“Entertain, Educate, Empower, Inspire”

MA Creativity Studies student Natalie Daise has a mantra—entertain, educate, empower, inspire—which guides her life as a visual artist, performer, and “creative engineer.” She considers herself a story artist, “enamored with, seduced by, and immersed in story.” She not only tells stories, “the how of things and people and places; the becomings of them” in art, she also uses stories to educate and facilitate creative expression in others.

Some of you may remember her as Miss Natalie from the mid-1990s Nick Jr. show “Gullah Gullah Island.” Here are examples of her more recent endeavors. Natalie wrote and performed the one-woman show “Becoming Harriet Tubman,” at the Spoleto Festival the past two years, to positive reviews. See this link for one review. In 2013, she participated as a visual artist in three shows which featured her work with acrylics and cut paper. Follow this link for a description of one of these, a group show of African American artists in Beaufort, SC. Natalie also ran a workshop on St. Helena Island, SC. Sunny work surfaces and materials such as paint, clay, kiln, dyes, wax, beads, and gems were available to people of all ages to attend classes or come in “just because the door was open and connect with their creative self.” Natalie says that, “creating the space was an art expression in itself. It was like a living, active, installation with moving, breathing, pieces.”

As an MA student at Union, Natalie is exploring connections between creativity and community. She feels the Creativity Studies program has enhanced her understanding of the body of research on creativity and areas where research is lacking. For her applications course she is visiting studios of female artists in South Carolina to learn about the role community plays in their work, and their experiences and evolution as artists. At the same time, she is exploring what community means in her own creativity. Natalie hopes to develop a theory of cooperative creativity that she can use to “enhance the creative experiences of those with whom I interact,” and ultimately contribute to efforts to improve the process of education for children, and help people in marginalized communities access their creativity.

To see more about what Natalie is up to, you can visit her website: http://nataliedaise.com/

Exploring the African Diaspora in Montenegro

MA History & Culture student Paula Royster recently returned from a Fulbright-funded trip to the Balkan state of Montenegro (formerly Yugoslavia). The following is a personal statement by Paula about her research and experiences at Union Institute & University.

“I trace the trade; that is the Slave Trade. My journeys have taken me across continents, through the epochs of time, often leaving me with more questions than answers. My most recent undertaking was in Montenegro. Before I began my Fulbright, I researched the nearly extinct history of enslaved Africans in the seaside town of Ulcinj (uhl-seen). Then, while fulfilling my assignment to discuss the 50th Anniversary of the Great March on Washington, the Sesquicentennial, the Civil Rights Movement, and the overall struggle for justice and equality in marginalized communities across America, I took some time to confirm the accuracy of my research.

What I discovered was nothing short of amazing. I found distinct West African influences dating back to the Turkish Ottoman Empire's rule, which contradicts other scholars who have presumed African influences were limited to those from North and East African slave populations. I was also able to speak with descendants of formerly enslaved Africans. The significance of this was not merely in speaking to a descendant of slaves, for I am one myself, but that one descendant in particular is only one generation removed from "the peculiar institution," and that was surreal. Moreover, she was able to answer my research question, which was to identify the name of the African ethnic group from which her father was abducted (Baggara in the Sudan).

The fieldwork I have conducted on the African Diaspora was born out of my interest in History and Culture and that makes for a happy marriage with my studies at Union Institute & University. My professors allowed me time away from studies to pursue my scholarly interests, which speaks volumes about their commitment to both the philosophy and pedagogy of experiential learning. I have every confidence that upon emergence from my scholarly life cycle at Union, I will be fit to forge new discussions that will lead to a better understanding of who we are as human beings, and the communal obligations we have, today, to achieve mutual respect and decency for the sake of future generations.”  

Karin Cadwell, Ph.D.

M.A. online faculty, Dr Karin Cadwell, had the opportunity to spend time with the Surgeon General on January 20, 2011 during the announcement of The Surgeon General's Call to Action to Support Breastfeeding. Surgeon General Regina Benjamin announced 20 key actions to improve support for breastfeeding nationally.

Dr. Karin Cadwell works nationally and international to improve maternity practices and increase breastfeeding rate through education, research, collaboration and competency based lactation education through the Healthy Children Project. As faculty for the MA online in Health and Wellness and the BS in MCH Lactation Consulting at Union Institute and University, Dr. Cadwell works with students during their academic journey through their undergraduate and graduate programs. Dr. Cadwell is a fellow of the American Academy of Nursing (FAAN).

Kym Kennedy, M.A. 2010

While wrapping up her master's coursework at UI&U, Kennedy was offered a job teaching writing and composition at Southwestern Oregon Community College. She is also working on her Ph.D. in adult and postsecondary education. Kym's goal in earning a M.A. with a concentration in literature and writing was to “become the type of college professor that can transmit passion for literature to students and show them how literature and writing are relevant to their lives regardless of their majors.”

Melanie Diedrich, M.A. 2009

Upon graduating from UI&U, Melanie Diedrich founded Archaeological Macroflora Identification (AMI), a subcontracting business serving archaeologists. She explains, “Macrofloral analysis from archaeological excavation is an important component of the overall analysis of a site.”  Diedrich has been hired for this specialized work by such organizations as the Washington State Department of Transportation, Drayton Archaeology Research, and Rain Shadow Research, Inc., and Cultural Resource Consultants, Inc.

Diedrich’s successful academic career at UI&U resulted in articles published in both the Journal of Wetland Archaeology and Archaeology in Washington Journal.  The articles Diedrich authored in Journal of Wetland Archaeology, Volume 9, focus on the site work she completed at Sunken Village Archaeology Site on Sauvie Island, Oregon, during her application courses.  Her thesis work, "Pacific Northwest Paleobotany: Native Seeds and the Creation of a Comparative Library," was published in Archaeology in Washington Journal and describes the importance of sampling for botanical material in Pacific Northwest Archaeology, her efforts to design a seed-key, and the digital photography of native seeds as a comparative library for research.

Glenda Taylor, M.A. 2010

Eminent cultural historian Glenda Taylor describes herself as a “griotte,” a mistress of words and music. Her master's thesis was published in 2011 and is available through Amazon.com: The Jalimuso’s Drum: African American Female Entertainers as Cultural Historians/Griottes.  Using autobiographical lenses of African American celebrities, Taylor explores Civil and Human Rights Movements within twentieth century America through their diverse perspectives.

Other books she has written include Blind Light, The Secrets of Success: Quotations by African American Achievers, The Secrets of Success: The Black Man’s Perspective, and Truth Beyond Illusion: African-American Women 1860s-1950s.

David Gentilini, M.A. 2010

David Gentilini focused his studies at UI&U on how to create a relevant and accessible museum experience ̶ making the museum the "lung of a city." He continues his imaginative programming through his involvement in collaborating with five Columbus art galleries to produce On Display ’10 at Capital University Museum's Schumacher Gallery in Columbus, Ohio.  The five galleries that displayed at the museum each represented their own niche in the art world, so they are able to collaborate to draw attention to the collective galleries and Ohio artists in general.  The display was designed to introduce the general public to the galleries and spark further interest in art.