MS Profiles

Bioinformatician maps her own path to NIH fellowship

Katarina Benson — Tue, 05 Aug 2025 16:25:44 +0000

Bioinformatician maps her own path to NIH fellowship Katarina Benson Tue, 08/05/2025 - 12:25

“It's funny, you know, the connection between the events,” said Soukaina Amniouel, MS Bioinformatics and Computational Biology ’20, PhD ’24. Amniouel is referring to how she completed her very first genome assembly at �鶹��Ƶ for a research project, and now she does this same task nearly every day as part of her postdoctoral fellowship at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). It’s clear, however, these connections aren’t coincidence—Amniouel overcame numerous obstacles to make them happen.

Amniouel credits her mother with the push to apply to George �鶹��Ƶ to pursue her interest in bioinformatics, since there were no strong programs in her native Morocco. Despite the worries about diving into something so new, she saw that international students were happy at George �鶹��Ƶ and decided to take a chance on a university that rewards determination like hers.

“I am grateful that I did not give up…because I learned so much and I found that it is exactly what I want to study,” she said.

Amniouel’s doctoral research focused on using biomarkers and machine learning—which is a branch of artificial intelligence (AI)—to improve the rate of efficacy for chemotherapy. While many areas of health care involve targeted therapies, that’s often not the first option for cancer patients.

Amniouel at the NIH. Photo by Ron Aira/Office of University Branding

Amniouel worked alongside Professor M. Saleet Jafri, director of the Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience, to develop a patented machine learning model that they hope will one day allow doctors to match a patient’s genetic profile to the most effective chemotherapy. This would reduce both the patient’s physical burden and overall cost of treatment.

While bioinformatics research involving AI was rare when Amniouel started her PhD, her decision to pursue it anyway meant that she was exactly the kind of forward-thinking candidate the NIH wanted.

For a self-described quiet person, her excitement is palpable when she talks about her research. This enthusiasm for bioinformatics helped her step outside her comfort zone and serve as a graduate teaching assistant, which she said allowed her to hone her communication and presentation skills.

“Today I really love teaching,” she said. “And this just shows how putting yourself in awkward positions can sometimes really make you grow.”

Amniouel still teaches a class on George �鶹��Ƶ’s Science and Technology Campus.

Amniouel’s current NIH research supports the discovery or improvement of drug therapies for both cancer and neurodegenerative diseases, like Alzheimer's and Parkinson’s. She meets with scientists every day to discuss their projects and what her data analyses mean for their work. These conversations are one reason she finds the position so fulfilling.

“You remind yourself, we're doing this for people, for patients,” she said. “And that connection—those meetings—are very useful because honestly it just makes me love my field more. Because even if it's a small task, it's helpful to someone.”

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Patriot Profile: Midori Galligan

Katarina Benson — Mon, 02 Jun 2025 14:05:18 +0000

Patriot Profile: Midori Galligan Katarina Benson Mon, 06/02/2025 - 10:05

Back in 2023 on the day before she moved into her residence hall at �鶹��Ƶ, Midori Galligan received a bit of advice from her dad as she embarked on her college journey. “He kind of gave the normal talk of ‘You need to do new things, meet new people, and just say yes.’”

In her two years on campus, Galligan has taken that guidance to incredible heights. In the process, she’s discovered new passions while pursuing the degree that prompted her to come to George �鶹��Ƶ.

Midori Galligan. Photo by Ron Aira/Office of University Branding

Rowing on a Whim: A former soccer player, Galligan decided to focus on academics when she came to George �鶹��Ƶ. But during an activities fair on campus, a George �鶹��Ƶ rower encouraged her to try out for the squad. “I was like, you know what? I’m just going to try it. I was looking for things to do, trying to meet new people.”

Despite having no prior awareness of the sport, Galligan cleared tryouts and embarked on a journey that’s still going strong three years later. “The program takes in a lot of novices, and they will teach you how to row. It ended up being the best decision I feel like I’ve made so far.”

Competing on the World's Stage: This summer, Galligan was selected to compete with Team USA at the prestigious FISU World University Games in Germany. The World Games are second in importance to the Olympic Games and bring 10,000+ global student-athletes together across 15 sports.

Keep to the Beat: Galligan is also an active member of Noteworthy, George �鶹��Ƶ’s a cappella group. Like with rowing, she joined on a whim. “I decided [to try out] 30 minutes before the audition.” She got in, and by her third year the group named her music director, which had her selecting the music and leading rehearsals. Her favorite song to perform is “Somebody That I Used to Know.” “I have a solo in this one! Plus the group has enjoyed learning this one, and it was our concert finisher, so energy was always high!” 

She’s Got Rhythm: Galligan has found some surprising similarities between her two passions. “Rowing is a very rhythmic sport. In a boat of people, you have to be moving together. Constantly being on a beat has helped me pick up rowing technique.”

Honors College student Midori Galligan was recently recognized as one of this year's Stearns Scholar Athletes. Photo provided

The teamwork and collaboration she has experienced come with their own rewards. “It’s a really cool feeling, having a collective goal, working hard for it, wearing a uniform of the school, and going out and competing or performing. I take a lot of pride in it.”

Best Laid Plans: While Galligan, who is also an Honors College student, seemingly left the social part of her life as a Patriot to chance, her academic path shows strong intention. “I knew I wanted to be a physical therapist,” she says, “and a big part of preparing for PT school is experience.” She cites the university’s proximity to Washington, D.C., and its rich pool of internship opportunities as major factors in her decision to come to George �鶹��Ƶ. “The kinesiology curriculum has set aside credits and time for you to get internships as well. I thought I would be really set up to create a strong PT application.”

Advice for New Patriots: In her journey of “saying yes,” Galligan says she’s discovered something far more important. “I think the point of going to school and having all the opportunities is just to kind of get out of your comfort zone and see what’s there. You learn something about yourself and what you want…it helps you figure out who you can be.”

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George �鶹��Ƶ alumna makes a career of bringing talent into the spotlight

Colleen Rich — Mon, 12 May 2025 20:34:39 +0000

George �鶹��Ƶ alumna makes a career of bringing talent into the spotlight Colleen Rich Mon, 05/12/2025 - 16:34

From her small hometown of Ruther Glen, Virginia, to the bright lights of New York City, Gilda Squire, BA Communication ’95, has forged a career that defies convention. It is a journey that has led Squire from the federal government through Wall Street, into book publishing, and finally landing as a powerhouse publicist and talent manager for some of entertainment’s brightest stars, including Angela Bassett, Bebe Neuwirth, and ballet icon Misty Copeland.

Gilda Squire with one of her clients Wendell Pierce. Photo provided

With a larger-than-life career requiring confidence and flexibility to thrive, Squire credits �鶹��Ƶ for providing the bold foundation for a dynamic life—right next to the spotlight.

For Squire, George �鶹��Ƶ was a strategic choice that aligned with her plans to work in an industry with culture and creativity at its core. “I liked the idea that it was just outside of D.C., and I really loved that there was such an international population of students there,” Squire said. “I felt like that was an introduction to the world without leaving the D.C. area.”

Her path into the university was anything but traditional. Postponing her education after her mother’s passing, Squire eventually enrolled at George �鶹��Ƶ at the urging of a work supervisor and tackled the challenge of working and studying full time.

The university became her gateway to global learning, offering friends and experiences that opened doors to new cultures and perspectives. “It was interesting because their cultures were front and center, as was mine,” said Squire. “We enjoyed learning about each other, and not many universities can offer that organically.”

Squire would take that zest for learning into a role at Goldman Sachs, where a corporate communications job led to her creating cultural programming that remains at the organization today. An eventual position at HarperCollins Publishers provided an opportunity to champion underrepresented voices in literature and eventually led to Squire launching her own talent management firm, Squire Media & Management.

A chance encounter with ballet dancer Misty Copeland ignited Squire’s determination to bring her into the spotlight. Struck by the lack of mainstream recognition for a Black dancer at the prestigious American Ballet Theatre (ABT), Squire felt compelled to share a story the world needed to hear—the extraordinary rise of a young Black woman from an impoverished background to one of the world’s most prestigious stages.

With a major media push that landed features on shows like 60 Minutes and CBS This Morning, Copeland quickly moved from small roles to being cast as the lead dancer in Stravinsky’s Firebird, a coveted role that had only been danced by a Black woman once before.

For Squire, this was proof that the power of storytelling could do more than change one career—it could influence the world. “At that point, I said, oh, this is it. This is what we’ve been working for,” said Squire. “People are going to get a chance to see her dance.”

And Squire’s work did more than elevate Copeland’s career—it brought more diverse audiences into the world of ballet.

From helping Copeland make history to playing a role in actress Angela Bassett finally bringing home an Oscar, Squire has had a hand in some significant cultural moments. Her next challenge is representing former White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.

Squire draws a clear line connecting her success and her time at George �鶹��Ƶ. “It was at �鶹��Ƶ that I realized the world is a wide-open space where I can do whatever I want to do,” she said. “Even if nothing else happened, the life and career I’ve had is beyond anything I could have ever dreamed.”

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A New Voice in Congress: Meet Schar School Grad U.S. Rep. Riley Moore

Andrew J Schappert — Fri, 14 Mar 2025 14:54:34 +0000

A New Voice in Congress: Meet Schar School Grad U.S. Rep. Riley Moore Andrew J Schappert Fri, 03/14/2025 - 10:54

The halls of Congress are filled with career politicians, lawyers, and policy experts, but U.S. Rep. Riley M. Moore (R), BA Government and International Politics ‘05, the newly elected congressman from West Virginia, brings something different to the table: experience with a welding torch and a deep-seated commitment to public service that he discovered as a student at �鶹��Ƶ.

U.S. Rep. Riley Moore. Photo provided

Moore is the third George �鶹��Ƶ alumnus to be elected to Congress. U.S. Rep. David Jolly (R-FL), JD ‘01, was the first, serving from 2014 to 2017. He has since retired. Following Jolly was U.S. Rep. Jim Hagedorn (R-MN) who graduated with a degree in government and international politics. He held office from 2019 to his death in February 2022.

Moore’s journey, from working in Herndon, Virginia, machine shops as a college student to walking the corridors of power on Capitol Hill as an elected official, is an inspiring one.

Fresh off his first few months in office, the congressman sat down for an interview in his Longworth House Office Building office, reflecting on his path from trade school to politics.

“I’ve worked here before,” he said, referencing his time as a congressional staffer. “But it’s a little different when you’re wearing this [Congressional lapel] pin and casting votes than recommending to somebody how they might want to think about voting.”

Moore’s story starts in Virginia, where he graduated from high school before heading to George �鶹��Ƶ.

“I wanted to do something different,” he recalled, explaining his decision to forgo West Virginia University, where many of his family members had studied. “I wanted to be close to the Washington, D.C., metro area.”

His academic journey wasn’t straightforward—he had already gone through trade school and spent time working as a welder, a job that helped shape his understanding of skilled labor and industry. His major at that time was a vague idea of “computer science or something like that,” he said. “I was a welder, so I’m looking for an applied skill and was thinking computers.”

Then came 9/11.

“I was at George �鶹��Ƶ that day,” he said, recounting the moment that changed the trajectory of his career. “I didn’t think a lot of Americans really understood how this happened, why this happened, who these people were,” including himself.

Soon Moore found himself obsessed with all the details surrounding the tragic event and changed his major to government and international politics.

His passion for politics was deeply influenced by some of the finest educators in the Schar School of Policy and Government. Among them, one professor who left a lasting impression is Mark N. Katz, now a professor emeritus.

“I still have one of his books on my shelf,” Moore said.

U.S. Rep. Riley Moore

Katz recalls Moore “as an active and effective contributor to classroom discussion,” he said. “I am not surprised that he went on to a successful political career.”

Public service, it seems, runs in Moore’s blood. His grandfather was the governor of West Virginia, though he was too young to fully grasp the significance at the time. “He stopped being governor when I was eight years old,” he said. “To me, he was just my grandpa in a big house.” His aunt, Shelly Moore Capito (R), is the senior U.S. Senator from West Virginia.

But his family influence wasn’t solely political as his other relatives were union laborers, a connection that led him to welding, a trade he continued as a student at George �鶹��Ƶ.

“We were building torpedo clamps and all kinds of different things,” he said, adding that the hands-on experience helped him bring a unique perspective to the legislative process.

After graduating from George �鶹��Ƶ, he interned on Capitol Hill while bartending at night, eventually securing a job in public service. He worked on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, spent time in the defense industry, and, despite never expecting to run for office, took the plunge.

“I ran for the [West Virginia] House of Delegates and won by a hundred votes,” he said. “Then I ran for state treasurer and won that. And now I’m here.”

As a newly minted congressman, he acknowledges there is hard work ahead, but he remains optimistic. “So far, so good. I’m loving it.”

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Mark N. Katz

Meet the �鶹��Ƶ Nation: CJ Minteer

Lauren Reuscher — Wed, 12 Mar 2025 18:52:27 +0000

Meet the �鶹��Ƶ Nation: CJ Minteer Lauren Reuscher Wed, 03/12/2025 - 14:52

CJ Minteer

Job: Director of Procurement, George �鶹��Ƶ Athletics

In a perfect world, student-athletes have everything they need to reach their potential on the court or field, in the pool, or on the mat. �鶹��Ƶ staff like CJ Minteer support their success and training. As the director of procurement for George �鶹��Ƶ Athletics, Minteer carefully manages and supports the equipment needs of student-athletes across the university.

CJ Minteer supports George �鶹��Ƶ student-athletes by ensuring they are equipped for success. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

Making every dollar count: Minteer arrived at George �鶹��Ƶ in 2021, taking the role of equipment manager. He has been in his current role, director of procurement, since 2022. Minteer administers the purchase of approximately $1 million of athletic gear each year for student-athletes, coaches, and support staff.

“This includes everything from T-shirts, to hoodies, footwear, accessories, backpacks, and more,” said Minteer, who manages the university’s contract with Adidas. That contract covers most of the uniforms and apparel provided for George �鶹��Ƶ’s teams.

Minteer also manages contracts with companies that provide equipment to the teams— baseball bats and helmets, basketballs, golf clubs, and track and field equipment.

Backing the team: Supporting student-athletes and their success makes the job meaningful.

“Helping our student-athletes with any issues they have with the apparel, and making sure that everything is up to snuff on game day, are important parts of the job,” said Minteer. “We want the athletes to look and feel their best.”

Field of dream (jobs): Minteer grew up around college sports, and landing a job in the equipment realm feels like a home run to him. “I've grown up with sports my whole life, “said Minteer. “My dad has been a football coach for over 20 years, and I knew that I ultimately wanted to work in sports.”

Be true to your school: Minteer was introduced to equipment management in college, when he worked as a student employee for James Madison University’s football team. He was eager to get involved any way he could. “I wanted to be on board with anything I could do to help out, even if it was volunteering,” Minteer said.

He studied sport and recreation management at James Madison and continued working as a part-time equipment manager after graduating, until he came to George �鶹��Ƶ for a full-time role.

Dressed to impress: When it comes to uniform design, Minteer balances multiple factors and priorities. Design ideas come from the coaches, as well as Minteer. The designs must follow the university’s overall brand and trademark guidelines to create a cohesive look across teams.

The finished products also must hold up to the heavy demands of sports. “These uniforms are very high quality, and they're meant to last a long time,” Minteer said.

Built for the big moments: Minteer enjoys working behind the scenes to create products that the student-athletes will use during their biggest moments. “There's nothing quite like this job,” Minteer said. “It is very behind-the-scenes. You see your work done on game day and at practice. Seeing all the gear and all the uniforms that the athletes wear, it's all done by us.”

Turning on a dime: Minteer says one of the biggest challenges in the equipment realm is athlete turnover. In the NCAA, student-athletes frequently transfer schools, and the trend continues to grow. This can be tricky when jersey and equipment orders are placed far in advance.

“We can do inventory as frequently as possible, but you never know who is going to leave or stay,” said Minteer. In a time crunch, they have workarounds. “We have extra jerseys. We can do tackle twill or screen printing on uniforms, so we have something a little bit quicker than having Adidas customize it,” he said.

Biggest fan: Outside work hours, Minteer follows and supports George �鶹��Ƶ teams. “I'll be in the dugout at the baseball and softball games,” Minteer said.

One of his most memorable moments was watching the softball team win the conference championship in 2023 in New York. “I drove five hours to go see them that day,” Minteer said. The championship went to a second game, for 18 total innings. It was a long day, and Minteer drove back home that same night.

He said it was worth it. “It was so uplifting to be there the first time our team won the Atlantic 10 Conference Championship for softball,” Minteer said. “That was a moment that I’ll never forget, and feeling like I was a part of it.”

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George �鶹��Ƶ alumnus launches AI software startup for law enforcement training

Greg Johnson — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 16:05:48 +0000

George �鶹��Ƶ alumnus launches AI software startup for law enforcement training Greg Johnson Wed, 02/26/2025 - 11:05

Delivering immersive, voice-driven simulations for law enforcement through building skills, gaining real-time feedback, and preparing for real-world scenarios, Kaiden AI is a software startup co-founded by its CEO Ali Aldubaisi, BS Neuroscience ’21.

Ali Aldubaisi

Aldubaisi had begun studying neuroscience at George �鶹��Ƶ with the intention of going to medical school. However, the distance learning forced upon by COVID led him to think outside of the box and start his first company vRealm, an online tutoring platform.

After a few years working on the project, he co-founded Kaiden AI with his vRealm partner, Ali "AJ" Aldjaei. “When we first started, we were focused on the higher education market,” he says. “We initially built the AI platform for grading and evaluation. Like most startups, you build where you initially think is the right fit, and that’s going to be the market for you.” Throughout the process of building his startup and attracting investors, he would find each day bringing surprises.

After seeing limited traction in higher education, Aldubaisi and his team built a small-scale simulation demo to test a new direction. Among the first to see it was Steve Gladis, a senior scholar at George �鶹��Ƶ’s Center for the Advancement of Well-Being and a former FBI special agent. He immediately recognized its potential for law enforcement training and encouraged Aldubaisi to explore that path.

“We put the MVP [minimum viable product] in front of police chiefs and academy directors, and their reaction was completely different from our earlier demos,” says Aldubaisi. “That’s when we knew we had to double down.”

Now, Aldubaisi and his team partner with law enforcement agencies and regional academies to implement their simulation platform, with organizations like the Northern Virginia Criminal Justice Academy currently piloting the technology. Recently closing a $1 million pre-seed round, Kaiden AI’s investors are venture capitalists largely outside of the law enforcement space.

Ali Aldubaisi (right) at the 2024 Patriot Pitch competition. Photo by John Boal Photography

Even though his current work does not appear directly related to neuroscience, Aldubaisi recognizes the value of his degree. In fact, he still keeps up with neuroscience journals, seeing the relevance between that field and running his company. Developing hypotheses and constantly experimenting has helped Aldubaisi and his team refine and optimize Kaiden AI, from its initial concept in January 2024 to its current phase today.

“A lot of the concepts mirror each other,” he says. “What goes into marketing, how to understand people, how people learn.”

In 2024, Aldubaisi led the keynote discussion at the Patriot Pitch Competition, an event organized by the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship to support ideas and early-stage business ventures from George �鶹��Ƶ students and recent alumni. He is now in talks with Rebecca Howick, the center’s director of operations and engagement, about getting more involved with their efforts.

“Having a center where somebody in whatever discipline that they’re studying can articulate or put together an idea or experiment on ideas is so crucial,” says Aldubaisi. He knows there are many intelligent people with brilliant ideas who may be hesitant to pursue their ventures because they don’t know how they’re going to get the funding or backing.

Having gone through that process, Aldubaisi offers crucial advice to aspiring entrepreneurs that reflects his scientific background. “Having the courage to focus on that one thing that you’re trying to prove out is probably the biggest thing,” he says. “Second thing is always look at what your idea is as an experiment, and the goal is to prove or disprove as soon as possible.”

By following these guidelines, Aldubaisi and his team have surpassed fundraising milestones and are excited to put Kaiden AI into the hands of many more law enforcement students and officers.

Learn more about AI research at George �鶹��Ƶ

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Rebecca Howick

George �鶹��Ƶ PhD is living the dream in NYC with Met fellowship

Katarina Benson — Wed, 19 Feb 2025 17:57:26 +0000

George �鶹��Ƶ PhD is living the dream in NYC with Met fellowship Katarina Benson Wed, 02/19/2025 - 12:57

�鶹��Ƶ history PhD candidate Jayme Kurland is living her dream this academic year as the Jane and Morgan Whitney Fellow at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.

George �鶹��Ƶ PhD candidate Jayme Kurland at the Met. Photo provided

Kurland started her college career as a viola performance major at the University of Oregon before earning her BA in music history. She then got a master’s in music history at Arizona State. As a Met fellow, Kurland is working in the musical instruments department and conducting research for her dissertation. “I’m back in my happy place,” she says, “just working with objects and thinking about the stories they can tell us.”

It’s Good to Be Back: Kurland fell in love with museum work as an undergrad when she landed a job at the Musical Instrument Museum in her hometown of Phoenix. “I never planned to move back home, but working as a curatorial assistant blended my music background with my love of museums.” She also worked as a curatorial research fellow in musical instruments at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston from 2013 to 2017.

Finding Your People: Working at the Met has allowed Kurland the opportunity to connect with scholars in the musical instruments department, as well as throughout the institution. And, of course, the resources the Met offers are unparalleled. “Returning to the museum world at an institution like the Met has been tremendously rewarding. I have been able to complete hands-on work with the museum's guitar collection and really dig into my own research.”

Guitar Heroes: Kurland’s research focuses on a group of Mexican American women who wired amplifiers, wound pickups, and assembled first guitars and amps for guitar manufacturer Fender between 1946 and 1965. In addition to examining instruments in the Met’s collection and conducting oral histories, Kurland is also working with experts at Brooklyn Lutherie, a women-owned guitar and violin repair shop, where they are building a piece of equipment called a pickup winder. “[Winding pickups] is one of the skills of the women I'm studying that was completed by hand. I think that understanding the physical skills [required of the women] is a way to better understand their experience.”

Putting Yourself Out There: In addition to working on her dissertation, Kurland gets to present her research to the public in various ways, including presenting to docents, in public programs, and in a symposium called Research Out Loud, where Met fellows discuss their work. Kurland also started a writing group for fellows that meets twice a week and “holds each other accountable for what we're working on.”

Out on the Town: When not working, Kurland explores the Big Apple. “I am living in NYC full time and really trying to take advantage of the city's music scene. I try to see as much live music as possible!”

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Psychology researcher focuses on why theatre education matters

Colleen Rich — Wed, 19 Feb 2025 15:27:35 +0000

Psychology researcher focuses on why theatre education matters Colleen Rich Wed, 02/19/2025 - 10:27

�鶹��Ƶ psychology professor Thalia R. Goldstein’s work focuses on children's developing social and emotional skills, and how such skills intersect with imaginative activities. In her latest book, Why Theatre Education Matters: Understanding its Cognitive, Social, and Emotional Benefits (Teachers College Press, 2024), she pulls together the research she’s conducted on social and emotional learning and cognitive development.

George �鶹��Ƶ psychology professor Thalia Goldstein. Photo by Office of University Branding

What inspired you to write this book?

I have been doing work on the benefits of theater education and the arts for about 15 years, and I realized that what was missing from the scientific literature was a foundational study of the actual activities that were happening in theater classrooms. The book came from this desire to go back to acting classrooms and look at what was happening and then tie that into all the different things I had learned in my research on social and emotional learning, and cognitive development.

How do you anticipate people using this book?

My hope is that the book will be used by acting teachers, theater teachers, and other educators interested in integrating theater techniques, such as role-playing, into their classrooms. There's research that shows that using these kinds of dramatic and playful techniques can help students be more motivated in different subjects and can help them learn more deeply and retain the information for longer. My hope too is that the book is useful for policy makers and people who are writing curriculum, as well as school administrators who are looking for ways to foster creativity and social emotional skills.

The book has been assigned as a textbook in a class called Acting for Non-Actors so that the students can see they are not learning how to perform Romeo on stage. That's not a thing they may ever do, but they are learning how to release their inhibitions, collaborate with others, and reflect on their behavior. All those things are skills that are useful no matter what your job is.

Was there anything that surprised you while working on the book?

One thing that surprised me was how much emphasis there was in these theatre classes on embodiment and physicality. Obviously, actors use their bodies as the instrument. In theater, there's this dualism where you have to use your body as yourself and as your character. But what surprised me was how much classroom time was spent doing things like pushups and sit-ups, jogging around, and meditation, in order to help students have a sense of their own physical limits and their kinesthetic understanding of where they are in space.

Science is showing more and more evidence that embodiment and understanding your body is the key to a lot of well-being and mental health. Emotion regulation—the ability to understand what you're feeling and then figuring out how to alter it—is a physical process. Emotions are in the body. Knowing what an emotion is is about reading the signals your body is sending you and figuring out what they mean. It makes sense to me that some of the best scientific evidence we have about the benefits of theater are about its benefits for emotional control and emotional understanding because it's an embodied practice, it's a physical practice.

What are you working on now?

Photo by Getty Images

We are collecting data from an elementary school where we're working with students taking their very first theater classes and talking to them about their feelings. We are also looking at how they understand these embodied class processes and then connecting what the students tell us to parent and teacher reports and academic grades. We are looking at the classroom activities and how they're connected to academic, interpersonal, and social outcomes.

Another thing we're doing is we're studying grownup play—like when adults go to cosplay conventions or Renaissance fairs or dress up for Halloween. All the ways in which we do pretend play as an adult. We always talk about how we don't do pretend play anymore when we're done being a kid, but the truth is huge numbers of people engage in these other kinds of pretend play activities. And we're trying to figure out why.

How did you get interested in studying theater?

I was a drama kid growing up. I did theater all through school and double majored in psychology and theater in college. I find that it’s a pretty common double major because both majors are asking the same question, which is ‘why do people do what they do?’ It's all about what are humans and why do they do what they do.

When I graduated from college, I moved to New York City and worked as a professional actor and dancer for a few years. I did some national tours and some small movies. I did some big movies as an extra in the background. Nothing super successful or I'd still be doing it. In the end, I decided that wasn't quite for me.

Because I had majored in psychology, I had done research in college. I find you can do psychological research on basically any question you have. If it has to do with humans, there's psychology behind it. I wanted to figure out the psychology of imagination, creativity, and play. When I applied to graduate schools, that’s the pathway I took.

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Patriot Profile: Madison Schittig

Priyanka Champaneri — Tue, 10 Dec 2024 16:13:46 +0000

Patriot Profile: Madison Schittig Priyanka Champaneri Tue, 12/10/2024 - 11:13

Photo by Ron Aira/Office of University Branding

Year: Junior

Major: �鶹��Ƶ LIFE, Photography

Hometown: Warrenton, Virginia

Having a unique perspective on viewing the world is one thing—but it’s another thing to be able to photograph that perspective in a tangible way that can be shared with others. Take a look at the work of student photographer Madison Schittig, a photography intern in George �鶹��Ƶ’s Office of University Branding (OUB), and one can immediately see she’s been gifted with the latter. Via Schittig’s striking point of view— including her eye for geometric lines, shapes, and color— familiar places on campus become abstract, and landmarks and buildings well-known to many transform in startling ways.

As a �鶹��Ƶ LIFE student, Schittig takes classes and until recently was accompanied during her internship by the program’s student support staff, current undergraduate or graduate George �鶹��Ƶ students. The phased support that these students provide is all part of �鶹��Ƶ LIFE’s mission of offering a comprehensive transition program for qualified students. As of November, Schittig has progressed to attending her internship independently.

A Quiet Place: Schittig fell in love with photography after she received her first camera from her sister. It quickly became her favorite class in high school, where she found a sanctuary in the dark room. “It’s so calm in there, it’s like a stress relief,” she says. Though she now shoots digital photos for OUB, that love of the art form has continued into her time at George �鶹��Ƶ. “It makes me feel like I have a purpose. I also feel like I’m not alone, I have a team.”

Natural Inspiration: Many of Schittig’s photos center around the natural world. “I just feel drawn to nature, because I like the woods, and I used to play in the woods when I was growing up. I like the trees, I like the grass, I even like the river…because it has texture.”

Learning from the Pros: Senior photographers Ron Aira and Evan Cantwell, MA Arts Management '10, serve as Schittig’s mentors and supervise her internship. “With Ron, he taught me how to edit raw photos, and he taught me all these cool tricks and tips. Evan taught me shooting—it’s good to shoot up close for people,” Schittig says. “I like it here, I like the people, I like the team. I really want to stay here one more year.”

Making Memories: Like many other Patriots, Schittig cites friends and clubs as her favorite things about George �鶹��Ƶ. But Schittig’s favorite George �鶹��Ƶ memory is a bit more personal. Twice, the university’s biweekly email newsletter has featured her work, including her self-professed favorite, a striking scene of colorful origami garlands cascading in front of a white bicycle.

Advice for Future Patriots: “Don’t be nervous. You’ll be nervous at first, but once you get the hang of it then you’ll be fine. But always bring the proper camera.”

View Schittig’s work on YouTube or in accessible PDF format.

Learn more about �鶹��Ƶ LIFE

In her new 'memoir in animals,' Creative Writing professor examines her writing life

Colleen Rich — Tue, 03 Dec 2024 17:46:28 +0000

In her new 'memoir in animals,' Creative Writing professor examines her writing life Colleen Rich Tue, 12/03/2024 - 12:46

George �鶹��Ƶ English professor Kyoko Mori writes both fiction and nonfiction. Her latest book, Cat and Bird (Belt Publishing, March 2024), has been called a “memoir in animals” and focuses on the six house cats who defined the major eras of her life as a writer.

Kyoko Mori with her cats. Photo provided

What inspired you to write this book?

I’ve lived my entire adult life with cats and yet my previous books—both fiction and nonfiction—only featured cats in the periphery of the story, as colorful minor characters at best. In truth, getting my first cat at 22 was a life-altering event: that cat saw me through graduate school, my first full-time teaching job, marriage and divorce, and the publication of my first two books. I wouldn’t be the same person I am now if I hadn’t been with him for 18 years. So my first impetus was to finally do justice to him and to his successors.

I wanted to push against the misconception that cats and dogs are opposites—the cliché that cats are selfish and independent while dogs are loving and loyal. For those of us who are devoted to our animal companions, cats and dogs, equally, can be our alter ego or avatar—the core of who we are.

The real contrast is between cats and dogs on one hand and songbirds and other wildlife on the other. Even with birds who come to our window feeder or end up in our care (I worked as a songbird rehabilitator), we can only admire them from a distance or nurse them back to health in order to return them to the wild. We love companion animals by holding on; we love wildlife by letting go. I wanted to explore this contrast.

What surprised you about the process of writing this book?

I knew from the beginning that the book was going to be about the way the two kinds of devotion—to cats and to birds—have sustained my work as a writer and helped me to make a home as a single childless woman who is happy in her solitude and yet fulfilled by her involvement in the community. Having a husband and children is not the only way to engage meaningfully with the world and make a positive impact.

The balance between solitude and community and the joy of making a home alone (with cats) did remain important ideas in the book. But I also realized that a book about living with animal companions and witnessing the dangers that threaten birds, other wildlife, and the whole planet will have to dig deep into grief. The desire to hold on and let go at the same time—as when a beloved animal companion dies or when we watch from the ground as migratory birds navigate the sky full of danger—became the essential aspect of the book’s narrative and investigation.

What are you working on now?

My last nonfiction book before Cat and Bird was a knitting memoir titled Yarn: Remembering the Way Home. Since finishing Cat and Bird, I’ve picked up where Yarn finished and published four personal essays about women and clothes: shopping with my close friends, how we express ourselves with our clothes, etc. At the same time, I continue to be interested in backyard wildlife—birds that were not included in Cat and Bird and squirrels—especially after a squirrel made a nest in the flowerpot on my window ledge, had two babies, and stayed for two weeks before moving her nest to a maple tree in the backyard.

Sei Shōnagon, the 11th-century Japanese writer who appears in Cat and Bird as the embodiment of the book’s spirit, was equally interested in the beauty of nature and of human-made objects. I don’t think clothes and backyard wildlife can fit into the same book for me as they did for her, but for now I’m following the inspiration of her astute observations about both and seeing where my work goes.

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