My Second Semester with the Chair
I can't believe another semester has come and gone. I have been with the Chair a year and have settled into our office. This semester, I hit the sweet spot of feeling comfortable but still challenged and excited. Each week with the chair brings opportunities for exposure to new ideas, new intellectual discussions and writing, and new ways to use my mind and library education in diverse ways.
In 2022 the Chair published the edited volume Fundamental Challenges to Global Peace and Security: The Future of Humanity. I was tasked with leading a read-along, and each week I read a chapter in the volume and shared my thoughts and analysis through the blog. I loved having the opportunity to engage with so many scholars' writings and be exposed to everything from cutting-edge ideas to in-depth historical analysis. As I read several themes became clear, from the interconnectedness of seemingly disparate systems of inequality to the way that people profiting from the status quo will resist change no matter the cost to others. At times, the realities examined in this volume were disheartening and anger-inducing, but in the end, it was well balanced with a message of hope through creativity and empathy.
Along with this read-along, I had the opportunity to facilitate a discussion with the editors of the volume, Hoda Mahmoudi, Michael Allen, and Kate Seaman. It was exciting to get to speak with experts on the topics, though I was a bit nervous. I used my close reading and discussion question writing skills that I gained in the crucible of undergraduate English seminars. The panelists provided genuine and thoughtful answers, leading to a great discussion. The audience was also able to participate and asked nuanced questions that the panelists were able to discuss in depth.
Another event that took place this semester that was especially fun was Maryland day. Meredith and I spent several hours planning, organizing, and making crafts on the floor of my office. It was wonderful to see so many people in person again, and all of our visitors were very eager to engage with our activities. We gave out hundreds of balloons to the delight of children young and old. We also had so many responses and pins on our map that the entirety of Europe and Africa were hidden under numerous thoughtful ideas about how traveling can change perspectives. I was surprised by how willing people were to tell funny, touching, and heartwarming personal stories with us. I spent much of my time blowing up the ever-popular balloons, but on one of my breaks, I got to see the baby horse at the campus farm, which was delightful. Maryland Day was a big success, so we are already thinking of ways to top it next year.
Finally, over the course of the semester, I had the chance to work as a TA with Dr. Mahmoudi in her honors college class “The Problem of Prejudice: Overcoming Impediments to Global Peace and Justice.” We worked with 19 students to learn about the modern impacts and root causes of various forms of prejudice, from racism, to sexism, to nationalism. They ended the semester by presenting their own research on a form of prejudice and creating a potential campaign to address the problems in the real world. Hearing their ideas and perspectives was always very interesting, and sometimes even surprising despite the fact that I am only a few years older than the students.
This semester seems to have flown by. I am now halfway done with my master's degree, just one more year to go. The work and relationships that I have cultivated through the Chair have shaped my graduate school experience in such a positive way. It has opened my mind up to so many new ways of thinking. It has also cemented my desire to work with undergraduate students in an academic library after I graduate. I am more passionate now than ever about the importance of information literacy and solid research, writing, and communication skills. Not only are these competencies imperative for academic success, they are life skills that everyone needs as we move forward.
Of course, this semester was not free of the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, but I was able to see and interact with so many smart and capable people. I am looking forward to the start of the next semester and the projects and opportunities it will bring.
About the Author
Stella Hudson is a Graduate Assistant with the Baha’i Chair for World Peace. She graduated from the College of William and Mary in 2021 with a B.A. in English. She is attending the University of Maryland and pursuing a Master’s of Library and Information Science.