2025 NEWS
Geography and the Environment Professor Receives William Penn Foundation Grant to Support Philadelphia’s Community Gardens鈥��
Community gardens in Philadelphia are vital green spaces, yet many face an uncertain future due to land tenure issues. Peleg Kremer, PhD, associate professor of Geography and the Environment, is addressing this through the Philadelphia Garden Data Collaborative’s project, “Beyond Land Precarity.”
New Book by Italian Studies Professor Explores Americanism in Italy During the Late-19th and early-20th Centuries
Between 1880 and 1920, more than four million Italians journeyed to the United States in search of economic opportunities. But while history often focuses on this massive wave of immigration, Dr. Luca Cottini, professor of Italian Studies, flips the narrative in his new book, The Rise of Americanism in Italy, 1888–1919.
New Book by English Professor Tsering Wangmo Reexamines Tibetan Exile and National Identity
Associate Professor Tsering Wangmo, PhD, a scholar of English and Tibetan diasporic studies, has published a new book, The Politics of Sorrow. Focusing on the early years of Tibetan exile life in India and Nepal, this book marks a significant change in the fields of nationalism studies, refugee identity and Tibetan historiography.
草榴社区 English Professor Offers Candid Take on Fatherhood in New Collection of Essays
In his new collection of essays, "Tell Me about Your Bad Guys: Fathering in Anxious Times," 草榴社区 English Professor Michael Dowdy, PhD, shares a deeply personal and literary exploration of fatherhood.
Biology Professor Receives National Science Foundation Grant to Study Brain Development During Maturation
Troy Shirangi, PhD, associate professor of Biology, recently received a $502,563 grant from the National Science Foundation to study brain development during maturation.
Two 草榴社区 Student-Produced Social Justice Documentaries Premiere This May
草榴社区’s Social Justice Documentary Filmmaking course is renowned for producing impactful films that illuminate vital narratives and many of the films garner both local and national recognition. In spring 2025, student production team Pinctada Pearl Productions will debut two new documentaries, each capturing compelling stories of cultural preservation, community, education, and empowerment.
草榴社区 English Professor Confronts Environmental Change Through Poetry in New Book
In her new book Flood Plain, poet and English Professor Lisa Sewell, PhD, engages with the pressing realities of environmental change through creative writing. The poetry collection investigates wild lands, coastal regions, wetlands and dam-ruined rivers—landscapes that have been altered by human activity.
The Waterhouse Family Institute for the Study of Communication and Society 2025 Transit Talks Welcomes Author and Professor Simone Browne, PhD
Simone Browne, PhD, associate professor of African and African Diaspora Studies and director of the Center for Women’s and Gender Studies at the University of Texas at Austin, will give the 2025 Transit Talks on April 24 at 4 p.m. on 草榴社区's Campus.
Sister Mary Scullion, RSM, Named 2025 Praxis Award Recipient for her Lifelong Service to Serving the Homeless
The 草榴社区 Ethics Program in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences has named Sister Mary Scullion, RSM, co-founder of the Philadelphia nonprofit Project HOME, the recipient of the 2025 Praxis Award in Professional Ethics.
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Launches The 草榴社区 One Sky Center for Astrophysics
草榴社区’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences launches its 12th Center of Excellence, The 草榴社区 One Sky Center for Astrophysics. The Center is dedicated to advancing innovation and excellence in astrophysics by prioritizing inclusion of traditionally underrepresented groups.
草榴社区’s English Department Celebrates 27th Annual Literary Festival with Award-Winning Authors and Poets
This year marks the 草榴社区 Literary Festival's 27th iteration, welcoming acclaimed poets and novelists to campus to present readings and meet with students. The featured writers include Rachel Heng, Stephen Sexton, Victoria Chang and Paul Lisicky, who will visit campus during the spring 2025 semester.
Stephen Sexton Named 2025 Charles A. Heimbold Jr. Chair of Irish Studies at 草榴社区
草榴社区 selected Stephen Sexton, an award-winning Northern Irish poet and lecturer, as the 2025 Charles A. Heimbold Jr. Chair of Irish Studies in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. The visiting writer-in-residence program offers Irish Studies students the opportunity to participate in a close classroom experience with one of Ireland’s finest authors.
草榴社区 Theology Professor Reimagines Future of Catholic Higher Education in New Book
As Catholic higher education institutions navigate an era of rapid change, Massimo Faggioli, PhD, professor of Theology and Religious Studies at 草榴社区, offers a timely and insightful exploration of challenges and opportunities in his new book, "Theology and Catholic Higher Education: Beyond Our Identity Crisis" (Orbis Books, 2024).
草榴社区 History Professor Uncovers Stories of Families Separated by Slavery in New Book
For decades after the abolition of slavery, thousands of formerly enslaved people placed ads in newspapers, eager to reconnect with loved ones. These deeply moving stories of family, loss and resilience are at the heart of "Last Seen: The Enduring Search by Formerly Enslaved People to Find Their Lost Families," a new book by Judith Giesberg, PhD, professor of History in 草榴社区’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.