Alan Tien’s Post

We love to see the spotlight of the Florida Education Fund McKnight Doctoral Scholars Program . For more information about the program check out Chapter 4 of our book . Link is in the bio #gradstudents #professoriate #doctoralstudent #academicsuccess

I am proud to report that I received First Class Honours for my thesis, “(In)Visible Queerness in Conflict: Examining the discursive construction of LGBTQI+ people during the Russian invasion of Ukraine”. Through this project, I examined the effects of war on LGBTQI+ people, and how news media reinforces these effects through discourse. By grounding my research in queer theory and utilising a critical thematic analysis, I found that in the case of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the representation of queer people in news media indicates a weaponisation or co-option of their (in)visibility at the expense of their security. Additionally, the distribution of power in war ultimately essentialises LGBTQI+ people down to salient but elementary identities which may benefit one or more of the warring states. My honours year was incredibly challenging, but overall rewarding. The process of independent research is rigorous, and I learned both to embrace change and new ideas, and to trust my own instincts as a researcher. Many thanks must go to my two supervisors who guided me through different sections of my research journey, Dr. Chris Pepin-Neff and Dr. Keshab Giri. I definitely could not have achieved this without their help and invaluable support. My thesis is now available (open access) on the Sydney eScholarship Repository, which you can access here: https://lnkd.in/gngXXXYY

After a successful launch last term, we're running a new cohort of “History to shape history (for the better)”! It's a 5-week free online fellowship exploring how you can use the lessons of history to make a positive impact and steer humanity onto a better path. ⏰ Dates: 24th February to 31st March, 2024 (5 weeks finishing by Easter) 👥 Who: Smart, curious, and ambitiously altruistic UK students in years 11-13 studying history 📅 Applications: Apply by Sunday 11th February, 2024 There’s more detail on the website, including a sample session, but here’s an outline of the content: Week 1: Can we really learn from history? Week 2: Can we change the course of history? Week 3: Learning from the past for a better tomorrow Week 4: How can *you* use history to help others? Week 5: Deciding your own future & planning next steps Apply by Sunday 11th February, 2024 at https://lnkd.in/eu3GRiY7

The Metcalf Fellowship program provides critical thinkers with the opportunity to tackle hard questions and propose solutions to systemic issues in areas which we work, namely Environment, Inclusive Local Economies, and Performing Arts. The Fellowship provides an opportunity for sustained thinking and writing in pursuit of pragmatic ideas, models, and practices. https://lnkd.in/e6Tdezwr

Honors Student Jai McDonald took the time to speak with Professor Bill Offutt about the Watson Fellowship. Bill oversees the process of all Watson applicants at Pace University and guides them throughout the process. In this video series, Bill describes what the fellowship entails. If you're interested in learning more, take a look at the following article to read Jai's full interview with Bill: https://lnkd.in/gsfTkrjw

My highlights from participating in this year's American Educational Research Association conference from April 10-12 in Philly: (1) Seeing my best friend from Teachers College, Columbia University and spending the night into the morning talking about personal and academic matters was the highlight of all highlights. We reminisced about the past, savored the present, and planned for the future, all converging to shape who we are today in academia. (2) Our conversation fueled me throughout the next day, starting with co-chairing a symposium, "Constructing Racially-Just Educational Experiences..." with my colleague, Fei Shen, and presenting our work. (3) A special thanks to Hui Li for generously hosting a delightful luncheon, where I had the pleasure of connecting with old and new acquaintances from Hong Kong and the U.S. (4) Meeting with both familiar and new senior scholars was energizing. We discovered shared academic interests that sparked ideas for future collaborations. (5) Reconnecting with a junior scholar who resonated with my younger self motivated me to commit to mentoring her as she navigates her academic path. (6) Meeting with journal editors and book publishers was motivating and reaffirming the directions of my scholarship. (7) Finally, returning to AERA after several years of hiatus infused me with a profound surge of renewed energy. Most importantly, my intentional and serendipitous connections and interactions with junior and senior scholars led to a powerful epiphany for me: I saw my younger self, my present self, and my future self as a scholar, all converging in one transformative moment in time and place.

I'll be in New York City next month to attend this great event. Happy to meet again great activists, scholars and community organizers. "The Institute for the Cooperative Digital Economy (ICDE) at The New School in New York City is celebrating its fifth anniversary with a symposium on June 8th and 9th. This gathering is an important event for current and former fellows worldwide, including Ph.D. students, junior faculty, and postdocs, who focus their research at the intersection of cooperative principles and the digital economy. The global rise of platform cooperatives and related businesses has underscored the need for informed research to guide policymakers, cooperatives, and foundations. The cooperative digital economy is an under-researched area in fields such as anthropology, political science, sociology, history, and economics. This emerging field is closely linked with labor studies and cooperative studies. In business schools, this field of study is situated in the areas of finance, entrepreneurship, and organizational studies. In law schools, the pertinent areas are governance and corporate structure. The ICDE is dedicated to addressing these research gaps by offering practical and theoretical insights, and policy analysis". https://lnkd.in/dpU5QKiN

Greetings Colleagues, We are inviting you to participate in a research study on identifying Black male liberation spaces and how graduate educational programs are the most promising location for Black males to find existence. We would like to invite you to participate in a research project. The research project investigates how has black male graduate student curated spaces for Black male liberation practices in graduate programs. You will be asked to describe (a) how Black male graduate students interpret the interlocking experiences of patriarchy and education, (b) identifying how Black male graduate students developed liberating practices or spaces in graduate programs and (c) analyzing promising practices to ensure that Black males can fully exist in higher education. The study will be conducted and recorded via Webex and will take 60 minutes. Please complete this brief questionnaire to let us know if you are interested. https://lnkd.in/gGrWMJ99 Your involvement in this research project will be handled in a confidential manner. You will not be identified as an individual in this research study when you describe (a) how Black male graduate students interpret the interlocking experiences of patriarchy and education, (b) identifying how Black male graduate students developed liberating practices or spaces in graduate programs and (c) analyzing promising practices to ensure that Black males can fully in higher education”. You do not have to participate, and you can refuse to answer any question.  There is no compensation in this study.  

Members of the Stellenbosch University convocation were invited to submit our views on the requirements to be considered for the appointment of a new Rector and Vice-Chancellor to step into the big shoes of Prof Wim de Villiers at the end of his term. I submitted the following 6 “concepts” to be considered: 1. Vision for the university to continue to be a symbol of excellence and a producer of people and knowledge that transform the world around us. 2. Transformational leadership/statesmanship/stature/presence to take all stakeholders forward with her/him; the omies trying to hold onto an archaic picture of Stellenbosch, the politicians who don’t care what damage they do towards their own objectives, the super-talented young black children who are not sure Stellenbosch wants them, the academic staff who are fearful for their jobs and the world they know and everyone in between. 3. Passionate love for South Africa, including its past (and its residual impact on all of us today, which we need to acknowledge, talk about and fix), the grave challenges of the present and its most hopeful potential future. 4. The ability/desire/love/humility truly to listen to the stories and the lived and felt experience of all the many stakeholders who have an interest in Stellenbosch and to foster spaces and bridges for these stories and experiences to be shared. 5. Knowledge/understanding/excitement about the use of technology and data in the administration of the university and turning burocracy into agility. 6. Personal groundedness, maturity and self-care “muscles” to preserve courage, determination and perseverance for the journey ahead. I believe Stellenbosch University was a very good university when I attended (30 years ago), that it is a significantly better university for my kids today and that it has the potential to become even better for my grand children.

Embarking on a Ph.D. journey is a monumental feat, marked by intellectual challenges, personal growth, and countless triumphs. For ethnic minority and black students in a UK university, this journey comes with its unique set of twists and turns, often accompanied by the triumph of breaking barriers and the resilience born from diverse experiences. Let’s delve into my inspiring narrative of navigating the Ph.D. program as an ethnic minority and a black student, celebrating the strength in diversity. 👨🏽🎓Embracing Diversity in Academia: 🦾Challenging Stereotypes and Prejudices: 🤗Building a Supportive Network: 💃🏽Celebrating Cultural Heritage: ☝🏽Championing Representation: 🤝Embracing Unity in Diversity: 🧘🏽♂️Self-Care and Mental Health: 🏆Celebrating Achievements: Navigating the Ph.D. journey as an Ethnic Minority and a Black student in a UK university is a profound testament to our strength and resilience. As we face challenges and celebrate triumphs, remember that we are part of a legacy of trailblazers. Our presence not only enriches the academic community but also inspires generations to come. With every step, we are breaking barriers, shaping the future, and leaving an indelible mark on the world of academia. We keep moving forward with hope, determination, and the knowledge that we are not alone, our community stands with us, cheering us on to even greater heights. #PhD #Ethnicminority #PhDstudents #Blackhistorymonth #mentorship