15 KU College moments from an extraordinary year
2020 has been — well, take your pick of adjective: Difficult. Uncertain. Unpredictable. Unprecedented. Challenging. By now, we’ve all heard and used these words so many times that they hardly do justice to the collective whiplash and mind-boggling paradigm shifts we’ve adjusted to during the past…
Hawks to Watch: Jomana Qaddour, foreign policy professional
Why Jomana's a Hawk to WatchQuestions about America’s role on the global stage are deeply complex and often controversial: When is intervention appropriate? When is it not? Who gets to decide? Those issues are only further complicated during times of war and political unrest abroad. Through her…
Unwinding: Emily Vietti works to close leadership gender gaps
August 18, 2020 marked the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment which gave women the right to vote. 100 years later, women still lag behind men in holding elected office both nationally and regionally. Institute for Leadership Studies Lecturer/Program Associate and…
Mason Hussong's love of languages leads to adventures around the world
Mason Hussong’s passion for language goes back to high school, where he spent four years studying Latin. After learning about KU’s nationally renowned Slavic Language program and earning a scholarship from the KU Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps, he knew it was the right fit for him.…
Hawks to Watch: Don Davis, senior director of player affairs for the NFLPA
Why Don's a Hawk to WatchDon Davis’s love for the game of football runs deep. With two Super Bowl rings to his name and 11 years of professional playing experience under his belt, the Kansas native is continuing to leave his mark on the sport — this time, off the field.Born and raised in Olathe,…
Unwinding: Paul Scott hunts the cultural impact of zombies
Ever wonder why the zombies in film and on TV act the way that they do? Associate Professor of French Paul Scott can provide some insight. Working on a new book while on sabbatical in Crete, Professor Scott sat down with us to talk his soon to be completed book on zombies, his time on…
Unwinding: Brett Bricker applies KU Debate experience to national stage
After a career as a debater at KU and now as Co-Director of KU Debate, Brett Bricker knows how to craft an argument. Yet, there is more to success in the world of competitive debate than having your points in order. On the newest Unwinding, Bricker lets us into the world of KU Debate,…
Hawks to Watch: Tony G. Reames, energy justice scholar
Why Tony's a Hawk to Watch:The most urgent issues our communities face — such as equitable access to clean energy — don’t exist in a vacuum. They’re tied to a vast network of forces and systemic factors. Which is why, for Tony Reames, the key to eliminating barriers to affordable, sustainability…
Abigail Vegter investigates religion, politics and gun ownership in America
Religion and politics in America can be messy, divisive, and contentious, certainly. But, as Abigail Vegter points out, the topics are anything but boring. In her doctoral research in KU’s Political Science program, Abigail is looking at the overlapping issues of gun policy and religious and…
Unwinding: Ayesha Hardison connects lessons from the work of Zora Neale Hurston to current events
Examining our past can provide clues on how to avoid problems we've already encountered. For Zora Neale Hurston scholar and associate professor of English and Women, Gender, & Sexuality Studies Ayesha Hardison, there are similarities in the themes of Hurston's work and social uprisings…