As the fall quarter comes to a close, UCSB’s Interdisciplinary Humanities Center had a busy and successful quarter filled with lectures and events. Additionally, they have provided new announcements and opportunities for both faculty and graduate students at UCSB.
Cheri Steinkellner has had a successful career in television, film, and theater and is now writing a novel. She continues to be a legend in the storytelling world, sharing her expertise with UCSB film students and insider stories from the industry. In an HFA interview, Steinkellner discusses her experiences working on iconic projects like Cheers and her unique creative teaching methods.
The UCSB Chamber and Concert choirs held their fall concert earlier this month in downtown Santa Barbara, carrying themes of hope and light through their music in a concert titled, “Hope Finds Light.”
Alice Madrigal, a 2023 UC Santa Barbara Art Honors graduate, is breaking ground in the art world with bold, colorful illustrations that explore identity and self-expression. Her work challenges societal norms of beauty and self-perception while celebrating body positivity and authenticity. Now preparing for her first New York City art show, Madrigal credits UCSB’s Honors Art Program for fostering her growth.
This fall, UC Santa Barbara's MultiCultural Center hosted Echoes of Empowerment, a student-led art exhibit showcasing creative work such as poems, collages, and paintings. The pieces in this collection convey resilience, hope, and the transformative power of art to mend and uplift the human spirit, a space for connection and inspiration for students of color and others who feel marginalized.
Movies and media shape children’s understanding of culture and morality, but the “Disneyfication” of literature often raises questions about what is gained or lost in the process. Martina Mattei, a Comparative Literature Ph.D. student at UC Santa Barbara, examined Disney’s adaptations of Pinocchio and The Little Mermaid. She noted how Disney simplified the dark moral complexity of Pinocchio into a more uplifting tale and highlighted the backlash against Halle Bailey’s casting in the 2023 remake of The Little Mermaid, reflecting nostalgia for Disney’s earlier portrayal. Mattei argues that simplified adaptations can risk erasing the cultural richness of the originals, shaping how future generations understand these tales.
Julia Lupton was hosted by UCSB’s Interdisciplinary Humanities Center for her talk When Life is a Shipwreck: Key Passages in Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night and discussed Shakespearean themes of transition, exile, and crisis, along with the role of dual identity in regards to queerness and the gender spectrum.
Kaitlyn Ugoretz, a UCSB Ph.D. candidate, delves into the evolving practice of Shinto outside Japan, highlighting how sacred spaces are created through rituals rather than geography. Her research explores how Shinto is flourishing in the U.S. among non-Japanese practitioners, driven by global influences like anime and inclusive spiritual values.
Euskara, the oldest language of the Basque Country, is a symbol of cultural survival. At UC Santa Barbara, lecturer Maitane Murumendiaraz Arana teaches students in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese about the language and culture of her own heritage. Through her classes and events, she keeps the Basque spirit alive and growing at UCSB.
UC Santa Barbara alumna Delaney Shanley has gone from an aspiring young dancer to a professional performer in an NFL arena as a rookie Raiderette. In a recent interview, Delaney reflected on her early dance inspirations and how her experiences majoring in Dance at UCSB helped her secure her spot on her dream team.
UCSB Film and Media Studies professor Mona Damluji recently discussed her journey into children's literature and the inspiration behind her socially-conscious works. Damluji published her debut children’s book, Together, in 2021, emphasizing the power of collective action. Her upcoming book, I Want You to Know, dives deeper into personal and political narratives. Written as a poem for her children, the book reflects on the generational effects of war, particularly in the Middle East, and explores themes of displacement and resilience. Damluji aims to open dialogue about complex histories, colonialism, and intergenerational trauma.
UCSB alumna Ardi Dwornik has been working at ESPN for over 17 years. Before then, Dwornik got her Masters in Spanish and Portuguese Language and Literature at UCSB, and became fluent in both languages. She also studied abroad for a year in Brazil through UCSB’s Education Abroad Program. She says her education and study abroad experience were a pivotal moment in her career, as ESPN was hoping to expand to Brazil when she was hired.
Howard Chiang, Lai Ho and Wu Cho-liu Endowed Chair in Taiwan Studies and professor of East Asian Languages and Cultural Studies at UC Santa Barbara discusses Sinophone studies and the newly published reader he co-edited with Shu-mei Shih. “Sinophone Studies Across Disciplines: A Reader” compiles essays that showcase the interdisciplinary potential of Sinophone studies as a nexus for marginalized global topics.
Author Amanda J. Baugh talks about the link between environmentalism and Latinx Catholic faith, in her recent book Falling in Love with Nature: The Values of Latinx Catholic Environmentalism. Baugh investigates “la tierra environmentalism,” a widespread ethic of living on earth and protecting one’s environment just as one would their neighbor. She was recently hosted by UCSB’s Walter H. Capps Center.
At an HFA Speaks event “Post-Election Reflection,” three UCSB faculty panelists gathered to discuss the threats America faces in human rights, academic freedom, and democracy under a Trump administration.
UCSB English, Dance and Black Studies Professor Stephanie Batiste lead a post-screening Q&A with world-renowned movement duo Charles “Lil Buck” Riley and Jon Boogz in UCSB's Pollock Theater about their careers and Netflix documentary “Move.” The duo seeks to give a voice to the voiceless and use movement to heal painful emotions, offering their audiences a story within their dance.
UC Santa Barbara faculty member Sarah Hirsch has turned her passion for New Orleans into a cornerstone of her academic and teaching career. In an interview, she discusses her journey from growing up in California to discovering a deep connection with the city while researching seaports and literature of the sea for her doctoral dissertation. Now a Continuing Lecturer in UCSB’s Writing Program, Hirsch desribes how her fascination with New Orleans inspired her signature course, “The Cross-Cultural Mapping of New Orleans,” and how she brings the vibrant city to life for her students.
The four-person UCSB band Wahoo was formed last year in a dining hall and the members have since established themselves as rising stars by playing at The Rose Bowl’s Bruin Fest for Hispanic Heritage Month. Andrew Adorno (on guitar), Carlo Lapayese-Calderon (on Cajon), Matthew Diaz (lead vocals) and Abhi Sahota (on bass) aim to keep performing on larger stages. Andrew Adorno sat down for an interview to talk about Wahoo’s Rose Bowl performance, how UCSB fostered the creation of Wahoo, and his personal journey with music.
As part of his senior directing concentration, UCSB student Alex Guaydacan tackled his biggest project yet: solo directing “The Incident Report” for the Fall One Acts. In an interview, he reflects on the directing process, from navigating friendships with cast members to building confidence as a director. Guaydacan speaks about the process of bringing his vision to life for UCSB’s annual theater showcase.
Ian Kellett, a UC Santa Barbara professor co-leads the Coastal Media Project. It’s a nine-week, 12-credit intensive summer course focused on environmental media production and documentary studies, offered through UCSB’s Carsey-Wolf Center. It combines a passion for film with environmentalism as students adventure through nature, telling meaningful stories.
