Aaron Moe has recently published "Chaos & the 'New' Nature Poem: A Look at E. E. Cummings' Poetry." CT Review 32.1 (2010): 11-24. It is a continuation of the work he completed for his final document within the M.A. Program.
Moe is now pursuing his doctorate in English. He is currently exploring W. S. Merwin's poetry, specifically how Merwin's ecological anguish leads to an unprecedented poetics of humility. Along with his literary research, he teaches composition courses for the university's undergraduate program. He explains his composition philosophy as follows:
Indeed, rhetoric creates the backbone of my composition philosophy. Ethos, pathos, logos, kairos, and decorum. These words encapsulate ideas that guide the composing process, for they define some of the ways through which we persuade. The composing process must include a rhetorical awareness of how the framing of language--whether its typeface, punctuation, paragraph breaks or facial gestures, intonations of voice, or bodily tilts--contributes to the Protean possibilities of meaning making.
For more information about Moe’s work, see his website: http://www.aaronmoe.com/.
Thursday, July 18, 2013
Daniel Van Horn, M.A. 2011
Daniel Van Horn made an exciting historical discovery during his
Applications course of a cache of original drawings and letters from the
first official WWI artist commissioned by the U.S. government, J. Andre
Smith. Not only did he focus his final document on J. Andre Smith’s
role in the war, Van Horn’s find also resulted in his being asked to
design a new, permanent exhibition at the Maitland Art Center in
Florida.
Van Horn’s discovery showed the steadfast leadership of J. Andre Smith as he guided the “Art Squad” engaged to document the Great War. Smith operated under the belief that the Art Squad’s role was to faithfully create historical documentation of the war through their works of art. However, others felt the true purpose of the Art Squad was to roll out propaganda for use in the government’s ongoing struggle in the battle of public opinion. Smith’s perspective won out and, for the 8 months they were engaged before the end of WWI, the Art Squad’s drawings revealed the unsensational business side of war.
A House in Badonviller by J Andre SmithFor example, Smith admired the soldiers’ complacency around death, and documented soldiers relaxing in the bombed building remains as if the war “was a thousand miles away and not just the other side of the next building."( J. André Smith, In France with the American Expeditionary Forces (New York: A. H. Hahlo, 1919), 59.)
The scope of this primary source is so vast that Daniel Van Horn was able to use only a small part of it for his final document, and is continuing his research into Andre Smith to develop a complete biography. Based on his serious academic scholarship and successful museum exhibit of the life and work of Smith, Van Horn has been approached about other research and book opportunities.
Van Horn’s discovery showed the steadfast leadership of J. Andre Smith as he guided the “Art Squad” engaged to document the Great War. Smith operated under the belief that the Art Squad’s role was to faithfully create historical documentation of the war through their works of art. However, others felt the true purpose of the Art Squad was to roll out propaganda for use in the government’s ongoing struggle in the battle of public opinion. Smith’s perspective won out and, for the 8 months they were engaged before the end of WWI, the Art Squad’s drawings revealed the unsensational business side of war.
A House in Badonviller by J Andre SmithFor example, Smith admired the soldiers’ complacency around death, and documented soldiers relaxing in the bombed building remains as if the war “was a thousand miles away and not just the other side of the next building."( J. André Smith, In France with the American Expeditionary Forces (New York: A. H. Hahlo, 1919), 59.)
The scope of this primary source is so vast that Daniel Van Horn was able to use only a small part of it for his final document, and is continuing his research into Andre Smith to develop a complete biography. Based on his serious academic scholarship and successful museum exhibit of the life and work of Smith, Van Horn has been approached about other research and book opportunities.
Elizabeth Jacquet, M.A. 2011
Elizabeth Jacquet focused her Final Document on the lesser-known
civilization of the Etruscans, contemporaries of the ancient Greeks and
Romans. Through careful examination of the artifacts these people left
behind in burial chambers, Jacquet seeks to debunk the slanderous claims
made by their Roman enemies. One of the most fascinating aspects of
the Etruscan culture that Jacquet reveals is the equity between men and
women. Iconography in the hand mirrors, for example, honors women as
brides, wives, and mothers. Some reflect men and women reading together
or competing as equals in games. One mirror shows a man and a woman
playing a board game wherein the inscription reads “I’m going to beat
you” above the woman, and “I do believe you are” carved above the man.
Based on this and other iconography, Jacquet asserts that the hand
mirrors are “Not just a tool, but a gift for a bride and a dedication to
the deceased. The uniquely Etruscan bronze hand mirror demonstrated the
power and equality of Etruscan women."
The M.A. degree from UI&U has not only enhanced Jacquet’s career as a history teacher, it has also given her the courage to start a high school summer program in France, called "L'Atelier au Chateau," with her husband. Although the curriculum emphasizes the fine-arts, creative and scholastic thinking are intertwined in each lesson. “I believe that my work at Union has given me the edge to stand behind such scholastic and artistic pursuits, and to confidently represent our program as a professional and scholar,” explained Jacquet enthusiastically. For more information, view their website at drawinginfrance.com.
The M.A. degree from UI&U has not only enhanced Jacquet’s career as a history teacher, it has also given her the courage to start a high school summer program in France, called "L'Atelier au Chateau," with her husband. Although the curriculum emphasizes the fine-arts, creative and scholastic thinking are intertwined in each lesson. “I believe that my work at Union has given me the edge to stand behind such scholastic and artistic pursuits, and to confidently represent our program as a professional and scholar,” explained Jacquet enthusiastically. For more information, view their website at drawinginfrance.com.
Jon Neal Wallace, M.A. 2008
Jon Neal Wallace’s final document, “Light from Design,” presents a
concept for a new design principle for art entitled, “Directions,” that
correlates art and physics. Wallace’s innovative design principle got
him noticed by the international art community. Since graduating from
the M.A. Online Program, his environmental and political art have been
shown in San Francisco, Chicago, New York, Miami, London, and Europe.
His art was originally scheduled to be included in a show for Beijing,
but some of the show’s controversial stance on communism was quickly
vetoed by the Chinese government. Currently, his work is under
consideration for an exhibit in Paris.
Wallace’s other passion is writing, which he is pursuing within an MFA program. He is presently working on a historical novel about the civil War, Ragman’s Roll. It involves the reader in the cause of freedom for everyone through the dedicated eyes of the narrator, Tom Jackson, friend of Gen. William H.L. Wallace whose heroic life he witnesses.
In addition to his art and writing career, Jon Wallace hopes to share his passion for these topics with his own students one day.
Wallace’s other passion is writing, which he is pursuing within an MFA program. He is presently working on a historical novel about the civil War, Ragman’s Roll. It involves the reader in the cause of freedom for everyone through the dedicated eyes of the narrator, Tom Jackson, friend of Gen. William H.L. Wallace whose heroic life he witnesses.
In addition to his art and writing career, Jon Wallace hopes to share his passion for these topics with his own students one day.
Jan Hurndon, M.A. 2011
Jan Hurndon started a blog as part of her Applications course to document her European travels that brought her up-close-and-personal with the subject of her research, French Gothic art and architecture. Hurndon’s primary focus has been on the use of light in the architecture.
She explains, The builders of the great Gothic cathedrals sought to recapture the holy light of creation in a literal and figurative sense, to recreate the Heavenly Jerusalem for the earth-bound believer. The Gothic cathedral would also serve to illumine the mind and transport the spirit of the medieval pilgrim in a way that no physical structure before or since has been able to do. It is a seemingly immortal testimonial to faith, as imposing and inspirational in its quiet presence as it was nearly a millenium ago.
The Chartres workshop was led by leading French researchers and restoration archaeologists, and provided the inspiration for her own research. Hurndon’s final document for her MA degree was titled From Lux to Inluminare: Light as agent of enlightenment in the labyrinth and related elements of the French Gothic cathedral. She credit Union’s experiential and personalized approach with encouraging her to combine her interest in various disciplines – language, European history, her Christian faith, and Gothic architecture – into a culminating project that she found both academically challenging and personally enriching. Hurndon now teaches Western Art Appreciation on the college level and hopes to share that same cross-disciplinary focus and hands-on passion with her own students.
For more information about Hurndon’s travels, please visit her blog.
She explains, The builders of the great Gothic cathedrals sought to recapture the holy light of creation in a literal and figurative sense, to recreate the Heavenly Jerusalem for the earth-bound believer. The Gothic cathedral would also serve to illumine the mind and transport the spirit of the medieval pilgrim in a way that no physical structure before or since has been able to do. It is a seemingly immortal testimonial to faith, as imposing and inspirational in its quiet presence as it was nearly a millenium ago.
The Chartres workshop was led by leading French researchers and restoration archaeologists, and provided the inspiration for her own research. Hurndon’s final document for her MA degree was titled From Lux to Inluminare: Light as agent of enlightenment in the labyrinth and related elements of the French Gothic cathedral. She credit Union’s experiential and personalized approach with encouraging her to combine her interest in various disciplines – language, European history, her Christian faith, and Gothic architecture – into a culminating project that she found both academically challenging and personally enriching. Hurndon now teaches Western Art Appreciation on the college level and hopes to share that same cross-disciplinary focus and hands-on passion with her own students.
For more information about Hurndon’s travels, please visit her blog.
Dalene Fisher, M.A. 2011
While completing Teaching Writing I and her final document, Dalene
Fisher lined up a job to teach three sections of Composition I at
Oklahoma Wesleyan University upon graduating. Dalene has five years of
experience teaching high school English and maintains a blog, The Musty Study,
to encourage the hesitant reader to discover the timely nature of the
old classics in English literature.“UI&U has enabled me to reach my
goal of teaching at the university level” explains Dalene. “From
engaging in challenging writing exercises, I am able to empathize with
my own students and have been truly stretched as a writing teacher.
I've shed tears of both sorrow and joy! I loved teaching high school,
but I feel prepared now to move to a new level of instruction."
Amber Fellure, M.A. 2011
Amber Fellure strengthened ties with her grandmother, Ann Brown,
during her archival research locating primary sources for her final
document. Their shared passion for genealogy made the discovery journey
fun for both of them. Fellure focused her study on the “French 500”
who settled in her town, Gallipolis, Ohio. These French aristocrats,
fleeing from the French Revolution, purchased deeds to the area around
Gallipolis from land speculators. However, those that survived the
shipwreck and other hardships to reach this promised land discovered
their deeds were worthless. Fellure dug into their original accounts of
how they managed to survive on the Ohio frontier and created a
fascinating final document.
Amber Fellure, J.D., is the assistant city prosecutor for Gallipolis. After graduating from the M.A. Program, she began to teach history, law, and criminal justice classes at her local community college.
Amber Fellure, J.D., is the assistant city prosecutor for Gallipolis. After graduating from the M.A. Program, she began to teach history, law, and criminal justice classes at her local community college.
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