Fall 2024 CAS Newsletter

Saint Martin’s University COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES

College of Arts and Sciences Newsletter, Fall 2024

Letter from the Dean As the year draws rapidly to a close, I’d like to begin by thanking the faculty and staff of CAS for their hard work and strong support of students this year. Elsewhere in the newsletter you will read of the many student successes we will celebrate at the Honors Convocation this month.

These student successes occur because able and willing students are taught and encouraged by our faculty and staff. With everything else that goes on around campus, it is important to remember that we are still doing the essential work of transforming young adults to realize their full human potential as scholars and people.

And while we are honoring our students, we are also honoring book and chapter authors on campus this month.CAS authors include Margaret Olney, Sam Fox, Arwyn Smalley, Liz Nutter, Nikki Berry, Nathalie Kuroiwa-Lewis, Julia Chavez, Dave Olwell, Brian Garcia, Ian Werritt, Br. Luke Devine, Hunhui Oh, Irina Gendelman, Robert Hauhart, Marc Kirchmeier, and Andrea Kunder.

As of this writing, we are making good progress with our searches. Dr. Shailee Woodard has accepted a position as assistant professor of psychology, and we have offers out to candidates in exercise science and sociology. We also working though a good candidate pool in history and political science. We are paying particular attention to mission and identity fit in our hires this year, and I am pleased to report the search committees have done excellent work attending to this.

Professor Kathleen McKain and I have been co-chairing the provost search. We are excited by the candidates that have been brought to campus, and we look forward to the decision of the board of trustees, abbot, and president.

The May board meeting will have many items on its agenda. In addition to the provost search, I expect some resolution on reorganizing academic affairs. I am not yet sure what the results will be, but I do expect that the quality of service to students will not be adversely affected.

CAS is a large community of scholars, students, staff, and alumni. CAS works because we work together well, with a strong sense of collegiality and a deep love of our students and, dare I say, each other. It has been a joy working as a member such a fine group this year. Our progress on many fronts has been a team win. My job is to enable success for students, faculty and staff, and I will continue to give my best to that end. Thank you!

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Dean’s List Recipients Congratulations to the many students who recieved a 3.5 or higher GPA for the 2024 Fall Semester, keep up the good work!

Jillian Abbe Guadalupe Acosta-Pelayo Haley Agena Natalie Aguilar Elia Aguilar Cheryl Aguilar Henriquez Hannah Alamillo Lori Aldrich Yoel Alejandres-Aleman Matthew Alexander Angel Alvarado Laura Alvarez Taylor Ames Chrystal An Lauren Anderson Crystal Antal Autumn Apelar Stephanie Apgar Lauren Apthorp Jayse Arcalas Kimberly Astin Mya Ball Sara Barnes Riley Bateman Nevaeh Battee Molly Beers Bracey Collin Bell Ardeleah Bernal Hailey Blancas Jessica Bodkin Kobe Bolduc-Vorachith Kasey Booster Merribeth Born Ashley Brascher Christian Brazel Aaron Brimmer Analise Brown Tiffany Brual

Ruby Bryntesen Ryan Burns Flavia Burrell Olivia Callaghan Rachael Callaghan Shiann Canionero Bianca Carl Liam Carney Alyssa Carter Jesus Cervantes Enrique Chagolla Hernandez Chikumbutso Chikopa

Zoey Coleman Rylee Colvin Keith Zachary Corook Rebecca Cortesi Sherise Cruz Katherine Cruz Elijah Dale Kirsten De Lara Bianca DeGracia Julissa Detrinidad Gabriella Dewhurst Quang Diep

Alyssa Dominguez Delany Donaldson Charles-Philippe Dorgler Kassandra Eunice Doroteo Chalis Dotson Hae Durbin Riley Edenholm Taylor Ellison Amanda England Cassandra England Samantha Escobar Pedro Esqueda Lesli Eufracio-Amates Emily Fairfield Elizabeth Fellman Cassandra Fischer Brayden Flores Evelyn Flores Fevee Fontejon Queen Garrard Erica Garrett Emily Garten Jonathan Gashel Peter Geurts Cassandra Gilson Jobe Glass Kyia Glover Ana Gomez Abigail Gonzalez Sara Gray Samuel Gray Alyssa Greenleaf Veronica Gudino Sandoval Kelsey Guzman Faith Hahn Landis Lilian Hale Melissa Ham Kazi Hamid

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College of Arts and Sciences Newsletter, Fall 2024

Bethany Hamilton Kaden Hansen Raegan Hansen Christopher Harper Nicole Harris Audrey Hays Benjamin Heck Brock Heffner

Thomas Hega Hega Virginiah Hernandez Yesenia Hernandez Ernestina Herrera-Agustin Angelina Herron Devon Hess Ava Heston Laiken Hill Brittany Holland Ianeta Hollister Jacob House Habriana Howard-Eram Guadalupe Huerta-Acuchi Nicholas Hughes Chloe Husmillo Damon Ingram Kelsie Inouye Kevin Ishimwe Michael James Ansel Jenissen

Jenna Jenkins Amy Jensen Amalia Jimenez Yoo Mi Jo Jesse Joash Amiesha Johnson Bridget Johnson Lucia Juarez Ethan Jud Sofia Jusino Madeleine Kabena Kashondo Alyssa Kapeliela Jasper Keller Ava Kephart Melissa Khan Joachim Killian Aidan James Killion Amy King Emerson Klahr Makenna Klovdahl Melissa Klym Phoebe Knellhorne Maile Koeckritz Vincent Koigi Hinata Kojima Ben Krasnokutsky Carla Kumher Cameron Kunz Katelyn Kuss Jayda Lagerwey

Thu-Tiffany Lam Michael Larsen Aliyah Rosita Lazcano Shania Lazcano Sarah Leatherman David Lee Stephen Leonard Samantha Leulu Tupuola Chloe Leverington Julie Liang Dyson Lighthall Faith Linthicum

Aubrey Lopez Desirae Lucero Xianna Maciel Christjan Mago Leah Mahakata Keicea Manayan Zachary Mandlin Yasmeen Martin Julius Martinez Kingsley Mason Cameron Matthewson Isaiah Mayfield-Prieto Farah Mcallister Jonathan Mcdade Ian Mckain-Pitts Shayla Mckenzie Cody Mears Emily Medina Nora Melcher Fasika Mengesha

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Dean’s List Recipients Sawit Mengstab Kadence Merritt Jasmin Miller Zarina Miller Savana Million Cha Mo Shannon Moe Rochelle Monroe Melinda Moradi Bree Morrell Mark Morris Jazlynn Mortimore Uriel Mull-Pernetz Rebecca Mwaura

Destiny Padilla Santillan Celine Paula Paez Patricia Page Alejandra Palencia Linares Shelby Palmer Zinessa Patton Jeffrey Pei Melanie Pena David Peppard Victor Perez Reaghan Perez Kristine Perez Brenden Perez Sallyann Perreault

Omar Rodela Elizabeth Rodriguez Nadia Rodriguez Abigail Roll Jennifer Roper Yennifer Rosario Ledesma Crysania Saballa Cassie Saephanh Ciera Salvador Ramos Shaelene San Nicolas-Cruz Seth Sawyers Gabriella Scalera Eila Schlender Kekai Schultz

Kailah Myrick Bryson Nakamoto Stephanie Nelson Nathan Newsom Amaiya Rose Nguyen Leah Nguyen Jaden Nielsen-Skinner Ian Nomura Bailey Oas Immanuel Oludele Tomas Ordonez Miriam Ortiz Sarah Osmanson Carmelina Pablo Martinez Carina Pablo Martinez Jordan Pacheco-Mendez

Amanda Peterson Kevin Pham Sabrina Poole Isabelle Pope Maximillian Potter Trey Prestwich Revekka Pronina Faith Prosch Meghan Quebedeaux Aldrin Rafael Kya Ramirez Avril Regis Julie Ribeiro Kaylynne Richards Virginia Richardson Dylan Rocha-Gonzalez

Tyler Scott Emma Scotthanson Elizabeth Seese Nala Sellers Noah Sheppard Tinsae Shifreaw Sunna Siewert Reilly Smalling Shalyse Smith Austin Smith Hailey Smith Jacquelyn Sneeden Valeria Sotelo Amanda Soto K'Leia Sotomish Dmitri Soviak

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College of Arts and Sciences Newsletter, Fall 2024

Camryn Spaulding Jennifer Spencer Nichapa Srisaringkarn Yajaira Sterioti Tia Stilson Abigail Stone Brian Sweetman Mya Swenson Lamrot Tafesse Zack Takeshita Evelyn Tandoh Kelton Tom Connie Torchia Lylah Tran Jada Travis

Juan Diego Trejo Delgado Emily Tuck Madison Ungren Trisha Mae Valenzuela Sarah Venuti Kandice Villasenor Alyona Vysotskiy Megan Warner Brooklynn Warner Laura Washburn Emma Weerasinghe Nolan Wegeleben Mckenzie Welliver Samantha West Mia White

Ayden Wilkerson Ashley Williams Hiedi Wilson Kaitlyn Wood-Morris Sydney Woods Jonathan Wright Sara Wywadis Brianna Yamada Tehani Anne Yamashita Gabriella Ybarra Brooke Yoshida Alisa Zhupanenko

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College of Arts and Sciences Newsletter, Fall 2024

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College of Arts and Sciences Newsletter, Fall 2024

Poetry in the Gardens Dr. Nathalie KuroiwaLewis recently published her poem “Self-portrait as natural history museum” at the Lakewold Winter Garden poetry event in Tacoma, WA. The link to the recording of her poem can be found at the QR code:

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College of Arts and Sciences Newsletter, Fall 2024

Arkhip Kuindzhi, Dnieper in the Morning, 1881. Public domain.

Literature and Culture In February, Jamie Olson attended the Louisville Conference on Literature and Culture, where he presented on a panel about contemporary Ukrainian poetry and took part in a translation workshop. The workshop culminated in a public reading of texts translated from over a dozen languages, followed by a discussion with the audience.

Also in February, Jamie's translation of a poem by Ukrainian author Irina Yevsa, "In Memory of a Peninsula," was published by the journal Circumference. The poem can be found here:

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College of Arts and Sciences Newsletter, Fall 2024

Presentation Success Dr. Arwyn Smalley, professor of Chemistry recently gave a presentation at the Spring meeting for the American Chemical Society in late March. Dr. Smalley was then invited by the organizers to reprise that talk as a webinar and will be presenting the webinar for ChemHIST Talks, a history webseries, on the 23rd of April. The title of the presentation is “Mystery of the Coast Salish woolly dogs” and below is the abstract: Early European explorers to the Pacific Northwest commented that the native people kept flocks of fluffy, white dogs. They were compared to Pomeranians in appearance, although they were somewhat larger, and they were shorn at regular intervals throughout the year – not unlike sheep. Despite being a common sight in the 18th century, the practice of raising and keeping these dogs had almost disappeared by 1860, and the breed was considered extinct by the end of the 19th century. For context, European explorers brought diseases that devastated the native people throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, and the tribal populations were significantly reduced and sometimes totally wiped out. In addition, the “treaties” forced natives to give up many of their traditional practices, including keeping dogs and weaving. By the beginning of the 20th century, all that was left of the weaving tradition were a few grandmothers who had learned to weave as children, and who might talk about or pass on the tradition in secret to their own children and grandchildren. As a result of this cultural destruction, by the mid- to late-20th century, some researchers questioned whether dog fibers 39 had actually been used to create blankets, and whether dog hair had been used in any significant way to produce blankets. Multiple Coast Salish blankets exist in museums worldwide, but it was very difficult to determine the fiber type using physical means. New scientific techniques in the late 20th and early 21st centuries have provided new ways to analyze the blankets. I will describe these scientific innovations and what new information they brought to solve the mystery of the Coast Salish woolly dogs.

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College of Arts and Sciences Newsletter, Fall 2024

Recent Publication The most recent issue of the American Literature (March 2025) includes Dr. Todd Barosky’s, "Counterfeit Detectors: The Literary Origins of the US Secret Service."

The article's published abstract: "This article examines the US Secret Service, a federal agency created during the Civil War to protect the greenback against counterfeiters, and its literary origins. It explores an overlooked chapter in the history of American crime and detective fiction, one that has special relevance today with the rise of cryptocurrencies. The author argues that Secret Service agents who turned authors, as well as professional writers enlisted to support the agency, between 1865 and 1920 developed a unique version of the detective narrative with a particular ideological function: to discredit counterfeiting as a politically subversive act and to legitimize the configurations of political and economic power consolidated by the federal government in the decades following the Civil War. Cast as a literary detective, the Secret Service agent is interchangeable with any other agent, ubiquitous across space and time, and possesses unimpeachable integrity—and so embodies the very attributes that gave the greenback its value as a fiat currency. The Secret Service narrative transforms detective fiction into a celebration of a nationalism that links patriotic sentiments to recently created symbols of federal authority and redefines popular sovereignty as a passive, sympathetic identification with dutiful federal agents, who collectively stand before the reader as the personification of an implacable and alienated state power."

“About the Journal: American Literature has been regarded since its inception as the preeminent periodical in its field. Each issue contains articles covering the works of several American authors—from colonial to contemporary—as well as an extensive book review section; a “Brief Mention” section offering citations of new editions and reprints, collections, anthologies, and other professional books; and an “Announcements” section that keeps readers up-to-date on prizes, competitions, conferences, grants, and publishing opportunities.

Electronic access to current and back volumes of American Literature is available through a combination of read.dukeupress.edu and JSTOR.”

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College of Arts and Sciences Newsletter, Fall 2024

Our Common Home Farm The 2025 season is off to a great start at Saint Martin’s University Farm (also known as Our Common Home Farm), located just 15 minutes from campus in the Nisqually Valley. As Spring moves into full swing, we are growing lettuce, sugar snap peas, and garlic in the greenhouse. Outside, asparagus and rhubarb are ready to harvest, and strawberries are coming back to life. This year we’ve planted potato boxes as an experiment. And as soon as Mother’s Day is here, we will plant the fields with lettuce, spinach, kale, onion, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, carrots, beets, peas, green beans, zucchini, winter squash, pumpkins, and corn.

In the greenhouse we will plant our crops that like heat: tomatoes, tomatillos, peppers, and basil.

In keeping with our mission, we donate all the produce we grow in the local community – at the TUB, at Saint Michael’s Parish and Community Kitchen in downtown Olympia, and at the Thurston County Food bank.

Last year we had more than 180 individual volunteers, and we hope to exceed that number this year. If you are curious about the farm project and want more information, let us know! You can reach out to anyone on the leadership team: Tim Madeley (TMadeley@stmartin.edu), Sam Fox (SFox@stmartin.edu), Julia Chavez (JChavez@stmartin.edu), or Ernesto Chavez (Echavez@stmartin.edu).

We have regular volunteer opportunities on Saturday mornings from 9:30 to 11:30 am. If you’d like to get involved, you can sign up here. All are welcome to join as we work collaboratively to address food insecurity. - Dr. Julia Chavez

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College of Arts and Sciences Newsletter, Fall 2024

Christmas Highlights Julia Chavez, Cameron Sweet, and Shahlaa Al Wakeel

Director of Social Work Katya Shkurkin was awarded for her 25 years of service to SMU

Christmas Under the Canopy

Staff and Faculty Christmas Party

Christmas Under the Canopy

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College of Arts and Sciences Newsletter, Fall 2024

If you would like to be featured in the next newsletter for Spring/Summer 2025 email Sophi Wulff at swulff@stmartin.edu.

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