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Thursday, December 14, 2023

** Have a safe and restful Holiday Break! See you in 2024! **

1849 - 1st chamber music group in US gives their 1st concert in Boston

1903 - The Wright brothers attempt to fly the Wright Flyer for the first time at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina

1969 - Jackson Five make their 1st appearance on "The Ed Sullivan Show"

2020 - America begins its first COVID-19 vaccinations using the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine

Morning Person? You Might Have Neanderthal Genes to Thank. The New York Times.

A New Playbook for College Donors: Power Politics. The New York Times.

A ‘moral monster’ and the lobotomy’s legacy at GW.
GW Hatchet.

Smithsonian Targeted D.C.’S Vulnerable To Build Brain Collection. The Washington Post.

Photo Credit: Jamie Cohen-Cole

This newsletter edition we spotlight American Studies Professor Jamie Cohen-Cole! Last academic year, Professor Cohen-Cole conducted research and lived in Berlin, Germany. While there, he worked on two projects at the Max Planck Institute for the History of Science and presented his work at two different conferences. Professor Cohen-Cole studied how science reconstructs notions of what it is to be human and the importance of the humanities in the current cultural landscape. 

His first project is a long-term book project that examines the psychological theory that human nature is defined by specific forms of cognition. This theory of human cognition is best exemplified through the “scientific” behavior of very young children. Cohen-Cole built his research off previous cultural work done by psychologists to determine what exactly it means to be human.

Cohen-Cole’s second project studies the impact that Large Language Models (LLMs) like ChatGPT have on culture, labor, and human intelligence. His research explores how attributions of intelligence to machines help categorize which forms of human thinking are considered “intelligent”. Cohen-Cole’s work further considers the labor norms of different cultures and why some industries are considered more intelligent than others.

This semester Professor Cohen-Cole taught the American Studies Senior Seminar, “Interrogating Education: GW and Beyond.” We are excited to see how Professor Cohen-Cole’s current projects grow!

Humanities Internship Academy

The Columbian College of Arts & Sciences and the GW Career Center are offering a new 4-part program for a select number of Sophomore and Juniors in the Humanities who are searching for summer internships: the Humanities Internship Academy.

After attending ALL 4 sessions, you will receive the following:
- A strategy for and confidence in your internship search
- Access to alumni connections
- A comprehensive resume included in a resume book for GW alumni hiring summer interns
- A stronger network of peers

The schedule for the Humanities Internship Academy:
Lunch will be provided.

Session 1: Friday, February 2, 12:15-1:30 p.m., USC 526
"Exploring What You Want To Do for an Internship and Where You Can Do It"

Session 2, Friday, February 9, 12:15-1:30 p.m., USC 526
"Developing Your Brand (Resume, Cover Letter, & LinkedIn) and Preparing for the Career Fair"

Session 3: Thursday, February 15 (virtual) and/or Friday, February 16, USC 3rd Floor
"Spring 2024 Career Expo" 

Session 4: Friday, February 23, 12:15-1:30 p.m., USC 526
"Career Fair Next Steps and Networking"

To participate, you must commit to attending, in-person, 3 sessions and the Career Expo (in-person or virtually). There is a limited amount of space available, so If you are interested in participating in this program, please complete this Statement of Interest (SoI) survey.

**Check back in 2024 for more Department Kudos!**

Call for Applications: The Institute for Critical Social Inquiry (ICSI) at the New School for Social Research is still accepting fellowship applications for their 2024 Summer Seminars (June 16-22, 2024). Advanced graduate students and faculty are eligible to apply. Click here to learn more // Deadline: Dec. 15, 2023.

Call for Applications: Established in 1967, the Smithsonian Folklife Festival celebrates contemporary living cultural traditions and those who practice and sustain them. The Smithsonian Folklife Festival seasonal job applications are now open and applications are currently being reviewed on a rolling basis. Click here to learn more // Deadline: Dec. 15, 2023

Call for Applications: OGSAF has opened their award competitions for the AY 24-25. Awards are tailored for both MA and PhD students. Click here to learn more // Deadline: Jan. 15, 2024 and Feb. 15, 2024

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: Jan. 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: Feb. 9, 2023.

Call for Applications: D.C. Daughters of the American Revolution (D.C. DAR) Scholarship is now open for applications from MA American Studies students. Click here to learn more // Deadline: Feb. 15, 2023

Call for Applications: The Department of Justice's Historians Office is currently seeking applications for the Summer 2024 internship program. Click here to learn more // Deadline: Mar. 1, 2024.

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.

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What We're Listening To:
“All I Want For Christmas” - Mariah Carey"
"Last Christmas" - Tinashe

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.