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Scholarship Spotlight

Shadow ourtlines of presenters with a presentation screen that displays UWF College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities Scholarship Spotlight.

At the College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities, faculty are the cornerstone of our academic community, and their research is vital to our intellectual vibrancy. However, the broader impact of our work often remains within our own circles. To foster a community of colleagues, enhance cross-college (and University) communication, and highlight the remarkable work being done, we are pleased to introduce the CASSH Scholarship Spotlight series.


What is the CASSH Scholarship Spotlight?

Held on the third Wednesday of each month during lunchtime, the CASSH Scholarship Spotlight features two concise presentations: one from a faculty member and another from a graduate student from a different department. These presentations may include works-in-progress, conference papers, or overviews of larger projects tailored for a general multidisciplinary academic audience.

Event Format

Duration: Approximately 60 minutes.

Presenters:

  • A 20-minute presentation by a faculty member.
  • A 20-minute presentation by a graduate student.
  • Q&A: Engaging discussions with speakers and audience members follow each presentation.

Location: All events take place in the John C. Pace Library's multi-purpose room on the second floor.

Join Us: This is an excellent opportunity to connect with colleagues across disciplines, share your work, and engage in enriching conversations. We encourage all faculty and graduate students to consider presenting and attending these events to celebrate the innovative research happening within our community. Join your colleagues. Join the conversation.

Stay Connected: Please visit our page regularly for more information and to stay updated on upcoming sessions.


2024-2025 Calendar

September 18, 2024 (12-1 pm) Library Multipurpose Room

October 23, 2024 (12-1 pm) Library Multipurpose Room

November 20, 2024 (12-1 pm) Library Multipurpose Room

January 15, 2025 (12-1 pm) Library Multipurpose Room

February 19, 2025 (12-1 pm) Library Multipurpose Room

March 26, 2025 (12-1 pm) Library Multipurpose Room


Upcoming Spotlights

Please check below for information on our upcoming Scholarship Spotlight Events.


March 2025 Spotlight

March's Scholarship Spotlight will discuss faith, freedom, and the foundations of religious identity with Dr. Melissa Dow, Reubin O'D. Askew Department of Government, and Grace Maxwell, Department of English. 

Join us for the next CASSH Scholarship Spotlight on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, from 12 to 1 p.m. in the Pace Library Multipurpose Room (2nd floor, room 215.) as we explore the intersections of law, faith, and personal narrative in early American history.

Dr. Melissa Dow examines the role of religious tests in early state constitutions, revealing how post-1787 legal shifts impacted public office eligibility and Grace Maxwell delves into Mary Rowlandson’s captivity narrative, analyzing themes of suffering, divine purpose, and religious resilience in Puritan New England.

Engage in a thought-provoking discussion on the evolving role of faith in governance and personal identity. All are welcome—join the conversation!

Dr. Melissa Dow in a black jacket with a white top.

Dr. Melissa Dow

Melissa Dow, Reubin O'D. Askew Department of Government

Religious Tests in Early State Constitutions

Although the US Constitution prohibits the use of a religious test for public office at the federal level, some early state constitutions required officers to pass religious tests in order to hold state office. These tests could be as simple as swearing an oath or affirmation in the name of God, or as detailed as requiring officeholders to affirm or renounce specific Christian doctrines. This research examines the language surrounding religious tests in early state constitutions, with a particular eye to the changes in religious tests in the years immediately following 1787.

 


Student Grace Maxwell in a red sweater.

Grace Maxwell

Grace Maxwell, Department of English

Faith Under Fire: Mary Rowlandson's Narrative of Captivity and Restoration

This talk explores how Mary Rowlandson’s seventeenth-century captivity narrative Captivity and Restoration engages with notions of suffering and divine purpose. Exploring themes of religious resilience, cultural identity, and the social pressures of Puritan New England, Grace Maxwell suggests Rowlandson's narrative serves as both an act of personal spiritual autonomy and a response to societal expectations of religious devotion.

 


Past Spotlights

Please see information about Past Scholarship Spotlight events below.


February 2025 Spotlight

February’s Scholarship Spotlight is a celebration of artistic expression in its many forms—from the emotive power of song to the depth of poetic language.

Dr. Grier Williams School of Music Faculty: Cory McKern, Sheila Dunn, and Blake Riley will take us on a musical journey through “Joy” and “Hope,” exploring the human experience through the works of contemporary composers Ricky Ian Gordon and Ben Moore.

Jonathan Fink (Department of English) will share selections from his latest poetry collection, Don't Do It - We Love You, My Heart, offering insights into creativity, artistic inspiration, and the transformative power of language.

Join us for a dynamic blend of music, poetry, and thought-provoking conversation that showcases the many ways art helps us interpret, celebrate, and understand the world around us.

Please join us for CASSH's next Scholarship Spotlight on February 19, 2025, from 12 to 1 p.m. in the Pace Library Multipurpose Room, second floor, room 215.

Sheila Dunn, Cory McKern, and Blake Riley

Three separate portraits of faculty smiling while, from left to right, two lean against a piano and the third sits in front of a piano.

Sheila Dunn, Cory McKern, and Blake Riley, Dr. Grier Williams School of Music

“Joy” and “Hope”: Understanding the Human Experience Through Song

Sheila Dunn, Corey McKern, and Blake Riley will perform and discuss works by contemporary composers Ricky Ian Gordon and Ben More. Through Gordon's settings of Langston Hughes' poetry and Moore's powerful song cycle, this program celebrates the enduring power of joy and hope.

Jon Fink

Jon Fink, Department of English

“Don't Do It - We Love You, My Heart”

Jonathan Fink will be reading from his new collection of poetry, Don't Do It - We Love You, My Heart (Dzanc Books, January 2025). Additionally, Jon will discuss sources of artistic inspiration and strategies for deepening one's creativity, perception, and artistic expression.

 

 

 


January 2025 Spotlight

The January 2025 Spotlight took us on a journey through the worlds of creativity and tradition, where sacred icons inspire modern artistry and storytelling revealed timeless truths. Marzia Ransom presented "Sacred Art Reimagined," which blended historical devotion with contemporary practices to explore how ancient symbols shape her creative process. Sara Schoch uncovered "Why We Continue to Hold the Mirror to Nature," showing how storytelling reflects societal values and deepens our understanding of humanity. Together, these talks weave a compelling tapestry of art, culture, and the universal threads that bind us all. The event was a thought-provoking exploration of creativity and meaning.

The event was held on January 15, 2025, from 12 to 1 p.m. in the Pace Library Multipurpose Room, second floor, room 215. 

Marzia Ransom

Marzia Ransom, Department of Art and Design

“Sacred Art Reimagined: An Artist's Journey Through Religious Icons, Objects of Devotion, and Altarpieces”

Sedes Sapientiae is a new body of work that explores different mediums and sacred imagery. Marzia Ransom exploreed the rich connections between Canonical and Apocryphal symbolism and contemporary artistic practices in this talk. Detailing her creative process, Ransom traced her investigation into early Marian cults and how it shaped Sedes Sapientiae from concept to a fully realized work of art. 

Sara Schoch

Sara Schoch, Department of Theatre

"Tradition: Why We Continue to Hold the Mirror to Nature"

Drawing from her background as both director and performer, Sara Schoch examined how cultural traditions reflect society while illuminating universal truths about human nature. Her talk explored why artists and storytellers return to familiar narratives even as society evolves, arguing that these repeated stories serve as essential tools for understanding ourselves and our shared human experience.

 


November 2024 Spotlight

The November 20, 2024, event featured a captivating blend of literary analysis and political science. Dr. Nicholas Mohlmann from the Department of English explored the intersection of conspiracy theories and autobiography in his talk, "Writing Roswell: Conspiracy and Autobiography." By analyzing Lieutenant Colonel Philip Corso’s memoir, The Day After Roswell, Mohlmann examined how personal narratives shape and are shaped by conspiratorial thinking. Following this, Veronica Sigcho Espinoza from the Reubin O'D. Askew Department of Government tackled the political implications of gerrymandering with her presentation, "The Art of Redistricting: Gerrymandering’s Effect on Representation and Governance." Sigcho Espinoza’s research revealed how disproportionate redistricting undermines democratic representation and governance, urging audiences to consider its far-reaching consequences.

Nicholas Mohlmann

Nicholas Mohlmann, Associate Professor, Department of English

“Writing Roswell: Conspiracy and Autobiography”

This talk used Lieutenant Colonel Philip Corso's 1997 memoir "The Day After Roswell" to think about the sympathies between the rhetorical strategies of conspiracy theory and dominant autobiography. Examining how Corso produces a narrative of his supposed involvement with the dissemination of alien technology recovered from the 1947 crash outside of Roswell, New Mexico, the talk argued that while the Roswell conspiracy is built on autobiographical narratives, autobiography itself relies on a conspiratorial approach to reading.

Veronica Sigcho Espinoza

Veronica Sigcho Espinoza, Reubin O'D. Askew Department of Government

“The Art of Redistricting: Gerrymandering’s Effect on Representation and Governance”

In this talk, Veronica Sigcho Espinoza discussed how Gerrymandering distorts the democratic process, altering electoral outcomes, and undermining legislative effectiveness. By disrupting the relationship between elected officials and their constituents, disproportionate redistricting challenges core principles of political representation. This research assessed how these distortions erode both the quality of representation and the effectiveness of democratic governance.

 


October 2024 Spotlight

On October 23, 2024, the series turned its focus to the challenges of custodial grandparent-headed households and the surprising role of humor in academic library outreach. Dr. Natalie Goulette from the Department of Criminology, Criminal Justice, and Legal Studies shared findings from interviews with grandparents raising grandchildren in Santa Rosa County. Her presentation, "Not Living Long Enough to Raise Them," highlighted the emotional and logistical hurdles faced by these caregivers, shedding light on a growing yet understudied family dynamic. Meanwhile, Kellie Sparks from the Department of Communication introduced the audience to her ongoing study, "LOL-Worthy Libraries: The Impact of Humor on Academic Library Brand Perception." Sparks examined how playful social media content on platforms like TikTok and Instagram fosters engagement and reshapes how libraries connect with their audiences.

Natalie Goulette headshot.

Dr. Natalie Goulette

Department of Criminology, Criminal Justice, and Legal Studies

"Not living long enough to raise them,” Exploring the Challenges of Custodial Grandparent-Headed Households in Santa Rosa County

The number of non-traditional households in the US is rising. However, little is known about how these living arrangements impact the caregivers and the children they are raising. While much of the prior literature has focused on the physical and emotional toll raising one’s grandchildren can take on a custodial grandparent, there is still much to explore. This talk explored various characteristics of custodial grandparent-headed households in the Santa Rosa County School District. A total of 17 interviews were completed and covered multiple topics, including reasons for placement, type of custody agreement, and the self-reported challenges respondents experience while raising their grandchildren.

Kellie Sparks

Department of Communication

LOL-worthy Libraries: The Impact of Humor on Academic Library Brand Perception

This study, which was in progress during the time of the presentation, focused on the impact of humorous social media messaging on academic library brand perception. Research on humor and social media advertising is limited within the library and information science field, especially in academic libraries. The significant impact of social media, primarily TikTok and Instagram, has shifted social media strategies within libraries to include more playful, comical content to boost engagement. This study examined how humorous content resonates with library patrons and influences their perceptions of the library, fostering positive relationships with their target social media audience.


September 2024 Spotlight

The inaugural CASSH Scholarship Spotlight event, held on September 18, 2024, explored survival cannibalism at sea and the social intricacies of the ancient Maya. Dr. Amy Mitchell-Cook from the Department of History and Philosophy discussed narratives of shipwreck survivors who justified acts of cannibalism from the 17th to 19th centuries. Her presentation, Who’s Hungry? Survival Cannibalism at Sea examined how these accounts were constructed to rationalize extreme behavior within societal norms. Graduate student Aliana Schwartz from the Department of Anthropology then transported the audience to ancient Honduras with her research, Biting into the Past: How Teeth Illuminate Maya Social Structures. By analyzing dental markers of developmental stress, Schwartz revealed how social hierarchies influenced the health and resilience of Copan residents during the Late Classic Period. Together, their presentations demonstrated how historical and archaeological research can illuminate the complexities of human survival and social organization.

Headshot of Dr. Amy Mitchell-Cook.

Dr. Amy Mitchell-Cook

Department of History & Philosophy
Who’s Hungry?: Survival Cannibalism at Sea

From the 17th to the 19th century, several published narratives related that survivors of shipwrecks turned to cannibalism. However, rather than describe them as random acts of murder or savagery, these accounts went to great lengths to justify cannibalism. Instead of hiding their actions, survivors described the process of how cannibalism occurred and why certain individuals lived while others became necessary sustenance. This talk explored how this process unfolded and how narratives justified the act to those on land.

Headshot of Aliana Schwartz.

Aliana M. Schwartz, Graduate Student

Department of Anthropology
Biting into the Past: How Teeth Illuminate Maya Social Structures

Located along the Western border of Honduras, the ancient Maya city of Copan nurtured a highly complex, socially dynamic society that reached its height during the Late Classic Period (AD 600-AD 820). Aliana M. Schwartz,'s Graduate Student research considers how Maya social structures impacted the health of Copan residents. By examining markers of developmental stress on their teeth, I seek to understand how individuals’ positions within society enable or prevent them from building resilience in response to disease, malnutrition, and other challenges.

 


Interested in Presenting?

Email Dr. Jamin Wells at jwells2@uwf.edu a brief abstract of your proposed talk and a current CV. Graduate students should also include the name of a faculty reference.