University of Idaho College of Letters, Arts & Social Sciences

Stop by the ISUB Whitewater-Clearwater rooms today from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. for FREE tacos!🌮

Don’t miss out on this delicious opportunity to kick off the semester with great food and and connect with fellow CLASSmates. See you there!

Join Creative Writing MFA student Jennifer Yu today at 5:30 p.m. at the Moscow Public Library for the launch of her latest book, Grief in the Fourth Dimension!📖

"As someone who writes young adult fiction, I was especially drawn to U of I’s MFA program because the program and faculty are so welcoming to a wide range of genres and literary styles.

I write for and about young people, so one of the most rewarding parts of the program is being able to connect with students in the classroom. I love getting to know them and cheerleading as they grow into their voices over the course of the semester. I try to bring my own experience as a novelist into the classroom and encourage students to see writing as more than just writing, but also a way of introspecting, exploring, working through difficult questions about the world, and so on. I also try to always assign reading that I think they’ll really connect to — whether that’s in the YA genre or otherwise — because I think being able to relate to or see yourself in a story can be a really powerful thing!" - Jennifer Yu

Grief in the Fourth Dimension is a speculative young adult novel about the afterlife and the unexpected connections that can be made in death. It features the whimsy and philosophy of The Good Place, the fraught-but-beautiful immigrant family dynamics of The Surprising Power of a Good Dumpling, and asks questions about how identity, privilege, and community affect the way our lives—and deaths—are affected.

Twitter:
TikTok: byjenniferyu
Website: byjenniferyu.com

https://www.uidaho.edu/news/feature-stories/stephanie-lutz

The show must go on Grad student Stephanie Lutz was recently diagnosed with early-onset Parkinson’s disease, which has caused diminished use of her extremities. To help herself — and others in her situation — she’s creating AI-assisted software to design theatre sets with voice commands.

Student Engagement Internship Opportunity with CLASS

CLASS is seeking an outgoing, creative and detail-oriented Student Engagement Intern to assist in developing and executing purposeful student-centered events. Applicants must be a student in CLASS (sophomore, junior or senior).

Application deadline: Friday, August 30
Apply on Handshake: 🔗https://uidaho.joinhandshake.com/stu/jobs/9124348

The Idaho Foodbank Mobile Pantry will be at the Latah County Fairgrounds on Monday, August 26, 2024, starting at 10 a.m. Boxes are FREE and will include a variety of fresh produce, frozen meats, dairy and dry goods until the last box is handed out.

Whether you're a student, community member, or know someone in need, please share this information and help spread the word.

🔗Idahofoodbank.org
📞208-746-2288

Fulbright U.S. Student Program 2024 competition is still OPEN!

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program provides international grants for individually designed study/research projects or for English Teaching Assistant Programs, for graduating seniors, recent graduates, and graduate students. During their grants, Fulbright recipients will meet, work, live with, and learn from the people of the host country, engaging in both academic and cultural exchange. It’s a tremendous opportunity and amazing experience. Applicants must be U.S. citizens, have earned a bachelor’s degree before obtaining the grant, and have proficiency in the language of the host country, if required.

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program offers robust online resources to assist students through the application process. To access these resources please visit: 🔗https://us.fulbrightonline.org/
🔗https://us.fulbrightonline.org/applicants

Campus Deadline: September 6, 2024
Foundation Deadline: October 8, 2024.

For more information, please contact Honors Program Faculty Fellow Dr. Erin Kimball Damman at [email protected].

U of I graduate students awarded the prestigious Fulbright U.S. Student Program grants for the 2024-2025 academic year!

Cyndi Enderle has been awarded a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship (ETA) and will be posted on Kinmen Island, Taiwan, where she will teach English, immerse herself in the local culture, and build lasting connections.

Raziel Vincent Sepulveda (International Studies, Spanish, Latin American Studies; 2023 CLASS graduate) has received a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship to Argentina, where he will provide assistance to local English teachers and teach English language while serving as a cultural ambassador for the U.S.

Please join us in celebrating 30 years of the U of I's MFA Creative Writing program!

Our 30th Anniversary Festival on August 23 & 24 will feature alumni and emeritus faculty readings, live music, food, brews, and a publishing panel. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to connect with the community and hear from some of the most talented voices in poetry, fiction, and nonfiction.

- Friday, August 23: Alumni & Emeritus Faculty Reading | 6:00-7:00 PM at 1912 Center Lecompte Auditorium

- Saturday, August 24: Alumni Reading & Publishing Panel | 4:00-7:45 PM at PCEI Outdoor Stage

Whether you’re a long-time fan of the program or new to the community, come celebrate three decades of incredible literary achievement!

UI Department of Theatre Arts will be holding a General Audition for the Fall 2024 Season on Saturday, August 24, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. in the Forge Theatre.

🎭Fall/Spring productions being considered include:
- The Addams Family: A New Musical
- Love, Liz by Lauren Grove (Spring 2025)
- 10-Minute Play Festival

Auditions are open to U of I students and community members! Sign-up here: 🔗https://airtable.com/appMO7z4FZNTIxcWv/shrKJ69tOci3koOZq

What to Prepare:
- One contemporary monologue (1-1.5-minute max)
- 32 bars of a song that demonstrates range and vocal strengths
- NEW THIS SEMESTER: Everyone auditioning is also required to attend a general movement/dance call from 3-4:30 p.m. on Saturday, August 24, in Room 13 in the CLASS Annex.

Additional details and sign-up instructions are available on our website: 🔗uidaho.edu/class/theatre/productions-and-events/audition

Don’t miss your chance to shine!

Welcome back, Vandals!

We’re excited to kick off a new academic year and welcome all of our students to the College of Letters, Arts, and Social Sciences!

Whether you’re diving into your first class or nearing the finish line of your degree, CLASS is here to support you every step of the way. Let’s make this semester unforgettable—filled with learning, creativity, and growth!

Tag us in your first-day-of-class photos and let us know what you’re most excited about this semester.

Palousafest 2024! Palousafest is the premier welcome-back event on campus. Each year 3,000 to 5,000 new students, returning students and community members attend this street fair to browse hundreds of student organizations, campus departments, local businesses, non-profits, and find out how to get involved with the Palouse community.

When: Saturday, August 17, 2024, 5:30 – 7:30pm
University Location: Tower Lawn - Theophilus Tower - Main Campus

🔗https://uidaho.campuslabs.com/engage/event/10157011

New Student Orientation!

CLASS Student Welcome is TODAY, August 15 from 1:45-2:45 p.m. in the Administration Building Auditorium.

See you there!

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Applications for the 2024-2025 CLASS Ambassadors are NOW OPEN!

Being a CLASS Ambassador is an honor and distinction, with only a small number of students selected each year. As an Ambassador, you’ll shape the next class of Vandals, make an impact on prospective students, mentor peers in the CLASS Living & Learning Community, and gain valuable leadership experience.

📆Important Dates:
Application Deadline: Monday, August 19, 2024
Interviews: Late August
Onboarding: Beginning of September

Ambassadors will receive a $500 stipend and gear for their essential role. A minimum commitment of one academic year is expected.

Ready to lead and make a difference?

Apply today:🔗https://www.uidaho.edu/class/about/people/ambassadors



Questions? Contact Mia Goodwin at [email protected]

Peace in place of atomic horror MFA English student Megan Lolley traveled to Hiroshima, Japan, the site of an atomic bomb blast in World War II, to participate in world peace and sustainability discussions.

Congratulations to Tyler Kneller who will teach in a small town on the island of Hokkaido in northern Japan, with the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Programme.👏

"I am very thankful for Tojo Sensei and the College of Letters, Arts and Social Sciences in their help getting me here. I am also very grateful for my opportunity to learn Japanese at the University of Idaho through the efforts of the School of Global Studies and the Habib Institute for Asian Studies. Unlike many Romantic languages that have similar lettering systems, grammar structures, and even many similar words, Japanese, along with many other languages, stretches the brains limits to process not only a differing grammar structure and lettering system, but also a wholly different culture and perspective derived around the language itself. I believe taking Japanese enhanced my ability to digest and process new information, as well as my ability to see things from different perspectives with a more open mind."-Kneller

🔗https://jetprogramusa.org/

Join us for an incredible production of "Master Harold... and the Boys," presented by Idaho Repertory Theatre. Written by Athol Fugard and directed by Baron Kelly.🎭

An exhilarating play that has lasting relevance, Fugard's searing coming-of-age story, loosely based on his own experience in South Africa, concerns the changing relationship between a white teen and the two Black men who work as waiters in his mother’s tea room.

7:30 p.m., July 5, 6, 12, 13
2:00 p.m. July 7, 14
📍Forge Theater, 404 Sweet Ave. Moscow
🎟Purchase tickets at www.uitickets.com

Congratulations to Steve Lemeshko, a junior at the University of Idaho majoring in environmental science and minoring in political science, for getting his paper published in the Towson University Journal of International Affairs!👏

Lemeshko’s research delves into conflicts of the past and present. His work on the Arithmetic of Compassion website with Scott Slovic, Ph.D., to study behavioral responses to mass tragedies such as wars, genocide, and ecocide, is truly inspiring.

Lemeshko, a Cypriot of Ukrainian extraction, has made outstanding contributions to the University of Idaho, earning him the Distinguished Sophomore Award.

“I would like to express my gratitude to Charles Dainoff, Ph.D., for his insightful feedback, invaluable guidance, and support throughout the process of preparing this paper for publication. I extend my appreciation to Dr. Iakovos Menelaou, Ph.D., for his generous assistance in providing constructive feedback, whose expertise and attention to detail greatly enhanced the quality of this work."- Steve Lemeshko

We are incredibly proud of Lemeshko's achievement and his contributions to the field of international affairs. Check out the Towson University Journal of International Affairs to read his outstanding work!

🔗https://wp.towson.edu/iajournal/14497-2/

Screen on the Green: Back to the Future!📽🎞

When: Thursday, June 20, 2024, 7:30 – 11p.m.
University Location: Tower Lawn - Theophilus Tower - Main Campus
Details: Back to the Future | 1985 | PG
Cost: Free!

Synopsis:
In this 1980s sci-fi classic, small-town California teen Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) is thrown back into the '50s when an experiment by his eccentric scientist friend Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd) goes awry. Traveling through time in a modified DeLorean car, Marty encounters young versions of his parents (Crispin Glover, Lea Thompson), and must make sure that they fall in love or he'll cease to exist. Even more dauntingly, Marty has to return to his own time and save the life of Doc Brown.

Sponsored by the Department of Student Involvement and Vandal Entertainment, the family-friendly outdoor movies show at dusk on Thursdays, starting June 8 on the Theophilus Tower Lawn. Patrons are encouraged to bring blankets, chairs and snacks from home. Seating opens at 7:30 p.m.

The lineup is subject to change. In the event of bad weather, Screen on the Green will be rescheduled for another date.

Theophilus Tower Lawn is located off Paradise Creek Street, between Line Street and Stadium Drive in Moscow. Free public parking is available in Gold lot 56 on the corner of Sixth and Rayburn Streets.

For more information about the series, visit uidaho.edu/screenonthegreen or the Department of Student Involvement page.

See you in the FUTURE!

Congratulations to the CLASS Dean’s List, Spring 2024: (Sn-Z)

We are thrilled to recognize our undergraduate students who have achieved a GPA of 3.5 or higher for the spring 2024 semester. Your hard work and dedication have paid off, and we are incredibly proud of your success and accomplishments.

Check out the full list of our outstanding students here: 🔗https://www.uidaho.edu/class/academics/awards/deans-list-spring

Congratulations to the CLASS Dean’s List, Spring 2024: (A-Sn)

We are thrilled to recognize our undergraduate students who have achieved a GPA of 3.5 or higher for the spring 2024 semester. Your hard work and dedication have paid off, and we are incredibly proud of your success and accomplishments.

Check out the full list of our outstanding students here: 🔗https://www.uidaho.edu/class/academics/awards/deans-list-spring

The Idaho Humanities Council is pleased to announce that University of Idaho Professor Emeritus of Ethnography, Rodney Frey, will receive the 2023 Outstanding Achievement in the Humanities Award. IHC’s highest honor is awarded annually to recognize a high achievement that fosters greater understanding or appreciation of the humanities. Frey will be honored at a private reception later this summer in Moscow, Idaho.

"We are deeply honored to present Frey with the Idaho Humanities Council’s award for Outstanding Achievement in the Humanities,” said IHC Executive Director David Pettyjohn. “Those who nominated him all celebrated his strengths as a storyteller and colleague who has spent decades fostering a deeper understanding of Native American culture and experiences through collaboration and building trust within communities. His interdisciplinary approach with U of I students, teachers and professors, and the general public over the years has had a considerable impact in Idaho.”

Frey has longstanding connections with numerous members of the Pacific Northwest Tribes and is quick to credit his various Indigenous hosts and mentors from the Crow, Coeur d’Alene, Little Shell Chippewa, Nez Perce, Warm Springs, and Wind River Shoshone tribes. "They nurtured and transformed [me], both professionally as well as personally,” said Frey. “They demonstrated the tremendous importance of traditional stories, of giving back to others, and of the power of empathy, the means that brings the cherished stories alive and that connects all peoples."

Read the entire article here:🔗https://idahohumanities.org/rodney-frey-to-receive-2023-outstanding-achievement-in-the-humanities-award/

Screen on the Green: The Little Rascals!📽🎞

When: Thursday, June 13, 2024, 7:30 – 11p.m.
University Location: Tower Lawn - Theophilus Tower - Main Campus
Details: The Little Rascals | 1994 | PG
Cost: Free!

Synopsis:
Mischievous youngsters Spanky (Travis Tedford) and Buckwheat (Ross Elliot Bagley) lead an anti-girl organization, and they pick their buddy Alfalfa (Bug Hall) to represent them in an all-important soapbox car rally. When the boys then find their driver canoodling with schoolmate Darla (Brittany Ashton Holmes), they decide they must break up the couple. Unfortunately, while Spanky and his pals are busy meddling in Alfalfa's affairs, their prized race car is nabbed by two young toughs.

Sponsored by the Department of Student Involvement and Vandal Entertainment, the family-friendly outdoor movies show at dusk on Thursdays, starting June 8 on the Theophilus Tower Lawn. Patrons are encouraged to bring blankets, chairs, and snacks from home. Seating opens at 7:30 p.m.

The lineup is subject to change. In the event of bad weather, Screen on the Green will be rescheduled for another date.

Theophilus Tower Lawn is located off Paradise Creek Street, between Line Street and Stadium Drive in Moscow. Free public parking is available in Gold lot 56 on the corner of Sixth and Rayburn Streets.

For more information about the series, visit uidaho.edu/screenonthegreen or the Department of Student Involvement page.

See you there!

Congratulations to University of Idaho class of 2024! Go Vandals!🎓💛🖤

University of Idaho 2024 Spring Commencement Highlights You've put in the work, you've been awarded your degree, you crossed the stage, turned the tassel. The rest is yours to discover. Go Vandals!https://www.uida...

Hiroshima survivor Keiko Ogura received an honorary doctorate in humane letters at the University of Idaho, Moscow graduation ceremonies on May 11. With a strong belief in conveying the reality of the atomic bombing to people around the world, she has shared her A-bomb experience with world leaders and people in more than 50 countries and regions, including at U of I in 2022, where she connected with a group of students who completed a project to translate her children’s story.🎓

Atomic bomb survivor Keiko Ogura is honored by the University of Idaho for her decades long peace advocacy Last May, Keiko Ogura was greeting some of the world's most powerful political leaders visiting her home city of Hiroshima, Japan, for the G7 Summit....

Sarah Sullivan ’23 walked at University of Idaho’s commencement in Spring 2013. But she didn’t actually graduate until 10 years later.

Wanting to finish her degree but not knowing exactly how to start, she contacted a friend who worked at University of Idaho Coeur d’Alene, who in turn gave Sullivan the contact information for College of Letters, Arts and Social Sciences (CLASS) Associate Dean Traci Craig.

Craig and fellow CLASS Associate Dean Annette Folwell are leading CLASS’s Vandal Finish initiative to help former, non-graduating students re-enroll in school and either finish the degree they started or complete a two-year degree in general studies or a four-year degree in general studies or interdisciplinary studies.

Vandal Finish started in Fall 2022, with Sullivan being one of the first graduates to complete their degree through the program.

“Many former students left college for all kinds of reasons,” Craig said. “With Vandal Finish, we can either help you finish the degree you started or put together a degree based on the existing credits you’ve already completed.”

From Student to Teacher
After dropping out of school one class short of graduating in 2013 due to medical issues, Sullivan settled in the Coeur d’Alene area, working an assortment of jobs including an in-home pre-K program she ran out of her house.

Teaching, especially early childhood education, was always her passion. Wanting to establish a solid career in teaching and administration, and find a job with higher pay and benefits, she knew she needed to complete her degree. She leaned on the example provided by family members to give her the confidence to finish.

“Both of my sisters got master’s degrees at age 50, so I knew I could do it, too,” she said.

Because she was only one class shy of a degree in psychology, Craig worked with Sullivan to finish her original degree instead of one in general or interdisciplinary studies.

Read the full story here!🔗https://www.uidaho.edu/news/feature-stories/degree-doctor

Vandal Finish initiative:🔗https://www.uidaho.edu/ui/class/vandal-finish

Contact us at [email protected].🎓

Lionel Hampton School of Music Assistant Professor of Jazz Piano, Kate Skinner, released her debut solo album, "Singing Bird," today, May 17, 2024!

"Singing Bird" is a beautiful blend of jazz, folk, and singer-songwriter genres, featuring five original tracks and two covers that truly showcase Skinner's incredible talent as both a pianist and a vocalist. This album is a heartfelt reflection of her artistic journey and musical versatility.

Available now on all streaming platforms!

Please join us in congratulating Skinner on this incredible achievement!🎹🎤

Lorrie Williams, who works as an executive assistant in the College of Science, joined more than 250 students earning the University of Idaho's first associate degrees on May 11, 2024. Her children and grandchildren were among dozens of friends and family members in attendance to see her earn a degree that she first started in 1998 at the age of 38.

Williams never believed that she would be completing a college degree until the day a letter arrived from the College of Letters, Arts and Social Sciences informing her that she would be receiving an associate degree from the U of I. During the fall of 1998, at the age of 38, she decided it was important for her to attend college and show her children the importance of a college education. She never thought that her life would change so much that she wouldn’t be able to complete her degree. She was seeking a degree in human resource management as a nontraditional first-generation college student. Her father completed 8th grade and her mother completed 11th grade and Williams became the first in her family to graduate from high school. You can imagine how excited she was to be receiving a degree. Her grandchildren thought she was too old to graduate but were so happy to watch her walk across the stage, which was the most exciting part to them. Her family is so proud of her, and she proved to them - age doesn’t matter!

See if you qualify for an associate degree here: https://www.uidaho.edu/ui/class/vandal-finish

We want to help you get across the finish line too!🎓

Congratulations to Milana Lenae DesRosier, who has been awarded the 2024 Lindley Award from the College of Letters, Arts, and Social Sciences! The Lindley Award is presented each year to the top graduating senior in CLASS who is deemed the most outstanding in scholarship and character. This is the highest award a student in CLASS can receive. Established in 1962 by distinguished alumnus Ernest K. Lindley, the award was created as a memorial to his parents Ernest Hiram and Elizabeth Kidder Lindley.

From a promising soccer recruit to an outstanding scholar, DesRosier will graduate with degrees in Political Science and International Studies from the School of Global Studies, in CLASS. Fluent in Russian and Mandarin, she has excelled in ROTC, making significant strides in national security.

Learn more about DesRosier's inspiring journey here: 🔗https://www.uidaho.edu/news/feature-stories/desrosier

Please join us in congratulating Milana DesRosier on this incredible achievement!🎓👏

Tanner McClain, a graduating senior double majoring in political science and philosophy, was awarded the Dean's Medal from the College of Letters, Arts and Social Sciences for his exceptional leadership and commitment to the University of Idaho. As a dedicated Vandal, McClain served two-terms as the Associated Students of the University of Idaho (ASUI) president, where he spearheaded initiatives to enhance student engagement and campus life.

McClain was instrumental in revitalizing campus traditions and advocating for student health and safety, including his work to decriminalize fentanyl test strips. His commitment extended beyond ASUI as he actively participated in student senate, fraternity leadership, and the Pre-Law Society. McClain's internship at Senator Jim Risch's office in Washington D.C. enhanced his skills in political advocacy and public policy, preparing him for his future goal of serving as a Judge Advocate General (JAG) officer.

Join us in congratulating McClain for his outstanding leadership, dedication and impact, on our college and university. We are proud to honor McClain with this award and excited to see what his future holds!🎓🎉