UO Today

Cheryl Hartup, Curator of Academic Programs and Latin American and Caribbean Art at the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art; and Danielle Knapp, the McCosh Curator at the Jordan Schnitzer of Art, discuss the museum's Common Seeing collaboration with the UO's Common Reading program. This year the exhibit responds to Helena Maria Viramontes's novel, Under the Feet of Jesus. The curators describe the works of art on view. "Resistance as Power: A Curatorial Response to Under the Feet of Jesus" is on view through February 23rd, 2020.

Provost Patrick Phillips discusses his role as the chief academic officer of the University of Oregon. He is working on filling some academic leadership vacancies as well as working to hire and retain faculty from diverse backgrounds. Phillips also talks about his work as an award-winning evolutionary biologist and the development of the SCORE (Students of Color Opportunities in Research Enrichment) program.

John Arroyo, assistant professor in the School of Planning, Public Policy, and Management at the University of Oregon, joined the faculty in fall 2019. He describes his interdisciplinary approach to urban design and planning. Arroyo discusses his interest in how Mexican immigrants create community in suburban areas to help allay their fear of harassment. His current book project is Shadow Suburbanism: Mexican Everyday Life and Fear in Greater Atlanta.

John Weber, Executive Director of the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art, discusses his Oregon roots and his aspirations for the museum. Weber took over as Executive Director on October 1, 2019 after Jill Hartz retired.

Stacy Alaimo, professor of English and Environmental Studies at the University of Oregon, is an internationally recognized scholar of American literature, ecocultural theory, environmental humanities, and gender theory. She discusses her three books about posthuman environmental politics, and defines the concept of "carbon-heavy masculinity." Alaimo also talks about her current book project Composing Blue Ecologies: Science, Aesthetics, and the Creatures of the Abyss. Alaimo joined the UO faculty in fall 2019 after a 25 year tenure at the University of Texas at Arlington.

Lucy Jones, 2019-20 Wayne Morse Chair of Law and Politics, is the founder of the Dr. Lucy Jones Center for Science and Society, and the author of The Big Ones: How Natural Disasters Have Shaped Us (and What We Can Do About Them). She discusses how scientists can better communicate about the impact of their research with decision makers and the public to effect policies. Jones was in residence at the UO October 7th to November 5th, 2019. During her time on campus she gave talks in Eugene and Portland, participated in a class, and met with local officials on disaster preparedness issues.

Courtney Cox, assistant professor of Race and Sport in the Department of Indigenous, Race, and Ethnic Studies, joined the faculty in Fall 2019. She discusses disparities of gender, race, and class in sports organizations. Cox comments on the recent NCAA vote to permit college athletes to benefit financially from the use of their name, image, and likeness.

Helena María Viramontes, the Goldwin Smith Professor of English at Cornell University, is the author of numerous short stories and two novels, Their Dogs Came with Them and Under the Feet of Jesus. She discusses her writing and Under the Feet of Jesus which is the University of Oregon's 2019-20 Common Reading selection. Viramontes also reads a passage from the book.

Brent Dawson, assistant professor of English at the University of Oregon, and a 2019-20 Oregon Humanities Center Ernst G. Moll Fellow in Literary Studies. He discusses his book project Worldly Muck: The Matter of Universality in English Renaissance Literature. Dawson explains the importance of studying historical literature.

Poet Geri Doran, associate professor of Creative Writing at the University of Oregon, discusses her latest collection Epistle, Osprey (2019) and reads her poetry. Doran will give a reading on November 20, 2019 as part of the Creative Writing Program's 2019-20 Reading Series.