Cleveland State Univer sity College of Liberal Ar ts and Social Sciences
The New Poetry Center pg. 4
CLASS New Film School pg. 7
Remembering Dr. Williams pg. 10
2016 CLASS Distinguished Alumna Bonnie Raquet pg. 5
FALL 2016
Archie Rand pg. 11
Letter from the Dean Universities have been around since the eleventh century, but while they may in some respects change more slowly than other kinds of institutions, they do change, and the pace of that change at CSU has quickened. Moreover, while we in CLASS do our best to plan change rationally, inevitably we must deal with changes that cannot be foreseen in a Strategic Plan. Indeed, planned change in CLASS is guided by our Strategic Plan. Several issues ago, I wrote about the ratification of the college’s new plan for 2015 to 2020, which is posted on the college’s website. We are now a year into the plan, and each summer we review our strategic plan to evaluate the progress we have made toward our goals. I am happy to report that we made substantial steps forward over the academic year 2015-16. This is not the place to list all of our successes, but I would like to highlight a few important achievements. One of our goals was to recreate a list of lecture topics that our faculty could give in order to raise our college’s profile in local high schools and to perhaps recruit new students. I am happy to report that our lecture program is now back in business. A second goal was to increase the number of full-time CLASS faculty. Last year we recruited 18 new faculty members (whose names are listed on p. 3) and five new international scholars (whose names are listed on p. 10). Finally, to help us deliver a message about the value of CLASS degrees and to raise awareness of the college, we created the CLASS Lounge, which we introduced to you in the last newsletter. Unplanned changes present opportunities for growth and reflection. This was the case, for example, this past year when events made it possible for President Ronald Berkman to lobby the Ohio Legislature for a $7.5 million allocation to CSU for the establishment of a stand-alone School of Film, Television, and Interactive Media. The School will be built upon the foundation of the current Division of Film, Television, and Interactive Media, which is currently housed in the School of Communication and enrolls 205 majors. The story of this amazing turn of events is told on pages 7 and 8, and the goal is to create the most important Film School in the Midwest, which will serve the growing film industry in Northeast Ohio.
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Another unplanned change came with the loss of Dr. Michael Williams, who passed away unexpectedly on July 12. As we report on p. 10, Dr. Williams, the Director of our Black Studies Program, was an important leader not only in the college but also in the local community. This was a tragic loss for CLASS, but it does give us the opportunity to review our work in Black Studies and to renew our commitment to making this a cutting-edge academic program as well as a steady link to the local African-American and African communities. You will see that other changes occurred with the publication of a new book by Dr. Brooke Conti, the naming of a new CLASS Valedictorian as well as a new Distinguished CLASS Alumna, the recruiting of new members of the CLASS Visiting Committee, the renewal of our nationallyknown Poetry Center, the strengthening of college ties to the Fulbright Office in Budapest, the engagement of various faculty and staff with the Republican National Convention, and the presentation of an important exhibition featuring the paintings of Archie Rand. We also benefited from new gifts and endowments from Mark DelPrincipe, John Holm, the Rybka family, and many other alumni and friends. As always, we are truly grateful for the constructive changes made possible by our talented faculty, alumni, students, and friends.
Best wishes,
Gregory Sadlek
Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
Visit us online at class.csuohio.edu
College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences Dr. Gregory Sadlek, Dean Dr. Joyce Mastboom, Associate Dean Dr. Eric Ziolek, Associate Dean
Staff Lesley Lang, Designer & Assistant Editor Jody Milkie, Editor
Contributors Samantha Baskind Brenda Driscoll Caryl Pagel Bonnie Raquet ’73 Gregory Sadlek Paul Wolansky
Table of Contents 1 2 3
4 5-6
7-8 9 10 11
Letter from the Dean Table of Contents Keeping Up With CLASS and Confessions of Faith in Early England by Brooke Conti The New Poetry Center Meet Bonnie Raquet 2016 CLASS Distinguished Alumna and New Visiting Committee Members Film School and Fulbright Hungary CLASS Scholars Spring 2016 Visiting Scholars and Changes to Black Studies Archie Rand with Leslie A. Golomb and Barbara Broff Goldman
12 RNC Review and New Economics Support 13-14 Alumni Updates and Scholarships
Confessions of Faith in Early Modern England by Brooke Conti
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As seventeenth-century England wrestled with the aftereffects of the Reformation, the personal frequently conflicted with the political. In speeches, political pamphlets, and other works of religious controversy, writers from the reign of James I to that of James II unexpectedly erupt into autobiography. John Milton famously interrupts his arguments against episcopacy with autobiographical accounts of his poetic hopes and dreams, while John Donne’s attempts to describe his conversion from Catholicism wind up obscuring rather than explaining. Similar moments appear in the works of Thomas Browne, John Bunyan, and the two King Jameses themselves. These autobiographies are familiar enough that their peculiarities have frequently been overlooked in scholarship, but as Brooke Conti notes, they sit uneasily within their surrounding material as well as within the conventions of confessional literature that preceded them. Confessions of Faith in Early Modern England positions works such as Milton’s political tracts, Donne’s polemical and devotional prose, Browne’s Religio Medici, and Bunyan’s Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners as products of the era’s tense political climate, illuminating how the pressures of public self-declaration and allegiance led to autobiographical writings that often concealed more than they revealed. For these authors, autobiography was less a genre than a device to negotiate competing political, personal, and psychological demands. The complex works Conti explores provide a privileged window into the pressures placed on early modern religious identity, underscoring that it was no simple matter for these authors to tell the truth of their interior life—even to themselves. Brooke Conti is an Associate Professor of English at Cleveland State University. Overview provided by University of Pennsylvania Penn Press.
Keeping up with
CLASS
New CL AS S Facult y Lisa Bernd, Assistant College Lecturer Department of Theatre and Dance
Anne Berry, Assistant Professor Department of Art
Ramune Braziunaite, Assistant College Lecturer School of Communication
Ana Capanegra, Assistant Professor
Department of World Languages, Literatures, and Cultures
Cyleste Collins, Assistant Professor School of Social Work
Kathleen Diehl, Assistant Professor Department of Theatre and Dance
Rosemary Frech, Assistant College Lecturer School of Social Work
Kimberly Fuller, Assistant Professor School of Social Work
Stephanie Hinnershitz, Assistant Professor Department of History
Maksim Isakin, Assistant Professor Department of Economics
Lori Lundeen-Smith, Assistant Professor Department of Music
Meghan Novisky, Assistant Professor
Department of Criminology, Anthropology, and Sociology
Carol Olszewski, Assistant Professor Department of Music
Jonathan Ring, Assistant Professor Department of Political Science
Cigdem Slankard, Assistant Professor School of Communication
David Stack, Assistant College Lecturer Department of Political Science
Michael Wiitala, Assistant College Lecturer Department of Philosophy and Comparative Religion
Kuzey Yilmaz, Assistant Professor Department of Economics
The NEW Poetry Center This fall, for the first time in its 50+ year history the nationally renowned CSU Poetry Center—an independent non-profit press which publishes contemporary poetry and prose—will have its own dedicated community and work space, open to students and the public. The Poetry Center is now located on the 4th floor of the Michael Schwartz Library, adjacent to the new Confucius Center, in the space formerly known as the Hutchinson Poetry Room. You are invited to stop by, borrow a book, meet the student staff, and learn more about volunteer opportunities, author events, and literary publishing. In addition to the move, the Poetry Center is excited to announce four new books: three collections of poetry—Leora Fridman’s My Fault, Lo Kwa Mei-en’s The Bees Make Money In The Lion, and Martin Rock’s Residuum—as well as the first book in a new essay series—Lily Hoang’s A Bestiary— which has in just a few short months risen to the #1 spot at Small Press Distribution’s bestsellers list. Recent reviews of the books can be read in Publishers Weekly, Vice, Barrelhouse Magazine, and Heavy Feathers Review, and all four authors will be in Cleveland this academic year when they read for The Lighthouse Reading Series. For more information on the Poetry Center’s reading series dates, literary events, and book news, visit their website at www.csupoetrycenter.com or follow them on Facebook and Twitter.
The Lighthouse Reading Series Fall 2016 Events Friday, October 7 at 7:00 pm CSU Arts Campus, The Galleries at CSU
Lighthouse Reading Series Featuring new CSU Poetry Center authors Lo Kwa Mei-en (Bees Make Money in the Lion) and Martin Rock (Residuum). Friday, December 2 at 7:00 pm CSU Michael Schwartz Library, 4th Floor
Lighthouse Reading Series Featuring new CSU Poetry Center author Leora Fridman (My Fault) and nonfiction writer Hilary Plum (Watchfires).
Facebook: CSUPoetryCenter Twitter: @CSUPoetryCenter
Why did you choose CSU for your degree? My love of history was born around my family’s dining room table, where it was a frequent topic of conversation, and during several extended family vacations from our home in Wisconsin through the East Coast and the Deep South. I decided to major in history as an undergrad and wanting to be a history teacher simply followed. In the 1970’s, it seemed that there would be more opportunities with a graduate degree so I applied to the masters program at CSU in the Department of History—this decision came with wanting to continue toward teaching at the college level. I was working full time in downtown Cleveland and CSU was convenient. The ability to continue working and complete a master’s degree at the same time was very appealing.
How did CSU and your degree field prepare you for your life and career?
Meet
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BONNIE RAQUET
MA History ’73 2016 CLASS Distinguished Alumna!
Studying history (and likely other liberal arts courses) develops unique skills and abilities. Being a student of history has enabled me to always look for and understand the bigger picture over a longer period of time. It sets up the ability to solve complex problems: developing solutions for particular times and places with an understanding of cultures, context and people; being detail oriented; and being able to aptly frame arguments around understandable themes. It has also led me to be open and understanding on a variety of viewpoints, cultures, and social systems.
What are your fondest memories/impressions of your time at CSU? Were there any favorite professors? One often hears about favorite professors who encourage a student’s hopes and dreams—but more important are those professors who take the time and put in the effort to really know their students and provide honest and insightful guidance. Professor John Carey, who was head of the Department of History at that time, was one of the latter. He taught colonial American history—which became my favorite subject—and was also my thesis advisor. My master’s thesis on Benjamin Franklin and attitudes about women in the pre-revolutionary period was inspired by him. I thoroughly loved the research and learning as I worked on my thesis. Professor Carey was patient and supportive and we had great conversations while this process dragged on and on—but I simply could not bring myself to finish the writing. Without diminishing my love of history Carey helped me face the reality that my lack of enthusiasm for writing and sharing what I had learned meant I would be unlikely to succeed in the writing and publishing aspect of being a professor. Because of Carey’s enthusiasm I am one of those few people who actually have a graduate degree in their lifelong hobby!
Tell us a bit about your career history, your proudest achievements and your current passions. Following Dr. Carey’s advice, I took some time to figure out what would come next—spending some time as a writer and editor for middle school curriculum and as a graduate school librarian. I finally decided to go to Law School. My husband’s career change took us to Minnesota and I attended the University of Minnesota Law School. Upon graduation I joined the Law Department at Cargill, Incorporated and have spent my entire career there. I practiced law for nearly 20 years in financial services, commodity trading, maritime law, international law, and ethics and compliance. That work included serving as the American legal representative for Europe, based in Geneva, and ultimately managing major cases in Europe, Latin America, and Asia. My final ten years saw another major career change—while still working at Cargill—where I led the global Corporate Affairs work for the company. That included government relations, public relations, corporate social responsibility, communications and corporate brand management in the 66 countries where Cargill was present at the time as well as around the world. In retirement, I serve on mission-driven boards of directors that focus on education, international development, and helping communities and individuals thrive. I endeavor to be a trusted advisor to organizational leaders, to help them and their boards be effective, efficient and strategic, deeply understanding what is truly core to their institutional missions. My love of colonial American history—which was inspired by Dr. Carey—led me to retire with my husband to Williamsburg, Virginia. The story has come full circle!
What advice would you give to current students? Regardless of your course of study, understand the importance of including some time and focus in the liberal arts and especially history. As we undertake lives of service and leadership, we need to understand the “story” in “history:” Not just the “who and what,” but also the “how and why.” We, as Americans, need to understand how “We, the People” came to be who we are today in this time and place. It is often said that knowledge of history is like a mirror that allows us to understand ourselves. A broad education in the liberal arts takes us beyond ourselves and beyond the development of technical or mechanical skills. We learn how to live in a community, how to bring change, and how to successfully lead into the future.
N E W Visiting Committee Members Begin Service to CLASS
Comprised of community leaders, friends of the University and alumni of the College, the CLASS Visiting Committee serves as ambassadors to the greater community as well as a “listening board” for Dean Greg Sadlek throughout the academic year. Joining returning member, Christopher D. Hendryx (BA Economics), Sherwin-Williams Company Inc., Director of Oracle Business Process Improvement, are six (6) new members of the CLASS Visiting Committee who will serve their first term from 2016-2019. They include: • Kathleen Barbagallo, Community Volunteer. Kathy is a dedicated CSU Vikings Basketball fan. • Michael Griffin (BA Spanish and BBA Management & Labor Relations), National Development Council, Director of Investor Relations. • Greg Knieriemen (BA Communication and MBA), Hitachi Data Systems Technology Strategist and Tech Evangelist. • Mark Lantz (BA English and MA Communication), Factory Detroit Inc., CEO. • Alan Nevel (BA Liberal Studies), Thermo Fisher Scientific, Vice President, Global Diversity & Inclusion • Dan Polk (BA Communication), Medical Mutual, Vice President, Sales and Distribution. The College also gratefully acknowledges the service of three Emeriti members of the Visiting Committee whose terms have concluded. Thank you to Patricia Leebove, Thomas O’Toole, and Dr. Ruth D. Peterson.
n o o S Coming
Cleveland State University
College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
Film School
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Up until recently, the Ohio Motion Picture Tax Credit stood at $20 million. According to a CSU study conducted in 2015, that tax credit program brought 31 new film projects to Ohio with budgets of about $117 million in total. Out of this figure, approximately $83.2 million was spent on film projects in Northeast Ohio. However, the Ohio state legislature just this past spring increased the film industry tax credit program to $40 million. This increase will doubtlessly help grow the already significant presence of the film industry in Northeast Ohio. And next year Ivan Schwarz, President and CEO of the Greater Cleveland Film Commission, will try to convince the legislature to raise the tax credit to $75 million. Realizing that a growing industry needs a growing talent pool from which to draw, Mr. Schwarz and President Ronald Berkman last spring also convinced leaders in the Ohio state legislature to allocate $7.5 million to CSU in order to create a new stand-alone School of Film, Television, and Interactive Media in the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences. The new School is to be built upon the current program in Film, Television, and Interactive Media, which is housed in the School of Communication. That program, founded in 2006, now enrolls 205 majors, making it the second largest single undergraduate program in the college. The program has six full-time faculty members and numerous part-time faculty members. It represents a healthy foundation upon which to build a School for an even larger program.
Over the summer, Dean Greg Sadlek, President Berkman, and Mr. Schwarz visited film schools at the University of Southern California and at Chapman University. Both are in the Greater Los Angeles area and are among the most successful film programs in the country. There they met Dean Robert Bassett, who is the Founding Dean of the Dodge College of Film and Media Arts at Chapman University and who in 2013 was recognized by Variety magazine as “Media Mentor of the Year.” As a result, in mid-August, Dean Bassett was invited to visit CSU. His task was to assess the current resources and help the University plan how to most effectively use the legislature’s allocation to take the CSU program to the next level. His report will be an important resource as the vision for the new School is planned. The immediate tasks at hand for the upcoming school year are many. First, CSU must not only decide where to build out the new facilities made possible by the legislative allocation but also begin the designing process. The University is currently considering space in Playhouse Square as well as space on campus. Second, the formal Faculty Senate process through which the film program is separated from the School of Communication must be initiated and completed. Next, after carefully drawing up a new job description, a national search for a new Director must be conducted. Finally, with a new Community Advisory Committee in place, the faculty must create a new Vision Statement, outlining what the School will look like in five or ten years. It will all make for a very full year. This initiative, however, along with the solid growth of the film industry in Northeast Ohio, may just make it possible for CSU to become the most important film program in the Midwest. That is a goal that will keep everyone motivated.
College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
Fulbright Hungary This fall the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences (CLASS) will welcome Dr. Péter Müller, a Fulbright Scholar from the University of Pécs in Hungary. Dr. Müller is the third such Hungarian Fulbright scholar to visit CSU in the past three years. His visit is part of a strong partnership that CLASS has developed with the Fulbright Office in Budapest, Hungary, the goal of which is to build up Hungarian Studies for the sake of the large Cleveland Hungarian-American community, which in the past has offered considerable financial support for this effort. As a part of this partnership, Dean Greg Sadlek spent five days last summer in Hungary on an official “capacity building” workshop sponsored by Fulbright Hungary, which is directed by Dr. Károly Jókay. On this trip, Dr. Sadlek visited with representatives of ten different postsecondary institutions in Hungary, including Corvinus University of Budapest and the University of Pécs (the oldest university in Hungary). In Pécs, he met Dr. Müller and toured the beautiful campus and city. While in Hungary, Dr. Sadlek also met with representatives of six other educational institutions such as the Budapest Office of the Council for International Educational Exchange and the Aquincum Institute of Technology. As a result, CSU students will now have exciting additional opportunities for studying abroad at world-class schools, such as the University of Pécs and the prestigious Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest. An additional benefit of the trip was an agreement to extend the college’s partnership with Fulbright Hungary until 2021. Moreover, when Dr. Jókay learned of CSU’s current on-line continuing education course in the Hungarian language, developed by Dr. Endre Szentkiralyi with the financial support of the Hungary Initiatives Foundation, he expressed interest in having all new American Fulbright visitors to Hungary enroll in it.
In sum, the CLASS/Fulbright Hungary partnership is a valuable part of the college’s efforts not only to extend opportunities for its students to study abroad but also to build our connections to the local Cleveland community.
S PRIN G 2 016
CLASS SCHOLARS CLASS Valedictorian
Outstanding Scholars
Lana E. Sims
Corey Ayres
Major: Spanish Major: International Relations
Danial Canfield
CLASS Valedictorian
Lana Erin Sims graduated in spring 2016 with a double major in Spanish and International Relations. She completed her degrees with a cumulative GPA of 3.99. Fluent in Spanish, Ms. Sims also speaks French and has studied Arabic. She has honed her skills in Spanish by studying abroad both in Spain and in Cuba, and her studies were supported by a Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship from the U.S. Department of State. She has also worked as a clinic assistant in the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law and as a student assistant in the College of Education and Human Services’ Community Learning Center for Children and Youth. Based on her strong record of accomplishment, Ms. Sims was accepted into the Ph.D. program in Spanish at the University of Pittsburgh, where her studies will be supported by a graduate assistantship. She will begin her doctoral studies in the fall. Furthermore, Ms. Sims was also recognized as one of the two universitylevel Valedictorians at the Spring 2016 Commencement Ceremony.
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Lana Sims (left) and Dean Gregory Sadlek
Major: Criminology Major: Sociology
Rebecca McLemore
Major: Film, Television and Interactive Media Major: Communication
Major: Art Minor: Anthropology
Stephanie McNeal
Robert Coyne
James Meyers
Tomeika Darmond
Chloe Mlinarcik
Michael Dober
Olivia Myles
Major: Theatre Arts Major: Social Work
Major: English Major: Classical and Medieval Studies
Genie Donley
Major: History Major: Social Studies
Milissa Etterling Major: English Major: Spanish
Danielle Frantz
Major: Social Work
Genevieve Jorgens Major: Economics
Major: Political Science Major: Social Work Major: Theatre Arts Major: Social Work
Joseph Rangel Major: Music
Drewcilla Roberts Major: Criminology Minor: Sociology
Ashlynn Rotta Major: Spanish
Riley Shaw
Major: Political Science Minor: Communication
Reese Shebel
Jillian Kazmierczak Major: Social Work
Major: Journalism & Promotional Communication Major: Art
Jaime Kelly
Natalie Snodgrass
Major: Journalism & Promotional Communication Minor: Marketing
Andrew Kovach
Major: Political Science Major: International Relations Minor: Spanish
Gregory Kula
Major: Political Science Major: Economics
Anne Lempke
Major: Journalism & Promotional Communication Major: Political Science
Matthew Mahoney Major: Political Science Major: History
Major: Art
Brandon Taylor
Major: Economics Minor: Mathematics
William Taylor
Major: Communication Management
Martin Walters Major: Music
Margaret Winterich Major: Spanish
Alia Worthy
Major: Social Work
WELCOME THE 2016 VISITING SCHOL ARS Hungarian Scholar Peter Müller, Department of World Languages, Literatures, and Cultures. Dr. Müller will teach courses in Hungarian language and culture and interact with members of the local Hungarian-American community. • • •
India Scholar Isabella Nardi, Department of Art. Dr. Nardi will teach courses in Indian art and interact with members of the local Indian community. • • •
Polish Scholar and Kosciuszko Fellow Leslaw Tetla, Department of Art and Department of World Languages, Literatures, and Cultures. Dr. Tetla will teach courses in Polish art, Polish film, and a non-credit course about Polish art history, culture and society. • • •
Visiting Chine se Scholar Shen Lidi, Department of English. Professor Lidi will study pedagogy related to the teaching of literature and composition. She will also meet with faculty to discuss shared areas of research. • • •
Visiting Chine se Scholar Ting Liu, School of Communication. Professor Liu will conduct research with Professor Guowei Jian in the area of organizational communication.
Changesto BLACK STUDIES
Remembering Dr. Michael Williams
With the untimely death of Dr. Michael Williams on July 12, 2016, CSU’s Black Studies Program suffered a terrible loss. The program, which is housed in offices located on the first floor of the Main Classroom Building, is comprised of a B.A. program in Black Studies, a variety of community outreach activities (including those of the Jazz Heritage Orchestra), and the Howard A. Mims African American Cultural Center. The program is a significant focal point for CSU’s engagement with the local African American community. Dr. Williams, who was hired as an Assistant Professor of Social Work in 1985, became Interim Director of Black Studies in 2000 and was appointed Director in 2004. He served with distinction in that position until his death. A beloved instructor and student advisor, Dr. Williams was also a respected leader in Cleveland’s African American community. In addition, he was active in such national organizations as the Association for Black Cultural Centers, and he brought the national meeting of this organization to CSU in 2009. One of his major accomplishments was the creation of an interdisciplinary B.A. program in Black Studies, which was inaugurated in 2010. His ongoing dedication and contributions will certainly be missed. The College is fortunate, however, in that Dr. Donna Whyte has agreed to serve as Interim Director of the CSU Black Studies Program for the 2016-17 academic year. Dr. Whyte is no stranger to CSU. She comes to the position with extensive experience, having served for 24 years as the Director of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs at CSU. Dr. Whyte received a B.A. and an M.A. from the Ohio State University before completing her Ph.D. in Social Policy History at Case Western Reserve University. In
recent years, she has served CSU as a faculty member, teaching courses in African American history, religion, and urban experience in the Department of History, the Department of Philosophy and Comparative Religion, and the Levin College of Urban Affairs. Beyond administering the day-to-day activities of the Black Studies program, Dr. Whyte has been asked to lead a review of the contemporary state of Black Studies programs in the United States. In this review, she will be assisted by a small CSU committee that will include Dr. Byron White, Vice President for University Engagement and Chief Diversity Officer. The review will take place during the fall semester, and Dr. Whyte will be seeking the advice of several important external authorities, the CSU faculty, and important stakeholders from the local African American community. A major goal of this review will be to create the job profile that will be used to recruit the next permanent Director of Black Studies. A national search for the new Director will begin by the end of the fall 2016 semester. In the end, the hope is to turn a very sad event into a time of renewal and progress for the Black Studies program at CSU.
Dr. Michael Williams
Archie
RAND with Leslie A. Golomb and Barbara Broff Goldman Archie Rand: Sixty Paintings from the Bible Archie Rand: The Book of Judith Leslie A. Golomb and Barbara Broff Goldman: To Speak Her Heart From September 1 to October 8, three special exhibitions on Jewish themes will be hanging at the Galleries at CSU. The principal show, Archie Rand: Sixty Paintings from the Bible, painted in 1992, features all sixty canvases from internationally celebrated artist Archie Rand’s pivotal series, not seen together in its entirety since a 1992 exhibition at New York’s Arthur Roger Gallery. Each loosely painted canvas in Sixty Paintings from the Bible portrays a familiar moment from the Hebrew Bible or the Apocrypha, rendered in colorful tones and with an expressionistic comic book style that adds a fresh perspective to stories that have shaped human civilization. Viewers encounter well-known narratives in totally unexpected ways— sometimes controversial, but always thought provoking. Rand’s colloquial interpretations, through both his style and his attribution of common vernacular to the biblical figures, combine to convey drama and sometimes humor, in part functioning as a re-reading designed to make viewers think twice about familiar tales.
Exhibitions curated by Samantha Baskind
The Innerlink | Fall 2016 | Page 11
Samantha Baskind, Professor of Art History and curator of the three exhibitions, wrote and edited a fully illustrated catalogue in conjunction with Sixty Paintings from the Bible. The catalogue contains color plates of all sixty paintings in the series, as well as an interpretative essay by Baskind and a reflective essay by Rand. Baskind is the author of four books and coeditor of the foundational volume The Jewish Graphic Novel: Critical Approaches. She served as editor for U.S. art for the 22-volume revised edition of the Encyclopaedia Judaica and is also editor of the Pennsylvania State University Press book series: “Dimyonot: Jews and the Cultural Imagination.”
Also on view is another series by Rand: The Book of Judith (2012). Comprised of fifteen paintings, this series investigates the apocryphal Book of Judith. The figure of Judith interested Rand as a paradoxical feminist hero and someone whom he wanted to immortalize in a way that would be visually memorable. He portrays Judith as a changing presentation of 1940s pinups, alluding to her ability to switch personalities and exploit her powers of attraction, which she employs knowingly and with precision. In the media room, a documentary titled Archie Rand: The Painted Shul (2007) chronicles the artist’s execution of a ground-breaking commission in the 1970s to paint 8,000 square feet of floor-to-ceiling murals on the walls of Congregation B’nai Yosef, an Orthodox synagogue in Brooklyn. Presidential Professor of Art at Brooklyn College, Guggenheim Fellow, and recipient of the National Foundation for Jewish Culture’s Achievement Medal, Rand has been one of the major progenitors of Jewish subject matter for the past four decades. His work, which has appeared in over one hundred solo exhibitions, is part of the permanent collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Victoria and Albert Museum in London, and the Bibliothèque Nationale de France in Paris, among many others. Showing concurrently is a complementary exhibit entitled To Speak Her Heart, a group of unique prints investigating Jewish women’s devotional literature dating back to biblical times, by Leslie A. Golomb and Barbara Broff Goldman.
Mark DelPrincipe creates NEW Economics support fund
RNC WEEK REVIEW The week of the Republican National Convention (July 18 – 21, 2016) was an exciting time here in Cleveland and at Cleveland State University (CSU). During the RNC, the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences participated in two events: “Get out the Vote” and a TEDx Salon. The “Get out the Vote” exhibition ran in the Galleries at CSU from Thursday, July 7 – Saturday, July 30, 2016. Sarah Rutherford (Assistant Professor, Art) and Jennifer Visocky O’Grady (Professor, Art) worked closely with the design team (pictured above). Sarah generated/parsed the content for the exhibition graphics while Jenn was the project lead for the entire “Get out the Vote” initiative in her roll as an AIGA National Board member and curated the invited large format posters. Top photo (left to right): Lauren McAndrews, Christine Wisnieski (creators of the branding for the “Get out the Vote” national initiative 2016), and Jennifer Visocky O’Grady (AIGA national board member, professor, and former chair of the Art Department) at the CSU “Get out the Vote” exhibition.
On Wednesday, July 20, CSU hosted TEDxClevelandStateUniversitySalon: 21st Century Democracy. This sold-out event featuring a panel of political experts and operatives discussing topics like voter engagement, the future of presidential elections and why the 2016 election is a game changer—the event can be viewed online at tedxclevelandstateuniversity.com/tedxsalon. Bottom photo (left to right): TEDx Panel included Edward Horowitz, Associate Professor of Communication, Cleveland State University (Facilitator); Richard Perloff, Cleveland State Professor of Communication, Political Science and Psychology; Lee Weingart, Founder and President of LNE Group, former Cuyahoga County Commissioner; Sharon Broussard, Chief Editorial Writer for Cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer; and Lee Fisher, Interim Dean, Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, former Lieutenant Governor of Ohio.
Alumnus Mark DelPrincipe, who holds both a BA in Economics as well as a BS in Mathematics from CSU, and who is a longtime supporter of the Economics department has generously created the Mark DelPrincipe Economics Department Support Fund. This new fund has two areas of focus: providing student scholarship support as well as resources for faculty research, professional development and scholarship. “Scholarships from this new fund will support 1-2 students per year,” notes Paul Wolansky, Senior Director of University Advancement. “Preference will be given to recipients who have documented financial need and who have a minimum 3.0 GPA. We have a number of students who fit these criteria, so this assistance is greatly appreciated. These scholarships are needed.” Faculty development monies will be granted at the discretion of Dr. Bill Kosteas, Chair and Associate Professor in the Economics Department. Awards will be based on individual faculty research and/or professional development needs. Dr. Kosteas said, “The Department of Economics is grateful for Mr. DelPrincipe’s generous gift. His generosity will make CSU even more affordable for deserving students and provide much needed support for faculty scholarship.” The new DelPrincipe fund will grant awards between 2016 and 2021.
Dialing for (Scholarship) Dollars The College is proud to announce that—due to increasing support from alumni and friends through CSU’s Annual Fund Call Center— it will now be offering four new annual scholarships to CLASS students. These new scholarships are being funded entirely through the gifts that alumni and friends pledge to the Annual Fund student callers who phone alumni in the evening hours, as well as from CSU’s new Giving Day promotion held each spring. The new scholarships are: The CLASS Alumni Scholarship will be given to three (3) students in the College who have a minimum of a 2.8 GPA and who have documented financial need. The scholarships will be granted across the three focus areas of the College: Humanities, Social Sciences, and the Arts. The CLASS Dean’s Scholarship will be given to one (1) student who has a minimum 3.3 GPA and who has financial need.
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All current, full-time majors in CLASS are eligible for these scholarships. Additionally, due to the continuing generosity of alumni contacted through the phone center the College was able to purchase a used grand piano for Music students. Thanks to the college’s alumni and friends for their generosity (and for continuing to pick up the phone to speak with the outstanding student callers)!
C o lle g e o f L ib e r a l A r t s a n d S o c ia l S ci en ces
Alumni Updates Sanaa Estephan Julien (’89 BA Communication) is being “loaned” from the Cleveland Metroparks to the Group Plan Commission to guide branding and event planning for the newly renovated Public Square. Her post at Public Square, configured as a one-year position, will put Sanaa in charge of shaping the use and perceptions of the historic, 10-acre open space in the heart of downtown Cleveland. Francisco (Frank) J. Alvarado (’00 BA Spanish) and Angela (Buniel) Alvarado (’97 BBA Accounting) currently reside in the San Francisco Bay Area. Frank is Regional Account Manager of Expeditors, a fortune 500 worldwide global logistics company. Angela is a Mergers, Acquisitions & Divestitures partner at Deloitte & Touche LLP. Corey M. Miller (’14 BMus Music Composition) is President of the newly formed home-brewing club, The HomeBros. Miller is also one of the founders of the annual Iron Brewer competition, and is a brewer at Forest City Brewery. Omar Y. Kurdi (’13 BA International Relations) is a CSU graduate student who is earning an MA in Mass Communications studying Islamophobia in Social Media. Kurdi was recently a guest columnist for Cleveland.com and wrote an opinion essay urging young people to get out and vote. Mark C. Spain (’86 BA Communication) is now co-anchor for WSET TV Channel 13 in Lynchburg, Virginia. Rick Grospitch (’08 BA History and ’13 MEd Adult Learning and Development) is the Blair Conference Center Leader located on the Westfield Insurance campus in Westfield Center, OH.
Mark E. Avsec (’92 BA Philosophy and ’94 JD Law), a Cleveland attorney and Grammy-nominated musician, is a newly appointed trustee to the Cuyahoga Arts & Culture Board. The board oversees the activities of the county agency, which distributes approximately $15 million annually in cigarette tax revenues to county arts and cultural organizations. Anita Bradley (’99 MSW Social Work), the founder and executive director of the Cleveland-based Northern Ohio Recovery Association, was recently recognized at the White House for her extraordinary work to help and empower her community. Anita was honored as a Champion of Change for her community- and peer-based work in drug and alcohol prevention, treatment and recovery. Joseph W. Mosbrook (’96 BA Communication) is Managing Partner at Acclaim Communications. Jane M. McCrone (’08 BA Art) recently retired from her successful tenure at Cleveland State University as Development and Alumni Affairs Associate. Matt Kirksey (’07 BA Communication and Film and Digital Media) is the coordinator of financial aid at the Ohio State University at Lima. Wanda Scott (’04 BA Religious Studies) is Chief Advancement Officer for Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, California.
In Memory Dr. Klaus-Peter Hinze (Retired 2002) German Professor, Department of Modern Languages.
LET US KNOW WHAT YOU’VE BEEN UP TO! Email CLASS.Alumni@csuohio.edu with your own career or personal update!
John D. Holm Study Abroad Opportunity Scholarship Supports Students Students in the College now have priority to seek support for international study from the John D. Holm Study Abroad Opportunity Scholarship fund. The Holm Scholarship has been available university-wide to CSU students since its creation in 1997 to celebrate the marriage of Dr. John D. Holm and Dr. Njeri Nuru-Holm. Dr. Holm is Professor Emeritus in the Political Science Department and retired from the University as Director for the Center of International Studies and Programs. Dr. Nuru-Holm retired from CSU in 2012 as Vice President of Institutional Diversity. At the request of Dr. Holm, beginning in July 2016, the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences students have first priority in being considered for the scholarship. Now housed within the College, the Holm Study Abroad Opportunity Scholarship Fund assists students who are socially and economically disadvantaged and who show a strong interest in and concern for international issues, cultures, peoples, and ideas as demonstrated by their experiences, involvement in organizations, and activities. Recipients will be selected via an application process that is reviewed by a committee comprised of the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, the Director of the Center for International Services and Programs and a CLASS faculty member. As part of the transition to the College, Dr. Holm has generously ensured the long-term future of the fund by including the scholarship in his estate planning. “Working with both Dr. Holm and Dr. Nuru-Holm to further refine and strengthen the scholarship for CSU students has been one of the most rewarding—not to mention fun—experiences I’ve had at CSU,” comments Paul Wolansky, Senior Director, University Advancement. “Throughout our discussions and meetings, I’ve come to appreciate the deep regard John and Njeri hold for Cleveland State and its mission—as well as the impact that a study abroad experience can provide to students who might not otherwise be able to experience this powerful learning opportunity.” CLASS students will have priority in selection for the scholarship; however, students from other colleges may be selected to receive the scholarship if there is not an eligible recipient in the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences. For more information on the John D. Holm Study Abroad Opportunity Scholarship, please visit csuohio.edu/class/students/scholarship.
Edward F. Rybka Memorial Fund for Polish and Jewish Understanding established The College is proud to announce that it is now the home for the Edward F. Rybka Memorial Fund for Polish and Jewish Understanding. This new fund will provide programming that will include a combination of academic and community-oriented presentations, lectures, events and activities that promote dialogue and intercultural understanding, with a focus on the diverse cultural, social, religious, and political dimensions of Polish/Jewish relations in historical and contemporary contexts. “Ed was a frequent guest at CSU Polish Studies events,” Paul Wolansky, Senior Director of University Advancement remarked. “He will be remembered for his jovial nature and gentle sense of humor, along with his commitment to building bridges between these two communities with an often complex history.” Edward (’62 BS Business), who passed away on April 24, 2015, was a wellknown northeastern Ohio realtor and community leader. As part of his July 9 memorial service, held on campus in Fenn Tower, the Rybka family asked that memorial gifts be made to support Polish Studies at CSU. “We are grateful to Mrs. Irene Rybka and the entire Rybka family, including Robert, Edward, and Michelle for celebrating Mr. Rybka’s life in such a meaningful way,” reflected Dr. Gregory Sadlek, Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences.
Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage
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Cleveland, OH Permit No. 500
College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences 2121 Euclid Avenue, RT 1822 Cleveland, OH 44115-2214
DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH 2016 GATHERING TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27 AT 6:00 PM SHARE YOUR WORDS A Reunion of English Department Students and Faculty Join us for the first-ever English Department reunion during Homecoming Week at CSU. We’ll gather at 6:00 PM on Tuesday, September 27 in the beautiful Mather Mansion ballroom for an evening of refreshments, conversation, and music. Enjoy a reception with us, share your stories, and listen to an exclusive performance by Small Batch, a folk/rock/bluegrass band led by Cleveland Scene award winner and CSU English graduate Brendan O’Malley. Admission is free, but please RSVP by 9.21.2016 to the English Department by calling 216.687.3951 or online at csualumni.com/homecoming.
We hope to see you there!