2108 G Street NW, Washington, DC 20052

Thursday, November 16, 2023

** NO CLASSES 11/20-11/24! ENJOY YOUR BREAK! **

1824 - New York City's Fifth Avenue opens for business

1938 - LSD (Lysergic acid diethylamide) is first synthesized by Swiss chemist Dr. Albert Hofmann at the Sandoz Laboratories in Basel, Switzerland

1945 - Founding of UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

1974 - ABBA begin their first tour of Europe—their first tour outside of Sweden

2009 - "The Twilight saga: New Moon", based on the book by Stephenie Meyer, starring Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson, premieres in Los Angeles

Union Workers Ratify Contract at General Motors.
The New York Times.

Meet the African Artists Driving a Cultural Renaissance.
The New York Times.

The Unsung Women of American Land Art. Hyperallergic.

Photo Credit: Ciaran Lithgow

This newsletter edition we spotlight Ciaran Lithgow, a 2017 GW AMST alum who currently works as a Redevelopment Project Manager at the City of Albuquerque’s Metropolitan Redevelopment Agency. Ciaran entered GW as a political science major but switched to American Studies after taking an Architecture, Ecology, and Urban Planning class. As part of their degree, Ciaran explored the underlying culture, system, and historic inequalities of modern American cities.

As part of their current role, Ciaran has managed and planned several projects for the City of Albuquerque, including housing, grocery stores, street beautification, and public plazas. These projects help spur reinvestment in under served communities through public-private partnerships. 

Ciaran’s favorite project has been the Albuquerque Rail Trail, which is an urban pedestrian and cyclist trail that will connect major destinations and employment opportunities in dis-invested communities. The Rail Trail will add five miles of safe off-road infrastructure for pedestrians and cyclists. Ciaran also hopes this project will add more green space to communities, expand economic opportunities, and encourage future redevelopment projects. In 2022, Ciaran was awarded a $15 million Rebuilding American Infrastructure Sustainably and Equitably grant through the US Department of Transportation, which will fund a major segment of the trail.

Ciaran also received their Masters in Community and Regional Planning from the University of New Mexico in 2022. This past year, for their hard work in community planning, Ciaran was named one of New Mexico’s 40 Under 40! 

Graduate Student Knowledge Exchange:
Comprehending Comps

The second session of the Graduate Student Knowledge Exchange, hosted by PhD students Molly Henderson and Sam Silver, will be held on November 16, 2023. The exchange is intended as a space to share student survival tips and resources in an informal, student-led, student-based environment. This session will cover everything you need to know about preparing for and taking comp exams, led by a roundtable of panelists who will share their knowledge about the American Studies comp exam process.

When: Thursday, November 16, 2023; 4:00-5:00 PM
Where: Zoom (Link Here)

GW Philosophy Department Lecture
Sophia Endowed Lecture featuring
Professor Francey Russell from Barnard College

When: Friday, November 17, 2023; 4:00 PM
Where: Duques Hall, Room 151

PhD candidate Joe Baez recently published an article entitled "The Complexities of Art and Life: Knowing Laura Aguilar Through Her Fat Body" in ReVista: Harvard Review of Latin America for their Fall issue themed "Queer in Latin America."

MA Student Kirsten Notley was recently invited to review the 60th-anniversary edition of Clint Hill's new book Five Days in November, a reflection on the JFK assassination.

Cassandra Good (BA '04) recently published a new book entitled First Family: George Washington's Heirs and the Making of America with HarperCollins.

The Foggy Bottom Association recently recognized alum Julia Russo (BA '23) for their award-winning article entitled "A Legacy of Disenfranchisement: Interrogating the Displacement of the Historical Black Foggy Bottom Community.”

Prof. Anker's Scope & Methods class recently received a tour of the new NMAAHC exhibition Afrofuturism: A History of Black Futures with the curator and GW AMST alum Kevin Strait (PhD '09).

Congratulations to all who attended and presented at the 2023 American Studies Association Annual Meeting in Montreal, Quebec! Our GW AMST community hosted a small reunion at the conference!

Call for Submissions: The DC History Conference committee is now accepting submissions for the 50th Annual DC History Conference, taking place April 4-6, 2024. Click here to learn more // Deadline: Nov. 17, 2023.

Call for Applications: The Newberry Library is currently accepting applications for the 2024-25 fellowships—both short and long-term. Click here to learn more // Deadline: Nov. 1, 2023 (Long-Term); Dec. 15, 2023 (Short-Term).

Call for Papers: The Yale University American Art Graduate Symposium is accepting papers for their upcoming symposium on the theme of "condition." Click here to learn more // Deadline: January 31, 2024.

Call for Applications: The Friedman Feminist Press Collection of Colorado State University Libraries, Archives & Special Collections has announced their grants of up to $1,800 to researchers whose work would benefit from access to the Friedman Feminist Press Collection and are intended to help offset travel and research expenses. Click here to learn more // Deadline: February 9, 2023.

Call for Applications: The Massachusetts Historical Society (MHS) announces a new short-term (6-week) fellowship for the 2024 selection season. Sponsored by the Algonquin Club Foundation, the fellowship carries a stipend of $5,000. Click here to learn more // Deadline: Mar. 1, 2024.

Need Support?

What We're Listening To:
“Fool of Me” - Meshell Ndegeocello
“So Real” - Jeff Buckley

Like what you see? Have spotlights, kudos, events, or opportunities that you would like to share? We want to hear from you! Navigate to our feedback form using the link below, or more simply, forward your tip to amst@gwu.edu.