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IAH News • Winter 2008 Welcome to IAH News Welcome to IAH News, the first issue of a new e-newsletter designed to keep members of the IAH community — faculty, Fellows, Friends and partners — connected and engaged in the critical work of supporting faculty development at UNC-Chapel Hill. New initiatives launched this year are helping department chairs grapple with the challenges of their new leadership roles and connecting faculty and community members for intellectual exchange and debate. Fall seminars on life writing, narrative medicine and digital humanities expanded UNC’s research and teaching collaboration with King’s College London. January heralded a three-day visit by acclaimed cultural historian Paul Gilroy as the first Kenan Visiting Scholar. Gilroy’s visit culminated a series of fall activities for faculty and students to examine his work. We hope you’ll take a few minutes to read about these and other activities that are under way at the IAH. Once you do, we hope you’ll “Join the Conversation.”  John McGowan The Ruel W. Tyson Jr. Distinguished Professor of Humanities Director, Institute for the Arts and Humanities |
 Steve Birdsall, Chapman Fellow |
Geography professor Stephen Birdsall asks students in his First-year Seminar on Landscape and Remembrance to spend one class period walking around campus with fresh eyes. The new perspective they gain is similar to that Birdsall experienced when he discussed his research with a diverse group of UNC faculty during his IAH fellowship semester. Read more... |
IAH in Action
 Paul Gilroy |
Cultural critic Paul Gilroy visits UNC Acclaimed cultural historian Paul Gilroy told a packed room of UNC faculty, staff and guests Jan. 17 that discussions of race have been deemed "unserious" by most scholars and, thus, its impact on politics, government and economics largely unaddressed. His keynote remarks, titled "Human Rights and the Racial Nomos," kicked off a series of discussions and interviews with Gilroy, the Anthony Giddens Professor of Sociology at the London School of Economics. His visit as the IAH's first Kenan Visiting Scholar on Jan. 17-19 was made possible by a gift from the William R. Kenan Jr. Charitable Trust. Gilroy's visit culminated a series of fall preparatory events. Sixty-plus faculty and graduate students met to examine his works. Read more... |
 William Blake expert Joe Viscomi |
Fellows work showcased at annual fellows recognition event The IAH community gathered Dec. 6 to honor and recognize the work of 33 Fellows with books and multi-media projects published or produced in 2007. It was the second annual Fellows Recognition and Holiday Celebration hosted by the IAH to showcase the work of faculty who participate in fellowship programs. More than 100 UNC faculty, administrators and supporters attended. Fellows were on hand to discuss their work. Many pursued those projects during their IAH fellowship semesters. “These Faculty members distinguish both themselves and this university by their extraordinary scholarship,” said IAH Director John McGowan. “The Institute is proud to showcase work by our Fellows, much of it made possible by semesters spent at the Institute for the Arts and Humanities.” Read more... |
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Chairs Leadership Program launches Six newly appointed department chairs and four returning chairs from a range of disciplines are examining the challenges of their new roles and sharing experiences as part of the first Chairs Leadership Program (CLP) offered by the IAH for the College of Arts and Sciences. “The departmental chair’s position is one of the most critical academic leadership positions in the College,” says Bill Balthrop, professor of Communication Studies and CLP associate director. “An ongoing, professional network, in which knowledge and experience can be shared with candor, is an important additional support system for new and continuing chairs.” Read more... |
 Bill Balthrop |
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Salons connect faculty and community IAH Fellows and friends explored the political, social and economic legacy of the Baby Boomer Generation at an October dinner. IAH Salons, launched this fall, connect UNC faculty with the broader community for intellectual exchange on a topic of interest chosen by the host. “Each evening is a journey with the destination unknown,” said Cyndy O’Hara, who hosted the first salon with spouse John O’Hara, IAH board chairman and UNC-Chapel Hill alumnus. The exchange introduced English and comparative literature associate professor Tyler Curtain to faculty from other disciplines he wouldn’t otherwise meet. “I got a sense of the rich number of projects that are being pursued in different departments across the university…and a sense of the dedication of faculty to their research and to the life of the university,” said Curtain. Read more... |
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UNC and King’s College scholars explore opportunities for collaboration Faculty from UNC-Chapel Hill and King’s College London convened Sept. 6–7 to explore the literature of narrative medicine, life writing and opportunities for graduate student and faculty collaboration. The event, hosted by the IAH, extended the multi-level exchange program between the two universities. King’s College, part of the University of London, is one of the most distinguished research and teaching institutions in the United Kingdom. Faculty members from the two institutions have been collaborating on research and teaching initiatives since 2002. “The relationship with King’s College is...the perfect example of what can be achieved when you seek strategically to link different levels of potential academic collaboration,” said Bob Miles, UNC associate dean for Study Abroad and International Exchanges. Read more... |
 UNC and King's College scholars |
 Forum expert David McCue |
Leadership Fellows receive training from forums expert alumnus David McCue More than 30 IAH Leadership Fellows received a rare opportunity to learn how to run more effective forums Oct. 27 during a training session led by entrepreneur and UNC-Chapel Hill alumnus David McCue. The event was a condensed version of training McCue gives members of the Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO) Forums. IAH Leadership Fellows use the YPO model for their monthly forums to exchange ideas and learning in pursuit of personal growth and professional success. Della Pollock, professor of performance and cultural studies, said the training has already helped her forum group. “We discovered that the updates gave a very interesting sense of how the professional and personal overlap,” Pollock said, “and the time structure very much intensified conversation and made us focus much more quickly than if we had just gone around and said, ‘What’s up with you?’” Read more... |
 Megan Granda Kim Strom-Gottfried |
Granda and Strom-Gottfried named to IAH posts IAH welcomed two people to key leadership posts this year. Megan Granda, former program specialist with UNC's William and Ida Friday Center for Continuing Education, has been named executive director of the IAH. Kim Strom-Gottfried, distinguished professor in the School of Social Work, has been named an associate director and will direct the Institute's Academic Leadership Program. "Megan and Kim bring a wide range of special skills and expertise that will expand Institute services for UNC faculty and outreach to our broader community," said IAH Director John McGowan. Read more... |
| Read the latest IAH News at www.iah.unc.edu/news | |
Coming Up
 E.L Doctorow speaks at UNC March 27 |
March 17 2008 Boundaries of Literature Panel Discussion, co-sponsored event with UNC Association of Graduate English Students, Department of English and Comparative Literature and The Parents' Fund
March 24 Public Lecture and Seminar by Robert Pippin, co-sponsored event with the departments of Classics, Philosophy and Political Science March 27 Public Talk by E. L. Doctorow, co-sponsored with the College of Arts and Sciences, Curriculum in Peace, War and Defense, Department of History and Center for the Study of the American South |
| Get details on these and other IAH events at www.iah.unc.edu/calendar | |
Perspectives: "No Side Deals," by Holden Thorp
 Holden Thorp |
The acceleration of information transfer, globalization and the loss of the U.S. manufacturing economy have dramatically raised the anxiety level among students, parents and folks who watch universities. Competition for star faculty and students is tight. It all adds up to stressed-out academic leaders. | Holden Thorp, IAH Fellow and Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, offers his perspective on how to meet the challenges of academic leadership today. | |
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Copyright © 2008 Institute for the Arts and Humanities, College of Arts and Sciences The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Campus Box 3322 • Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3322 • phone 919.962.0249 • iah@unc.edu Subscribe |