The CCS Newsletter
For departmental news and highlights, your first stop is the CCS Annual Newsletter, which keeps students, alumni, and donors in the know about major academic and research updates, internship news, alumni and donor information, and more.
Departmental Updates
What’s new with CCS?
Congratulations to:
Dr. Alyce Jordan: CAL Teacher of the Year
An Art History professor, Dr. Jordan received the 2014-2015 CAL Teacher of the Year Award for her excellence as both a classroom teacher and advisor. In her letter, ARH student Kim Wardle wrote, “Dr. Jordan is an inspiration. Her classes are full of vigor and enthusiasm. A true love of her field is evident in every lecture. Dr. Jordan is also open to ideas and opinions. She encourages discussion and debate in addition to utilizing our own diverse fields of interest in analyzing works of art. As an advisor, Dr. Jordan is caring and devoted. Finally, Dr. Jordan is a great mentor. Working with her as a teaching assistant, I can see how much work she puts into reinventing her classes and keeping them interesting to students. I have learned immensely from shadowing her both in class and in the office. She is always full of positive reinforcement while also providing constructive criticism in a gentle and encouraging way.”
Emily Moxley, Arbo Show
Emily Moxley: Fall 2013 Outstanding Senior
After graduating in December, Emily was accepted to numerous Art History graduate programs, including the University of San Francisco, Claremont University, Christie’s in London, and the University of Hawaii. She will attend the latter, as she received a graduate assistantship, a full tuition waiver and a monetary stipend. Emily is excited to experience the many diverse opportunities at the university as she works to complete a course of study that will allow her to work in a museum collections department in the future.
Here’s a link to a research project Emily did while at NAU.
Edan Maoz: Spring 2014 Outstanding Senior
In May, Edan, pictured on the right with CAL Dean, Michael Vincent, received a BA with dual majors in Art History and Humanities, a BS in Interior Design, and a Minor in Museum Studies. He also completed the NAU Honors Program. Edan also distinguished himself through his involvement with two projects over the past three semesters: the designs of the Berlin Wall and Bedzin Ghetto Exhibitions, both under the direction of Dr. Björn Krondorfer. Dr. Krondorfer has described Edan’s work ethic, creativity and commitment to these projects as “truly astounding.”
Danielle DeLano graduated with a double major in Comparative Cultural Studies and Political Science, and minors in Asian Studies and Chinese language in Spring 2014. She also completed five semesters of Arabic, and served as a Teaching Assistant for Religions of the World. This fall, Danielle will attend the University of Chicago, where she will pursue a Masters of History of Religions with a focus on Buddhism. She was also awarded a Divinity School Scholarship which will cover half of her tuition.
Student updates
How are CCS students and alumni making a difference?
Alexa Kaumaya graduated in Spring 2014 with a BA in Comparative Cultural Studies and a minor in Arts and Cultural Management. During her summer 2013 internship with the City of Phoenix Public Art Program (part of the Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture), Alexa maintained the Portable Art Collection and database, a century old collection of artwork under city ownership. She also installed artwork ranging from prints, paintings and ceramics in city owned municipalities, and visited public art sites to evaluate current conditions and plan improvements. Within a few weeks of her internship, she was asked to assist with the creation of a public art database organized by the Americans for the Arts. In addition, for 8-12 hours a week, she worked as a gallery assistant for the Gallery at City Hall, a space located on the 1st floor of city hall dedicated to the display and acknowledgement of artwork in the Portable Art Collection.
Raini Stout, a HUM major who plans to graduate in the Spring of 2015, volunteered with the Masterpiece Art program, teaching Kinsey FACTS children how approachable art can be in Fall 2013. Then, in the spring, she developed a new program in conjunction with her work at the Coconino County Juvenile Court’s (CCJC) Transition School, where she works as a Youth Care Worker, making use of both Masterpiece Art and the Kinsey FACTS program. CCJC students prepared and delivered Masterpiece presentations at Kinsey. Raini’s innovative program created opportunities for teens within the Juvenile Court system to engage both themselves and children in an environment of expression, all the while developing talents and confidence.
Kelsey Moen, Flagstaff Arboretum
A Fall 2013 graduate of CCS (emphasis: Art History) who also minored in Museum Studies, Kelsey Moen organized and curated an exhibition for the Flagstaff Arboretum during the spring. The show featured rare 18th and 19th century botanical prints collected by Arboretum founder, Frances McAllister. As part of her research, Kelsey delved into the early history of botany and gardening. She produced the show’s text panels, along with an essay that will be part of a future catalog. The exhibition opened in May.
A 2014 REL graduate, Lee Bishop is interning during the summer of 2014 at Flagstaff International Relief Effort (FIRE), a nonprofit organization that conducts relief efforts in Mongolia. Over the past few years FIRE’s focus has changed from warm clothing for poor children in the world’s coldest capital city to curtailing the major hepatitis and liver cancer epidemic there through health care worker training, medical waste management, and public education. This year FIRE is involved in a project funded for the Mongolian government by the Asian World Bank to overhaul the nation’s healthcare waste management system. Lee’s previous nonprofit experience combined with her BA degree and knowledge of Buddhism make her a great match for FIRE, as Mongolian culture is based in indigenous shamanism and Vajrayana Buddhism. Lee works with Executive Director Meredith Potts on updating FIRE’s marketing, fundraising, and informational materials as well as other writing and administrative projects.
Margaret Sheble (Art History, 2013) is currently working on a Masters in Arthurian Literature at Bangor University in North Wales. She has participated in planning a postgraduate “Medievalism Transformed” conference and served as an editor for the Bibliography of the International Arthurian Society. Studying in the UK has been beneficial for numerous reasons: it has allowed her to step outside her comfort zone while trying and experiencing new customs. Everyday is a surprise. Margaret also loves the many opportunities she has had to travel to the locations of the subjects she studies: these include London, Tintagel, Liverpool, Manchester, Dublin, and Edinburgh. When she returns to the States at the end of the summer, Margaret will attend Purdue University for a MA in Medieval Literature. Although her focus has recently been on literature, she is fascinated by the relationship between art and literature, and always finding ways to discuss art in a literary context.
In addition to traveling to Ohio, North Carolina, and Massachusetts as a consultant helping clients on a range of issues relating to organization design and training, Aaron Wilder (ARH alum) has had an active exhibition schedule for his mixed media, two-dimensional art in both D.C. and New York. His solo show, “The World Political,” was on display at the Pierce School in D.C. from January to March 2014. A production of the Evolve Urban Arts Project, this collection of work analyzed the fragments of national identity in a globalized world. Aaron was also in two group shows this spring, “Spring Art Market” in Manhattan at SPACEWOMb Gallery, and “SPECTRUM,” a one-day multi-media art event produced by RawArtists on April 27 in D.C.
Additional Updates: Ian Olsen (REL) will attend Harvard University in the Fall of 2014 to study Tibetan Buddhism, while Lee Bishop (REL; see also p. 10) will attend ASU to study the religions of Southeast Asia. William Ramsey, who completed a double major in Comparative Study of Religion and Music in 2014, is headed to the University of Colorado to pursue graduate studies in religion with a focus on Islam and music. Kim Wardle (ARH; see also p. 5) will start the MS in Speech Pathology program at the University of Arizona this fall, and Erin Carter, a 2013 ARH alum, will attend Syracuse University where she will also work as a teaching assistant. Derek Burdette, a 2005 ARH alum who received his Ph.D. from Tulane in 2012, has been appointed to a three year visiting professor position at Swarthmore College. Konden Smith (REL alum) has been appointed as a Visiting Assistant Professor at the University of Arizona.