This Week in English | March 21-April 5, 2021
Congratulations to Ryan Dippre
Ryan Dippre was one of seventeen faculty members across the UMaine campus whose promotion and tenure was approved by the Board of Trustees on March 22. Dippre, who directs our nationally recognized first-year composition program, has published a monograph and an edited volume on lifespan writing and also studies writing program administration. To earn tenure a faculty member must demonstrate excellence in teaching, research, and service over a probationary period of six years and be evaluated by senior scholars in their field at comparable institutions of higher learning. It is among academia’s highest honors and we congratulate our colleague on his well-earned success!
Land Back Roundtable Today at 3pm
On Monday, March 29 at 3:00 pm, Darren Ranco, associate professor in the Department of Anthropology and chair of Native American Programs will be part of a roundtable discussion about the Land Back movement and the future of indigenous land relations in Maine. Ranco will be joined by John Banks, Director of the Department of Natural Resources for the Penobscot Indian Nation; Lucas St. Claire, President of the Elliotsville Foundation which recently returned 735 acres to the Penobscot Nation; and Peter Forbes, co-founder of First Light, a land-back collaboration. Panelists will discuss the recent return of land to the Penobscot Nation, the importance of the land and its history, the need for reconciliation in the conservation movement and the possibility of new land relations in Maine. This talk is available via Zoom. Registration is required.
Lecture on Jack Kerouac Today at 5:30
Dr. Jean-Christophe Cloutier of UPenn will be presenting “Translated from the French: Jack Kerouac, the Archive, and the Continenting of America” today at 5:30 PM. The event is free but registration is required.
English Department Drop By on Friday
You never know who will drop by our Friday afternoon gatherings: last week, Hollie Adams and I welcomed several first time visitors, including alumni from as far away as San Francisco and Florida. We’ll meet again via Zoom this week at 4pm to talk informally about the week that was, what we’re reading and watching, and how we’re all doing. Come for a few minutes or settle in, whatever works for you.
Brian Jansen Presents at WrestlePosium on Saturday
Brian Jansen will present ‘He’s Gonna Try’: Notes toward a theory of the professional wrestling gimmick at the Professional Wrestling Studies Association meeting on Saturday, April 3. Jansen, a lecturer in English and communications specialist for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, has published on contemporary authors like George Saunders and Jeffrey Eugenides in addition to several articles on professional wrestling in Canadian Review of American Studies and the Journal of Popular Culture.
Diversity in Children’s Lit Next Tuesday
Issues of diversity in children’s literature will be the focus of an online panel discussion with authors, illustrators and editors April 6, hosted by Fogler Library. The free public event, “Mirrors, Windows & Sliding Doors: A Panel Discussion on Diversity in Children’s Literature,” begins at 4 pm. Register online for the event. For more information or to request a reasonable accommodation, email brad.beauregard@maine.edu.
Workshop on Inclusive Pedagogy on April 12
On April 12, Dr. Brenda J. Allen will lead a workshop on inclusive pedagogy from 3-4:30pm. During this interactive workshop, participants will explore how and why privilege is relevant to inclusive pedagogy. They will learn or relearn the systemic nature of privilege and its relationship with dominant belief systems. They will discuss challenges and opportunities associated with acknowledging individual and collective privilege. Participants will also receive information and insights about privilege dynamics and inclusive teaching and learning. In addition, participants will develop an action plan for addressing privilege in their teaching practices. Seats are limited to 35 and registration is required.
Covid Reminder
If you or people you know in the UMaine community have concerns about COVID-19 symptoms, close contact, or a positive test, call the COVID-19 info line at 207-581-2681 or fill out the online self-reporting form or email umaine.alerts@maine.edu.
This Week in English 99 was sent to students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends of the department on Monday, March 29, 2021. If you would rather not receive these weekly bulletins, please reply with <unsubscribe> in your subject line. Earlier installments are archived on our website. If you’re on Facebook, please consider joining the newly formed English Department Group.
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