Hannah Pittard Reading, Call for Papers from Purdue, SLS Writing Contest, and DFI Fellowship Information

Join us this THURSDAY, JANUARY 26 at 6 p.m., for a reading by DePaul’s own Professor Hannah Pittard at the DePaul University Bookstore at 1 East Jackson in the Loop.

Prof. Pittard wrote the critically acclaimed novel, The Fates Will Find Their Way. She is also the winner of the 2006 Amanda Davis Highwire Fiction Award, the recipient of a 2012 MacDowell Colony Fellowship, and a consulting editor for Narrative Magazine.

This event is free and open to the public.

***

The American Studies Program at Purdue University announces its 37th annual Symposium to be held April 19-20, 2012, and they have just announced an Extended Submission Deadline: January 30, 2012 for the symposium’s call for papers. This event is organized by graduate students and focuses on the presentation of graduate student work. In acknowledging the importance of interdisciplinary studies, the Symposium Committee invites papers from students of all disciplines to engage the theme “National Tragedies: Perceptions, Receptions, and Expectations.”

The theme of “National Tragedies” seeks to interrogate those moments and events in both history and contemporary society, which have affected the American psyche consciously and/or unconsciously. A focus on Perceptions assesses how various peoples in America and even those beyond America’s geo-political borders have defined tragedies and nations, politically, socially, economically, and environmentally. Receptions aims to uncover the varied responses to and reflections upon these tragic moments and decipher what they mean both nationally and transnationally for America. Finally, Expectations seeks to develop and foster an understanding about national tragedies cross-culturally, within and without the nation.

With a focus primarily on past and present transnational developments in America, the theme seeks to initiate scholarly conversations that theorize upon instances within American history which have been instrumental in defining how America views itself as a nation as well as how America is viewed by other nations. Possible proposal topics from interdisciplinary perspectives include, but are not limited to:

  • Critical Race Theory, Whiteness Studies
  • Cultural Amnesia
  • Cultural Studies, Popular Culture Studies
  • Eco-Feminism, Environmental Studies
  • Education and Pedagogy Studies
  • Gender, Queer Theory and Sexuality Studies
  • Literary Studies
  • Othered Social Groups
  • Religious Studies

The Symposium Committee invites all those interested to submit proposals no longer than one page in length for panels, individual papers, workshops, and performances no later than January 30, 2012. Please also submit a biography of no more than 250 words, a current CV with contact information (especially your email address), and a list of any audio and/or visual equipment necessary for your presentation. Submissions must be made electronically to amstsymposium@purdue.edu.

***

Summer Literary Seminars, a dynamic international literary and cultural program, has announced the upcoming deadline for their annual literary contest. Submit your poetry, fiction, or nonfiction by February 28th, 2012 for what is going to be the largest SLS contest to date:

*Seven places to be published. Five major prizes. Three all-expenses paid trips. Six additional prizes. A considerable number of contest-based fellowships. One contest. Enter today!*

*Enter our 2012 Unified Literary Contest at sumlitsem.org/contest now for your chance to win an all-expenses paid trip to one of our groundbreaking 2012 programs.  Winners will be published in North America’s leading literary online and print journals,  and will receive free tuition (including airfare and accommodations) to a 2012 SLS Program. *

Visit the Summer Literary Seminars website for complete details concerning their programs as well as full contest guidelines.

***

The DFI Fellowship is an award made available to graduate students with the goal of increasing the number of minority full-time tenure track faculty and staff at Illinois’ two- and four-year, public and private colleges and universities. DePaul University currently has seven graduate students who receive the DFI Fellowship, and they are generously offering a series of information sessions for current DePaul graduate students interested in applying.

A DFI Fellow must be an Illinois resident and U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident alien who is a member of an Underrepresented Group. Black/African American, Hispanic American, Asian American, American Indian or Alaskan Native. “Traditionally underrepresented minority group” means any of the minority groups designated in the Public Act which are represented in Illinois post-baccalaureate enrollment at a percentage rate less than the minority group’s representation in the total Illinois population. The Public Act further specifies that to be classified as an Illinois resident, an applicant must possess a high school diploma or postsecondary degree from an accredited Illinois educational institution or have lived in Illinois for at least three years.

For more information, please read DFI Guidelines or visit their website.

The next DFI Fellowship Application Training Sessions are scheduled on the following dates:

  • Tuesday, Jan. 24 at 10:00 am; OIDE Office 14 E. Jackson, Suite 800 (Loop)
  • Thursday, Jan. 26 at 2:00 pm; DePaul Center Room 8002 (Loop)

Private sessions (approximately 30 minutes), scheduled by appointment on a first come first serve basis:

  • Wednesday, February 1 at 1:30 – 4 pm; OIDE Office 14 E. Jackson, Suite 800 (Loop)
  • Friday, February 3 at 1:30 – 4 pm; Center for Intercultural Programs-Founders Room, 2250 N Sheffield Ave, Suite 105 (Lincoln Park)

RSVP to diversitymatters@depaul.edu and indicate the session you’d like to attend. Walk-ins are welcome.