Service

Supporting the community

In my first few years at CMU, I have been introduced to a dynamic and creative community. This is a supportive community, where many seek active collaboration and work openly and progressively. I have sought to contribute to the work of the University, and the wider commonality of language, culture, and humanities. The following examples demonstrate my commitment to the Institution, its groups, and the many networks both in the US and UK/Europe that serve my field. As someone who works across disciplines, in language and cultural learning, technology, arts, and media; I am hearing a diverse range of voices that inform my work and help me stay in touch and informed of new developments, innovations and perspectives.

Attending Oculus Connect 6 – Conference 2019 (a few moments before Mark Zuckerberg walked on stage…)

Directorship of the Global Languages and Cultures Room

I would like to include a summary of my role in managing and directing activities in the Global Languages & Cultures Room. Now approaching its third year since launch, it is important to recognize the significant investment and resources that the department, college, and university have put in place. I am ably supported in this role by a dedicated committee team who have in many ways provided guidance and mentorship so that I gain a better understanding of the culture of the university, the strategic resonance of the room, and the opportunity ahead. I am privileged to enjoy access to this group of people who have encouraged and challenged in equal measure.

I manage a team of student workers, who are trained to greet visitors and manage some of the online marketing and promotion of the room. In a very short time, we have built a website and established a social media presence which we work to populate regularly with new content. Together as a team, we organize events, such as our recent Diwali Festival, inviting staff, students, and faculty to join us and experience what the room has to offer.

Invitation for Diwali Festival – 2019

As the current custodian for the room, I recognize the role that it has in representing the strategic direction of the university, and I very much enjoy meeting CMU Trustees, Executive Board Members, Donors, and visitors. Working closely with the Welcome Center, the Global Languages & Cultures Room has become a beacon of innovation for prospective students.

Since even before the launch of the room, I have worked to provide a program of activities and events. I have sought to refresh content and invite new projects. As an active member of the funding committee for new interactive, media, and learning projects, we have supported new course development and artistic projects that relate to the aims of the room.

We are now in our second year of working with the ETC to fund student-team projects, resulting in two site-specific installations, Kaleidoscope, and The Other Side, due to launch in the Fall. For these projects I am the client, working closely with the teams, helping to develop content, play testing, and supporting them throughout. These require a significant time commitment, often these projects are unlike others that the ETC has undertaken, and although students may have expertise in the technical and design aspects of projects, I have been able to provide a great deal of guidance around the cultural and language aspects and draw on my experience as a content provider and digital creator.

College and University Service

In addition to my research and teaching, I have engaged in several service activities. I have spearheaded a Special-interest group for XR (VR & AR) which launched with a successful event soon followed by regular meetings, bringing together faculty across the university, including the library, ETC, IDEATE. The focus for the group is the Pedagogy of VR, with plans in place for a forthcoming symposium and website.

In this past year, I have also joined a sub-committee for the Humanities @CMU initiative spearheaded by Professor Andreea Ritivoi. I am a member of the Engagement sub-committee, outlining strategies for increasing the profile of the Humanities both within the University, and further afield.

I have worked closely with the SLICE – Student Leadership, Involvement, and Civic Engagement initiative – as a member of the funding panel and review committee for the Fulbright Scholarship.

I continue to expand my network, establishing myself as an academic in a new country. This includes links to the Immersive Learning Research Network, as a member and chapter member for the house of Immersive Learning in Humanities and Arts, which has offered a special track at this year’s ILRN conference.

Department of Modern Languages’ Anti-Racist Pedagogy Working Group

In the months since the murder of George Floyd and protests against police brutality and systemic racism, there has been a process of reflection, listening, and desire for change. As a British academic living and working in the US, I have sought not only a greater understanding of the conditions and histories that are perhaps specific to America but also the systemic racism that exists in my own country and the need to address the missing or incomplete picture from my own education and upbringing. With this in mind, I am seeking to de-colonize my curriculum, recognize and amplify Black voices within my field, and create a safe space for discussion and understanding.

TILTWebinarSC

I am working to establish my work and pursue my interests, drawn by the possibilities for collaboration and professional development within the institution. I am enjoying the shaping of this future through my interactions with colleagues and students. I am focused too on ways to ensure I reach my goals, which are to continue to work thoughtfully and creatively for the benefit of all.