Artists and Scholars Shine at Douglass Discovery Day

This past month, Douglass held the second annual Douglass Discovery Day, a student showcase celebrating Douglass excellence in the arts, humanities, and social sciences. Student cohorts participating in experiential learning opportunities through Douglass Discovery programs and the Global Village gave presentations on their ongoing or completed projects, highlighting the student population's wide range of interests and talents.

Throughout the night, students presented on various topics ranging from spatial justice, led by SEBS professor Dr. Annette Freytag, to maternal health inequities, led by RWJ physician and activist Dr. Pamela Brug DC'84. Students who worked with musician Taína Asili on the project "The Rhythm of Rebellion" performed their social justice songwriting projects with Asili and her live band. Over 130 community members came out to show their support.  

The Douglass Discovery requirement of the Douglass curriculum offers students opportunities for research and experiential learning in the arts, humanities, and social sciences. Alongside the cutting-edge faculty, artists, and scholars the College brings in as Faculty Fellows, students study the status of women, engage in diversity, equity, and inclusion work, and build skills for post-graduation opportunities. Douglass Discovery fosters an intellectually invigorating environment for non-STEM students to connect directly with faculty, explore research questions, and find their academic passions.

Douglass is grateful to the many donors who have contributed to the Douglass Discovery Program Fund, which supports the projects and programs presented at the event. Special thanks to Gary (RC'74) and Barbara (DC'76) Rodkin, Victoria Perkins DC'67, the Phyllis (Mevoglioni) Colin DC'53 Program Fund at Douglass, Mittendorf Hill Fine Arts Fund, and Tara Kousha DRC'12 for their generosity.

Full list of projects:

• The Pronoun Project, Led by Dr. Carlos Decena, Latino and Carribbean Studies and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
• Black Health Inequities Experiential Fellowship, Led by Dr. Pamela Brug (DC ‘84), Robert Wood Johnson Hospital
• Equity in Education, Led by Hollie Hartford
• Artist-in-Residence Program, Led by Baseera Khan
• Global Leaders, Led by Dr. Hasnaa Mokhtar, Director of Global @ Douglass
• The Global Village, Led by Global Village Program Instructors: Saskia Leo Cipriani; Dr. Erin Comollo; Dr. Camille C. Dantzler; Dr. Tracy Davis; Elizabeth Amaya Fernandez; Dr. Laura Harste; Eva Mantell
• The Rhythm of Rebellion, Led by Taína Asili
• AIR: Topics in Spatial Justice, Led by Dr. Anette Freytag & Dr. Kristin O’Brassill-Kulfan, Departments of Landscape Architecture and History
• Collective Yearning, Led by kyle b.co
• Innovator-in-Residence Program, Led by Leslie Ruckman & Gal Nissim
• Music Cognition Cohort, Led by Dr. Kristen Wallentinsen, Department of Music

View photos from the event below!

Interested in supporting Douglass innovators in the arts, humanities, and social sciences? Support the Douglass Discovery Program fund at douglass.rutgers.edu/give