CLASS Notes May 2024

Around the College

Student Accomplishments

• Milana DesRosier, a double major in political science and international studies, was awarded the Lindley Award for her exceptional scholarship and character as the top graduating senior in the College of Letters, Arts, and Social Sciences (CLASS). Established in 1962, this award symbolizes the highest distinction within CLASS and is a testament to Milana's achievements and contributions to the university community.
• Tanner McClain, a graduating senior majoring in political science and philosophy with a minor in English, was awarded the first-ever Dean's Medal for his outstanding leadership as the Associated Students of the University of Idaho (ASUI) President, his involvement in campus organizations, and his dedication to serving the university community.
• Miriam Akervall, an MFA candidate, received a Vermont Studio Center fellowship for translating Marie Lundquist's Swedish poetry collection, "Astrakanerna," into English and had poetry accepted for publication in The Madison Review, Action, Spectacle, and the Colorado Review.
• Crystal Cox, an MFA student, was accepted into the Ph.D. program in English, Creative Writing, at the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, where she was also offered a competitive teaching assistantship and a Chancellor’s Award. Her poems have recently been published in Phoebe and like a field, a seasonal journal of art and poetry.
• Alicia Gladman, an MFA candidate, has been awarded U of I Library's $4,000 stipend Center for Digital Inquiry and Learning Graduate Student Fellowship, for her digital research project exploring the pathologization of queerness.
• MFA candidate Tymber Wolf, and Emma Catherine Perry, associate director of the Writing Center, led a workshop at the International Writing Center Association Collaborative meeting in Spokane this spring. The session focused on integrating improv techniques into writing center tutor training, contributing to Wolf's research into enhancing writing instruction through improv.
• Cooper Trail, a bachelor’s student in English, and his band, Desolation Horse, opened for Fleet Foxes during Finals Fest, April 23rd.
• Emma Eldred, a dual credit student from New Plymouth High School, won the 2024 Poetry Out Loud Idaho competition, securing a spot in the national finals in Washington, D.C.
• Shane Neirinckx, an honors program student majoring in political science and international studies, was awarded the Boren Scholarship. The scholarship pays U.S. undergraduate students to study abroad in areas of the world that are critical to U.S. interests and underrepresented in other study abroad programs.
• Emma Warner and Shane Neirinckx visited TSS, TV Shin-Hiroshima, on March 8, 2024, as part of the TSS Archive Project.
• Matthias Aranda, a graduating B. Mus. Instrumental Performance student, received a nomination for a U of I Student Achievement Award and secured a fully funded graduate assistantship at the University of Hawaii for 2024-2026.
• Ryan Sorensen, a B. Mus. Instrumental Performance student, showcased his musical talent by performing for major donors to the University of Idaho. Additionally, both Ryan Sorensen and Katrina Nejely, a B. Mus. Instrumental Performance student, were selected to perform in the LHSOM Student Chamber Honors Recital.
• Loren Kreisle, a 2023 Film and Television graduate, directed the short fiction film "Heart to Heart," with Alexa Teneyck as producer. The film, a dramedy about a man whose heart leaves him after surgery, premiered at the 2023 KINO Short Film Festival, winning the Audience Favorite Award, and was accepted into the 2024 Sun Valley Film Festival.
• Tyler Kneller, a music major with an Asian studies minor, has been accepted into the Japan Exchange and Teaching program. Graduating Spring ‘24, Kneller will teach English in Japan this summer.
• Undergraduate Meghan Caves earned runner-up kudos for her student paper at the 77th annual Northwest Anthropology Conference in Portland. Caves was among 15 U of I anthropology students to attend the March conference. Professor Mark Warner presented a paper on 50 years of historical archaeology in the Northwest. Faculty members Kat Eichner and Renae Campbell served as recruiters for U of I’s graduate studies in anthropology and the Asian American Comparative Collection.
  
  

Faculty and Staff News

• Kate Skinner, assistant professor of Jazz Piano, will release a solo album May 17, 2024, featuring five original compositions and two arrangements. She recently conducted the Idaho Music Educator’s All-State Vocal Jazz Choir. Additionally, her big band chart “Delta Lake” will be published this summer by Brava Jazz Publishing.
• Professor Alexandra Teague delivered a keynote address at the Intermountain Graduate Conference at Idaho State University, participated in the panel "The Surreal is Real" at the Get Lit festival, and unveiled the cover of her upcoming poetry book, “Ominous music intensifying,” set to be published by Persea Books in October 2024.
• Zachary Turpin, associate professor, has been chosen for a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award for the Spring 2025 semester at Technische Universität Dortmund in Dortmund, Germany. He will conduct research and teach upper-division/graduate seminars on American poet Walt Whitman’s “Cycle of International Poems,” archival research methods, and Walt Whitman and Emily Dickinson’s poetry and prose. A collaborative research project will focus on intercultural approaches to translating Whitman’s poetry.
• Jan Johnson, clinical associate professor in the Department of English, was quoted in an NPR story discussing the Native band Redbone. The article explores the band's legacy and impact over the past 50 years. Read the story here.
• Leah Hampton, assistant professor of English, has been awarded an artistic fellowship by the Folger Shakespeare Library's Institute. This fellowship grants Leah a month-long residency at the Folger, offering access to its renowned archives. Alongside other scholars and artists, Leah will delve into the library's holdings, conducting research for her novel in progress—a speculative retelling of three Shakespearean plays. The fellowship, which includes housing in Washington, D.C. and a stipend of $5,000, will start May 2024.
• Sandra Reineke, associate professor of political science and director of U of I’s honors program, presented the paper "From Expert Negotiations to Fridays for Future: How the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development Shaped Youth-led Climate Activism" at the third annual Network for Education and Research on Peace and Sustainability conference at Hiroshima University in Hiroshima, Japan March 6-9, 2024.
• Miranda Wilson, professor of cello at the Lionel Hampton School of Music co-authored, "Teaching Violin, Viola, Cello, and Double Bass: Historical and Modern Pedagogical Practices," published by Routledge in 2024, in collaboration with Dijana Ihas and Gaelen McCormick. Additionally, Wilson co-presented the paper "Ethel Smyth's Sonata No. 2 for Cello and Piano" at the National Keyboard Pedagogy Conference in Chicago. Currently, Wilson is engaged in a May recital-masterclass tour at universities and music schools in Costa Rica alongside Eneida Larti, assistant professor of piano. Wilson’s fourth book, "Notes for Cellists: A Guide to the Repertoire," is slated for publication by Oxford University Press this year.
• Associate Professor of Philosophy Casey Rebecca Johnson’s, book, "Epistemic Care: Vulnerability, Inquiry, and Social Epistemology," was highlighted at the American Philosophical Association Pacific Division book symposium in Portland.
• Leontina Hormel, professor of sociology, is among 15 scholars selected to participate in the 2024 Summer Institute for the Study of East Central and Southeastern Europe.
• Lori Conlon Khan, clinical associate professor of music education was honored with the 2024 National Association for Music Education Collegiate Chapter of Excellence Recognition for Service. This award acknowledges a commitment to advance music education during the 2023-2024 academic year. 

CLASS Stories:

• Two Grads Plus Dad:
  Other than graduating from University of Idaho and the College of Letters, Arts and Social Sciences (CLASS) together, the stories of Jon McKenzie, his son Carson and his daughter MacKara couldn’t be more different.
• Education’s Role in Idaho’s Criminal Justice System:
  U of I’s Prison Education Initiative aims to provide hope and opportunity to incarcerated individuals.
• A Degree in Leadership:
  When Matt Angelo left the sports programs at Lake City High in Coeur d'Alene and enrolled in college, he was looking for the same camaraderie and spirit of challenge he knew from the gridiron. He found it in the Chrisman Battalion at U of I’s Army ROTC program where he excelled. He will earn a commission upon graduation next week with degrees in Criminology and Military Science and serve as an artillery officer.
• Clear Skies:
  At a relatively young age, Ella Weber realized she could convince her parents to let her skip school for only two reasons: downhill skiing after waking up to fresh powder or joining a protest march. She missed quite a few days over the years — even during mild winters. Weber brought two of her biggest passions, environmental activism and a desire to find more effective ways to accomplish her goals, to U of I.
• Public Excavation:
  Pieces of a comb, shards of bottle glass, buttons and coins are routinely found at an archaeological excavation on the grounds of Moscow High School, but these small treasures aren’t what makes the eight-week U of I anthropology field project unique.
• Start Finishing:
  Sarah Sullivan ’23 walked at U of I’s Spring 2013 Commencement. But she didn’t graduate until 10 years later. Learn how a CLASS initiative helps non-graduating Vandals complete their degrees.

Dates & Deadlines:

See the complete list of upcoming events, alumni events and academic deadlines.
Feedback or Suggestions? Please send them to class-notes@uidaho.edu.