Read about Cultural Studies dynamic group of students, their educational backgrounds, and research interests.
2009 Cohort
Deborah (Debbie) Brown
Undergraduate Institution: University of Washington Bothell
Undergraduate Degree: Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences, Culture, Literature, and the Arts
Research Interests: Socio-Cultural Anthropology, Colonial and Post colonial African Studies, and Women's Studies
Snapshot: Debbie's undergraduate research project looked at Eastside middle class white women, belonging to evangelical Christian churches that teach the patriarchal structure of the home.
Jill DeWald
Undergraduate Institution: South Dakota State University, 2008
Undergraduate Degree: English major; Minor in Journalism and Professional Writing
Research Interests: Education, media, film and technological advancements, American literature, science fiction, pop culture, individual state of mind
Snapshot: Jill's interest is to expand her own perspective in all areas of literature, find a niche, and begin to pass along her knowledge to others.
Pei-Chia Fan
Undergraduate Institution: National Taiwan University, 2009
Undergraduate Degree: Chinese Literature
Research Interests: Transculture and Global Environment
Snapshot: Pei-Chia lives in Taiwan which has a rich multicultural society. She enjoys observing the interesting cultural phenomenon in her sorroundings, such as cultural diversity and global culture.
Caroline Fors
Undergraduate Institution: University of Washington Tacoma 2004
Undergraduate Degree: Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences
Research Interests: Women and girls in developing nations
Snapshot: Caroline grew up in Europe, living in France, Belgium and Germany and is interested in studying and doing research on gender equality in post-conflict nations.
Priya Frank
Undergraduate Institution: University of Washington, 2004
Undergraduate Degree: Communications and American Ethnic Studies
Research Interests: Institutionalized racism, inequality of education and the impact of arts integration in K-12, immigrant exploitation through human trafficking
Snapshot: Priya works as an Individual Giving Coordinator for the UW World Series, a performing arts organization that presents world music, theatre and dance and provides free arts education opportunities to local students and adults.
Peter Freeman
Undergraduate Institution: University of Washington Bothell, 2008
Undergraduate Degree: Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences, Society, Ethics, and Human Behavior
Research Interests: Community collaboration/organization, homelessness
Snapshot: Peter has worked with local homeless youth for over a year now, and wants to know how communities can work together to prevent homelessness.
Ruth Gregory
Undergraduate Institution: The Evergreen State College, 1999
Undergraduate Degree: Liberal Arts
Graduate Degree: MFA in Film, Ohio University, 2005
Research Interests: Documentary Filmmaking, Feminist Art, Social Justice, Visual Rhetoric, and Media Colonialism
Snapshot: Ruth is an instructor in the Digital Filmmaking program at Shoreline Community College. She volunteers her time teaching college-level courses through the Prisoners Education Network as well as inspiring the next generation of female filmmakers at Reel Grrls.
Ramona Halcomb
Undergraduate Institution: University of Washington Bothell, 2009
Undergraduate Degree: Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences, Society, Ethics, and Human Behavior
Research Interests: The impact of the media on cultural identity
Snapshot: Mona is currently a Program Coordinator at the University of Washington’s School of Social Work. Her research goals are to aid in the development of transformative empowerment tools which will promote social justice.
Paul Johnson
Undergraduate Institution: Seattle University,1989
Undergraduate Degree: Public Administration
Research Interests: Cultural and environmental issues that adversely impact minorities and underserved communities, closing achievement gaps for students of color
Snapshot: Paul has managed corporate diversity initiatives for Starbucks Coffee Company over the past eleven years. He has also partnered with several local and national external community based organizations focusing on equity and inclusion.
Theryn Kigvamsud'vashti
Undergraduate Institution: Colorado College, 1994
Undergraduate Degree: English
Research Interests: Lynching studies, public history, multi-generational trauma, audio documentaries, Inter-generational story transmission oral histories
Snapshot: For over 10 years, Theryn has worked in the anti-violence movement providing leadership on addressing state and local violence against women of color. While continuing that work, she recently began an archival project in documenting lynching stories.
Martha Levenson
Undergraduate Institution: Oberlin College, 1984
Undergraduate Degree: Psychology
Research Interests: Disability studies in Education, Performance studies
Snapshot: An avid fiddler and aikidoist, Martha has worked extensively in education with students on the autism spectrum. Communities, connections, equality and working for change are themes in her work.
Salem Levesque
Undergraduate Institution: The Evergreen State College, 2008
Undergraduate Degree: Religious History, Comparative Religion
Research Interests: History, Cultural Development, Religion and Philosophy
Snapshot: Salem spent the final years of his undergraduate degree researching and writing about the Yorùbá and Anabaptist religions. He enjoys volunteering at local museums, composing music and playing classical guitar.
Amanda Martin
Undergraduate Institution: Seattle University, 2009
Undergraduate Degree: Asian Studies
Research Interests: People of la frontera, diaspora, the "other" in modern media, and creative writing
Snapshot: As a second-generation Chilena, Amanda is dedicated to issues surrounding immigration, and has worked with such groups at HelpingLink (MotDau Noi), the National Archives, and various expat groups in Tokyo, documenting the histories of uprooted peoples.
Marilyn Richter
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Undergraduate Institution: University of Washington Bothell, 2008
Undergraduate Degree: Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences, Society, Ethics, and Human Behavior
Research Interests: Gender and cultural roles in society
Snapshot: Marilyn is currently the Assistant Director of Human Resources at a mid-size law firm in Seattle and the Vice President of Seattle Area Legal Recruiters. She is interested in the societal roles different genders and cultures reveal, and how that affects their everyday interactions.
David Ryder
Undergraduate Institution: University of Washington, 2006
Undergraduate Degree: Comparative History of Ideas
Research Interests: Whiteness and white privilege, photojournalism, critical theory regarding photojournalism
Snapshot: David is a freelance photojournalist interested in issues of white privilege.
Ryan Sackman
Undergraduate Institution: University of Washington Bothell, 2009
Undergraduate Degree: Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences, Culture, Literature and the Arts
Research Interests: Sexual Identity in American Media and Film, with a specific interest in masculine discourse
Snapshot: Ryan is interested in the influences and aspects of culture and their social implications, both domestic and foreign. He thinks that people who dedicate their lives to the study of culture have a distinct advantage, not only in their ability to make change but in their ability to understand and examine social problems and to find solutions.
Diane Venberg
Undergraduate Institution: University of Washington Bothell, 2007
Undergraduate Degree: Interdisciplinary Arts &Sciences, Society, Ethics and Human Behavior, Minor in Human Rights
Research Interests: Social movements, humane education, empathy and creativity studies
Snapshot: Diane has worked as both a professional lobbyist and volunteer advocate for the rights of non-human animals and strives to illuminate causal relationships between all animals and the environment we share.
Shuai Wang
Undergraduate Institution: Beijing Normal University, 2009
Undergraduate Degree: Art and Cultural Management
Research Interests: Cultural industry, independent record label
Snapshot: Shuai is dedicated to the music development in China, crazy about Rock&Roll and performance on the stage. He is devoted to the research of curtural difference between China and other countries.
Luke Ware
Undergraduate Institution: Western Washington University, 2008
Undergraduate Degree: Communication and Media Studies
Research Interests: The nexus between technology, communication, and culture
Snapshot: Luke is interested in the way technology channels culture, wants to teach, and does not watch Fox News
Holly Winters
Undergraduate Institution: The Evergreen State College, 2009
Undergraduate Degree: Focus in Spanish and Latin American Studies
Research Interests: Latino culture and bilingualism, immigration reform, border politics, tango
Snapshot: Holly's academic career has included nine months of intensive Spanish and Portuguese language studies in Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil.
2008 Cohort
Trina Ballard
Undergraduate Institution: University of Washington Seattle, 2003
Undergraduate Degree: Speech Communications
Research Interests: Gender, sexuality, cyber culture, avatars
Snapshot: Trina is currently Director of Outreach at Bellevue Community College, a position in which she promotes the outstanding, unmatched, transformative benefits of higher education to the public.
Randi Courtmanch
Undergraduate Institution: Cornish College of the Arts, 2004
Undergraduate Degree: Dance
Research Interests: Making art accessible and integral to community life
Snapshot: Randi has spent time traveling in Europe and currently works as a movement/dance instructor for adults with intellectual and physical disabilities.
Salena Farris
Undergraduate Institution: University of Washington Bothell, 2008
Undergraduate Degree: Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences, Culture, Literature and the Arts
Research Interests: Sexuality, gender, third world feminist writers
Snapshot: Salena is fascinated with sexuality and gender and cannot get enough of third world feminist writers, such as bell hooks and Chandra Mohanty.
Ann Ferreira
Undergraduate Institution: University of Washington Bothell, 1997
Undergraduate Degree: Liberal Studies
Research Interests: Community collaboration, formations of culture
Snapshot: Ann's mission is to work in partnership with local communities, bringing people together, sharing perspectives, and fostering cultural understanding independent of race, religion, and political affiliation.
Joshua Heim
Undergraduate Institution: Lewis & Clark College, 2001
Undergraduate Degree: Sociology and Anthropology
Research Interests: Community-cultural development & arts practices; Public space: museums & heritage sites; American magic & secularity
Snapshot: Joshua is currently at Seattle's Wing Luke Asian Museum where he develops community-led exhibitions and leads an arts-based youth leadership program.
Valerie Heuschkel
Undergraduate Institution: University of Washington Bothell, 2008
Undergraduate Degree: Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences, Society, Ethics and Human Behavior
Research Interests: Adolescent sexual health and sexual politics, the impact of abstinence-only programs
Snapshot: Valerie loves the "unofficial" work of exposing young people to the arts and literature.
Francesca Hillery
Undergraduate Institution: University of Washington Seattle, 2008
Undergraduate Degree: Comparative History of Ideas
Research Interests: Indigenous philosophy, feminism, geography, and new media
Snapshot: Working in the Native Voices program at the University of Washington, Francesca developed a documentary research project about reindeer migration in the circumpolar north.
Jennifer Lockett
Undergraduate Institution: University of Washington Seattle, 2008
Undergraduate Degrees: Comparative History of Ideas and English
Research Interests: Post-human critical theory, cultural impact of information technology
Snapshot: Jennifer is an avid cyclist and vegan, believing social activism should begin at home because even the little things make a difference.
Angelica Macklin
Undergraduate Institution: Washington State University, 2007
Undergraduate Degree: Social Sciences with a focus on Women Studies, Human Development and the History of the Americas
Research Interests: Cultural activism in South Africa, film production as a tool of activism
Snapshot: As owner of Open Hand Reel, Angelica uses film to document, understand, and create movements of social change in South Africa, the United States, and Latin America.
Joy MacTavish-Unten
Undergraduate Institution: University of Washington Seattle, 2008
Undergraduate Degrees: Comparative History of Ideas and Women Studies, Minor in Diversity Studies
Research Interests: Critical Race Theory, LGBTQ Studies, anti-oppressive parenting practices, childbirth and the postpartum period
Snapshot: Joy's academic career has included studying abroad in Cape Town, South Africa while facilitating a year-long community-based learning project, "Photography, Literacy and Dialogue," with high schools in Seattle and Cape Town.
Christi Nelson
Undergraduate Institution: University of Washington Bothell, 2000
Undergraduate Degree: Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences, Society, Ethics and Human Behavior
Research Interests: Family roles across cultures, cultural issues impacting minorities and women
Snapshot: Christi is very passionate about welcoming diversity within society and hopes to examine the ways one can be a force of change in the community at large.
Tyler Pratt
Undergraduate Institution: University of Washington Bothell, 2007
Undergraduate Degree: Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences, Global Studies
Research Interests: African and Diaspora studies, social justice, sustainability
Snapshot: Tyler studied at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in Durban, South Africa in 2006 and has spent time volunteering with The Borgen Project, a global movement bringing political attention to severe poverty.
Jeremy Richards
Undergraduate Institution: Gonzaga University, 2000
Undergraduate Degree: Broadcast Studies, Minor in Philosophy
Research Interests: Orality and reception theory in public radio, performance poetry, improvisational theater
Snapshot: Jeremy works as an actor and improv teacher with Unexpected Productions and is a radio producer for KUOW, Seattle's NPR station.
Faith Simonelli
Undergraduate Institution: University of Washington Bothell, 2008
Undergraduate Degree: Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences, American Studies, Minor in Education
Research Interests: Education, cultural, ethnic, and community development
Snapshot: Faith is an avid volunteer in her community and has been highly involved with Everett School District as a mentor and tutor in reading, math, and art.
Jayne Swift
Graduate and Undergraduate Institution: University of Iowa, 2004
Undergraduate Degree: Womens Studies, 2004
Graduate Degree: Womens Studies, 2006
Research Interests: U.S. popular culture, postcolonial studies, queer theory, commerical sexual culture
Snapshot: Jayne's master's thesis, "What are You Doing in My Wading Pool?: What 'Fluidity' Has to do With Queer and Straight Feminists," outlines the discourse of "sexual fluidity" in contemporary feminist and pop culture texts.
Myrella Thompson
Undergraduate Institution: Western Washington University, 2007
Undergraduate Degree: English, Concentration in Creative Writing
Research Interests: Cultural psychology, concealed racism, American individualism
Snapshot: Myrella is interested in the cultural conventions that limit people's freedom and feels that education is the first and most important step toward improving our world.
Alan Williams
Undergraduate Institution: The Evergreen State College, 2006
Undergraduate Degree: Focus on queer theory, continental philosophy, and creative writing
Research Interests: Feminist theory, postcolonial studies, religion studies, queer studies, yaoi
Snapshot: Alan's first novel, Ockham's Razor, complicates the notion of homophobia in a Mormon context.