Author: Christina Baker

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CHAT 2025-2026 Collaborations


WRITERS OF COLOR SERIES 

Dr. Srimati Mukherjee, alongside Dr. Rebeca Hey-Cólon (now at Cornell), co-founded the Writers of Color Series in 2021 as a response to violence against BIPOC bodies. Dr. Mukherjee revived the series during Spring 2026 with a discussion of the novel My Monticello. 

GLOBAL ASIA WORKING GROUP 

During Spring 2026, in conversation with Dr. Roselyn Hsueh, CHAT formalized an affinity group entitled “Global Asia Working Group.” The goal is to bring scholars and students into dialogue and to plan events that would speak to a diverse scholarly agenda. 

AUTHENTICITY IN FOCUS 

To celebrate Trans Day of Visibility, in collaboration with GSWS and Queer Voices Coalition, CHAT hosted headshots, taken by Oliver Lois Economidis. As non-normative citizens often feel uncomfortable, we sought to create a safe space to get new photos that allow them to feel authentic and confident.

BEYOND THE CLASSROOM

CHAT was invited to participate in Beyond the Classroom Fest this year. In bringing our Annual Theme to life, we created mini books that attendees could bind, as well as themed items that can bind to people or objects: stickers and temporary tattoos! We spoke with over a hundred undergraduates that day about what CHAT has to offer. 

WAFFLE WEDNESDAYS 

Throughout the year, Greek & Roman Classics used CHAT’s conference room for a monthy event that brings together between 10-15 undergraduate and graduate students from across the insitution, including TU Rome. In addition to using CHAT’s space and access to supplies, CHAT also created and distributed monthly flyers. 

COBWEBS & CALAVERAS 

Joining forces for the first time with the Student Success Center, CHAT organized an event related to Halloween, Día de Muertos, and other Fall-themed traditions. This event included food, games, and a costume contest. Over 90 students, staff, fellows, and faculty were in attendance. 

COMMUNICATE LIKE A SCHOLAR 

Working with Mark Kaloko, Ed.D., CHAT and Temple’s Graduate School organized an event to support graduate students in developing professional communication skills. Students from field ranging from nursing to political science were in attendance. 

CAREERS IN HUMANITIES: ALUMNI PANEL 

Teaming up with CLA Graduate Affairs (Julia Falcon and Hayley Wight), we offered a humanities career panel with three alumni. This was offered on Zoom to accommodate schedules for presenters and attendees. 

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2025-2026 Fellows

2025-2026

Boundary Spanning, Conforming, and Negotiation: Entanglements of Transnational Media Business and Soft Power

FengYi Yin

Protest as Incantation: Invoking Goddess-Mothers Before Black Lives Matter and #Say Her Name

Shannon Walters (English)

The Colonial Hospital and the Ladies of the Red Cross Spanish Morocco 1909-1920s

Ethan Cohen (History)

Making It After Factory Work: Rural Migrant Workers’ Livelihood Strategies and Precarity in the Chinese New Economy

Lu Zhang

“Ears Made Delicate”: Learning the Language of the Non-Human in Celia Thaxter’s Among the Isles of Shoals

Tara Kennette (English)

Slow Sustainability: “We’re Getting There” Climate and Environmental Justice in Philadelphia (2006-2026)

Christina Rosan (GENUS)

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2025-2026 Arts & Humanities Speakers

Your Style, Your Story

As the first event of 2025-2026, it seemed only fitting to invite CHAT’s graphic designer, Dora Moghaddami, to speak about artistry, individual brand, and curiosity. Joined by CHAT Fellows, students, and faculty, Dora referenced Kafka, growing up in Iran, and shared what inspires her to approach each project with care. This event was supported by OVPR funds. 

Sonetos de Amor Oscuro

Along with Spanish & Portuguese, CHAT supported Daniel de Jesús’s visit to Temple as part of Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month. After a beautiful cello performance in the newly inaugurated Mazur 111, de Jesús was welcomed in CHAT for a reception where he also displayed his phenomenal paintings. This event was supported by OVPR funds.

Risks & Rewards of Public Humanities

Eight local public humanities professionals from organizations such as PA Humanities, Free Library of Philadelphia, First Person Arts, Treehouse Books, and CLA’s Center for Community engagement addressed a crowd of approximately 35. The guests addressed the way in which contemporary events shape the work they do. This event was co-organized by CHAT and English, notably Dr. Laura McGrath and Dr. Steve Newman. This event was supported by OVPR funds. 

Betty Corrello: Love, Lupus, and Rome

CHAT welcomed Betty Corrello, author of 32 Days in May, to discuss writing while impacted by an autoimmune disease. Joining us were students fro GSWS 3015: Sexuality and Disabililty, Education Abroad, and MLLC. In front of an audience of 50 people, Corrello shared experiences studying in Rome, crafting compelling characters, and how she navigated her own health. Cupid’s Bookshop was also on site, as Corrello debuted her new novel, My Italian Vampire. This event was supported by OVPR funds. 

Malwina Marciniak: Fulbright Scholar

In collaboration with Dr. Michael Klein and Boyer College of Music and Dance, CHAT hosted Dr. Malwina Marciniak, a Fulbright Scholar from Poland, during Spring 2026 semester. Dr. Marciniak gave a riveting talk on January 23, 2026 and spent time in CHAT developing her research on the New Concerto. 

So, You Want to Write a Trade Book.


Dr. Laura McGrath’s forthcoming monograph tackles complex questions related to book publishing, including the role of a literary agent. She and Alia Hanna Habib, VP and Literary Agent, had a riveting discussion about what it means to work with an agent and how to maneuver in this current climate. 

Forged in the Ring

In collaboration with the Temple Anthropology Lab and Museum (TALM), Damian Lobato joined approximately 25 students and faculty for conversation about Philadelphia Boxing Gyms. Lobato also shared his personal photography and loaned items to TALM until Fall 2026. This event was organized by Dr. Marina Mikhyalova and supported by OVPR funds. 

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2025-2026 Book Celebrations

2026-2027 CHAT Fellow, Bench Ansfield presented their award-winning book Born in Flames to a crowd of over 30 people. Ansfield gave a provocative talk about brownlining, insurance fraud, and New York in the 1960s and 1970s. Co-sponsors for the event included History and Honors.

As a 2022-2023 CHAT Fellow, Alan McPherson workshopped and presented parts of what would become The Breach. He and his doctoral student, Joseph Johnson, discussed the book in front of approximately 25 colleagues and graduate students on February 3, 2026. 

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Humanities & Arts Mini-Grants

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Humanities & Arts Mini-Grants

During 2025-2026, the Center for the Humanities at Temple University (CHAT) invited faculty and students to apply for awards supporting humanities-related research or creative projects. Awards range from $250–$500, with the possibility of additional support. Funding is provided by the Humanities and Arts Research Program (HARP) and the Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR).

Recipients are expected to:
• Attend at least one workshop or event organized by CHAT.
• Present their work at the 2026 Humanities Day Symposium.
• Provide a brief final report summarizing project outcomes.
• Attribute OVPR funding in any publications, presentations, or posters resulting from the award.

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Humanities Through Art Contest

Inspired by the Justice Through Art Contest, hosted by Criminal Justice, CHAT aims to cultivate a literal space where students engage with the humanities by channeling their energy, and critical thinking through artistic expression. We aim to showcase student-created work that reflects the complexity of human experience and the transformative power of the arts.

We welcomed submissions in the visual arts or literary arts. All entries were expected to engage with this year’s theme ofUn/Bound and reflect the expressive power of the humanities through the arts.

Prizes

Win up to $400 and have your work showcased in the CHAT Arts Space! Prizes include $400 for first place, $300 for second, and $200 for third.

Please note that awards are deposited into your student account and will first be applied to any existing balance.

Visual Arts & Design

Includes:

  • Drawing, Painting (any media)
  • Printmaking, Mixed-media/Multimedia
  • Poster Art or Graphic Design
  • Photography, Sculpture, Ceramics, or other 3D works

Submission Format: JPG, PNG, or GIF (for still images); max file size 10 MB

Literary Arts

Includes:

  • Poetry (max 350 words)
  • Creative Writing: fiction, creative nonfiction, hybrid forms (max 1000 words)

Submission Format: DOC, DOCX, PPT, PPTX, PDF

Submission Instructions

1. Complete the online submission form and upload your work along with the form.

  • For Visual Arts & Design submissions, you may upload up to three images to provide alternate views of the same piece.
  • For Literary Arts, your work will be printed and displayed as part of the exhibition.

2. Please ensure that your submission is ready for public display at the time of upload:

  • For Visual or Design entries, submit high-quality images or video/audio files, and include any necessary hardware or specifications for installation or presentation. Click here for tips on how to photograph and display visual work.
  • For Literary submissions, carefully proofread your work for typos and formatting. We will display printed excerpts or full texts as submitted.

Questions? See our FAQs page.

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CHAT Past Lecture Series & Programming Archive

2019–2020 Lecture Series

October 10, 2019
Travis Glasson (Department of History)
CHAT Faculty Fellow 2019–2020
“Sunshine Patriots: Family and Divided Loyalties in the American Revolution”

November 7, 2019
Mariola Alvarez (Department of Art History)
CHAT Faculty Fellow 2019–2020
“Becoming Modern, Becoming Brazilian: Japanese Brazilian Abstract Artists”

November 21, 2019
Rebeca Hey-Colón (Department of Spanish)
“Spectral Waters: Diasporic Women’s Writing from Hispaniola”

December 5, 2019
Lee-Ann Chae (Department of Philosophy)
“Trust and Contingency Plans”

January 23, 2020
Jess Newman (Department of Anthropology)
“Territorializing Rumors, Dangerous Sex”

Postponed Events (2020)

  • James Salazar (English), CHAT Faculty Fellow 2019–2020
    “Embodying Time: Pedagogies of Rhythm in 19th Century American Culture”
  • Patricia Melzer (German; Gender, Sexuality & Women’s Studies), CHAT Faculty Fellow 2019–2020
    “Militante Mannsbilder: Alternative Masculinities in Men’s Groups of the Autonomen”
  • Brian Creech (Journalism), CHAT Faculty Fellow 2019–2020
    “Private Platforms, Public Demands: Tech CEOs as Locus of Popular Critique”
  • Katya Motyl (History), CHAT Faculty Fellow 2019–2020
    “The Mysterious and Endangered Reality of Femininity: New Womanhood in Vienna, 1890–1930”

2018–2019 Distinguished Lecture Series

Gary Mucciaroni (Political Science)
Answers to the Labor Question: The Origins of Industrial Relations Regimes in the Anglophone World, 1880–1945
Thursday, September 13 | 12:30–1:50 PM | CHAT Lounge

Starting in the mid-19th century, elites and reformers grappled with “the labor question,” rooted in wage labor systems that produced class divisions. This talk examines how countries such as Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States developed distinct industrial relations systems—voluntarist, statist, and legalist—despite shared origins.

Noriko Manabe (Music Studies)
How Sound Shapes Demonstrations, and How Demonstrations Shape Sound
Thursday, October 18 | 12:30–1:50 PM | CHAT Lounge

Drawing on fieldwork and theoretical analysis, this lecture explores how protest soundscapes are shaped by sociopolitical conditions, policing, and urban environments, with a focus on Japanese “sound demonstrations.”

Eugene Chislenko (Philosophy)
Believing Against the Evidence
Thursday, October 18 | 12:30–1:50 PM | CHAT Lounge

This talk interrogates the paradox of holding beliefs against evidence, offering new ways to understand self-deception, superstition, and belief formation.

Katherine Henry (English)
Queering “Civil Disobedience”
Thursday, November 1 | 12:30–1:50 PM | CHAT Lounge

This lecture rethinks civil disobedience through gender and queer theory, examining how refusal and dissent expose the coercive nature of governance.

Hosea Harvey (Law & Political Science)
Creating an American Myth: How the U.S. Census Defines Race
Thursday, November 15 | 12:30–1:50 PM | CHAT Lounge

Explores how evolving census categories reflect shifting political, cultural, and methodological understandings of race in the United States.

Tania Jenkins (Sociology)
Doctors’ Orders: Status Hierarchies in the Medical Profession
Thursday, January 24 | 12:30–1:50 PM | CHAT Lounge

Examines how status hierarchies among physicians are constructed and maintained, particularly through educational pedigree.

Mónica Ricketts (History)
Women and the Spectacle of Politics: Theater in Lima, 1800–1850
Thursday, February 21 | 12:30–1:50 PM | CHAT Lounge

Highlights women’s participation in political culture through theater, revealing alternative spaces of civic engagement.

Geoffrey Baym (Media Studies & Production)
Tabloid Trump and the Political Imaginary, 1980–1999
Thursday, March 21 | 12:30–1:50 PM | CHAT Lounge

Analyzes the early media construction of Donald Trump as a political figure through tabloid culture.

Benjamin Talton (History)
The Afterlife of Radicalism: African Americans and Africa in the Age of Reagan
Thursday, April 18 | 12:30–1:50 PM | CHAT Lounge

Explores African American political engagement with Africa during the 1980s and its decline in the 1990s.

2018–2019 Boundaries Lecture Series

Lee McIntyre (Boston University)
What Does It Mean to Be “Post-Truth”?
Wednesday, September 26 | 4:00–5:30 PM

Nasser al-Jahwari (Sultan Qaboos University)
Reimagining the Agency of Borderland Populations
Wednesday, November 7 | 4:00–5:30 PM

Claudia Castro Luna (Poet Laureate, Washington State)
Imagining Their Voices: The Murdered Women of Juárez
Wednesday, November 28 | 4:00–5:30 PM

Sarah Igo (Vanderbilt University)
The Known Citizen: Privacy in Modern America
Wednesday, February 13 | 3:00–5:30 PM

Hector Amaya (University of Virginia)
Hate and Border Ephemerality in the Digital Realm
Thursday, March 28 | 4:00–5:30 PM

(Co-sponsored by programs including Global Studies, Anthropology, and Klein College.)

Professional Development & Workshops (2018–2019)

Humanities Internships for Graduate Students – A Conversation
Thursday, October 11 | 12:30–1:50 PM | CHAT Lounge

Could internships be the first step for careers and research in the public humanities? What kinds of internships exist? What are employers looking for? How do your skills apply in the workplace? How do you get an internship?

An experienced graduate intern, internship supervisor, and faculty member discussed how they obtained internships, what their experiences were, and how they benefited from them.

Participants included:

  • Jonathan Burton, Executive Director, Philadelphia Society for the Preservation of Landmarks
  • Joy Feagan, intern and professional with experience at historical societies, libraries, and museums including the National Museum of Nuclear Science & History, Mote Marine Aquarium’s Arthur Vining Davis Library, and the Tampa Baseball Museum
  • Hilary Iris Lowe, Assistant Professor of History, Temple University and faculty internship advisor

CLIR Opportunities: Balancing Academic and Alt-Ac Career Paths for Doctoral Students
Tuesday, March 12 | 3:30–5:00 PM
CHAT Lounge, 10th Floor, Gladfelter Hall

This panel brought together Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR) postdoctoral fellows from research universities and liberal arts colleges. Speakers discussed their doctoral research, career trajectories, and broader questions of professionalization, the changing nature of doctoral study, and opportunities for meaningful employment beyond traditional academic paths.

Participants included:

  • Dr. Lorena Gauthereau, CLIR-Mellon Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Houston (Recovering the U.S. Hispanic Literary Heritage)
  • Dr. Jessica C. Linker, CLIR Humanities and Digital Scholarship Postdoctoral Fellow, Bryn Mawr College
  • Dr. Alex Galarza, CLIR Postdoctoral Fellow in Data Curation, Haverford College
  • Dr. Crystal A. Felima, CLIR Postdoctoral Fellow in Caribbean Studies Data Curation, University of Florida
  • Dr. Elliott Shore, Senior Presidential Fellow, CLIR and founding co-dean of the Postdoctoral Fellowship Program

Selected Earlier Programming Highlights (2010–2015)

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FAQ Art Contest

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the purpose of this contest?

  • This contest is an opportunity for students to engage with the humanities through artistic expression.

What kind of project can I submit?

  • We accept submissions in two categories of artistic expression:
    1. Visual Arts & Design: Drawings, paintings, posters, sculpture, ceramics, photography, mixed media, printmaking, or graphic design (initially submitted as image files).
    2. Literary Arts: Poetry, short stories, creative nonfiction, monologues, or hybrid work (submitted as text files and printed for display.

Where do I submit my work?

  • Submit your work online using this form (link).
  • For visual works, you may upload up to three images of the same piece to show different angles or details.

But I’m not an artist. Can I still participate?

  • Of course! The focus is transmitting your interpretation of this year’s humanities-driven theme through art. We will be judging based on the power of expression and how clearly your work communicates a connection to this year’s theme.

The theme is “Unbound.” What does that mean?

  • That’s the question we want you to explore.
  • Your submission should reflect your interpretation of what being bound or unbound means, feels, evokes, and/or looks like. See our Annual Theme page for more details. 

Do I have to submit my work online, or can I drop it off?

  • We strongly recommend uploading your submission online.
  • However, if you prefer to submit a physical version in person, email chat@temple.edu to drop off entries at Mazur 312. 


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