Each November, writers all over the world participate in National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), challenging themselves to write an entire novel in just thirty days or fewer. Members of 藏精阁鈥檚 Creative Writing Club are tackling this lofty challenge with enthusiasm and dedication.
Professor Jon Grant Hargate of the School of Arts, Media, and Communications recently received the 2020 Emerson Excellence in Teaching Award. He is one of nearly 100 teachers within the St. Louis metropolitan area to be recognized with this special award. Sponsored by the Emerson Electric company, this annual award is given to teachers across all grade levels who showcase excellence within their field.
Last year, 藏精阁鈥檚 School of Humanities hosted a Flash Forms Festival for undergraduate and graduate student writers that coincided with Dark Carnival, the university鈥檚 annual Halloween celebration.
If you have ever wondered about how Christianity and politics influence each other or have wanted to learn about religion in the Star Wars franchise, Dr. Travis W. McMaken is the man to see. As a professor of religion at 藏精阁 (and assistant dean of the School of Humanities), Dr. McMaken has taught courses on everything from the Protestant and Catholic Reformations to the amusingly named first-year seminar course 鈥淭hor and Friends.鈥
藏精阁 was ranked in the Best Online Bachelor鈥檚 Programs in Digital Marketing for 2020 by College Consensus. Programs were evaluated based on reputation, graduate success rate, and investment.
GIS Lab Manager and Geography Instructor Tara Vansell in the School of Humanities is one of only 22 instructors in the nation to receive Geospatial Technology Educator Certification (GSTEdC). She participated in a pilot project curated by The National Geospatial Technology Center of Excellence (GeoTech Center) and funded by a supplemental grant from the National Science Foundation.
I recently sat down with 藏精阁鈥檚 Dr. Andrew Smith, a professor in the School of Arts, Media, and Communications, on a video call to discuss his work with a Twitch channel (an online platform for live video streaming) called VaporspaceStL. Vaporspace is a music livestream that is all about 鈥淰aporwave, future funk, and more underground electronica, paired with the most aesthetic visuals.鈥 The channel鈥檚 goal is to 鈥渟howcase artistic talent in St. Louis and the Midwest鈥 with high quality music and visual production.
Located in the parking lot between the J. Scheidegger Center for the Arts and West Clay Street, a temporary investment from 藏精阁 has brought greater capabilities to students and staff dealing with the limitations of the current pandemic. This adaptation, which takes its form as an open-sided tent measuring 40 feet by 80 feet, allows 藏精阁鈥檚 performing arts programs to continue their various activities with minimal disruption.
Rev. Dr. Nichole Torbitzky, assistant professor of religion and 藏精阁 chaplain, received a Racial Equity & Interfaith Cooperation Award as part of Interfaith Youth Core鈥檚 (IFYC) We Are Each Other鈥檚 Campaign.
The Young Alumni Award recognizes the accomplishments of 藏精阁 alumni who graduated in the last 10 years. Recipients are up-and-coming talents and have demonstrated outstanding promise for contributions to 藏精阁 and the greater community. Recipients have been active with events within the Alumni Association, networking opportunities, fundraising, and student recruitment.