News from the School of IAS

Santiago Lopez speaks at Climate Change, Natural Hazard, and Sustainable Cities Conference in Busan, Korea

As part of his collaborative work with Jin-Kyu Jung and colleagues from the Latin American Faculty of Social Sciences on "Hybrid Epistemologies of Environmental Change," IAS faculty member Santiago Lopez gave an invited talk at the Climate Change, Natural Hazard, and Sustainable Cities Conference in Busan, Korea. His talk explored the conceptualization of climate change as a ‘hybrid phenomenon’ and ...

November 30, 2017

Kari Lerum selected to join Seattle LGBTQ Commission

IAS faculty member Kari Lerum was recently selected by the Seattle LGBTQ Commission to serve as one of its commissioners. Lerum will be formally inducted at a confirmation hearing held by the Seattle City Council in early January. She will serve a two-year unpaid term. The Seattle LGBTQ Commission advises the Mayor, Council and departments about issues of concern affecting the LGBTQ community, recommend policies and ...

November 29, 2017

“Cry out Loud!” Multiracial Organizing and Documentary Cinema

IAS faculty member Alka Kurian presented two papers at the National Women's Studies Association Conference. In the first, she explored “Cry Out Loud,” a documentary film focusing on racism against Africans in India. Kurian investigated the parallels between racism and communalism in the U.S. and India that discriminate against minorities populations. She highlighted the need for multi-racial organizing between South Asian diaspora in the U.S. and other communities of color and collaboration with protest movements such as Black Lives Matter and Dream Defenders. She stressed that this type of analysis is all the more important during these deeply unsettling times when ...

November 29, 2017

Jefferson Ketchel named Snohomish Health District Administrator

On November 7, the Board of Health confirmed Jefferson Ketchel (’08, Policy Studies) as Administrator of the Snohomish Health District. Board Chair Adrienne Fraley-Monillas stated, “It was clear through our search that Jeff is the best person for the job, and we couldn’t be more pleased. He has a passion not just for public health, but this agency and the people of Snohomish County. Jeff has the board’s full support and confidence as we continue moving the health district forward as the community’s chief health strategist.”

November 29, 2017

Ryan Dzakovic awarded fellowship with U.S. Department of State

Alum Ryan (Blanco) Dzakovic (’15, Cultural Studies) is headed to Washington, D.C. for a year-long fellowship with the U.S. Department of State’s Veterans Innovation Partnership (VIP) Fellowship Program. VIP Fellowships support veterans’ transition to diplomacy and development careers by providing opportunities to serve within U.S. foreign affairs agencies. “Having the background in graduate studies prepared me for an opportunity at a caliber I thought I would never achieve,” Dzakovic said. Read Ryan’s story.

November 27, 2017

Nikki Neuen connects her talents to gender diversity

Nikki Neuen (’04, American Studies) is Associate Director for Gender Diversity Education and Support Services, where she focuses on infrastructure management, communications, grant writing, and everything else. “Our staff is so small, that we all help with everything – conferences, marketing, volunteer management, fundraising – you name it,” Nikki explains. Gender Diversity increases the awareness and understanding of gender diversity in children, adolescents, and adults by providing family support groups, education and training to professionals serving trans youth, and through their annual international conference, Gender Odyssey.

November 21, 2017

Avi Socha: LEPP major and State Department Intern

Law, Economics & Public Policy (LEPP) student Avi Socha is currently finishing up an exciting internship with the U.S. Department of State in Rome. The State Department, which accepts less than 10% of applicants nationwide, granted him Secret Security Clearance and a posting at the American Citizen Services Unit at the Rome embassy, working alongside the U.S. Consul General. As a LEPP student ...

November 20, 2017

Gender, Women & Sexuality Studies faculty have big presence at the National Women’s Studies Association (#NWSA2017) conference

The NWSA held its annual conference in Baltimore, Maryland this year. The conference’s theme was “Forty Years After Combahee: Feminist Scholars and Activists Engage the Movement for Black Lives” and was an inspiring weekend full of panels, round-table discussions, plenaries, meetings, receptions, networking, and socializing. Seven GWSS faculty presented and co-presented papers. GWSS faculty coordinator Julie Shayne organized a panel called ...

November 20, 2017