(Photo credit: Utah State University)
By Andrea DeHaan, CHaSS Communications Editor
The College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHaSS) at Utah State University is proud to host an African American Read-In during February 2024. This national initiative, promoted by the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE), aims to celebrate and amplify African American literature while fostering a greater sense of community and understanding.
Department of English faculty Adena Rivera-Dundas and Cree Taylor are coordinating the Read-In at USU. The event invites CHaSS-affiliated students, faculty, and staff to collectively explore Jesmyn Ward’s novel “Sing, Unburied, Sing.” This acclaimed work and winner of the National Book Award was previously recognized as a New York Times “Top 10 Best Book of the Year.”
“This is a great opportunity for folks to come together and discuss a great piece of modern literature,” said Taylor. “Dr. Rivera-Dundas is the perfect guide as we read and then discuss the themes of the text. It is going to be a lot of fun!”
Participants are invited to follow a reading schedule and join in a series of four reading group meetings throughout February. These sessions will be held in-person and virtually to facilitate participation from the Logan and Statewide campuses. Refreshments will be provided for in-person participants.
The Center for Intersectional Gender Studies and Research (CIGSR) is covering the cost of books for all participants. RSVPs for physical copies are already underway, but requests for e-book and audiobook formats are being accepted through Jan. 31.
“It is important for us … to read about the experiences of others so we can work to build understanding and awareness of those around us,” said Taylor. “I hope that folks participating in the Read-In will develop a greater capacity to listen to and appreciate the stories of individuals who are different from them.”
USU’s African American Read-In is made possible through the support of sponsors including CHaSS, CIGSR, the History Department, the English Department, and CHaSS FSS4JEDI.
For more information and to sign up, please visit: https://forms.gle/EtS2e2V711Ci6rUn8
15 undergraduate English students from Logan, Vernal, and Ephraim campuses presented at the 100th Sigma Tau Delta International English Honors Society Convention and won awards in three categories.
5 Questions for a CHaSS Grad highlights the awesome things our alumni go on to do. Meet Kat Webb, content director for the Aspire NSF Engineering Research Center on USU’s Innovation campus. When not working, Kat can be found playing soccer with her son, u...
