Faculty Friday Spotlight: September 2024
“Million Bazillion: The Musical” Honored with Six Kennedy Center Certificates of Merit
In the spring of 2024, Agnes Scott College’s Department of Creative Arts unveiled an original musical production for young audiences that has since garnered significant recognition. The production earned six Certificates of Merit from the Kennedy Center’s College Theatre Festival, a prestigious acknowledgment in collegiate theater.
The production’s success is a testament to the collaborative effort of the creative team. Dr. Toby Emert, honored for both writing and directing, Dr. Tracey Laird, honored for musical direction and Dr. Jason Solomon, honored for musical composition, all brought their unique talents to the project. The festival also recognized the work of Sara Culpepper of Emory University for set design and independent designer Jill Peterson for costume design.
Agnes Scott students played an integral role in bringing the musical to life. Cast members included Alecia Brown, Orixa Flores, and Julia Norcross, while Leane Coudray contributed as assistant director. Mary Shawhan served as assistant stage manager, Emma Anne Stephens assisted with projections, Marie McCrory managed props, and Tallulah Stroud worked as a costume assistant. Other students supported the production by controlling lighting, house management, set construction and costume design.
“Million Bazillion: The Musical” is based on the popular podcast of the same name, produced by Marketplace and Minnesota Public Radio. The musical’s development was part of a Research in the Arts Grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, awarded to Dr. Emert and Dr. Bonnie Perdue, chair of the department of psychology. The grant facilitated a study to evaluate how well the musical communicated concepts related to money and the economy to a young audience.
Dr. Emert presented the project’s preliminary findings at a symposium at New York University in April 2024, and Dr. Perdue shared the research outcomes at the American Psychological Association conference in August 2024. Their work underscores how the arts can effectively educate children about complex topics in an engaging and accessible manner.
Jennifer Kovacs Awarded NSF Grant to Build Women’s College Biology Network
The National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded a $75,000 grant to Agnes Scott College’s Charles Loridans Associate Professor of Biology, Dr. Jennifer Kovacs. This grant will spearhead an exciting new initiative to connect women in biology across multiple women’s colleges. The project, titled Creating a Women’s College Biology (WoCoBio) Network for Faculty and Students, will build a collaborative community of biology faculty and research-active undergraduate students.
Dr. Kovacs, the project’s primary investigator, is joined by co-investigator Dr. Srebrenka Robic, Charles A. Dana Professor of biology and director of the Science Center for Women at Agnes Scott College. Together, they are leading efforts to establish a dynamic network among faculty at partner institutions, including Wellesley College, Spelman College and the College of Saint Mary.
The WoCoBio network is designed to foster communication and collaboration between biology faculty at women’s colleges, encouraging mentorship and the sharing of research. It will also connect research-active undergraduates at these institutions, creating a supportive environment where students can collaborate on projects and share their research experiences.
As the network grows, the project leaders envision it becoming a model for future initiatives, empowering women in STEM fields and promoting a culture of academic excellence across women’s colleges.
Dr. Philip Ojo Attends Emory University’s Academic Leadership Program
From August 2023 to June 2024, Dr. Philip Ojo, professor of French participated in Emory University’s prestigious Academic Leadership Program. The yearlong program focused on essential leadership areas such as creating inclusive environments, strategic planning, crisis leadership and team development.
Through two essential assessment tools, Dr. Ojo gained valuable insights into his leadership style. The 360-Degree Feedback highlighted his strengths and growth areas, while the Birkman Method® provided a deeper understanding of his internal motivations and how he leads and communicates.
Reflecting on the program, Dr. Ojo noted how it broadened his understanding of higher education challenges and equipped him with skills to address them, further enhancing his leadership at Agnes Scott.
Sarah Emerson’s New Mural and Exhibit Bring Art and Hope to Atlanta
Visiting professor of art Sarah Emerson is making waves in the Atlanta art scene with two major projects this fall. Commissioned by the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs, Emerson’s latest mural, Hope, has transformed the facade of 254 Peachtree Street into a visual feast of color and meaning. Known for her distinctive style of blending abstract and real-world landscapes, Emerson’s mural celebrates optimism in a chaotic world.
In addition to the mural, Emerson’s solo exhibition In the Land of Plenty opens September 27 at Whitespace Gallery. The show features new paintings and drawings that explore the delicate balance between collapse and perseverance in everyday life. Emerson describes her work as “a visual appeal to be empathetic and hopeful in tumultuous times,” using abstract compositions to blur the lines between terror and tranquility, chaos and calm.
On Saturday, October 5, Emerson will give an artist talk at 4 p.m. at Whitespace Gallery, offering insights into her creative process and the inspiration behind In the Land of Plenty.
Mighty is the Pen: Waqas Khwaja’s Words Earn Recognition
Waqas Khwaja has had a busy 2024 with multiple publications and accolades. His bilingual poetry collection “Nadie espera el tren / No One Waits for the Train” was released on June 20 by Editorial Juglar in Madrid, Spain. The collection, translated into Spanish by Elisa Corona Aguilar, explores themes of time, memory, and human connection. Khwaja celebrated the launch with a special presentation at Libreria Juan Rulfo in Madrid, where notable literary figures, including Javier González, Francisco Alvarez Kiko, and Maria Alvarez, introduced his work.
On June 26, he presented a thought-provoking paper, “The Pursuit of Literary Self-expression in the Master’s Language: Issues of Political Autonomy and Socio-Cultural Sustainability in Pakistani English-Language Literature,” at Sapienza University in Rome during the Twenty-Second International Conference on New Directions in the Humanities. His work illuminated the tensions between cultural expression and the colonial legacy of the English language in Pakistan.
In addition to these milestones, Khwaja was honored at a reception hosted by Ambassador Zahoor Ahmed at Pakistan House in Madrid on July 4, celebrating his bilingual poetry collection. His contributions to the literary world also earned him The Los Angeles Review’s 2023 Poetry Award for his poem “night prowlers in fellowship,” which was announced in March 2024.
Khwaja’s presence continues to resonate both globally and locally. On August 22, he was a featured poet at an open mic event at The Book Bird bookstore in Avondale Estates.
Seminars & Publications
Agnes Scott to Showcase Global Learning Innovation at AAC&U 2024
Professors Mina Ivanova, Laird and staff member Laura Ochs, director of the Center for Global Learning, will represent Agnes Scott at the AAC&U 2024 Conference on Global Learning in October. Their session, titled “Making the Case for Universal High-Impact Global Learning Practices Across the Liberal Arts Curriculum,” will be an interactive discussion focusing on the innovative Global Journeys program. They will highlight how Agnes Scott’s faculty have developed a genuinely interdisciplinary and forward-thinking approach to global learning over the years.
Breidenthal Champions Creative Solutions for Hybrid Work
Assistant professor of business management, Dr. Amy Breidenthal, presented at the 84th Annual Meeting of the Academy of Management in Chicago on August 10, 2024. Breidenthal co-led a session titled “Training Leaders and Employees for Hybrid and Virtual Work: Interactive and Experiential Activities” alongside colleagues from George Washington, Purdue, and Maynooth University. During the session, she showcased how classic creative-thinking exercises can help organizational leaders redesign management processes, fostering employee success and well-being in hybrid and virtual work environments.
Li Qi Wins CSEE Grant, Presents Research at University of Chicago
Li Qi, Hal & Julia Smith Professor of Free Enterprise, was awarded the prestigious Chicago School in Experimental Economics (CSEE) grant to attend a week-long workshop on field experiments at the University of Chicago in August 2024. Her research in neural economics and trading behavior, along with her expertise in teaching behavioral economics, distinguished her from a global pool of 500 applicants. At the conference, Dr. Qi presented her latest research on the role of visual attention in economic decision-making.
Ruth Uwaifo Oyelere Publishes Social Justice Research
Ruth Uwaifo Oyelere, associate professor and chair of the Department of Economics and Business Management, recently co-authored an article titled “A Call for Social Justice-Related Research in Agricultural, Environmental, and Natural Resource Economics,” published in CHOICES, the journal of the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
English Department Makes Waves to Begin 2024
As a whole, the English department has a busy summer. In addition to Khwaja’s awards and publications, several other faculty members added some accolades of their own. Courtney Faye Taylor was named one of Agnes Scott’s 2024 Outstanding Alumnae. Alan Grostephan’s novel “The Banana Wars,” published in the spring, earned high praise in The Wall Street Journal, while Melissa Fay Greene was selected by The Washington Post as one of five writers, including columnist Dave Barry, to contribute a series of election-themed “postcards.” Her second piece for the publication was printed in July. Also, one of Fay Greene’s former students, Cadie Cooper ‘27, had a “tiny love story” about the relationship with her father featured in The New York Times in June.
Lastly, in July, Bobby Meyer-Lee presented his paper, “The Problem of Moral Misalignment,” at The New Chaucer Society International Congress in Pasadena.
Julia Knowlton Named Georgia Author of the Year for Poetry, Collaborates on Children’s Book with Agnes Scott Alum
Julia Knowlton, Adeline A. Loridans Professor of French, has been named a Georgia Author of the Year for the second time. Her poetry chapbook Life of the Mind earned top honors in the category. In addition to this achievement, Knowlton recently collaborated with alum and staff member Leah Owenby ’01 to publish a children’s poetry book, which was featured in the August issue of Decatur City Lifestyle.
Quick Hits
- Emrah Kotan, percussionist artist affiliate and director of the Jazz and World Percussion Ensembles, recently performed in Belgium at the Gouvy Jazz Festival and the Barlaban Jazz Club with the Andy Nevala Quartet. This October, Kotan will also lead a workshop and perform with the quartet at the University of Wyoming Big Band and Denver’s Dazzle Jazz Club.
- Professor Tina Pippin was recently honored by the Society for Biblical Literature as a 2024 Status of Women in the Profession Mentor Award.
- While assistant professor of history, Reem Bailony was away on sabbatical, she was elected president of the Syrian Studies Association and completed her Smithsonian Research Fellowship at the National Museum of American History.
- Dr. Patricia Higino Schneider, professor of economics, published “Maternal depression as catalyst for cooperation: evidence from Uganda” in Evolution and Human BehaviorVolume 45, Issue 4, July 2024.
- Malatrice Montgomery, assistant professor and physician assistant studies principal faculty was elected as President-Elect of the African American Heritage Caucasus.
- Megan Timpone, assistant professor and physician assistant principal faculty was elected President of the Georgia Association of Physician Assistants.
- Three medical sciences faculty members Shoshana Katzman, Carmen Carrion and Jennifer Hurst-Kennedy co-authored an article, “The Impact of Primary Literature-Based, Critical Thinking Activities on Competency Enhancement for Pre-Health Students”, published this summer in Trends in Higher Education.
- Two Agnes Scott students were awarded prestigious scholarships under Professor Barbara Drescher’s guidance: Nick Williams ’23 (German Studies and theater double major) received a Fulbright Teaching Assistantship to Germany for the 2024-25 academic year, while Jaya Vivian ’25 (economics major and German studies minor) received a scholarship from the Halle Foundation to represent Agnes Scott German studies at the annual German-American Conference at the Harvard Kennedy School in November.
