Application Period is now closed for the 2025-2026 academic year.
News & Events Archive
Below, you'll find a selection of news highlights from previous years of our program: inspiring student achivements and projects, exciting events from our annual visiting Capstone instructors, program exhibitions, passionate guest lectures for our annual SASAH Speakers' Series, and more!
A message from incoming SASAH Director, Manina Jones
Warm Greetings,
I am honoured to be the incoming SASAH Director and I look forward to meeting and working with students, staff, alumni, advisory members, and other members of the SASAH community. I follow in some pretty daunting footsteps, most recently Pleva-award-winning director Aara Suksi.
I’m a long-time faculty member in the Department of English and Writing Studies, where I’ve just completed a stretch as Chair. A Canadian literature scholar, I have authored and edited books and articles on Canadian literature ranging from the early 19th century to contemporary writing, including poetry, fiction, drama, collaboration, and autobiography. I also teach and publish in popular culture studies, especially the aesthetic and social dimensions of crime fiction and film.
SASAH’s core values – interdisciplinarity, community engagement, experiential learning, collaboration, and creativity – are near and dear to my heart. SASAH gives students the opportunity to develop critical acuity, reflect deeply, communicate in distinctive ways, connect with and shape the world around them. I can’t wait to join this amazing group on their adventures.
A Message from outgoing Director Aara Suksi:
Dear SASAH Students, Faculty, Alumni, and Friends,
My term as SASAH Director ends this month, and I want to thank you all for the joy of working with you for the past five years. The SASAH community is marvellously wide-ranging and diverse, but united in its appreciation for the immense value of an interdisciplinary and community-engaged program in Arts and Humanities. I am grateful to all of you for your enthusiastic support and engagement. Getting to know so many of you over the past five years, whether in class or beyond, has been an honour, a privilege, and a highlight of my career. I will carry with me countless cherished memories that include my own deep learning in community with you, cherished relationships, and admiration for the intelligence and creativity I have witnessed.
It's hard to leave the Director’s office, but wonderful to be able to announce that Professor Manina Jones will be SASAH’s new leader. An alumna of Western, Manina is a distinguished scholar of Canadian literature, working across a wide range of forms and genres. She brings her deep leadership experience to SASAH, after serving Western’s community in so many ways, most recently as Chair of the Department of English and Writing Studies. I have long aspired to meet the standard of leadership, humanity, and wit set by Manina Jones. SASAH will thrive under her intelligent and careful guidance, and I look forward to seeing the program’s future evolve. Please join me in warmly welcoming Manina as the new SASAH Director.
-Aara Suksi
SASAH student Kira McCallum wins Museum London Scholarship
Congratulations to second-year student Kira McCallum on winning the Melanie A. Townsend Scholarship in Museum and Curatorial Studies!
Museum London awards annual scholarships to emerging arts professionals in memory of the late Melanie A. Townsend and Steve Mavers. These scholarships are made possible through the generosity and contributions of our community members. Melanie and Steve were cherished members of the Museum London team, each leaving an exceptional legacy through their countless contributions and dedicated work. These scholarships honour their lives and the significant impacts they made at ML and throughout the broader community.
The Melanie A. Townsend award is designed to assist students at Western University who demonstrate exceptional dedication to curation, museum studies and museology. Read the full announcement here.
SASAH Director Dr. Aara Suksi honoured with the Edward G. Pleva Award for Excellence in Teaching
The 2024-25 Western Awards for Excellence in Teaching have been announced, recognizing faculty members for their “outstanding contributions to the academic development of students.”
Our own Dr. Aara Suki has been named as one of the recipients of the Pleva Award for Excellence in Teaching, named in honour of Edward Gustav Pleva, Western’s first geography teacher (1938) and head of the department (1948 to 1968).
“With ‘combined energy and rigor’ Aara Suksi is recognized ‘as a superb teacher and scholar who engages critically and creatively with pedagogy at all levels.’
“Suksi’s nominators also applauded her kindness and empathy for students and colleagues, noting, ‘Aara has something extra, without which education doesn’t truly matter – she brings her soul to her roles as administrator, teacher and mentor.’
“From enormous success in teaching Greek to revealing the world of classical mythology in online classes of up to 650 students, Suksi also led the launch of the PhD program in classical studies.”
Scenes from our Fourth-Year Capstone Class, "Understanding and Addressing Youth Homelessness in London, Ontario"
Thanks to SASAH student Kate Armstrong and Director Aara Suksi from these views of recent Capstone visits. Kate writes:
"Last week we had the opportunity to visit the YOU facilities, guided by YOU's CEO (and our SASAH professor) Steve Cordes. We got to hear all about the amazing services offered at YOU and put images to the places we've spoken about in class. There's a huge range of services available, and we even got to tour the nearly-finished Joan's Place, which will soon house 39 groups and individuals facing homelessness. It was wonderful to meet so many incredible people working hard to serve the London community. Major shoutout to the YOU Made It Cafe for the snacks and drinks!"
SASAH students were also on hand for YOU's 19th annual breakfast, the signature fundraising event of Youth Opportunities Unlimited. With 1,200 community leaders in attendance, this was a valuable opportunity to connect, network, be inspired, and to help ensure that the youth of London Middlesex have the services and supports that they need to thrive. SASAH student Margaret Gleed introduced Steve Cordes, and one of our SASAH students even won one of the MAJOR PRIZES.
SASAH Alumna Amber Carroll among RBC Future Tech Leaders
Amber Carroll (SASAH & BHSc'24) was recently profiled in Western News for participating in an intensive 10-week RBC Design Thinking Program at Western. From the feature:
"Carroll’s participation in the RBC sponsored program led to two co-op placements with the bank, followed by full-time employment. Now an analyst on RBC’s technologies partnership team, she supports initiatives nurturing future tech talent. In a full-circle moment, Carroll plays a key role in planning and delivering the program that launched her career.
"Her advice to RBC Design Thinking Program participants? Be open to failure.
"'What you think is an amazing idea might not work out, but it will lead you to an even better one,' said Carroll."
SASAH student Kathleena Henricus wins USC Presidential Race!
The School for Advanced Studies in the Arts and Humanities extends its warm and enthusiastic congratulations to fourth-year student Kathleen Henricus for her historic University Student Council Presidential Win!
Via Western Gazette reporting:"Henricus' campaign focused on improving the USC’s external advocacy and student outreach efforts and prioritized student support, affordability and EDIDA initiatives.
"Henricus will be the second woman of colour to be elected to the USC’s highest office since the organization’s founding in 1965, the first being Sondra Gibbons when she held the role in 1985.
"'I am truly grateful to be following in the footsteps of Sondra Gibbons, the first and only woman of colour to hold this office until now,' said Henricus. 'I would not be here without her and without so many of the women who brought this organization to where it is right now.'"
Congrats, Kat!
Image courtesy of Mina Ahmad and the Gazette.
Luke Stark: "Animation and Artificial Intelligence"
Monday, January 27, 2025, 4PM FIMS and Nursing Building (FNB) 2210
Luke Stark (FIMS) discusses his 2024 article, "Animation and Artificial Intelligence," which proposes that ChatGPT and similar chatbots powered by Large Language Models (LLMs) can be best understood as animated characters. Characteristics of animation can help us both analyze and respond appropriately to interactive AI technologies and the hyperbolic claims of their promoters. Find Luke's bio here: https://starkcontrast.co/about
This guest talk is part of ARTHUM 2230G: "Digital Tools, Digital Literacies." All are welcome! Hosted in person and over zoom.
An incisive commentary on fast fashion, our fourth-year SASAH students' collaborative Capstone Project, Mea Culpa, has also raised $800 for Life*Spin (Low-Income Family Empowerment Sole-Support Parents Information Network). In the words of the students: "We encourage you to remain uncomfortable with what you leaned at Mea Culpa."
Student Margaret Gleed is completing an impressive program: a major in SASAH alongside a dual degree in Philosophy and Business. Margaret was recently profiled by Western as "an aspiring entrepreneur and philosopher."
Margaret is redefining what it means to lead with integrity, combining her passion for ethics with entrepreneurial ambitions. Western's flexible degree options and dynamic learning experiences outside the classroom are helping Margaret fulfill her dream of starting an ethics-based consulting business. She's not just preparing for a career; she's creating a bright future for us all.
Margaret is among the thousands of students at Western using their unique talents to pursue meaningful change in the world, today.
‘Found my community:’ Naomi Ngobila finds opportunity, belonging at Western
November 2024: SASAH student Naomi Ngobila has recently been profiled in Western News for her strong campus connections, her advocacy and her leadership. From the feature:
"In her second year at Western, Ngobila earned an executive position as a reflection officer with the African Students’ Association. Facilitating group discussions on challenging topics, she developed a passion advocating for the Black student experience.
Rya Craven: Influencing Identities and Places in London, Ontario
Monday, November 4, 2024, 4PM FIMS and Nursing (FNB) 2220
Ryan Craven is the Manager, Core Area Programs at the City of London. His current work involves beautifying, animating and activating Dundas Place, a recently completed and currently complicated flex street in Downtown London.
Ryan studied Urban Geography at Western and Concordia University, where he received his Masters of Science in Geography, Urban and Environmental Studies. He's an advocate for local arts, history, complete streets, sustainability, and participatory decision making. His publications include two books on local history.
This talk is hosted by ARTHUM 2291F: "Cultures of Advocacy" and is open to the public.
Steve Cordes Announced as Guest Instructor for SASAH’s 4th-Year Capstone Seminar 2024-25
The School for Advanced Studies in the Arts and Humanities (SASAH) is pleased to announce Steve Cordes, CEO of Youth Opportunities Unlimited, as the guest instructor for its fourth-year capstone seminar. The capstone course component, called Understanding and Addressing Youth Homelessness in London, Ontario, will provide a comprehensive exploration of youth homelessness while fostering community engagement between students, youth and housing advocates, and youth experiencing homelessness.
Each week, SASAH students will participate in dialogues, practical activities, and field work visits that may challenge their assumptions while also empowering them to contribute meaningfully to solutions in their local context. The culminating project for the course will be short, collaborative video documentaries that share stories of local youth experiencing homelessness.
Steve is known for his infectious enthusiasm and unwavering commitment to meeting the needs of youth. He believes in creating systems that prioritize the well-being and success of young people, rather than forcing them to fit into a predetermined framework. “I am thrilled that Steve Cordes will be working with our students this term,” states Dr. Aara Suksi, Director of SASAH and co-instructor with Steve for this seminar, adding, “I can think of no better model for leadership in building compassionate, effective, and youth-centered support services. He has the experience and expertise to offer our students truly community-engaged learning.”
Understanding Mobility Justice: Luis Patricio in Discussion
Monday, October 28, 2024, 4PM FIMS and Nursing (FNB) 2220
Luis Patricio is a PhD student (Dept of Geography & Environment) and professor focused on urban mobility and environmental sustainability. Luis has worked in the public, private and nonprofit sectors, with several cross-sector collaborations. He has been involved in a wide range of sustainable initiatives including urban placemaking, local organic farms, zero waste programs, cycling advocacy, alternative education, arts and sport.
This talk is hosted by ARTHUM 2291F: "Cultures of Advocacy" and is open to the public. Access "The Unseen Commuters" (Pillar Nonprofit): https://tinyurl.com/47hjeczf
October 24-November 2, 2024 Satellite Project Space 121 Dundas St, London, ON Wednesday-Friday 2-7PM, Saturday 12-5PM Opening Reception: October 24 6-8PM
Curated by first-year SASAH student Maya Allison, and featuring artists include: Sarah Cowling, Jill Price, Jacqueline Venus, Stephanie Fehrenbach, Chloe Serenko.
Cluttered Delicacy is an intricate collection of mixed-media pieces inspired by the nostalgic, maximalist décor of my grandmother, whom I affectionately call Elly. The artists featured in this collection were chosen for their ability to capture the essence of these themes. I have a deep appreciation for their keen eye for detail, which resonates with the spirit of this exhibit. I hope to inspire an appreciation for every layer, texture, and embellishment, inviting you to embrace the elegance of excess.
SASAH student Radhika Ram co-authors Gazette op-ed: "Watch Western Theatre"
October 2024. Radhika Ram co-authors, with Lauren daSilva, an op-ed for the Gazette about the importance of supporting student theatre. SASAH students are a strong presence in this year's musical and theatre productions in the Fall and Winter semesters. Here's a preview:
"With affordable high-quality performances, accessible venues and productions targeted at the student community, Theatre Western gives students the best reasons to support live performances at Western University.
"All shows take place on campus, giving students easy access to performances and events. That means not having to navigate the London transit system, pay for parking downtown or splurge on an Uber."
We are delighted to announce the following award winners among our SASAH students for the 2024-2025 academic year. Students, we are so proud that you have received this well-deserved recognition.Congratulations to all!
Recipients of the SASAH Leadership Award: Fatima Ekladri, Sammy Golger, Tiana Terblanche, Sydney Wambua, Rachel Weisberg
Recipients of the Neen Hodgins Continuing Admission Scholarship: Khadeejah Khadir, Yasmin Hadizad, Allison Shephard, Yasmeen Janisse
Karen Wen - Baldwin Family Scholarship in English and Literature, Bentley Scholarship in English, William Wyatt Scholarship in English Language and Literature
Fiona McAllister - Bentley Scholarship in English
Levi Macleod - Faculty of Arts and Humanities Scholarship
Max Steinbock - Godsoe Scholar Award
Jaya Sinha - Kay MacIver Memorial Award
Naomi Ngobilia - The Parents Fund Award
Asha Saha - William Ferguson Tamblyn Scholarship, William Ware Tamblyn Scholarship
SASAH Fall Collaborations at SATELLiTE Project Space
WWelcome back, SASAH students! We're beginning the Fall with a series of interactive events at SATLLiTE Project Space.
Cut and Paste: Narrative Zines with Western’s Student Writer-in-Residence, Jules Lee, on September 24 6-4PM, in partnership with Western University’s Arts and Humanities Student Council and ICONOCLAST. Join us for a zine-making workshop, hosted in partnership with the Arts & Humanities Student Council and ICONOCLAST. This workshop will be facilitated by Western's Student Writer-in-Residence Jules Lee.
Jules is a writer from rural Ontario with a passion for short fiction and prose poetry. She is pursuing an Honours Specialization in English Language and Literature along with a minor in Environmental Geography. Her work explores the unreliability of memory, transience, and the interconnections of everyday life. She is the creative director of ICONOCLAST Collective. Some of her works have appeared in Symposium, SNAPS, and Huron’s Grubstreet. When she’s not reading or writing, Jules enjoys making specialty coffees, discovering new music, and taking photos with her 35mm camera.
This free workshop introduces visual and verbal connections at the crossroad of the two genres of poetry and painting.Ekphrastic poetry is a poem written about a visual work of art. PhD candidate Nafiseh Shajani (Comparative Literature) will speak about the history of ekphrasis as a rhetorical device, drawing from examples like the Shield of Achilles in the Iliad and Anne Sexton’s poem about van Gogh’s “The Starry Night.”
Participantsare invited to respond to paintings by using their creativity to come up with ekphrastic descriptions and poems. No prior experience is required and materials will be provided (or bring your own journals!).
“Connections, Collaboration and Kinship in Art” participatory conversation with Katie Wihelm and Summer Bressette, facilitated by Sara Mai Chitty and Cassandra Getty on September 29 1-3PM. In partnership with Forest City Gallery and Museum London.
London-based Anishinaabe artists Katie Wilhelm and Summer Bressette are longtime collaborators and engaged community builders. SASAH invites them to discuss their individual and collaborative practices with Sara Mai Chitty (Indigenous Initiatives). In anticipation of their upcoming digital media artwork for Museum London’s Centre at the Forks, Baapaagimaak: Weaving Endurance, Museum London's Curator Cassandra Getty will join to discuss this exciting project.
This conversation is organized in the spirit of Towards Braiding, and is a partnership between FCG, Indigenous Initiatives, and Museum London. Free and open to all! 🌾
The SASAH community is saddened to learn of the passing of David Cruickshank, who was a valued member of our Advisory Council. David was generous with his support, guidance, and mentoring of our students. His presence on the Advisory Council was marked by his characteristic warmth and astuteness. He took the time to contribute to numerous SASAH initiatives, including the insightful discussion, "Creativity in the Workplace: How Western is Changing the Face of Arts and Humanities Education in Canada." We will miss David dearly, and we offer our heartfelt condolences to his family.
We are delighted to announce that Dr. Ruth Skinner will take up the position of Community Engagement and Outreach Coordinator for SASAH on August 5.
Many of you will know Ruth, who recently completed her PhD in Western's Department of Visual Arts. She has been teaching SASAH's Digital Literacies Course to rave reviews since 2020. Ruth is known in many arts and care organizations for her expertise in activating the power of the arts to create communities and bring together diverse partners for a common good. In her most recent role as Executive Director of the Forest City Gallery she has revitalized engagement with programming that is inclusive, impactful, and generative.
In her role with SASAH, Ruth will be responsible for creating and carrying out pedagogically meaningful programming that engages our students and faculty with communities on campus, across London, and beyond.
Celebrating the Class of 2024
Congratulations to the SASAH class of 2024! Your hard work and determination have paid off, and now you will walk across the stage into a bright new future. We are so proud of everything you have achieved. Best wishes from everyone in the SASAH program.
And a special congratulation goes out to this year’s Gold Medal recipients. Gray Brogden, Gold Medal for the Honours Specialization in Creative Writing and English Language and Literature; Ann Lei, Gold Medal for the Honours Major in SASAH and the Honours Major in Economics; and Naomi So, Gold Medal for the Honours Major in Kinesiology.
Entering the Wake: A Celebration of Black Feminist Thinkers
"Enter the Wake” today and join us, the second-year SASAH cohort, as we explore the stories of 11 Black feminist thinkers. On view at Spencer Gallery (March 27) and SATELLiTE Project Space (April 10 - 27).
The “wake” can have various meanings; “keeping watch with the dead, the path of a ship, a consequence of something, in the line of flight and/or sight, awakening, and consciousness” (Sharpe 17-18). We feel the idea of “wake” as consciousness is most pertinent. It is this interpretation that guided our work. Christina Sharpe states in her book, In the Wake: On Blackness and Being, that “to be in the wake is to occupy and to be occupied by the continuous and changing present of slavery’s as yet unresolved unfolding” (13-14).
In preparing for the exhibition, our minds were occupied by this historical and ongoing racism. Our exhibition pieces—which occupy a physical space—act as a tangible call to consciousness. To recognize the struggles and the work of Black feminist thinkers in the wake of slavery, and to consider how we can contribute to a more equitable future.
We extend our gratitude to Dr. Erica Lawson, who inspired us to take on this research, and everyone else who supported us in bringing this exhibition to fruition. May this exhibition serve as a tribute to the Black feminists mentioned and unmentioned.
Dr. Caroline Levne, "Studying the Humanities in the Climate Crisis"
Wednesday, March 27, 2024, 3PM Conron Hall, University College (UC) 3110
Come out to hear a guest lecture by Dr. Caroline Levine (Cornell), a powerful advocate for scholarship in the Arts and Humanities. Caroline Levine has spent her career asking how and why the humanities and the arts matter, especially in democratic societies. She argues for an understanding of forms and structures as essential both to understanding links between art and society and to the challenge of taking meaningful political action.
Sponsored by: Department of English and Writing Studies, SASAH, Arts and Humanities, Centre for Theory and Criticism.
Joe Goodkin: The Blues of Achilles - recording now available!
Miss SASAH's hosted event with Joe Goodkin? View the recording below:
Joe Goodkin is a Chicago-based singer/songwriter with a BA in Classics from UW-Madison. He has performed his original song retellings of Homer's Odyssey and Iliad over 450 times in all 50 US States, Canada, Greece, Italy, and The Netherlands. The Blues of Achilles is a set of original songs composed by Joe Goodkin for guitar and vocals that tell the story of the Iliad through the eyes of the characters: Achilles, Patroklus, Briseis, Helen, Priam, and more. The performance evokes the original oral tradition of epic bards that stretches back millennia and frames the poem in an accessible way (both musically and narratively) for modern audiences.
First-year SASAH students to showcase work in Kaleidoscope of Creativity: Tornadoes, Oceans and Climate
On March 1st, the Don Wright Faculty of Music will host a multidisciplinary gallery inspired by Western University's Northern Tornadoes Project and other weather and nature-inspired research. Several first-year SASAH students are contributing projects that will be on display during the event.
To learn more about Kaleidoscope of Creativity, click here.
Gray Brogden, SASAH '24, named as recipient of McCall MacBain Scholarship
Gray Brogden (SASAH and English & Creative Writing) was recently named as a regional recipient of the prestigious McCall MacBain Scholarship. Every year, McCall MacBain Scholarships are offered to promising candidates who distinguished themselves at regional interviews. Gray is also Western's current Student Writer-in-Residence.
To learn more about the McCall MacBain Scholarship program, click here.
SASAH students launch Linger, Volume 13 of ICONOCLAST
In January 2024, SASAH students Sophia Heppenstall, Paniz Vedavarz, Anthony Tran, and Zoe Port, along with their co-director Jules Lee, launched Linger, volume 13 of the student publication ICONOCLAST. A "testament to where we all came from and how we've gotten to where we are now", Linger explores the things we hold on to, and the things we let go.
"New scholarships support globally minded leaders in Western’s flagship arts & humanities program"
A $500,000 donation from the John Dobson Foundation is enabling one of Western’s signature arts and humanities programs to grow its enrollment and strengthen its defining experiences.
The foundation’s gift has created the School for Advanced Studies in the Arts and Humanities (SASAH) Scholarship Program. Five scholarship recipients will be chosen annually to receive $5,000 to offset tuition costs in each of the four years of their studies and an additional $5,000 to support an internship experience, or cover educational travel opportunities.
First-year students and inaugural 2023 recipients of the SASAH Scholarship (seated, L-R) are Theodora Vulpe, Myles MacPherson and Max Steinbock; (standing, from left) Levi Macleod and Felix Gu.
SASAH Speakers' Series: Maryam Golafshani - recording now available!
Maryam Golafshani is a senior medical student at the University of Toronto. She was part of the first cohort to graduate from Western University’s School for Advanced Studies in the Arts and Humanities (with second Major in English), and then stayed at Western to complete her Master’s at Western in Theory and Criticism. Drawing upon her interdisciplinary education, Maryam has significantly contributed to developing the health humanities in Canada through research, education, and public engagement.
Maryam spoke on "Literary Lessons on Doctoring: Reflections on Madness and Medicine Through Feminist Literature and Theory".
SASAH alumnus Matthew Dawkins profiled for Western's Impact Project
November 2023: Western's Impact Project is a public exploration of how impact is being made in communities, cities, and countries around the world. We are thrilled to see Matthew Dawkins (BA'23) among the profiled creatives. From the feature:
"'Literature and the humanities get us closer to each other,' says acclaimed author and Western alum, Matthew Dawkins.
"'When we study the humanities and create art, we’re analyzing culture, language and how we express ourselves. It’s all about gaining a critical understanding of each other. And in the absence of that, that’s where conflicts arise.'"
SASAH student Gray Brogden named 2023-2024 Student Writer-in-Residence
Gray Brogden, SASAH class of 2024, was named Western's Student Writer-in-Residence for the 2023-2024 school year. Established more than 10 years ago, the Student Writer-in-Residence program provides support for an accomplished undergraduate writer, while allowing other students to benefit from the writer's creativity, expertise, and organizational skills. Congratulations, Gray!
From a recent Western News feature:
"On December 31, 2019, Brogden made a new year’s resolution to write a new poem every day. Little did she know, most of those poems would be penned during a global pandemic. Lockdown fueled a lot of emotions, and a lot of content, allowing Brogden to complete her first full collection of poetry shortly after finishing grade 12.
"'I filled two and a half journals with these really bad poems, but there were a couple of good ones that came out of it,' Brogden said. 'I’m still really proud I kept my resolution. It helped me get in the habit of writing more frequently.'"
SASAH alumna Bridget Koza earns Highly Commended recognition at 2023 Global Undergraduate Awards
Bridget Koza, SASAH class of 2023, was recognized in the Highly Commended category at the 2023 Global Undergraduate Awards for her work in Visual Arts. Highly Commended entrants rank in the top 10% of submissions in their category. Congratulations, Bridget!
SASAH student interns with Halton Black History Awareness Society for their Emancipation Art Exhibit
For her curatorial internship with the Halton Black History Awareness Society (HBHAS), Grace Dilawri (SASAH class of 2025) created a video to promote their sixth annual Emancipation Art Exhibit in Georgetown, and to share her experiences at her internship. You can watch the video above.
To read more about the emancipation art exhibition, click here.
Gazette Feature: "SASAH celebrates 10-year anniversary with Garden of SASAH exhibit"
December 2023: The Gazette has featured SASAH's current exhibition at SATELLiTE, Garden of SASAH, organized by student Zoe Port. Here's a preview:
“It’s really important to uplift these small, independent spaces — especially within the art scene — because I think young people need a place to trust themselves artistically,” Port says.
Western SASAH cohorts and alumni: Naomi Ngobila, Emma Amodio, Siobhan Kelly, Paniz Vedavarz, Isabella Isabage, Amber Carroll, Daniel Kime, Sophia Heppenstall November 22-December 2, 2023
Satellite Project Space 121 Dundas St, London, ON Wednesday-Friday 2-7pm, Saturday 12-5pm
Closing Reception: December 2, 5-7pm
Celebrating a Decade of Creativity and Inquiry
In the fertile soil of knowledge and the blossoming landscape of interdisciplinary exploration, we invite you to wander through the enchanting “Garden of SASAH,” an exhibition marking the remarkable journey of the School for the Advanced Studies in Arts and Humanities program at Western University as it reaches its tenth anniversary.
Join us in reflecting on a decade of intellectual growth, creative ingenuity, and the transformative power of a community united by a passion for exploration. “Garden of SASAH” invites you to immerse yourself in the beauty of knowledge and the flourishing landscape of humanistic inquiry.
In November 2023, three SASAH students - Giselle D’Anna (International Relations, second year), Felix Gu (first year), and Kenzie Kilmer (English, second year) - participated in the Storyhouse finale at Conron Hall. Hosted by the Faculty of Health Sciences, Storyhouse uses creative storytelling to share published research with those who can put the knowledge into action. At the finale, presenters shared fifteen stories that integrated knowledge mobilization, science communication, narrative theory, and performance studies. The students were supervised by James Shelley.
What does it mean to educate our imaginations – and is it really something weshould be spending our time and money on? SASAH's founding Director, Dr. Joel Faflak, delivers this inspiring lecture in honoour of Robert and Ruth Lumsden.
Faced with a world of alternative facts, fake news, ChatGPT, geopolitical uncertainty, and climate change, the humanities are once again being asked to maximize their usefulness or perish altogether. Yet existential threat can be a potent spur to action. Perhaps the chronic anxiety about the viability of the arts and humanities – perhaps being defensive -- is actually the secret to our survival.
Celebrating SASAH's 10th Anniversary!
Take a look back in time, and hear from current and former SASAH Directors, Faculty, and Students about what SASAH thinks of itself at ten years old.
Congratulations SASAH class of 2023. You should be proud of your hard work and dedication that have led you to this moment. You deserve all the successes that come your way as you continue to strive towards your goals. Special congratulations to our students receiving the following awards: Catherine Cassels (Gold Medal, Art History), Bridget Koza (Gold Medal, Art History & Studio Art), Bridget Leslie (Gold Medal, French Studies), Tiffany Lin (Kristen Brady Memorial Prize), Celine Tsang (Gold Medal, SASAH; Gold Medal, Linguistics; Governor General’s Silver Medal; Bentley Scholarship and Gold Medal in the Faculty of Arts and Humanities), and Sophie Wu (Gold Medal, Mathematics).
Join us for our annual Learning from Experience presentations, delivered by fourth- and fifth-year students: Friday, March 31, 2023.
ZINELAND: IT’S A ZINE WORLD, AFTER ALL!
March 29-April 15, 2023 Satellite Project Space 121 Dundas St Wednesday-Friday 2-7pm, Saturday 12-5pm
Reception: April 15, 1-5pm Zine workshop: April 8, 12-5pm (drop in)
Welcome to “Zineland: It’s a Zine World, After All!”, the fourth year Capstone Project by students from Western University’s School for Advanced Studies in the Arts and Humanities (SASAH). As a group of thirteen artists, our class has created an exhibition which aims to represent the culmination of our learning and development over the past four years.
As a cohort, we felt this unique togetherness was best represented through a collection of handmade zines. We see ourselves as a “ziney” community—a patchwork of personal insights, arts, and culture. We invite you to flip through our zines and explore. Think about what your own zine might be about. What would it look like? How would it represent you? We believe this exhibition has the power to spark conversation, foster community, and showcase the diversity of thought and experience that exists within our SASAH cohort.
Participating artists: Bridget Leslie, Bridget Koza, Sophie Wu, Finn Rose, Rachael Jensen, Kristyna Reedon, Celine Tsang, Joyce Leung, Shai Butler, Matthew Dawkins, Kirat Walia, Angelina Havaris, Tiffany Lin
Our Winter Speakers’ Series continues our focus on creative ways of knowing, seeking to make room for a range of voices and Arts & Humanities perspectives.
Bridget Koza: Cadences
January 4-14, 2023 Satellite Project Space 121 Dundas St Wednesday-Friday 2-7pm, Saturday 12-5pm
Reception: Wednesday, January 11, 6pm in person; virtual option available
Through a multi-media exhibition, Bridget Koza connects the world of art and dance through the meaning of cadences. A cadence is a rhythmic flow of a sequence in multiple avenues: through speech, musical beat, measurement of movement, dance, visual patterns, and time. Each of the four projects is a different cadence in life, a different medium, and a different interpretation. Together the artworks inspire viewers to let go of insecurities, become expressive and embed themselves into the art form. Koza’s work aims to disrupt the barriers of perfectionism, highlight the benefits of dance and art, and develop connections between visual art and the non-archival world.
SASAH in the News: Carol Off announced as SASAH's visiting Capstone Professor
The veteran journalist and award-winning author – known by Canadians coast to coast for the thousands of incisive interviews she led on the popular current affairs show – is returning to Western to teach in the School for Advanced Studies in the Arts and Humanities (SASAH).
The fourth-year capstone course, called Endangered Words, will explore the weaponization of language, including words that have become especially polarized – even contaminated – such as liberty, equality, freedom and democracy.
The fourth-year SASAH capstone is led each year by a visiting lecturer. It also includes an individual research project and a group project, but both are designed by the students, under the supervision of SASAH director Aara Suksi.
“The whole idea is that the students, who have been pursuing an arts and humanities interdisciplinary program for four years, will now, as they step out into the world, have someone from the world step into their classroom,” said Suksi, who is also a classical studies professor.
“We are very excited that our students will have the opportunity to be exposed to the mind and experiences of this woman who has traveled the world, worked in war zones, interviewed hundreds of people and has such a continuously curious brain and open mind.”
Read the full story about this exciting announcement at Western News.
SASAH students participate in "Regional Church Histories & Stained Glass: Contemplating the Complexities of the Church Through Collaborative Praxis"
November 30-December 3, 2022 Satellite Project Space 121 Dundas St Wednesday-Friday 2-7pm, Saturday 12-5pm Closing Reception: December 3, 3-5pm
Featuring works from ARTHUM 2200E: Documenting, Digitizing, Maintaining Art, and Community Activism through the Stained Glass of Christopher Wallis
In exploring local sites, we have become attuned to the tensions underpinning church and cultural histories and the ways in which religious iconography has been strategically mobilized as a tool that both includes and excludes diverse subjectivities. Our research in books, religious institutions, and archives has been supplemented by oral and visual modes of communication. Through this, we contemplate how religious pedagogy functioned in the context of residential schools, how churches have taken action to depoliticize themselves, in part, through the telling of their histories to create a distinction between the church of the past and the church of the present, and how community beneficial social programming provides supports for Indigenous peoples and numerous other vulnerable peoples.
Through collaborative artmaking, Regional Church Histories & Stained Glass encourages dialogue about religious education and national and local histories by engaging with ideas about architectural and cultural heritage, art making, and art preservation. We do so, specifically through the medium of stained glass. Considering the influence of stained glass’s symbolic value to art, trauma, and community allows us to shed light on the multifaceted complexities of a past that exhorts further inquiring and greater illumination.
The 2022 documentary film N’Satung is a collaboration, underwritten by Indigenous Initiatives, the Faculty of Arts and Humanities and the School for Advanced Studies (SASAH), that brings together current and former students and faculty members at Western, both Indigenous and non-Indigenous, to make a film that showcases Indigenous Youth and their perspectives on education.
Members of the Chippewas of Nawash Unceded Nation and Indigenous Nations in the London area discuss their experiences in and hopes for the education system in Ontario.
SASAH Students Admitted Into Morrissette Entrepreneurship Founders Program
Second-year SASAH students Siobhan Kelly and Kathleena Henricus have each been admitted to the prestigious Founder's Program, which is run by Western's Morrissette Institute for Entrepreneurship.
Morrissette’sFounders Programis a 3-year program that includes mentorship, education, and funding.The total award value for each student is $20,000, which is distributed over three years. Entrance into the Founders Program is awarded to 10 full-time, second-year students at Western or an affiliated college who have a desire to be entrepreneurial in their chosen field, demonstrate high engagement with entrepreneurship activities at Western, and are academic achievers.
Congratulations to Siobhan and Kathleena!
Announcing the Fall 2022 SASAH Speakers' Series:
Our Fall Speakers’ Series focuses on creative ways of knowing, seeking to make room for a range of voices and Arts & Humanities perspectives. Below is the wonderful lineup of speakers for the fall term.
Fall 2022 Scholarship Winners
Congratulations to our SASAH students whose great achievements have been acknowledged with scholarships and awards in Fall 2022. We are so proud and delighted that you have received this recognition.
"Student writer-in-residence looks to unite Western’s creative community"
August 2022: On the eve of his debut novel, Until We Break, Matthew Dawkins is profiled by Western News about writing, creativity, and his forthcoming tenure as 2022-2023 Student writer-in-residence. From the feature:
"Dawkins is widely respected by his peers and the creative community and his works on Wattpad, a popular platform for creative writers, have amassed nearly half a million reads. His work focuses on subjects from his personal experience such as adolescence, love, loss, culture, and mental health. Through his new role this year, he is excited to work closely with existing creative spaces on campus including clubs and student councils, hosting writing workshops, and collaborating with more cultural, religious, and ethnic groups on campus.
"'I was looking for a student experience that valued both academia and social connections and I thought Western met that intersection really well,' Dawkins said. 'Also, the SASAH program, combined with English Literature seemed like the perfect educational fit for me, offering the knowledgebase I wanted.'"
Sophie Wu, "I was trying to remember your name" at SATELLiTE
April 13, 14, 16, 2022 Satellite Project Space 121 Dundas St Gallery hours: Wednesday-Thursday 2:00-7:00pm, Saturday 12:00-5:00pm
In the moments when the machine fails — when the camera captures the blurry photograph, the text generator produces a meaningless statement, the screen freezes at an imperfect moment — our reactions are easy to dismiss as superficial. These effects, after all, are accidental. But what can these glitches teach us about our relationship with technology? Through understanding limitations in computational interpretation, can we gain a better understanding of human interpretation?
I was trying to remember your name, an exhibit by School for Advanced Studies in the Arts and Humanities and mathematics student Sophie Wu, exhibits images produced by a generative model programmed to “forget” its training. The work is based on a research project supervised by Prof. Christine Sprengler from Western University, and aims to provoke a playful and open dialogue on the implications of computer-created art.
"Creativity in the Workplace: How Western is Changing the Face of Arts and Humanities Education in Canada," 6 April 2022
Calling all West Coast alumni and Arts & Humanities graduates!
Join us online at 12 p.m. PT; 3 p.m. ET for an exclusive and engaging conversation featuring industry experts and fellow Arts & Humanities alumni, Todd Thicke, BA’78 (English) and David Cruickshank, BA’70 (English) LLB’71.
Todd and David will lead a dynamic discussion about the important lens an Arts & Humanities education offers to our workplaces and communities, and in particular, how Western is changing the arts and humanities landscape with the School for Advanced Studies in the Arts & Humanities (SASAH).
We’ll also hear from SASAH graduate, Rachael DiMenna, BA'18 (SASAH), HBA'18, Aara Suksi, Director, School for Advanced Studies in Arts & Humanities and Michael Milde, Dean of Western's Faculty of Arts & Humanities who will all shed some light on the importance of Arts & Humanities education, how we’re approaching it differently at Western, and why our graduates are some of the best and brightest in Canada.
SASAH students organize "Narratives of the Underground Railroad" at SATELLiTE
April 6-9, 2022 Satellite Project Space 121 Dundas St Gallery hours: Wednesday-Friday 2:00-7:00pm, Saturday 12:00-5:00pm
The works in this exhibition grew out of an archival project the first-year SASAH students did in the Fall of 2021. The rare book library at Western has some thirteen autobiographies published in the 19th century by people who had been enslaved in the United States but escaped to Canada via the Underground Railroad. For the project, the students were divided up into groups of two or three or students worked independently, and each group researched and responded to one of the autobiographies.
After reading the autobiographies, each group was to present the life of their author in any creative manner they wished. The results of their creative work are on display in the gallery.
SASAH celebrates the graduating class of 2022. In the face of unprecedented challenges, our students proved that they are able not only to stand against adversity, but to thrive despite it. Special congratulations to the Gold Medal winners: Alex Rozenberg (SASAH), Kaitlyn Lonnee (Creative Writing & English Language and Literature), Jamie Scoler (Political Science).
Fourth-year Cohort presents Ruminations on a Safe Space at SATELLiTE
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March 30-April 2, 2022 Satellite Project Space 121 Dundas St Gallery hours: Wednesday-Friday 2:00-7:00pm, Saturday 12:00-5:00pm
What does it mean to exist in a space during a pandemic? How do we form space and place in digital landscapes? Can a community exist in these conditions? These are all topics we considered while planning Ruminations on Safe Spaces.
Over the last two years, our fourth-year SASAH (School for Advanced Studies in the Arts and Humanities) cohort’s notions of personal and shared spaces have transformed. This exhibit uses visual art, writing, and mixed media to explore how we perceive space and place in relation to ourselves and each other in the context of a pandemic. Ruminations on Safe Spaces grapples with the idea of finding community in our own safe spaces. Whether that be in bedrooms, on Zoom, in a class full of masked students, or alone in nature, what does it mean to feel safe in a time of such uncertainty?
"Good to Think With": an exciting new podcast in partnership with SASAH!
Exciting news! You have a new favourite podcast.
From Star Wars to sandwiches, "Good to Think With" provides a series of conversations on everyday things and popular culture, featuring an Arts and Humanities undergraduate student from Western University's SASAH program, and SASAH's Program Coordinator Dr. Jonathan Vickers, a Classical Studies PhD. The world is full of things that are good to think with, and we invite you to listen to our musings.
The first episode of the series features 4th Year student Andrew Fullerton, pictured here. The pair discuss Star Wars, Arthurian poetry, and much more.
Dennis Garnhum, artistic director at the Grand Theatre, joins SASAH as visiting professor
The Faculty of Arts & Humanities and the School for Advanced Studies in Arts & Humanities are pleased to announce the 2021-22 fourth-year Capstone Seminar Visiting Professor: Dennis Garnhum, Artistic Director at the Grand Theatre.
Each year, SASAH’s 4th year Capstone Seminar centers on a specific theme or topic of contemporary significance. Building on students' experiential learning and internship engagements throughout SASAH, the seminar introduces students to a leading professional from a particular field that complements aspects of their expansive education within the first three years of the program.
For the 2021-22 year, Dennis is developing the SASAH Capstone Seminar topic of Defining Beauty: What makes something beautiful? How does the notion of beauty translate in a contemporary world: either by looking at a painting, having a unique experience, or witnessing the act of beauty in another? In this course, we will hone our skills of being beauty seekers - what to look for, how to honour it, how to acknowledge it, and how to share it. It is understood that “beauty” has many interpretations, and is always defined differently by each individual, and that too will be deeply explored. Guest experts will join us in the areas of PERFORMANCE, BODY, ENVIRONMENT, VISUAL ARTS, WORDS, ADVENTURES and CEREMONY.
Previous Capstone Visiting Professors include: David Simmonds (2020-21), Jamelie Hassan (2019-20), Shelley Niro (2018-19), Lainey Liu (2017-18), and Paul Kennedy (2016-17).
Congratulations to our SASAH students whose great achievements have been recognized with scholarships and awards in Fall 2021. Last year brought new and difficult challenges, and you shone in the face of adversity.
Julia Albert, Reese Berlin Bromstein, Gray Brogden, Matthew Dawkins, Bridget Koza, Joyce Leung, Alex Rozenberg, Celine Tsang, Cole Van der Velden: well done!
SASAH hosts "Teaching with Humanity" faculty retreat, June 15-16, 2021
The School of Advanced Studies in Arts and Humanities (SASAH), hosted a 2-day virtual retreat via Zoom to provide an opportunity for the Faculty’s community to advance the work of building anti-racist and decolonized pedagogies in courses and programs. The retreat brought together a large and engaged gathering of instructors, students, graduate teaching assistants, and staff, all committed to working towards positive changes across Arts & Humanities. This retreat built on work that has already begun at Western and in the Faculty Arts & Humanities. The goals of the retreat were to emphasize lived experiences and to provide time and community for members of our Faculty to share questions, concerns, and suggestions as they advance the work of establishing an empowered, inclusive and equitable curriculum.
2nd Year SASAH student to publish novel, partner with Embassy Cultural House
Lauren Medeiros (The Gazette, April 01, 2021) interviews Matthew Dawkins on his upcoming book, Until We Break, to be released Winter 2022. Read the full article.Matthew is an undergraduate studying English and Writing, with a double major in the interdisciplinary School for the Advanced Studies in the Arts & Humanities (SASAH) program at Western University. He is also the recipient of Western's Undergraduate Summer Research Internship (USRI). Matthew will be joining the Embassy Cultural House as a contributor alongside Associate Professor Mary Helen McMurran (Department of English and Writing Studies). Their collaboration with ECH highlights the public humanities and its aim of connecting the university with the city of London as well as a national and international audiences.
As part of the internship, Matthew is creating new projects on anti-Black racism for Embassy Cultural House. His George Floyd Project features local Black communities and artists in a commemoration of one-year since Floyd's killing by Minneapolis police. The occasion prompts reflection on the dramatic and far-reaching impact of the Black Lives Matter movement.
In a recent fit of nostalgia, I attempted to recall the best moments of my last five years: those that stood out as having changed my life irrevocably for the better. Immediately, one moment in particular came to mind: the rainy day in January 2018 that I walked through the front doors of Innovation Works for the first time.
Join us on Thursday, January 28, for a discussion around the question: “What do faculty need to do to provide students with an anti-racist learning environment in which everybody is truly welcome?”
Western’s Rwanda Course: Experiential Learning in the Land of A Thousand Hills
"Rwanda: Culture, Society, and Reconstruction" is an Interdisciplinary Experiential Learning course offered by the Department of French Studies and The School of Advanced Studies in Arts and Humanities (SASAH). In celebration of ten years of Community Engaged Learning in Rwanda, The Land of A Thousand Hills, as it is commonly known, this exhibition of photography, video and art recognizes an important program that has positively affected many lives over many years. A visually rich project that showcases the amazing work that Western students have committed to learning abroad, the show emphasizes the importance of first-hand experience in Rwanda through participation in community-based partnership programs, and the building of true relationships with Rwandan partners. As well, the exhibition draws attention to the support the Rwanda course has enjoyed from so many different entities and colleagues at Western, particularly within the Faculty of Arts & Humanities, and beyond.
Arts & Humanities at Western is thrilled to be presenting an exhibition that draws on the work of former students of the Rwanda course, many who have enthusiastically culled through photographs, selected from videos, and arranged to borrow artworks from students, in order to bring a groundbreaking program to life for viewers in London.
London Neighbourhood Histories: Old East Village’s Artistic Roots Run Deep
By Amelia Eqbal, SASAH alumni, 13 November 2020
Defined by its historic roots and indomitable spirit, London, ON’s Old East Village exudes a unique and timeless charm. Photo by John Tamblyn. Read this excellent and well-researched essay by SASAH alum Amelia Eqbal!
The London Neighbourhood Histories series aims to highlight and chronicle some of the rich, layered heritage of many of London’s neighbourhoods, the diverse individuals who have lived within them, and the events that have impacted their development. The series is made possible by the Community Heritage Investment Program (CHIP) through the London Heritage Council and the City of London. Image: Embassy Hotel and Cultural House served as an incubator for artists and bands of all kinds. Photo by John Tamblyn.
Everyday Life: Projects by SASAH First & Second Year Students
November 26-December 5, 2020 Satellite Project Space Virtual Reception: Thursday, 3 December, 6:30 - 8:30 PM
The concept of the everyday has compelling resonances in the humanities that emphasize the importance of time spent, of understanding our lives as lived incrementally, and of slowing down – to pay attention. Yet, in our current period, the idea of attending to events that continue day upon day instills in many of us troubling uncertainty.
Two projects by groups of SASAH students speak together to complicate ideas of the everyday and about pandemics. Offering new insights and thoughtful questions, they ultimately provide opportunities that help us productively imagine other days and other places: SASAH First Years: “The 1918-19 Pandemic Project” and SASAH Second Years: “The Coves Project and Other Community Practices.”
SASAH student essays place in the 2020 Global Undergraduate Awards
Congratulations to Sophia Belyk and Sarah Charette who placed in the Highly Commended category at the 2020 Global Undergraduate Awards. To hear about their award winning essays, please click on the links below.
Writer-in-residence coaches others to find their voices
By Courtney Ward-Zbeetnoff
SASAH student Courtney Ward-Zbeetnoff, the 2020-21 Student Writer-in-Residence, had the opportunity to interview Alicia Elliott, the Arts and Humanities Writer-in-Residence about her craft and her hopes for her residency this year. This article was published in the Western News.
Project by Sarah Charette Featuring artist Erika DeFreitas Supervised by Dr. Kirsty Robertson August 26-September 5, 2020 Gallery Hours: Wednesday-Friday 2-5pm, Saturday 12-5pm Virtual Closing Reception: TBA
SASAH is pleased to support student Sarah Charette's exhibition project, Spirits, a SATELLiTE Project Space. “In August of 1988, my grandmother Eileen Garland moved into 1113 Aldea Ave, Ottawa, and discovered a set of photo negatives in one of the bedrooms. Naturally, she had them developed almost immediately and was given a collection of 24 images cataloguing a young persons’ drunken house party. Eileen did not recognize anyone in the photographs, and more confusingly, the interior of 1113 Aldea Ave does not resemble any of the backdrops in the photographs either – which include some classic 1970s finishes, like an absurdly vibrant wallpaper in what appears to be the kitchen."
Second year SASAH student, Azadeh Odlin, has been giving back to the London community since moving here three years ago. She is a volunteer with the Cross Cultural Learning Centre and was recently highlighted in their newsletter. Here's an excerpt from her interview with the CCLC Volunteer Network:
"I know that one of the benefits of volunteering is a positive impact on the community. Most importantly, volunteering allows me to connect to my community and make it a better place. Even the smallest amount of time to help others can make a real difference in the lives of people. I think volunteering is a two-way street: It benefits my family and me as much as the people I am helping. Dedicating my time as a volunteer helped me make new friends, expand my network, and boost my skills."
The SASAH program and other programs in Arts & Humanities at Western are intent on assisting students, many who are female, to prepare to enter the workforce. In view of this, a recent CBC article entitled, “Pay gap between men and women starts right out of the gate for college, university grads,” draws attention to a particularly concerning issue. Join us for a panel discussion at which a group of informed professionals will engage this important topic; be sure to bring your questions and comments to add. This free event is open to all.
Thursday, January 30, 2020, 7PM Conron Hall, University College (UC)
Jamelie Hassan was SASAH’s Visiting Capstone Seminar Professor in Fall 2019. Jamelie is a Governor General’s Award winning visual artist based in London, Ontario. She has coordinated numerous cultural programs, including Orientalism and Ephemera. Jamelie Hassan’s mixed media installation works have been presented across Canada and internationally, and are in many collections, including the National Gallery of Canada. In 2018 she received an honorary doctorate in Fine Arts from OCAD University, Toronto.
Ruth Skinner works as an arts organizer, academic researcher, and publisher. She is pursuing a doctoral degree in Art and Visual Culture at Western University, where her research encompasses experimental publishing practices and artists’ books. Previously she was Chair of the Board of Forest City Gallery, cofounder of Good Sport project space, and manager of DNA Gallery's bookshop. She is currently a co-programmer of Support project space and operates the independent imprint Edna Press.
This talk is part of "Art Now!", a course offered by the Department of Visual Arts at Western University. This course focuses on current contemporary art production. All talks are FREE and OPEN to the Public! For more information or to enrol in the course, visit: www.uwo.ca/visarts
SASAH students organize the Creative Arts Festival at SATELLiTE
January 10-19, 2020 Hours: Wed-Fri 2-7pm, Sat 12-5pm Opening Reception: January 10th, 5-7pm
Satellite is pleased to host the Creative Arts Festival organized by the School for Advanced Studies in Arts and Humanities at Western University. The Creative Arts Festival encourages a cultural exploration of the complexities of human achievement, communication, and motivation. For this year’s exhibition, students have created work based on questions surrounding humanity, self, and growth that they have been challenged with during their educational experience.
The student work will be on display January 10-19th and creative writing group CreativiTea will host a poetry reading on January 16th, 7-9pm. View more at SATELLiTE Project Space.
By Debora Van Brenk, Western News, November 28, 2019
A new course examining film festivals has debuted to rave reviews worthy of an interdisciplinary blockbuster. SASAH Teaching Fellow and Modern Languages and Literatures professor Constanza Burucúa describes the course in an article for Western News: "the course began with a whirlwind visit to the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), included a second trip after the films’ airing, and concludes with a week-long exhibition of posters promoting the Toronto International Film Festival for the past four decades."
Image: Catherine Cassels, an Art History and Museum Studies major, helped organize an exhibition, Let’s Talk About TIFF: 44 Years of Promoting the Film Festival Giant, showcasing promotional posters that have been distributed by TIFF over the years.
On view at SATELLiTE: Let’s Talk About TIFF: 44 Years of Promoting the Film Festival Giant
November 27 – December 5th Hours: Wed-Fri 2-7pm, Sat 12-5pm
Organized by the students of "Film Festivals: Beyond the Red Carpet," taught by SASAH Teaching Fellow Constanza Burucúa (Department of Modern Languages and Literatures). This exhibition showcases promotional posters that have been distributed by TIFF over the years, displaying the festival’s development from its beginnings in 1976 to becoming the world-renowned festival it is today. Throughout this exhibit, we seek to teach attendees through the posters, TIFF’s significance on a global and local scale, as well as the festival’s contributions to the discourse around art, culture and film festivals themselves. View more at SATELLiTE Project Space.
By Heather Long, The Washington Post, October 19, 2019
As humanities majors slump to the lowest level in decades, calls are coming from surprising places for a revival. Some prominent economists are making the case for why it still makes a lot of sense to major (or at least take classes) in humanities alongside more technical fields. Read the full article
By David Deming, The New York Times, October 1, 2019
The advantage for STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) majors fades steadily after their first jobs, and by age 40 the earnings of people who majored in fields like social science or history have caught up. Read the full article
Pte. Arnold Logan is profiled in For Home and Native Land, a 30-minute SASAH student-produced documentary examining not only Logan’s life and sacrifice, but highlighting the legacy of Indigenous soldiers. Read the full article
Watch the complete documentary below!
Pit Stop: A Group Exhibition at SATELLiTE
April 23 – May 3, 2019 Closing Reception: May 3rd, 5-8pm
Hosted by Satellite Project Space and the School for Advanced Studies of Arts and Humanities at Western University’s Art Education Program, the exhibition features Arianna Elder-Johnson, Arlen Griffiths, and Miaka Fredin of Sir Fredrick Banting Secondary School. Pit Stop is a culminating exhibition of six months of extracurricular art education.
The students studied new mediums in skill-based workshops and learned about art academic options post-secondary school. The goal of the Art Education Program was to foster professional growth for student artists in an extracurricular environment. The artists have gone above and beyond the standard secondary school curriculum to further their knowledge and skills in the visual arts. Visit SATELLiTE Project Space.
Keyona Galluci solo exhibition, Afrique: by Nature
Culminating art exhibition and reception: Tuesday, April 16th, 2019, 5-8pm
Satellite Project Space is pleased to present Afrique: by Nature, a solo exhibition by 4th-year SASAH student Keyona Gallucci. It showcases her experiences in Rwanda as a descendant of the African Diaspora.
Excerpt from Keyona’s artist statement: “My culture was disrupted by my history. The seeds of my ancestry are rooted in nothing; I can only trace my ancestry back to an absence. A void. This sense of unknowing bred insecurity when I realized that I had no tangible connection to a culture. Every intersect in my identity further removes me from tradition.
However, I’m learning how to form my identity through my experiences. Every day I learn more about myself and the world; this knowledge equips me with the tools and confidence to navigate social institutions. As a descendant of the African Diaspora, I don’t know exactly where I come from but have come to appreciate those who do. I admire the sentiment of tradition and culture from afar.” Visit SATELLiTE Project Space.
Western Performs!
SASAH teamed up with the Faculty of Music and Weldon on March 13, 2019 for the third of three performances in the 2018/2019 concert series. Thank you toEva Alie and Lela Burt for your informative presentations!
Read the inspiring stories from SASAH students Lexie, Misha, Mickey, Olivia and Veronica, who spent five weeks in Kigali, Rwanda, as part of their SASAH course.
The Questions Project! – SASAH First Year Students Pose Questions Through a Public Poster Project
January 16 -18, 2019 Closing Event & Public Forum: Friday, January 18, 5:00 – 7:00 pm
As 2019 dawns, the students of Western’s exciting and innovative School for Advanced Studies in the Arts & Humanities are enlivening London’s downtown, within the context of Satellite Project Space, to pose important questions, and foreground ideas about education in the twenty-first century. In an innovative project that is visual in format, but not “art” in the usual sense, the students seek to provoke, challenge, and entertain – warming up the cold days of January with some hot queries, and with provocative and entertaining ways of thinking about education!
The Questions Project!
You are invited to join SASAH’s First Year Students, who, in their series of large-scale posters, are asking some important questions about culture and the world we live in. Join us Friday. Jan 18, 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. to meet the students and respond in person. Or wander into the gallery earlier that same week to read, think, and respond in writing – “for the record!” Visit SATELLiTE Project Space.
Western Performs!
SASAH teamed up with the Faculty of Music on January 30, 2019 for the second of three performances in the 2018/2019 concert series. Thank you to Jill O'Craven, Harsh Patankar, and Britney Forget for your informative presentations!
/ruts/ - An Exhibition from Shelley Niro's Fourth-year Capstone Seminar
December 1– 8, 2018 Gallery hours: Wed-Fri 2-7pm & Sat 12-5pm Reception: December 1, 6-8pm
The phonetic transcription of the homophones: routes and roots. The exhibit explores concepts of empathy, land, origins, and paths as the fourth year School for Advanced Studies in the Arts & Humanities cohort delves into Indigenous history and its evolution through time.
Shelley Niro’s fourth-year capstone seminar class’ exploration of self and the material touches upon colonization, decolonization, Indigenous art, repatriation, myths of Pocahontas, murdered and missing Indigenous women, and our ability to empathize. Exploring this history includes looking at the deeply disturbing colonization that occurred in Canada as well as the current mistreatment of Indigenous peoples. Artists hope to shine a light and perhaps offer some hope in their pieces for a better future regarding HUMAN relationships.
SASAH teamed up with the Faculty of Music on November 7 for the first of three performances in the 2018/2019 concert series. Thank you to Cassandra Haley, Isadora Passos, and Evalyn Watson for your informative presentations!
Whose names and stories do we remember? How do we choose which to preserve? How – and why – do we perpetuate those that we remember? Western student historians working at Woodland Cemetery grappled with these questions and more as they worked toward curating “Lost & Found,” a guided historical walking tour that resurrects stories of individuals buried in the cemetery’s Potter’s Fields.
Image: Western students Leah Abaza, Thomas Sayers and Levi Hord gave a sneak preview of “Lost & Found”, a guided historical walking tour they curated while working at Woodland Cemetery.
SASAH alumna named a finalist in 2018 SSHRC Storytellers Challenge
May 2018
Congratulations to Maryam Golafshani (class of 2017) on being named a finalist in the 2018 SSHRC Storytellers Challenge. The annual Storytellers contest challenges postsecondary students from across the country to demonstrate—in three minutes or 300 words—how SSHRC-funded research is making a difference in the lives of Canadians. The top entries this year addressed a range of important issues and highlight how knowledge about the social sciences and humanities helps Canadians understand and improve the world around us. View Maryam's submission below:
Celebrity Soirée: An Evening with Lainey Lui and SASAH
On Friday, April 6th Visiting Capstone Professor Lainey Lui and the students from her "Rumour Has It" course gathered for the premiere of their short film and a celebration of the School for Advanced Studies in the Arts & Humanities.
Reporting for the Gazette, Kristin Lee writes:
"Lui believes her students shouldn’t just attend school to learn, but that they should share their learning with each other, and that's what the SASAH students are demonstrating in their film.
"'That’s the only way. With dual investment; we can move forward and create new citizens of the world,' said Lui in an interview. 'I don't think any of us are talking to each other enough and I also think that’s what storytelling can do. Without a story, there can be no empathy, and without empathy, we can’t move forward and we can’t grow.'"
By Communications Staff, Western News, March 27, 2018
Patrick Mahon, Visual Arts/SASAH, is the 2018 recipient of the Distinguished University Professorships (DUP) award, joining a select group of faculty members recognized for exceptional scholarly careers.
By Communications Staff, Western News, March 15, 2018
Joel Faflak, SASAH/English and Writing, is the 2018 recipient of the Edward G. Pleva Award for Excellence in Teaching for his tireless work advocating for arts and humanities education.
Alterna Savings and Credit Union Limited has given $25,000 to Western University’s School for Advanced Studies in the Arts and Humanities (SASAH), to help develop future leaders who are committed to bettering communities at home and around the world.
SASAH is a reinvention of the traditional models of the University Arts and Science programs. The school’s mandate is to blur the lines between disciplines to better equip students with the ability to develop creative insights in developing sustainable solutions to complex global issues. These include solutions to problems around political and social inequity, environmental sustainability, and access to healthcare in developing countries.
"SASAH: The Questions Project" and "What's Your SASAH?" open at SATELLiTE
Jan. 17 to 20, 2018 Reception & Public Engagement, Wed. Jan. 17, 4:30 – 6 pm
As 2018 dawns, the students of Western’s exciting and innovative School for Advanced Studies in the Arts & Humanities are enlivening London’s downtown, within the context of Satellite Project Space, to pose important questions, and forground ideas about education in the twenty-first century. In two innovative projects that are visual in their formats but not “art” in the usual sense, the students seek to provoke, challenge, and entertain – warming up the cold days of January with some hot queries, and with provocative and entertaining ways of thinking about education!
The Questions Project! You are invited to join SASAH’s First Year Students, who, in their series of large-scale posters, are asking some important questions about culture and the world we live in. Join us on Wed. Jan 17, 4:30-6:00 to meet the students and respond in person, or wander into the gallery later that same week to read, think, and respond in writing – or “for the record!”
And while you’re in at Satellite, have a look at: “What’s Your SASAH….” A cross-section of students from all four years of the program present an extended book-like project that showcases ideas and attitudes about education in the twenty-first century – at SASAH and beyond. Join us to engage this fascinating “data collection/connection” project on display at Satellite!
The School for Advanced Studies in the Arts and Humanities creative writing group is hosting our first winter coffee house. Join us at SATELLiTE Project Space on January 12, 2018 for an evening of live poetry, prose, and other creative work presented by SASAH students, faculty, and supporters.
"Professor of gossip: Lainey Lui on teaching at Western University"
SASAH's visiting Capstone Instructor, Lainey Lui, recounts her experience teaching for the program with Western's Gazette in this January 2018 feature:
"Last fall, when I was invited by Dean Michael Milde, Faculty of Arts and Humanities, to teach a fourth-year capstone course at the School for Advanced Studies in the Arts and Humanities, I felt like I had conjured something.
"For years on my gossip blog, LaineyGossip.com, I’d been joking about one day becoming the “dean of the faculty of celebrity studies at a liberal arts university somewhere in New England.” Obviously being asked to become a visiting professor is not the same as being dean. But it was a beginning. And London, Ont. is not New England."
Levi Hord, a fourth-year Sexuality Studies, School for Advanced Studies in Arts & Humanities (SASAH) and Scholar’s Electives student, has been named a recipient of the 2018 Rhodes Scholarship, an international postgraduate award for students to study at the University of Oxford. Levi is Western’s 23rd Rhodes Scholar.
"Defining SASAH is like trying to predict the weather. You can only truly know its state in the moment and guess with varying certainty about its future. It’s dynamic, shifting and influenced by the university zeitgeist and the experiences of the students." Fourth year SASAH student Prem shares his experience in the School for Advanced Studies in the Arts & Humanities.
In her first year, Avery Lafortune jumped at the opportunity to take part in Alternative Spring Break in the Dominican Republic. In her second year, she spent five weeks participating in a community service learning opportunity in Rwanda. In her third year, she spent a semester abroad studying at the University of Sydney in Australia. Just this past summer, the recent School for Advanced Studies in Arts & Humanities (SASAH) graduate, joined the Vindolanda Field School for a six-week, immersive, hands-on Roman archeological dig in England.
SASAH's featured Public Matters speaker, Zita Cobb, is a Canadian businesswoman and social entrepreneur. She grew up onFogo Island, off the coast of Newfoundland, and went on to a career as a seniorfinance professional in the high tech industry. The former Chief Financial Officerfor JDS Fitel and Senior Vice President of strategy for fiber optics manufacturerJDS Uniphase, Cobb left the industry in 2001 to pursue her personal goals andto dedicate her energies to philanthropic work. She founded the ShorefastFoundation, and is now actively involved in projects that contribute to a resilientand vibrant future for Fogo Island and Change Islands. This past June Cobbwas made a member of the Order of Canada for “her contributions as a socialentrepreneur who has helped revive the unique rural communities of Fogo Islandand Change Islands through innovative social engagement and geo-tourism
"Squalls of Glass," an original full-length play by Meg Cormack (BA 2017, SASAH/English Honors),was performed on February 15th and 16th, 2017 at the ARTS Project in London
Members of a theatre company struggle to finish a musical in order to come to terms with profound loss. Their lives have been knocked askew, and their burdens begin to blur the faint divide between the real world and the psychological.
All proceeds were donated to the Canadian Mental Health Association Middlesex.
"Moving on: Humanities school graduates first cohort"
Four years have passed since Western welcomed the first round of 25 undergraduate students to its School for Advanced Studies in the Arts and Humanities (SASAH), a unique-to-Canada program that offers interdisciplinary study options, new language skills, experiential learning, interaction with new technologies as well as international travel and exchange options – all under the same degree umbrella.
To mark this occassion, Western News has published a profile on four SASAH students: Rachel DiMenna (pictured above), Mari Fujiwara, Adam Helmers, and Sarah Shaughnessy.
In Rachel's words, "In the arts, you study the past and the present in critical or creative ways to understand where we might be going in the future, and what the implications of that are. In the business world, going forward, I think this is what’s going to allow me to succeed.”
The "gravestone project" or "cemetery project" was a research endeavor in which pairs of students were given a photo of a 19th-century gravestone in London's Woodland Cemetery. Using primary materials (old city, court, and burial records, etc.), the students learned about the lives and times of the people who were buried in "their" graves, after which they presented their findings in whatever format they chose. View examples of some of the inspired student projects!
Maggie Graham and Sarah Ball created the video "They Are Not Here"
Erik Bazjert created a video entitled The Welds of London.
Western News: "Culture Crawl connects across community"
March 2016: Western students bridged the gap between town and gown during an immersive experience outside of the University Gates in London’s arts and cultural community recently. The School for Advanced Studies in the Arts and Humanities (SASAH) and the Public Humanities at Western held the second Forest City Culture Crawl on March 18, which mapped out opportunities for students to meet local artists and writers and explore Museum London, The ARTS Project and DNA Artspace. Jason Winders of Western News covered the event:
"Morgan McAuley, a first-year SASAH student, wanted to get involved in the planning to gain first-hand experience offering 'a glimpse into the future' of what a career in arts and culture might look like.
"'I really do feel the "Western Bubble"’ and I like things that get me out of that and allow me to experience the city more because I spend so much time on campus,' McAuley said."
Jillian Keilley (Artistic Director of English Theatre at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa) "Inspired by Place: How to Make the Performing Arts Thrive Locally, Regionally and Nationally" Thursday, March 17, 2016, 7 pm Museum London
Our 2016 lecture by Jillian Keiley marks the third collaboration in a partnership between Museum London, the Public Humanities, and the School for Advanced Studies in Arts and Humanities at Western University.
In 2012 Keiley was appointed Artistic Director of English theatre at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa where she continues her prolific work in the arts. Originally from St. John’s, Keiley founded the theatre company Artistic Fraud, an active troupe that produced Robert Chafe’s Lemons, Afterimage, Oil and Water, and Under Wraps; Ron James’ Up and Down in Shakey Town, and Keiley’s productions In Your Dreams and Freud.
At the National Arts Centre, Keiley has produced Metamorphoses: Based on the Myths of Ovid as well as a new interpretation -- with Andy Jones -- of Tartuffe set in Newfoundland. More recently, she has directed the premiere of Colony of Unrequited Dreams for Artistic Fraud in St. John’s, and The Diary of Anne Frank for the Stratford Festival. Her production of Alice Through the Looking-Glass has toured to the Confederation Centre (Charlottetown), the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre (Winnipeg), and the Citadel Theatre (Edmonton), featuring local casts in each city. In 2016, Keiley is directing Twelfth Night for the National Arts Centre, and As You Like It for the Stratford Festival.
Keiley won the Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council Emerging Artist of the Year Award in 1996, the Canada Council for the Arts’ John Hirsch Prize in 1998, and the Siminovitch Prize in Theatre in 2004. She is a graduate of York University and the recipient of an honorary doctorate from Memorial University.
Western Performs! Concert Series Finale: Oikos Thursday, March 10, 2016 at 7 pm
Join us for a spectacular final perfomance of the Western Performs! concert series. The evening will consist of performances, presentations, and collaborations with multiple faculties at Western, emphasizing the theme,Oikos (Greek for "home"). Refreshments and cash bar will be available. All welcome!
Join Owen Charters, President and CEO of the Boys and Girls Club on March 10 2016, for a presentation about how nonprofits engage others in their causes. How do we ‘pitch’ empathy powerfully, but in a short amount of time and where audiences have fleeting attention spans? Ultimately, we have to create an emotional connection, often in a span of only 30 seconds.
Owen will also present “What I did with my degree in Arts and Humanities” on Friday, March 11 from 2:30 to 4:30 pm, in the SASAH Room, Weldon Library Room 109. All welcome!
Sian Evans | Art+Feminism Wikipedia edit-a-thons
Join us for a lecture by Sian Evans titled:
Linda Nochlin, the Guerrilla Girls, and Me: Feminist Praxis in the Art+Feminism Wikipedia edit-a-thons
Western alumna Sian Evans (MA, Art History, 2007) will speak about her involvement in founding and organizing the internationally lauded “Art+Feminism Wikipedia edit-a-thons.”
Middlesex College, room 110 Thursday, February 25, 2016 2:30PM
This talk is co-sponsored by Visual Arts and SASAH.
"The River is Everywhere: Investigating Local Water through Images and Activism" opens at SATELLiTE
Feb. 9 to 12, 2016 Reception: Wednesday February 10, 4:30 – 6:00 p.m. with an Indigenous Ceremony by Dan & Mary Lou Smoke
Showcasing the creative investigations of SASAH class, “Water Now” taught by Professor Patrick Mahon. "The River is Everywhere" showcases photographs, posters, a water treatment sculpture, and an archive developed by students engage a universal substance.
Project Facilitation Patrick Mahon – Charlie Egleston & Peter Lebel – Gabriella Solti – Penn Kemp
We gratefully thank the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, Western, and Envirogard Products Ltd.
Western Performs! brings together the talents of students from the Don Wright Faculty of Music and the School for Advanced Studies in the Arts and Humanities (SASAH), and with the generous support of Western Libraries. This annual concert series is an opportunity to build community by bringing music of all forms to public spaces both on and off campus. This annual concert series is an opportunity to build community by bringing music of all forms to public spaces both on and off campus. This annual concert series is an opportunity to build community by bringing music of all forms to public spaces both on and off campus. SASAH offers a uniquely interdisciplinary and cross-cultural educational experience designed to educate imaginations and help students realize their critical and cultural potential to make a transformative impact on the world at large.
VIEW 2015-16 CONCERT SCHEDULE [link no longer live]
Creativity matters. On March 12, 2015 we partnered with The Walrus to host nine of Canada’s most creative minds, including five Western alumni, for an evening celebrating creativity in all forms. The event was followed by a spirited reception.
Featuring:
Mustafa Ahmed, poet Cameron Bailey, BA'87, Toronto International Film Festival Emma Donoghue, LLD'13, author Joel Faflak, BA'81, MA'91 PhD'99, director of the School for Advanced Studies in the Arts and Humanities, Western University Juggun Kazim, BA'02, actor, model, television host Elaine Lui, BA'96, blogger and author of Listen to the Squawking Chicken Brian Paschke, industrial design lead, BlackBerry Saukrates, artist and musician David Usher, singer-songwriter and author
SASAH students reflect on experiential learning trip to Rwanda in May 2014
A Season in Kigali. This video is a reflection of the experiential learning trip taken by Western students in May 2014. SASAH students Nicholas Pincombe and Rachel Goldstein were amongst the group of students that traveled with Prof. Henri Boyi and lived in Rwanda for five weeks. During their stay, the students were immersed in a number of community projects and initiatives while also learning about the culture and history of the country.
Museum London, the School for the Advanced Studies in Arts and Humanities, and the Public Humanities at Western present the second annual lecture in the Public Matters series. Bailey addresses the implications of global engagement on our cultural sphere, and their effect on an ever-evolving TIFF. Of particular interest is Canada's presence on the international playing field, and the power of art and culture to represent a major city and a nation. This is all the more prescient given TIFF's recent announcement of their new Short Cuts International--a programme of international short films that will premiere at the 2014 Festival. Bailey discusses the skills required to negotiate an increasingly globalized reality in the professional arts and culture milieu.
Lecture and Official Opening for SASAH’s Digital “Educating Imaginations”
“Educating Imaginations: The SASAH Digital Lecture Series” Thursday, 13 March, 2014 7:00-9:00 pm Central Library Stevenson & Hunt A&B 251 Dundas Street London, Ontario
The School for Advanced Studies in the Arts and Humanities (SASAH) at Western University officially inaugurates it new online lecture series, “Educating Imaginations.” During this launch event, we’ll be introducing and demonstrating this new public resource for the Humanities.
Monday, October 28, 2024, 4PM
October 24-November 2, 2024
We are delighted to announce that Dr. Ruth Skinner will take up the position of Community Engagement and Outreach Coordinator for SASAH on August 5.
On March 1st, the Don Wright Faculty of Music will host a multidisciplinary gallery inspired by 
By Jane Weller, Morrissette Institute
The fourth-year capstone course, called Endangered Words, will explore the weaponization of language, including words that have become especially polarized – even contaminated – such as liberty, equality, freedom and democracy.
Spotlight: N'Satung documentary film
Second-year SASAH students Siobhan Kelly and Kathleena Henricus 
August 2022: On the eve of his debut novel, Until We Break, Matthew Dawkins is profiled by Western News about writing, creativity, and his forthcoming tenure as 2022-2023 Student writer-in-residence. From the feature:
SASAH celebrates the graduating class of 2022. In the face of unprecedented challenges, our students proved that they are able not only to stand against adversity, but to thrive despite it. Special congratulations to the Gold Medal winners: Alex Rozenberg (SASAH), Kaitlyn Lonnee (Creative Writing & English Language and Literature), Jamie Scoler (Political Science). 
Each year, SASAH’s 4th year Capstone Seminar centers on a specific theme or topic of contemporary significance. Building on students' experiential learning and internship engagements throughout SASAH, the seminar introduces students to a leading professional from a particular field that complements aspects of their expansive education within the first three years of the program.
SASAH alumna Jade Rozal (class of 2021) was Highly Commended for philosophy by the world's leading undergraduate awards programme.
Matthew Dawkins on his upcoming book, Until We Break, to be released Winter 2022.
'Written on the Earth' exhibit coordinated by SASAH Director and professor, Patrick Mahon, also includes his own work. 
In a recent fit of nostalgia, I attempted to recall the best moments of my last five years: those that stood out as having changed my life irrevocably for the better. Immediately, one moment in particular came to mind: the rainy day in January 2018 that I walked through the front doors of Innovation Works for the first time.
Defined by its historic roots and indomitable spirit, London, ON’s Old East Village exudes a unique and timeless charm. Photo by John Tamblyn. Read this excellent and well-researched essay by SASAH alum Amelia Eqbal!
SASAH student Courtney Ward-Zbeetnoff, the 2020-21 Student Writer-in-Residence, had the opportunity to interview Alicia Elliott, the Arts and Humanities Writer-in-Residence about her craft and her hopes for her residency this year. This article was published in the Western News.
Santa J. Ono says studying the liberal arts made him a better scholar, scientist, teacher and father.
A new course examining film festivals has debuted to rave reviews worthy of an interdisciplinary blockbuster.
Pte. Arnold Logan is profiled in For Home and Native Land, a 30-minute SASAH student-produced documentary examining not only Logan’s life and sacrifice, but highlighting the legacy of Indigenous soldiers.
Patrick Mahon, Visual Arts/SASAH, is the 2018 recipient of the Distinguished University Professorships (DUP) award, joining a select group of faculty members recognized for exceptional scholarly careers.
Joel Faflak, SASAH/English and Writing, is the 2018 recipient of the Edward G. Pleva Award for Excellence in Teaching for his tireless work advocating for arts and humanities education.
