, converting nearly 200 courses for high-quality online learning. Students persevered in their studies, joined classes remotely from California to Taiwan, navigated family duties and unreliable wifi, secured virtual internships, started podcasts, and participated in campus life from afar. We built a new stateof-the-art Student-Driven Media Center opening in Fall 2021 and we launched an online Communications degree for adult learners as we expanded access to the education we offer. This is a story of resilience yet to be fully told.
A NOTE FROM THE DEAN
The year also witnessed a monumental national election, including the first Black and first Asian woman elected to the Vice Presidency, amid a racial awakening in response to systemic racism and police violence against BIPOC communities, especially Black people, and an armed insurrection at the Capitol. Together, this prompted fundamental questions about who we are and what we value as a nation. At Simmons, we responded by deepened engagement with questions of race, justice, and identity. Ifill faculty issued a statement in solidarity of racial justice to turn aspiration into action. The second annual Ifill Forum on “Facing Hard Truths” featured filmmaker Ava DuVernay, civil rights lawyer Sherrilyn Ifill, columnist Michele Norris, journalist Yamiche Alcindor, and our new President Dr. Lynn Perry Wooten. A new Department of Critical Race, Gender, and Cultural Studies brought together and strengthened allied programs studying the intersections of identity and power. This is a story of mission blooming. I am heartened by how Simmons is meeting the moment, from a new initiative to diversify our art collection by supporting local BIPOC artists, to inclusive curriculum revision, to big questions about trans or immigrant experience in America, and continued excellence on the national stage, including recognition by the Boston Globe, the National Book Awards, NPR, the Society for Professional Journalists, and the Intercollegiate Broadcasting System. I am also heartened by the future we are building, including hiring six new faculty who together showcase the powerful combination of excellence, diversity, and mission. In an upended world, let us remember to celebrate each other. Together, we can show how the media, arts, and humanities matter in the 21st century as we carry on Gwen Ifill’s legacy of trail-blazing and excellence. As she herself once said, “We have to believe in the power of us to make us better.”
Brian Norman, Dean, The Gwen Ifill College of Media, Arts, and Humanities, Simmons University
GWEN IFILL COLLEGE MISSION AS A PIONEERING BLACK WOMAN JOURNALIST, Gwen Ifill broke through barriers of prejudice and stands as a model of professional excellence and a purposeful life. THE GWEN IFILL COLLEGE OF MEDIA, ARTS, AND HUMANITIES aims to carry on that legacy for the next generations. Our Mission: We are a community of educators and learners guided by intellectual curiosity, critical thinking, and generosity of spirit.
We give voice to our stories, past and present, individual and global, told and untold, to influence a future whose questions have yet to be asked.
DEAN’S ADVISORY COUNCIL OF THE GWEN IFILL COLLEGE Chantel S. Adams ‘09 Yamiche Alcindor Nancy Ancrum Rick Berke Cynthia A. Carter ‘78 Desiree Hicks
Sherrilyn Ifill Maria Karagianis ‘70 Athelia Knight Kimberly A. Jackson LeBeau ‘97 Kevin Merida
J. Keith Motley Michele Norris Ann E. Petruccelli ‘01 Judith Turner Phair King ‘68 Christian Pope-Campbell ‘91 Julieanna Richardson
Barbara Semedo ‘73 Samaria A. Stallings ‘96 Kate Taylor Maya I. Valentine ‘19
MISSION STATEMENT
How will you, too, do the hard work of imagining a more just future?
GWEN IFILL COLLEGE MISSION
We derive strength from our differences and pursue civic engagement through humanistic inquiry that values language, lived experience, artistic expression, and imagination.
67
115
Tenured: 30 Tenure-track: 5 Contract: 15 Adjunct: 17
Graduate: 51
Faculty
GWEN IFILL COLLEGE BY THE NUMBERS
(including joint with other colleges: 4)
6
Professional Administrative Support Staff
31
Student Workers General: 12 Digital Media: 8 Trustman Gallery: 5 Dean’s Fellows: 6
61%
Undergraduate students enrolled in courses offered by the Ifill College
Ifill Degrees Granted
dual programs: 32
Undergraduate Majors: 64
multiple majors: 6
311 Students
UNDERGRADUATE OFFERINGS all areas offered as a BA and minor, unless otherwise noted
Web Design & Development (joint BS) Women’s & Gender Studies
UNDERGRADUATE
Africana Studies PLAN COURSES Art Undergraduate Program Arts Administration PLAN Courses: 19 Asian Studies PLAN (BOS, LDR, LC) and HON Cinema & Media Studies (minor only) GRADUATE Communication (BA only) OFFERINGS concentrations in:
Children’s Literature Graphic Design Children’s Literature (MA) Journalism dual programs: 105 Writing for Children (MFA) Media Arts dual with: Undergraduate Majors: 139 English: Literature multiple majors: 16 Library and Information English: Writing undergraduate minors: 113 Science (MA/MS) French & Francophone Writing for Children Studies (MA/MFA) Gender History (minor only) Gender/Cultural Studies Health Humanities (COF minor) Gender/Cultural Studies Credit Hours (MA) History Graduate: 1,643 dual with: Migration Studies (COF minor) Undergraduate: 10,713 Public Policy (MA/MPP) Music Performing Arts (COF minor) History Philosophy History (MA) Photography (minor only) dual with: Public Relations Library and Information Alumnx & Marketing Science with Graduate: 3,587 Communications Concentration in (joint BA) Archives Management Undergraduate: 8,993 (MA/MS) Radio (minor only) Spanish The statistics and information included Graduate: 172
12,356
12,580 in this booklet were collected and compiled prior to June 30, 2021.
MENTORS-IN-RESIDENCE
FACULTY MENTOR AWARD
A signature program that invites to campus talented professionals who are achieving success in their fields and expanding the range of voices and perspectives in them. Mentors Above: The band Crystal Axis. share their knowledge and foster the potential of our students so that they, too, may pursue lives of purpose.
The Alden Poole Faculty Mentor Award is presented to a faculty member in the Ifill College who has provided exceptional mentorship of students during their time at Simmons and in their future careers. The award is named in honor of Professor Alden Poole (Department of Communications, 1955-1986), a formative mentor in the life of Gwen Ifill ’77, ‘93HD. Award selection is based on alumnae/i nomination.
• Crystal Axis, Nairobi-based anti-colonial Afropunk band featuring Djae Aroni, Ahmed Bulhan, Fox Elijah, and Doug Kihoro, hosted by Africana Studies and English
Mentors-in-Residence Panel: “Leveraging the Power of Our Voices: Antiracism in Action,” featuring Simmons alumnx of color sharing insights on how to navigate the world post-graduation. Panelists included: • Marlena Cesar-Mendez ‘15 MSW, Trafficking Intervention Project Advocate at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Founder, LatinX Association of Social Workers • Lisa Harrison ‘99, ‘05 MBA, Diversity and Human Resources Consultant • Kemarah Sika ‘08 MS, Chief Program Officer, YW Boston • Lolita E. Walker ‘03 MBA, Founder of Walker & Walker Enterprises
Past Recipients of the Poole Award: 2019 Poole Award Recipient: Erica Moura, Assistant Professor of Practice, Radio Station Director and Faculty Director of Student-Driven Media 2018 Poole Award Recipient: Cathryn Mercier, Professor and Director of the Children’s Literature Program and Director of the Center for the Study of Children’s Literature
COMMUNITY & MENTORING
• Ekua Holmes, artist, curator, Commissioner and ViceChair of the Boston Art Commission, and Caldecott Honor recipient, hosted by Art & Music and Children’s Literature
2020 Poole Award Recipient: Marda Messay, Assistant Professor of French and Francophone Studies.
COMMUNITY & MENTORING
INTERNSHIPS & MENTORSHIPS
• The Darkest Horse
• MEDIAGIRLS
Internships help students prepare for post-Simmons success by connecting workplace learning, industry knowledge, and academic coursework. The Academic Internship and Mentorship Coordinators work with community partners and the Career Education Center to help students find meaningful experiences and oversee courses that provide time and community to reflect on their futures as professionals. This year, 60 students participated in undergraduate internship or graduate mentorship courses. What’s more, they were all virtual as we maintained these critical experiences during the disruptions of the pandemic.
• Fablevision
• MIT List Visual Arts Center
Faculty Coordinators
• Massachusetts Historical Society
• Arts Administration: Heather Hole, Associate Professor • Children’s Literature: Abbye Meyer, Assistant Professor (NTT)
• Communications: Andy Porter, Associate Professor of Practice (fall) & Sara Burrows, Adjunct Faculty (spring) • Humanities: Lydia Fash, Assistant Professor (NTT)
• Fountain Street Fine Art • Gibson House Museum • HMS Center for Bioethics • ImageSetters • IntersectAgency • Kelley Chunn & Associates • Kneerim & Williams • Maine Alliance for Arts Education
• Office of Congressman Joe Courtney • Poynter Institute • PUMA NA, Inc. • Puppet Showplace Theater • Simmons Center for Global Education • Somerville Partnership for Young Children • The Springfield Reporter
Graduate Placements As a capstone experience, all MFA and MA/MFA students in Children’s Literature complete a mentorship with industry professionals, including editors or agents from: • Charlesbridge Press
• Penguin Random House
Undergraduate Placements
• Egmont Publishers
• Rees Agency
• 4 Seasons Nail and Spa
• Einstein Literary Agency
• Simon and Schuster
• Lee & Low, Prospect Agency
• Strothman Agency
• Boston Hassle
• ArtLifting
• Bright Horizons
• Peachtree Publishers
• Beautiful Feet Books, Inc.
• Compath, Ltd.
• Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
• Council on AmericanIslamic Relations
• The American City Coalition
• Boston Children’s Hospital
• Transatlantic Agency
“We must help students connect the dots between what they are doing for a grade and what they’ll be doing on the job. This is how we will broadcast the value of a liberal arts education most loudly.” –Kristina Markos, Associate Professor of Practice in Communications, “Knowing their Worth: Three Ways to Help Students Connect a Liberal Arts Degree to Career Paths,” Liberal Education 107.2 (Spring 2021).
As part of its mentorship program, Children’s Literature hosts “pitch panels” at which MFA and MA/MFA students present their completed mentorship manuscript in two minutes and receive 10-15 minutes of feedback from a panel of agents, editors, and writers. During this year’s event, four students were asked to submit their work to agents or editors; of those, three have submitted their work and it is under consideration, and one has signed with another agent and has their work out on bid.
As the national media covered the US elections amid a racial reckoning, Gwen Ifill’s legacy as a trailblazing Black woman journalist became more important than ever. On September 22, 2020, Ifill College hosted a cross-generational conversation between Simmons students and members of the Ifill College Dean’s Advisory Council who knew Gwen Ifill as a friend, colleague, and mentor. Advisory Council members on the panel included Julieanna Richardson, Founder of the HistoryMakers African American oral history archive, Desiree Hicks of National Public Radio, and Rick Berke of STAT News. Jenia Brewington ‘21, Bridget Fong ‘21, and Saloni Kumar ‘23 served as the student panelists. Community questions were gathered by The Simmons Voice and Simmons Radio: The Shark.
COMMUNITY & MENTORING
PITCH PANELS: CHILDREN’S LITERATURE PROFESSIONAL MENTORING
IFILL COLLEGE COMMUNITY MEETING: “GWEN IFILL’S LEGACY TODAY”
ALUMNX CHAIR IN PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT
Learned From Our Neighbors: Stories from the Elizabeth Peabody House Through funding from the Council of Independent Colleges, undergraduates from Simmons University conducted a year-long research project in the Simmons University Archives and the Boston City Archives to create a series of exhibits about the Elizabeth Peabody House, a settlement house in the former West End of Boston. The West End was a historic, multi-ethnic neighborhood that was was labeled a slum and demolished in the late 1950s and early 1960s, alongside other Boston neighborhoods in the city’s urban renewal efforts. The West End was one of the most diverse in Boston with many religious, racial, and ethnic groups including Italians, Jews, Ukrainians, and African-Americans all living together.
Undergraduate researchers at work in the Simmons University Archives, 2019. Over the past year, this group of fieldworkers has rediscovered Simmons’ connection to the West End and its community.
Streets of the West End, 1894, courtesy of the West End Museum.
Eva Whiting White, pictured above in Simmons University’s 1907 Senior Book, was a graduate of Simmons’ School of Social Work, then the Boston School of Social Work. In many ways, Eva was Simmons’ first connection to the West End through her work in the community via the Elizabeth Peabody House.
Unless otherwise noted, all materials in this exhibit are from the Eva Whiting White papers, Simmons University Archives Manuscript Collection 022. The images and text in this exhibit are made available for study purposes only. They may not be reproduced in any form without prior written permission from the Simmons University Archives. For more information, please contact the University Archives at archives@simmons.edu.
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT
Above: Panel from the West End Museum Exhibit, “Learned From Our Neighbors: Stories from the Elizabeth Peabody House.”
Laura Prieto, Professor of History and Women’s and Gender Studies, finished the second year of her three-year term (2019-2022) as Alumnx Chair in Public Humanities to pursue civic or public engagement projects that demonstrate the important role of the arts, media, and humanities in a vibrant, diverse democracy. Professor Prieto’s projects focus on recovering the immigrant history of Boston’s West End, marking the 100th Anniversary of the 19th Amendment, and documenting the multiracial history of women’s voting rights and activism, including within Simmons history. Boston’s West End Museum reopened and featured a new collaborative exhibit, “Learned From Our Neighbors: Stories from the Elizabeth Peabody House.” This exhibit was funded
by a grant from the Council of Independent Colleges. It resulted from a partnership among the Museum, Boston City Archives, and a team of Simmons students led by Professor Prieto and University Archivist Jason Wood. Professor Prieto, archivists Jason Wood and Lauren Loftis, Sarah Carlon, an undergraduate student, and Laura Koch, a history graduate student, worked together to create a new digital exhibit tracing the history of voting rights activism in the Simmons community. The College’s first president was against suffrage for women. Faculty and student work towards winning the vote was an unknown part of the University’s history until their research uncovered connections to Boston area events and organizations. Professor Prieto and Research & Instruction Librarian Jess Wallis collaborated with colleagues from Northeastern and Wentworth for this year’s Wikipedia Edit-a-thon: “Votes for All Women.” Over 25 participants from across the US added 7,000 words to Wikipedia’s existing articles and new articles, with a focus on documenting racially diverse suffrage activists.
RACIAL EQUITY GRANT: DOCTORS ON CALL Thanks to a $250,000 grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Simmons students collaborated with the community-based “#DocsOnCall” COVID-19 racial equity initiative on a digital campaign to provide accessible and accurate information to underserved communities at greater risk of experiencing health disparities. The grant was a collaboration between #DocsOnCall and Ifill College, the President’s Advisory Council of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, the Office of Culture, Inclusion, and Equity, and the School of Social Work.
Collecting & Connecting
The Trustman Art Gallery is a campus-based art gallery that participates in the Boston art scene by featuring the work of artists in Boston and beyond and provides professional mentoring opportunities for students. With the campus closed, Director Helen Popinchalk took the opportunity to digitize the University Art Collection inventory as it was deinstalled for campus renovations, and she worked with a local woman-owned firm to restore seven early twentieth-century lithographs by Guatemalan artist Carlos Mérida featuring images of folk dances. This was a small but symbolic first step towards the deliberate diversification of the University Collection. The seven newly restored and framed lithographs will be exhibited on the Gallery’s “Next Generation” wall in Fall 2021.
The Trustman Gallery also launched Collecting & Connecting, a series of virtual talks by four local BIPOC artists whose work was acquired for the University art collection with input from students in the Arts Administration capstone. This program is part of the Gallery’s continuing effort to support local artists, deepen public engagement, and diversify the University’s art collection and programming. Working with Professor Heather Hole’s Arts Administration senior students, four artists were selected: • Rocky Cotard
• Sneha Shrestha
• Destiny Palmer
• Rixy Fernandez
The students helped pick three of the four artworks collected and assisted in creating a successful series of public online programs. Trustman Gallery Advisory Council The Gallery Advisory Council helps guide new initiatives, works to support the gallery mission statement, suggests events and programming, and advises on related budget expenditures. • Helena Nutting Bigelow ‘25
• Artist Cicely Carew
• Laura-Luiza Cabral Gouvea ‘25
• Artist Pat Falco
• Professor Heather Hole, Art and Music
Above: Sneha Shrestha in front of the site-specific (temporary) artwork she created directly on the walls of the Trustman Gallery in 2019 for her show “Golden Equinox.”
HIGHLIGHTS FRO PM U BDLEI C P AERNTGMAEGNETMLEIN FT E
TRUSTMAN GALLERY
THE IFILL FORUM: FACING HARD TRUTHS Simmons continued the tradition of the annual Ifill Forum on November 14, 2020. With over 1,500 registrants for the event, the 2020 Forum was the largest event yet hosted by the Gwen Ifill College. This year’s Forum focused on “Facing Hard Truths,” a timely topic amid a deeply divided country, a presidential election with profound impacts on our democracy, ongoing racial reckoning, misinformation, voter suppression, the pandemic, and unreconciled history.
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT
Yamiche Alcindor, White House Correspondent for PBS NewsHour, presented the 2020 Gwen Ifill Next Generation Award to Ava DuVernay, filmmaker and founder of ARRAY. The award recognizes a professional who exhibits the promise to carry on the work of fostering civic dialogue and an informed, diverse citizenry. Washington Post columnist Michele Norris moderated the panel discussion between DuVernay and Sherrilyn Ifill, president and director-counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM DEPARTMENT LIFE Bread and Roses: “Considering the Past and Reigniting Activism after COVID” For the Women’s and Gender Studies program annual celebration, Professor Laura Prieto provided a historical overview of the 1912 Bread and Roses strike in Lawrence, Massachusetts, followed by a panel with students Sophia Cappello, Saloni Kumar, and Kailey Sultaire discussing activism during COVID and in a virtual environment.
Above: Event poster from Bread & Roses by Doris Lin.
Clockwise from top left: Sherrilyn Ifill, Ava DuVernay, and Michele Norris.
Virtual Screening and Director Q&A: Trans in Trumpland
Robert M. Gay Symposium: “Toni Morrison, Ethics, and Social Justice”
The Cinema and Media Studies minor hosted a virtual screening of Trans in Trumpland, a four-episode docuseries about a group of transgender Americans navigating the injustices of the Trump era. The screening was followed by a Q&A with the director, Tony Zosherafatain, moderated by Professor Briana Martino and Simmons Trans and Nonbinary Collective (TaNC) President Lennon Sherburne.
The English Department, led by Sheldon George, Chair and Professor of English, hosted the annual Gay Symposium, this year featuring a panel with three leading Toni Morrison scholars: Daphne Lamothe of Smith College, Jean Wyatt of Occidental College, and the founder and president of the Toni Morrison Society, Carolyn Denard. Student moderators facilitated the question-and-answer session with the guest speakers.
Above: Poster for Trans in Trumpland, produced by TransWave Films.
CompleteDegree: New Online Program in Communications for Adult Learners In May 2021, the Communications Department successfully launched a new online BA in Communications as part of Simmons’ CompleteDegree suite of online programs for adult learners, with another program in PR/Marketing Communications slated for January 2022. The program is led by Kristina Markos, Associate Professor of Practice, and we see this as a direct extension of Simmons’ mission to provide women pathways to independent livelihood.
Virtual Book Groups: Graduate Student Community The graduate programs in Children’s Literature and Gender and Cultural Studies each coordinated virtual microclasses, led by program directors Cathryn Mercier and Suzanne Leonard, that highlighted their cultural relevance and spotlighted alumnx. • The Gender and Cultural Studies program held a series of microclasses titled “Hood Feminism, White Feminism, and Pleasure Activism: Where is Gender and Cultural Studies Today?” during Summer 2021. • The Children’s Literature program extended its summer discussion series “Crit Matters” throughout the year to include a range of alumnx events in January 2021 with prominent authors, publishers, and editors.
DEPARTMENT HIGHLIGHTS
Left to right: Daphne Lamothe, Jean Wyatt, and Carolyn Denard from the Robert M. Gay Symposium.
FACULTY HIGHLIGHTS
26 Publications 20 Exhibitions
Sabbaticals
46 Presentations 3 External Grants
• Renée Bergland, English • Suzanne Leonard, English • Shirong Luo, Philosophy
FACULT Y ACHIEVEMENT & COLL ABORATION
Milestones
FACULTY & STAFF ACHIEVEMENT
• Kris Erickson, Communications, 5 years
The faculty and staff of the Gwen Ifill College are also active scholars, artists, and citizens. This year witnessed many accomplishments across the college.
• Marda Messay, Modern Languages & Literatures, 5 years
New Faculty and Staff
• Heather Hole, Art & Music, 10 years
• Tatiana M.F. Cruz, Assistant Professor, Africana Studies
• Suzanne Leonard, English and Gender & Cultural Studies, 15 years
• Traci Griffith, Associate Professor, Communications
• Arlene Ovalle-Child, Modern Languages & Literatures, 5 years • Jennifer Sunoo, Ifill College, 5 years
• Doris Lin, Faculty Support Coordinator, Gallery & Events Specialist
• Shirong Luo, Philosophy, 15 years
• Kat Lombard-Cook, Assistant Professor, Communications
• Kelly Hager, English and Women’s & Gender Studies, 20 years
• Nicholl Montgomery, Lecturer (NTT), Children’s Literature
• Bob White, Communications, 50 years
• Farooz Rather, Assistant Professor (NTT), English
INTERDISCIPLINARY COLLABORATION
• Asiel Sepúlveda, Assistant Professor, Art and Music • Kataya Sykes, Executive Assistant Retirements • James Corcoran, Communications • Ellen Grabiner, Communications • Andrew Porter, Communications • Janie Ward, Africana Studies
• Stephen Ortega, History, 15 years
The College deepened its commitment to interdisciplinary inquiry and intersectional analysis with the new Department of Critical Race, Gender, and Cultural Studies, which next year will be chaired by Professor Dawna Thomas. The Department brings together allied programs in Africana Studies, Asian Studies, Migration Studies, Women’s and Gender Studies, and Gender and Cultural Studies (MA), while maintaining the distinct identity and intellectual traditions of each. The creation of the Department was a specific action in the 2020 Ifill College racial justice statement.
IFILL FACULTY GROWTH FUND The Faculty Growth Fund supports faculty from different departments, fields, disciplines, and colleges as they explore and create new ideas for courses or undertake special projects that will promote pedagogical, creative, and scholarly growth.
CONGRATULATIONS: FACULTY AWARDS AND RECOGNITION • Eduardo Febles, Modern Languages and Literatures, received the 2020 Toby Sloane Award for StudentCenteredness in Teaching • Diane Grossman, Philosophy and Women’s & Gender Studies, received the 2020 University Award for Excellence in Service • Cathryn Mercier, Children’s Literature, was appointed a 2021 National Book Awards chair and judge in the category of “Young People’s Literature” • Marda Messay, Modern Languages and Literatures, received the 2020 Alden Poole Faculty Mentoring Award
• Colleen Kiely, Art and Music, “This Ain’t No Party, This Ain’t No Disco,” Steven Zevitas Gallery (Boston, MA). Featured in The Boston Globe. • Laura Prieto, History/Women’s & Gender Studies, and Steve Berry, History, editors, Crossings and Encounters: Race, Gender, and Sexuality in the Atlantic World (U South Carolina Press 2020) • Michael Zachary, Art and Music, Room 68 Gallery (Provincetown, MA)
PUBLIC SCHOLARSHIP HIGHLIGHTS • Lydia Fash, English, guest on “The C19 Podcast” on the literary history of pirates, produced by the Society of Nineteenth-Century Americanists • Audrey Golden, English, book and film reviews in Louder Than War online magazine and film discussions for Coolidge Corner Theater • Cathryn Mercier, Children’s Literature, “Let’s Talk: Animals from the Collections,” Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art
EXTERNAL GRANTS
NEW BOOKS, VOLUMES, & SOLO EXHIBITIONS
• Steve Berry, History, “The American Civil War: Origins and Consequences,” Council of Independent Colleges, University of Virginia, August 2021
• Renée Bergland, English, special issue on “Women Authors Unbound: Early American Manuscript Cultures,” Women’s Studies: An Interdisciplinary Journal (2020)
• Steve Berry, History, New England Research Fellowship Consortium,” $5,000
• Edie Bresler, Art and Music, “Anonymous,” Griffin
• Brian Norman, Dean’s Office, #DocsOnCall COVID-19 and Racial Equity Media Campaign, W.K. Kellogg Foundation, $250,000
F A C U LHTIYG A HC LH I GI E HVTESMFERN OTM&DCEO PA LL RA TB MOE R NATTLI IOFN E
• Audrey Golden, English, & Kristina Markos, Communications: “The Living Square: Interdisciplinary Discussion of the Egyptian Revolution with Imam Hassan Selim”
Museum of Photography (Winchester, MA). Reviewed by The Boston Globe.
IFILL STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT BY THE NUMBERS
2021 VIRTUAL SHOWCASE OF UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH AND CREATIVITY
Gwen Ifill College faculty are committed to mentoring student-driven work and independent learning.
Ifill students participated in every section of the Virtual Showcase, which recognized undergraduate scholarship across all four colleges. This year’s Studio Art exhibition included work from 109 student artists. Eight students presented projects in the Video Exhibition, and 21 students presented in the Communications Department Exhibit. Ifill speakers in the Symposium included six featured panelists, one 3D-Award speaker, and one keynote:
4 3
Undergraduate Passionate Leaders Project Awards
SURPASs Scholars (Summer Undergraduate Research Program at Simmons)
8
Undergraduate Presentations at the Undergraduate Research Symposium
STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT
Fulbright Semi-Finalist 1 (Undergraduate) Graduate Presentations at 13 Professional Conferences Graduate Capstones, Mentorships, 46 or Thesis 8
Graduate Student Professional Development Grants
HONORS SOCIETY INDUCTEES (UNDERGRADUATE)
6 Pi Mu (French) 10 Phi Alpha Theta (History) 7 Sigma Tau Delta (English) 8 Lambda Pi Eta (Communications)
• Erin Buck ‘21: “3D: Food Justice and Social Impact: A Holistic Exploration of Modern Hunger” (3D Award Speaker) • Chloe Crelia ‘22: “Transformación en Independencia A Través Del Arte (Transformation in Independence Through Art)” (Featured Panelist) • Sarah DeFanti ‘22, “La complejidad de las relaciones madre-hija (The Complexity of Mother-Daughter Relationships)” (Featured Panelist) • Kiernan Flanigan ‘23, “Identidad Sexual y Roles de Género en la Sociedad Española (Sexual Identity and Gender Roles in Spanish Society)” (Featured Panelist) • Georgia Harper ‘22, “An Analysis of Space in ‘Au Bonheur des Dames’” (Featured Panelist) • Cara Mackenzie ‘21: “The Trauma of Irish Womanhood: An Examination of the Masculine Nation State in Literature and History” (Keynote Speaker) • Lindsay MacIntyre ‘21, “The Representation of Paris in Emile Zola’s ‘L’Oeuvre’” (Featured Panelist) • Charlie Sinotte ‘22: “The Representation of the ‘Homosexual’ During 19th Century France through the Texts Sarrasine and Le Pere Goriot” (Featured Panelist)
PASSIONATE LEADERS PROJECT AWARDEES • Lauren Howard ‘22: “Quasi-War, Sedition, and Midnight Appointments: Research on the Politics and Partisanship of the Adams Administration” • Kye Jasper ‘21: “Utilizing Natural Dye Techniques in Arts Entrepreneurship through Small Business Design and Community Workshops” • Maggie Clancy ‘22: “Methods to Mitigate Plastic Waste in Research Laboratories”
GRADUATE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT The Ifill College Graduate Student Professional Development Fund provides financial assistance to graduate students who are presenting original work (scholarly or creative) at academic or professional conferences or whose research for thesis or independent projects (scholarly or creative) requires funding. This year, nine projects were approved for funding. • Rayna Danis (Gender and Cultural Studies), International Conference on Gender Studies
• Brianna Desharnais ‘22: “Developing Interactive Maps to Address Boston’s Health and Social Inequalities”
• Melissa Jennison (History), thesis research at the Iowa State Historical Society Library and Archives on the Underground Railroad
IFILL SCHOLARSHIPS
• Andrea Pakula (History), thesis research using “North China Herald” database operated by Brill Publishers • Darian Rahnis (Gender and Cultural Studies), International Conference on Gender Studies • Mira Revesz (Gender and Cultural Studies), International Conference on Gender Studies • Karina Sumano (Gender and Cultural Studies), 2021 Popular Culture Association National Conference • Karina Sumano (Gender and Cultural Studies), 4th International Conference on Research in Humanities and Social Sciences • Emily Whittington (Gender and Cultural Studies), 2021 Popular Culture Association National Conference
Lola Getz ‘21 English
and Women’s & Gender Studies major
Bridget Fong ‘21 Communications major with a concentration in Graphic Design; Studio
Arts minor
Shayla McJunkin ‘21 Psychology and Music Performance major; Business Management minor
• Emily Whittington (Gender and Cultural Studies), “The Place of Memory and Memory of Place” International Conference
STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT
The Ifill scholarship program seeks to carry on Gwen Ifill’s legacy by helping to turn the next generation’s potential into excellence. Ifill scholarships support continuing students who demonstrate exceptional promise in the classroom and who are from under-represented groups, have financial need, and are pursuing a degree in any academic program in Ifill College. This year’s recipients were:
EXHIBITIONS OF STUDENT ART
STUDENT-DRIVEN MEDIA ADVISORY BOARD
Annual student art shows continued with the Fall 2020 and Spring 2021 Studio Showcases on video. Students and professors alike embraced the limitations of lockdown as artistic challenges in an effort to keep the creativity flowing. From drawing, painting, collage, and sculpture to digital media, photography, and book making, audiences were able to find inspiration in the ingenuity of the Simmons studio art community.
The Student-Driven Media Advisory Board carries on the legacy of Gwen Ifill’s commitment to professional excellence and an informed and engaged public, with generous support from the Constance Hinckley ‘81 fund. • Erica Moura (Chair), Faculty Director of Student-Driven Media Director and Assistant Professor of Practice, Communications • Edie Bresler, Professor of Practice, Art and Music • Richard Wollman, Professor, English • Kristina Markos, Associate Professor of Practice, Communications • Bridget Fong ‘21, student member • Sara Getman ‘21, student member
STUDENT-DRIVEN MEDIA
• Cristela Guerra, arts and culture reporter for the WBURFM’s The ARTery Left to right: Caitlin Anderson, colored pencil on paper; Sarah Arenberg, acrylic paint on paper; Helena Bigelow, woodblock print, embroidery & gelatin print on paper
Left: Noa Krakoff, scanned 35mm negative
THE SIMMONS VOICE Faculty Advisor: Erica Moura The Simmons Voice is the only student-run newspaper at Simmons University. The Voice first started in 1922 and continues to serve the Simmons community to this day. This year saw a 47% increase in reported stories, triple social media engagement, and doubled readership audience since 2019. The reporters covered stories of students facing wildfires near their home, freezing temperatures in Texas, isolation in the dormitories, and other crucial Simmons stories. This incredible work was recognized by the Student Press Law Center, WBUR-FM, and the New York Times.
called “Welcome Home.” With this collaboration, the four hosts delivered audio-driven stories of the community from their “podcast rooms” (often their own closets). The radio team also collaborated with professors to curate and promote playlists.
Left: The 2021 Issue of CommTracks: Zoom into Resilience; Cover Design by Kelsey Benedict
Faculty Advisor: Richard Wollman Sidelines literary magazine features short stories, poems, photographs, and art by students. This year, Sidelines expanded their audience and brand with three publications that experimented with not only a digital magazine but also zines, podcasting, and virtual engagement. Sidelines teamed up with public engagement fellows for a zine on the history of women’s suffrage in time for election season. A new podcast featured an interview by editor Sara Getman with bestselling author Anita Diamant. In partnership with the English department, Sidelines hosted a successful virtual reading event.
Faculty Advisor: Bri Martino CommTracks is the annual magazine produced by seniors from the Communications Department at Simmons University since 2006. After publishing CommTracks online in 2020 due to COVID-19, the students returned to a full print edition of the magazine with Issue 16: “Zoom Into Resilience” in May 2021.
CONGRATULATIONS: AWARD-WINNING STUDENT MEDIA
SIMMONS RADIO: “THE SHARK”
• The Shark was a finalist for 6 Intercollegiate Broadcast awards, winning for Best Radio Station of a school under 10,000 students and best spot news coverage.
Faculty Advisor: Erica Moura Simmons University Radio streams live programming onto the internet 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Simmons Radio, The Shark collaborated with the Simmons Voice to produce a high-quality, weekly podcast
• The Simmons Voice newsroom won a regional award from the Society of Professional Journalism (Region 1, under 10,000 students) for their COVID-19 coverage and was a finalist for the Mark of Excellence award at the national level.
• Lennon Sherburne ‘22 was a finalist for NPR’s best college podcast for their piece, “Let’s Do the Time Warp.”
STUDENT-DRIVEN MEDIA
COMMTRACKS
SIDELINES MAGAZINE
ALUMNX ACHIEVEMENT
REFLECTIONS ON THE YEAR
1,196 Gifts 684 Donors $665,264 Total 279 Volunteers
Students
IN THE NEWS • Vanessa Bruce ’09: Co-Founder of consciousconsumerism start-up Dough, which launched its online marketplace in September 2020
ALUMNX ACHIEVEMENT
• Bria Gambrell ’19MA, ’19MPP: Co-Director of the Massachusetts Chapter of the National Organization for Women (Mass NOW) • Mackenzi Lee ’14MFA: Featured in the “You Too?” collection of essays for teens inspired by #MeToo • Gina Patterson ’06: Boston Opportunity System (BOS) Collaborative Director at the Boston Medical Center, managing distribution of funds from JPMorgan Chase AdvancingCities Challenge grant • Erika Rodriguez ’14: Executive Director of Chica Project, a non-profit offering mentorship opportunities for Latinas and other women of color • Kaitlyn Soligan Owens ’12MA: Founder of Trouble Bar (Louisville), one of Esquire’s 27 Best Bars of 2021 • Maya Valentine ’19: Director of Nominations for the African-American Alumnae/i Association (AAAA)
“My goal is telling stories that aren’t often told. I’m sure that’s the goal of many journalists. I’m a storyteller, and I try to uplift voices that are often overlooked, particularly voices and stories, to increase queer visibility. I hope to bring that to wherever I work in the future, whether it’s on my own or working collaboratively … At Simmons, I’ve been told that whatever you’re passionate about, we’ll help you get there.” –Lennon Sherburne ‘22, Political Science major and Radio minor, after being named one of 10 finalists for NPR’s Favorite College Podcast Competition
“Gwen Ifill pushed boundaries in such a professional and poised way, and the idea that people believe I can do extraordinary things to bring a little balance to this world as she did, is humbling. This scholarship means everything because I feel empowered knowing that people trust me to be part of the change they wish to see in the world and want to help me achieve this. Knowing that people have faith in me is half the battle, so I hope I continue to find that faith within myself and carry out my plans to make an impact.” –Shayla McJunkin ‘21, Psychology and Music Performance major; Business Management minor; Ifill Scholarship recipient
Alumnx “Simmons taught me to have confidence in my voice and share my opinions … Even in a large beauty company, finance is still dominated by men. Empathy, graciousness, and kindness are powerful traits for a leader. To some degree, you are in service to the people who work for you. You want to understand them and their needs, motivate them, and make them feel included. Kindness is an underrated leadership skill, I think, and it doesn’t have to conflict with strength.” –Whitney Andrews ’11, Art and Mathematics dual major, financial planning and analysis manager at L’Oréal
Faculty
–Marda Messay, Assistant Professor of French and Francophone Studies and 2020 Alden Poole Award Recipient
Friend “The greatest deficit in this country is not measured in dollars and cents, but in our ability to empathize with our neighbors. Your lived experiences and your instruction here at Simmons have prepared you to exert your moral influence—regardless of the career you pursue. As we grapple with this country’s legacy of racial injustice and the long road of recovery from this global pandemic, we need all of you.” –US Representative Ayanna Pressley, speaking at Simmons University Commencement on May 28, 2021
—Gwen Ifill
REFLECTIONS ON THE YEAR
“I am truly touched by this award and the kind words of students, colleagues and friends, especially in these challenging times. Having the chance to play a role in the students’ transformation into leaders and conscious global citizens is one of the best and most rewarding aspects of being a faculty member at Simmons.”
You have to be prepared for life to knock you off course. You have to stay curious after your formal education ends.
Artwork used on front and back cover: Lead a Way Through Darkness, 2020, by Destiny Palmer. 20” x 20” Acrylic on Canvas. Featured in Trustman Gallery “Collecting & Connecting” series.