Paw'd Defiance

UW Tacoma Assistant Professor Vern Harner recently completed their doctorate in social welfare and will begin teaching on campus this fall. In this episode Harner talks about their interest in social work. They also discuss the importance of having trans researchers conduct  research about the trans community. Harner is trans and played an important role in getting the University of Washington to change its diploma name policy. Until recently the university only allowed full legal names on diplomas. Harner got involved with the issue after a few of their trans students expressed concern about the policy.  We'll talk about that and Harner's long history of activism.

School of Social Work & Criminal Justice
CEI

Isabella Webb was born and raised in Australia. For years she tried to hide her Aboriginal heritage. In this episode, Webb talks about how higher education and travel helped her embrace her heritage. Webb earned a bachelor's, master's and is currently working on a doctorate. We also discuss Aboriginal history including the Australian government's attempt to eradicate the Aboriginal way of life. Finally, Webb talks about her role as an academic advisor including how she empowers students to embrace their journey and succeed in college.

UW Tacoma Associate Professor Eric Madfis is an expert on mass shootings and has been quoted in numerous publications including the New York Times, Politico and the Washington Post. Madfis has also written four books about mass shootings. His latest book “All American Massacre: The Tragic Role of American Culture and Society in Mass Shootings” comes out in the fall. In this episode we talk with Madfis about mass shootings in the United States. We talk about how access to guns along with gun culture contributes to gun violence. We also discuss the idea that "the only way to stop a bad guy with a gun is a good good with a gun." Finally, the discussion turns to ways to prevent school shootings. Research suggests a positive school environment might be a more effective way to stop school shootings before they start.

In this episode we talk to Cho Shimizu and Eileen Yamada Lamphere about the forced incarceration of Japanese and Japanese Americans during World War II. Shimizu was a small child when both he and his family were forced to leave their family farm and move first to the Puyallup Assembly Center and later to the Minidoka War Relocation Center. Lamphere's mother was also held at the Puyallup Assembly Center. Her parents later met at Minidoka. In these two episodes, Shimizu and Lamphere discuss what life was life for Japanese and Japanese Americans living in the South Sound prior to the start of World War II. They will also talk about conditions at places like the Puyallup Assembly Center and the impact this experience had on their families and on themselves. Finally, Shimizu and Lamphere talk about the importance of remembering this history and the vital role education plays in ensuring this happens. 

Part I: https://www.buzzsprout.com/265902/10766712-the-puyallup-assembly-center-part-i-treated-like-an-enemy

In this episode we talk to Cho Shimizu and Eileen Yamada Lamphere about the forced incarceration of Japanese and Japanese Americans during World War II. Shimizu was a small child when both he and his family were forced to leave their family farm and move first to the Puyallup Assembly Center and later to the Minidoka War Relocation Center. Lamphere's mother was also held at the Puyallup Assembly Center. Her parents later met at Minidoka. During the next two episodes, Shimizu and Lamphere discuss what life was life for Japanese and Japanese Americans living in the South Sound prior to the start of World War II. They will also talk about conditions at places like the Puyallup Assembly Center and the impact this experience had on their families and on themselves. Finally, Shimizu and Lamphere talk about the importance of remembering this history and the vital role education plays in ensuring this happens. 

Part II: https://www.buzzsprout.com/265902/10767528-the-puyallup-assembly-center-part-ii-they-didn-t-know-what-had-happened-in-their-community

In this episode of the podcast we hear from UW Tacoma senior Andre Henderson and his mother Renay Henderson. Andre graduates on June 13 with a degree in social welfare. Andre’s journey has been a difficult, but no matter what he always had the support of his family, including his mother. Renay earned a degree in human resources back in the early 2000’s, while raising three children and working full-time. Andre and Renay discuss their experiences in higher education and why they decided to attend college. Finally, mother and son talk about what it means to them to see each other succeed. 

In this episode of the podcast we take a tour of Professor Mike Honey’s office. Honey is a founding faculty member of UW Tacoma. He started in 1990 and moved into his current office in 1997. The office overlooks Pacific Avenue which runs right through the heart of downtown. Honey’s office is lined with books and posters. Research material and graded papers are stuffed into accordion file folders. There are at least two guitars and a banjo in the space. There are also records, cassettes and VHS tapes. The carpet is faded and worn from use. Honey has spent countless hours here. It is, in many ways more than just an office; it’s a home, a library and a gathering place. In this office Honey has conducted research, and written articles and books. He’s also met with students, community members and civil rights and labor leaders. Honey is retiring from teaching in July and will hand over the keys to his office, eventually. Honey may be retiring from teaching, but that doesn’t mean he’s done working.

In this episode UW Tacoma Professor Katie Baird talks about her new book "Growing Mangos in the Desert." The book chronicles Baird's experience in the Peace Corps. The then twenty-something was sent to Mauritania to teach farmers there how to grow rice. Baird had very little training and couldn't speak the local language. Needless to say things didn't go as planned. Baird talks about her experience in Mauritania, how the transition to rice upended Mauritanian culture and whether or not the project worked. She also talks about the friendships she made and what the experience taught her. 

In 1996 Howard Zehr published "Doing Life." The book features photos and stories of men and women serving  life sentences in Pennsylvania prisons. Years later, Zehr partnered with UW Tacoma Associate Professor Barbara Toews on a follow up book. "Still Doing Life, 22 Lifers, 25 Years Later." In "Still Doing Life," Toews and Zehr talked with some of the same men and women featured in the original book. In this episode we talk about the books and the stories of men and women who have spent decades in prison. We also discuss life sentences, restorative justice and how "lifers" keep going and find meaning.

UW Tacoma Professor Heather Dillon and a group of students worked together to get a campus chapter of The Society of Women Engineers at UW Tacoma. Dillon and the students - Anna Wen, Jasmine Davis and Sophia Elmobdy - talk about the importance of having a SWE chapter on campus. The group also discusses the barriers women in engineering face. Finally, the conversation turns to why each student decided to pursue a degree in engineering and how they're hoping to build a welcoming environment at UW Tacoma for women considering a career in engineering.