Maccolades for February 2022: New books and poems, a music composition, COVID drawings and more.

Maccolades is a monthly round-up of the most recent accolades and accomplishments earned by members of the Macalester community. Below are highlights from February 2022. 

Amplifying women’s voices

Macalester student Sam Hopkins ’23 (Fairview, Okla.) published a poem titled “Collided” in the Oklahoma Women’s Journal. “The journal is targeted toward women who feel their voice is not heard and aims to change the narrative in journalism,” Hopkins said. Her poem was chosen to close out the poetry section and received a double-page spread. “This not only validated that my creative work does have merit but also that people want to read it and connect with my words,” said Hopkins, who is majoring in educational studies and creative writing. 

A medieval legacy

Political Science Professor Andrew Latham published a new book called Medieval Sovereignty, which explores how ideas about supreme political authority — sovereignty — first emerged during the high medieval period. “This book was shaped by my course on medieval political theory, a course that I have taught for over a decade,” Dr. Latham said. “I wrote this book to challenge the rather stale conventional wisdom about sovereignty and to give due credit to those medieval jurists, theologians and polemicists who actually forged the concept.” Written in provocative but accessible language, the book is intended for anyone interested in the medieval period. 

A successful verdict

Macalester’s mock trial team won first place among 21 top mock trial programs in the country at the Georgetown Hilltop Invitational Tournament. The team of Kaitie Brown ’22, Katie Chin ’22, Lev Serxner ’22, June McBarron ’23, Sariya Stowers ’23, Lia Pak ’23, Jeremy Hubinger ’23, and Austin Wu ’23 earned the victory after defeating Rutgers University, George Washington University, Columbia University, and Pennsylvania State University. 

“Students that compete in mock trial here at Macalester work incredibly hard to generate and polish case theories for competition,” coach Beau Larsen said. “Winning a tournament such as Georgetown demonstrates these students’ commitment to forensics competition and the collaboration that make such a win possible.” 

The eight students have qualified to compete in the Opening Round Championship Series in March.

Capturing Covid through comics

Dr. Rivi Handler-Spitz, associate professor and chair of Asian Languages and Cultures, received high praise from The Washington Post. The newspaper cited The COVID Chronicles, A Comics Anthology, which features 10 of Prof. Handler-Spitz’s comics, as one of the top 10 graphic narratives of 2021. “As a child, I was never without a pencil or crayon; I drew constantly,” Prof. Handler-Spitz said. “The fact that The COVID Chronicles received this honor from The Washington Post is thrilling. It emboldens me to keep drawing and to seek new ways to bring together drawing, scholarship, and teaching.”

Cheers from Canterbury

Dr. Duchess Harris, professor and acting chair of American Studies, received the Thomas J. Sheehy Distinguished Alumni Award from Canterbury School, her former high school. “Canterbury had a tremendous impact on my life,” Dr. Harris said. “They taught me discipline and the significance of cultural capital.” The award recognizes alumni who have brought distinction to themselves, credit to Canterbury School, and benefit to the communities they serve through their professional, community, or public service.

“In the 2010 American Studies Association presidential address, Ruthie Wilson Gilmore encouraged us to infiltrate what exists and innovate what doesn’t,” Prof. Harris continued. “This is what I tried to do as the only Black student in the 10th and 11th grade. How did my entering the room change the room? I’m not sure, but if we never enter, the space remains the same.”

In sync

Macalester Wind Symphony Director Shelley Hanson conducted the Minnesota Intercollegiate Honor Band in the premiere of her new composition. The concert was part of the Minnesota Music Educators Association’s annual conference at the Minneapolis Convention Center. The College Band Directors National Association commissioned the piece, which was sponsored by a consortium of 20 colleges and high schools. Major music publishers — including Boosey & Hawkes and Hal Leonard — have published Hanson’s previous compositions. In addition to directing the Wind Symphony, Hanson teaches clarinet at Macalester. 

Bend it like Beckman

Macalester College is one of 14 colleges and universities to receive a 2022 Beckman Scholars Program award, which is dedicated to supporting undergraduate research in chemistry and life sciences. The $156,000 award from the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation will fund a total of six student research projects from 2022-2024. The program’s 15-month structure allows for more ambitious projects. “This is a really long commitment, and it lets each scholar engage deeply with the research,” said chemistry professor Dr. Dennis Cao. 

‘Opening doors of opportunity’

Macalester College is one of four institutions that was invited to join The Consortium on Financing Higher Education (COFHE). An organization of private colleges and universities, COFHE commits both to excellence in residential undergraduate education and affordability through generous financial aid programs.

“I am thrilled that Macalester has been invited to join this extraordinary consortium of highly selective liberal arts colleges and universities, which are leaders in expanding access to higher education,” said President Suzanne Rivera. “Joining COFHE will help Macalester to do an even better job at opening doors of opportunity for talented young people across the socioeconomic spectrum.”

How to be considered for future Maccolades

If you’ve recently earned an award, fellowship, or honor and would like it to be considered for inclusion in next month’s Maccolades, please let Communications & Marketing know by filling out this Maccolades form. For recent book publications, please use this book publication form.