Project Wake
Interconnectedness: A Call for Humanity
What is Project Wake?
Wake Forest has a long tradition of engaging in a summer academic project on an issue of intellectual and social importance. The tradition includes setting aside time during New Deac Week for students to engage with a faculty or staff member on this issue. It is a favorite New Deac Week activity.
The Project Wake 2024 theme is:
Interconnectedness: A Call for Humanity
Many social commentators have remarked on the growing problem of isolation and loneliness in the digital age. What does it mean to be connected to each other? What relationship do individuals have to the communities they live in? How do individuals identify themselves in terms of gender, race, class, or nation? What responsibilities do the individual have toward the society and polity they live in, and what expectations might they have about what the society and polity owe to them? And how has the relationship between individual and community changed over time and space? In challenging times that seem to focus on separation and discord, how do we find connection with one another?
As the newest members of the Wake Forest community join us, we’d like you to think about the new connections they will be making. How can you build community and find common ground in a world that can appear, at times, polarizing and isolated? How do we create closeness and connect with one another in the ultimate pursuit of realizing each person’s humanity?
As a participant in Project Wake 2024, you will join your peers in thinking about the challenges and opportunities of the remarkable times in which we live and how your unique background equips you to meet those challenges. In June, you will find a list of the 2024 Project Wake summer reading options here. Explore the themes of Interconnectedness: A Call for Humanity across a wide range of subjects, genres, and disciplines. These conversations have proven to be an exciting and meaningful way to make new friends and discuss issues that matter.
More on Project Wake
Five former Project Wake participants and discussion leaders share their experiences with Project Wake and why they would encourage students to participate.
Reading Options & Discussions
Author: Becky Chambers
Discussion Leader: Amanda Vincent
Description
“What do humans need?” This interrogation lies at the center of this philosophical tale set in a sci-fi, solarpunk future on a distant but Earth-like planet. In a few short chapters, A Psalm for the Wild-Built will immerse you in a richly detailed alternate society in which complex social institutions can be imagined from mundane details such as how a cup of tea is served. Yet, as strange as this setting may feel, the main character’s search for identity and meaning in the face of doubt calls to mind quests found in many other works of literature and art across cultures and through history. As we discuss this year’s themes of relationship, community, and connection, we will also consider how speculative works that engage our imaginations allow us to look at our familiar surroundings with a fresh perspective.
Discussion Leader Bio
Dr. Amanda Vincent: I am a faculty member in the Department of French Studies, where I teach a number of different classes. In particular, my research interest in landscape, architecture, and urbanism in France and the French-speaking world has led me to teach courses on parks, gardens, and the practice of gardening. My enjoyment of science fiction (starting with the nineteenth-century French author Jules Verne!) makes me especially excited about books such as this one that represent a future in which humankind has faced today’s problems, including climate change and the ethical dilemmas of technology and found a path forward.
Author: Alexis Shotwell
Discussion Leader: T. H. M. Gellar-Goad
Description
The world is in a terrible mess. It is toxic, irradiated, and full of injustice. Aiming to stand aside from the mess can produce a seemingly satisfying self-righteousness in the scant moments we achieve it, but since it is ultimately impossible, individual purity will always disappoint. Might it be better to understand the complexity and, indeed, our own complicity in much of what we think of as bad, as fundamental to our lives? Against Purity argues that the only answer—if we are to have any hope of tackling the past, present, and future of colonialism, disease, pollution, and climate change—is a resounding yes. Proposing a powerful new conception of social movements as custodians for the past and incubators for liberated futures, Against Purity undertakes an analysis that draws on theories of race, disability, gender, and animal ethics as a foundation for an innovative approach to the politics and ethics of responding to systemic problems.
Discussion Leader Bio
T. H. M. Gellar-Goad: I am a Professor of Classics at Wake Forest University. I write books and teach courses on ancient Greek & Roman culture, Latin, and Greek. I enjoy hiking, D&D, shooting bows and guns, and co-op board games!
Author: Fredrik Backman
Discussion Leader: Colleen Foy
Description
As an eclectic but commonly anxious group of eight strangers are held hostage by a failed bank robber at an open house, and police and television crews surround the apartment building, all involved are forced to reckon with a life-or-death situation. In the process, they confront both internal and external factors that have driven them to where they are on that day – and in life – and are led to determine a common ground among a group of seemingly very different people.
Discussion Leader Bio
Colleen Foy: As a Science Librarian who addresses health literacy and the inequities that can shape the development of literacy skills, especially as they relate to decision-making, acknowledging and embracing differences among various populations are at the forefront of my research. Although Anxious People is a work of fiction, the author acknowledges real-life problems that affect a variety of people from a variety of backgrounds and stages in life. This book is very much a survey of human character which leads the reader to not only consider, but also empathize with, the views and positions of their neighbors.
Author: Geoffrey L. Cohen
Discussion Leader: Erin Schneller
Description
This book applies research to solutions for improving daily lives by focusing on the Sense of Belonging, creating connection, and learning how to be less polarized and have empathy towards each other—how to turn “them” into “us.” It focuses on how one can use the Sense of Belonging to succeed in life and thrive.
Discussion Leader Bio
Erin Schneller: I am a member of the Residence Life and Housing team. I have been at Wake Forest for over three years, and I love to explore campus with my husband and son. One of my favorite events on campus is Saturday Night Live during New Deac week. There are a ton of food trucks, and it is a great time to connect with others!
Author: Mark Yaconelli
Discussion Leader: Abbey Rhodes
Description
Stories tether us to what matters most: our families, our friends, our hearts, our planet, the wondrous mystery of life itself. Yet the stories we’ve been telling ourselves as a civilization are killing us: Fear is wisdom. Vanity is virtuous. Violence is peace. In the pages of Between the Listening and the Telling, storyteller, author, and activist Mark Yaconelli leads readers into an enchanting meditation on the power of storytelling in our individual and collective lives. We tell stories to remember who we are. We tell stories to savor the pleasure of living. Stories can be medicine, and they can transform entire communities.
Discussion Leader Bio
Abbey Rhodes (she/her): I serve as the Assistant Director of Residential Academic Initiatives and Engagement within the Office of Residence Life and Housing (RLH) here at Wake. Born and raised in Florida, I joined the Wake Forest community in June of 2022 after completing my Masters of Education – Student Personnel in Higher Education – program at the University of Florida. When I’m not in the office, you can find me enjoying Reynolda Village, thrifting, cuddling with my cats (Maevey and Moose), or catching up with friends and family!
Authors: Trevor Noah
Discussion Leader: Michael Shuman
Description
From apartheid South Africa to host of the Daily Show, Trevor Noah’s fascinating journey from his “criminal” birth to his celebrity adulthood is illustrated through a series of personal essays that are deeply moving, terribly unsettling, yet absolutely hilarious. Noah is a gifted storyteller, and his ability to recover from adversity is highlighted in each story. His experiences with racism, religion, politics, and family are both relatable and compelling, and I’m certain that we will have a lively and meaningful discussion about this year’s theme of interconnectedness.
Discussion Leader Bio
Michael Shuman: I am the Director of our Center for Learning, Access, and Student Success (CLASS), where we are committed to providing opportunities for all students to achieve academic success. The CLASS coordinates student success services, including peer tutoring and academic coaching, that new students find invaluable as they navigate their college experiences at WFU. In addition, CLASS coordinates academic accommodations for students with disabilities and works closely with faculty on inclusive teaching practices. Finally, I also teach a course in the Psychology department aimed at teaching students the skills and approaches that are associated with success in college.
Author: Robin Wall Kimmerer
Discussion Leader: Andrea Kurtz
Description
As a botanist, Robin Wall Kimmerer has been trained to ask questions of nature with the tools of science. As a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, she embraces the notion that plants and animals are our oldest teachers. In Braiding Sweetgrass, Kimmerer brings these two lenses of knowledge together to take us on “a journey that is every bit as mythic as it is scientific, as sacred as it is historical, as clever as it is wise” (Elizabeth Gilbert).
Discussion Leader Bio
Andrea Kurtz: I serve as the Director of Community Partnerships and Experiential Learning for the Office of Civic and Community Engagement. Prior to joining Wake Forest University, I was the Executive Director of Strategic Housing Initiatives for United Way of Forsyth County. In this role, I led the community’s work to end homelessness, which resulted in a 90% reduction in chronic homelessness. I am also an attorney and have worked representing both victims of domestic violence and youth involved in the foster care system.
Author: Gallup, Inc.
Discussion Leader: John Champlin
Description
Participants in this group will complete the CliftonStrengths assessment and read CliftonStrengths for Students. The assessment and book will provide an easy jumping-off point for a discussion of connection and humanity. We all have natural talents and strengths that we bring to life’s opportunities and challenges, and even those talents that we think will always lead us to success can sometimes be misused. To err is human (and that’s ok!). This book would provide grounding information for students about the innate abilities that they are bringing with them to college, provide students with a sense of connection with others in the group who share their strengths, and help to grow their appreciation for those with strengths that they don’t have.
Discussion Leader Bio
John Champlin: I am Double Deac originally from Richmond, VA. I’ve worked at Wake Forest University for 14 years – most recently serving as the Director of Engagement Programs in the Office of Alumni Engagement. I have a passion for organizational, professional, and leadership development and have been a Certified CliftonStrengths Coach for the past 8 years. I am a strong believer in positive psychology and embracing your strengths to improve your performance and wellbeing.
Author: George Saunders
Discussion Leaders: John Welsh
Description
I have read a great many things in my life, but there is probably nothing I think about more frequently than the graduation speech Saunders gave at Syracuse in 2013, which was published as a book under the title “Congratulations By the Way: Some Thoughts on Kindness” Can you spare fifteen minutes? If so, Saunders will teach you one the most valuable lessons you will ever learn: what we will come to regret most in life are our failures of kindness. It won’t be the money we never made, the things we never owned, or the experiences we never had. What we will come to regret are our moments of cruelty, moments when the suffering of others could have been avoided, and moments when we might have made a connection or made a difference. Rising WFU sophomore Jalyn Walters-Howard will join us for the conversation.
Discussion Leader Bio
John Welsh: I grew up in South Bend, Indiana, where I attended college at the University of Notre Dame (2005). I hold a PhD in Romance Languages and Literature from Harvard University (2017), as well as a master’s degree in Italian from Harvard (2011) and the University of Virginia (2007). At Wake Forest, I teach beginning and intermediate Italian language, as well as Business Italian and the First Year Seminar- Time. Travel. Fiction. A former law student, education researcher, and sports page editor, my non-teaching interests include listening to podcasts, playing sports video games, singing Tom Waits songs, and cuddling with my daughter and miniature dachshund.
Author: Anna Gazmarian
Discussion Leader: Melissa Jenkins
Description
Anna Gazmarian, who is in her early thirties, may seem young to have written and published a memoir. However, the significant events of her teens and early twenties warrant examination. In her new memoir, Gazmarian, a Winston-Salem native, writes about her struggles to reconcile opposing influences: the optimism encouraged by her evangelical religious upbringing and the onset of treatment-resistant bipolar disorder. Devout: A Memoir of Doubt speaks to this year’s Project Wake theme, “Interconnectedness: A Call for Humanity,” in its discussions of communities of faith, health, and healing. Anna’s story will resonate with all who are navigating the complexities of identity while trying to plan for the challenges and opportunities of college life.
Discussion Leader Bio
Melissa Jenkins: I teach in Wake Forest’s English department, and I serve as a faculty fellow in the first-year residence halls. I’m a native of Charlotte, North Carolina, but I’ve called Winston-Salem home for twenty years and counting. This fall, I’m teaching a First Year Seminar called “Faith and Doubt” and a service-learning FYS called “Animals Make Us Human.” My house is brightened by my spouse, who I met in “the Pit” (Reynolda Dining Hall) 26 years ago, my daughters, ages 13 and 7, and a rotating array of foster animals. I look forward to meeting you!
Author: Veronica Roth
Discussion Leader: Dr. Betsy Chapman
Description
Divergent is a dystopian novel in which society is divided into five factions, each representing a particular virtue. When you turn 16, you choose your faction – which may or may not be the one you were born into. This is a book about transition, starting a new life, and the emotions that come with it. It is also a book about figuring out who you are and who you want to be, particularly as you leave your family unit. In the book, the characters choose factions, and we see how those factions work together (or not), particularly in times of difficulty. This is a book that uses fiction to shed light on issues of identity and factionalism, and I hope it will inspire great discussion about the parallels to new students leaving home and starting their life at college.
Discussion Leader Bio
Dr. Betsy Chapman: I am the Executive Director of Family Communications at Wake Forest University and a Part-Time Assistant Professor in their Department of Communication. My primary responsibility is communicating with Wake Forest undergraduate parents and families across a variety of platforms. I am the author of the Daily Deac blog, which covers Wake Forest activities, news, and college-parenting advice and helps give families a glimpse of campus life each weekday. I have a primary editorial role in the WFU Should Know weekly student e-newsletter and work with institutional and crisis communications. I am also a lower-division advisor!
Author: Kate Beaton
Discussion Leader: Davita DesRoches
Description
This graphic memoir, by Canadian author Kate Beaton, tackles the remote labor conditions of the oil fields in Alberta through the perspective of a recent graduate. It deals with themes of connection and isolation among the workers of these camps with insight into how isolation can be both humanizing and dehumanizing. It also tackles themes around labor and environmental stewardship with respect to the oil industry and how humanity and isolation are connected to critical issues facing the planet.
Discussion Leader Bio
Davita DesRoches: I work in the Center for Learning, Access, and Student Success at Wake as the Alternative Media Specialist. I support students with accommodations that involve technology. As someone who works at the intersection of reading and accessibility, I get excited about all the different forms (and formats) that reading takes, including Kate Beaton’s graphic novel Ducks about her post-graduate experiences working in the oil industry in Alberta. Kate Beaton and I are from the same region of Canada: the provinces on the East Coast called the Maritimes. I hope you’ll join me for this hometown read!
Author: David Hollander
Discussion Leader: Meghan Webb
Description
This work of nonfiction provides a thought-provoking exploration of how basketball—and the values and principles rooted in the game—can address some of today’s most pressing issues (from neuroscience to racism to sexism to the loneliness/opioid epidemic to open democracy to alternative models of banking, etc.). This book addresses the Project Wake theme in that it connects lessons and approaches within the game itself to broader applications that can benefit humanity. My hope is that this book will appeal to sports fans, as well as students who are interested in a close examination of social issues and broad human contexts.
Discussion Leader Bio
Meghan Webb: I am an Instruction and Outreach Librarian at ZSR Library. In addition to teaching LIB 100 and LIB 200 classes, I develop and lead library programs related to student engagement and instruction and work closely with the ZSR Library Ambassadors, our student leadership group. I grew up involved in a variety of sports, and I now enjoy cheering on WFU student-athletes and coaching youth sports.
Author: Maureen Linker
Discussion Leader: Dr. Sarah Raynor
Description
Maureen Linker’s book Intellectual Empathy discusses how we can converse across challenging topics while retaining mutual trust and respect. It is the perfect book to start your college experience prepared for the difficulties and rewards of staying connected with each other instead of checking out as soon as there is disagreement!
Dr. Sarah Raynor: I am a professor of mathematics with a strong interest in supporting students from all backgrounds to succeed in college, particularly in math. I also do mathematical research on physics, such as waves and particles, and enjoy working with students on research as well!
Author: Bryan Stevenson
Discussion Leader: Dr. Bryan Ellrod
Description
How does the law connect and disconnect us from one another? Just Mercy is about more than the criminal justice system. It shows us what this system has to reveal about the deeper truths about the ties that bind all human beings together – our vulnerability, our hopes, our flaws – and the extreme forms of punishment that would deny these interconnections. Laws and legal professionals have the potential to play profound roles in our communities, whether drawing us closer together or pushing us further apart. With Stevenson’s help, we will explore what it might mean to become justice seekers who imbue our laws and communities with the value of Pro Humanitate!
Discussion Leader Bio
Dr.Bryan Ellrod: I came to Wake Forest in the Summer of 2022 and presently serve as the Director of Pre-Law, an Academic Counselor, and a core faculty member in the Program for Interdisciplinary Humanities. I teach courses on “Literature and Ethics” and “Humanities and Law” and support programming and campus events for students interested in the Legal Professions. In my free time, I enjoy spending time watching and playing hockey, playing frisbee with my border collie, and experiencing extreme sleep deprivation alongside my wife and our infant child!
Author: Kazuo Ishiguro
Discussion Leader: Dr. Christa Colyer
Description
I have read Klara & the Sun with several past Project Wake groups, and I love this book more and more each time I read it. I think it fits especially well with this year’s theme of “Interconnectedness: A Call for Humanity.” In the novel, Nobel prize-winning author Kazuo Ishiguro challenges his readers to examine what it means to be human, what it means to have a sense of self and also to examine how individuals do or “should” fit into the society around them. The story takes place in the near future and is narrated by Klara, an “AF” (Artificial Friend) whose remarkable observational abilities help us to see the world – and especially the potential impact of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and genetic engineering – from many different perspectives. The possible impacts of AI on our personal and work lives are starkly presented. According to Klara herself, “I could see that people were using technology to try to improve themselves, but I wondered if they were losing something in the process. Maybe there was more to being human than just being smart or beautiful or strong.”
Discussion Leader Bio
Dr. Christa Colyer: I have been a Professor of Chemistry at Wake for more than 25 years. Teaching first-year students (in CHM 111 and FYS 100) is just one of the roles I cherish, along with mentoring analytical chemistry research projects and serving as a lower division advisor and study-abroad resident professor. I really love “Klara and the Sun,” and I hope you will, too. I look forward to discussing the novel and learning from you as we explore questions of identity and human connections in the digital age.
Author: Mark Twain
Discussion Leader: Dr. Bairam Khan
Description
“Mark Twain in India” offers readers a unique and insightful perspective on India through the observational lens of the renowned American writer Mark Twain. The book delves into Twain’s personal experiences and reflections during his travels in India, showcasing his keen observations on Indian society, culture, and traditions. Through his witty yet profound narrative style, Twain provides readers with a vivid portrayal of India during his time, capturing both the exotic allure and the complex realities of the country. For the incoming students participating in the session, “Mark Twain in India” promises to be a thought-provoking exploration of cross-cultural encounters and a nuanced understanding of India through the eyes of one of America’s literary giants. If you require any further information or resources for the session, please feel free to reach out.
Discussion Leader Bio
Dr. Bairam Khan: I am a South Asianist with a Ph.D. in Linguistics. I previously taught in the Department of Linguistics and the Department of Asian Languages and Cultures at the University of Michigan, as well as in the Department of Linguistics at Aligarh Muslim University. Currently, I serve as a Visiting Assistant Professor in Middle East and South Asia Studies here at Wake!
Author: Tricia Hersey
Discussion Leader: Erica Talley
Description
In this manifesto, the author, Tricia Hersey, introduces readers to the many ways that the violence of capitalism, greedy institutions, and grind culture is robbing us of our humanity. The Nap Bishop, the name that the author and theologian calls herself, introduces empirical evidence for how rest promotes interconnectedness. Hersey shares a practical guidebook for how to restore our humanity and reconnect with the world around us one liberatory nap at a time. Introducing this book and its concepts will not only promote discussion around the theme but also awaken readers to the ways that rest is inextricably connected to interconnectedness and humanity.
Discussion Leader Bio
Erica Talley: Coming Soon
Author: Tracy Kidder
Discussion Leader: Jessica Francis
Description
Rough Sleepers by Tracey Kidder was named “best book of the year” by NPR and others. This book follows the dedicated career of Dr. Jim O’Connell and his work with the unhoused population of Boston, Massachusetts. Lean into humanity and understand the people and experiences behind the journey of being unhoused and caring for those who are. Kidder, as an MA local, is a master storyteller, bringing to life the personal stories of members of the Boston community who sleep on the streets, the “rough sleepers.”
Discussion Leader Bio
Jessica Francis: I am the Executive Director of Global Abroad in the Center for Global Programs and Studies, where I’ve worked for over fifteen years. As an undergraduate, I studied abroad in Galway, Ireland, Monterrey, Mexico, and Wellington, New Zealand. In addition to supporting all WFU students in their study abroad experience, I focus on community-based global learning programs and supporting underrepresented students within the field of Education Abroad.
Author: Noel Conrad
Discussion Leader: Dana Lopez
Description
For Gil, getting an education at a Division I university was merely the byproduct of racing cross country at the next level. His life is thrown into chaos when he meets a girl, the irresistible and quirky Autumn. To complicate things further, Coach Wilson recruits the swift-footed Nicodemus, upending the team’s speed hierarchy. Gil must find a way to stay afloat academically while balancing his running with the competing forces of romance and rivalry. This book takes you on the journey of a college team as the runners develop as individuals and as a group. The relationships between running and life make you part of the journey.
Discussion Leader Bio
Dana Lopez: I am the Associate Director of Programs for Campus Recreation. I mainly oversee the programming for Sport Programs and Fitness. I am a lover of all sports things, basketball, football, softball/baseball, running, you name it, I have probably tried it or at least watched it on TV! I think sports can bring out the best in all of us and create a community for you to find your people. My hope for this book is to bring together people who are like-minded about how sports have played an important role in their lives and who hope to continue that throughout college either through playing intramural sports, joining a club sport, working out at the gym, and/or attending athletic events together.
Author: Malcolm Gladwell
Discussion Leader: Dr. Kathleen Bettencourt
Description
The book explores many examples of events and scandals throughout history that illustrate the problems we have when talking with and interacting with people who are different from us. It covers topics and events in a way that will challenge students’ perspectives and help us evaluate where and why we go wrong in different situations. Discussing stories from the book will encourage students to think about different communities (including their own!) and how we can all do a better job of not making assumptions about other people.
Discussion Leader Bio
Dr. Kathleen Bettencourt (she/her): Hello! I am a Visiting Assistant Professor in the Psychology Department. I teach Introductory Psychology, Developmental Psychology, and Biopsychology. My favorite part of teaching is having discussions with students about how psychology shows up in our lives. When I’m not teaching, I love going to sporting events with my husband, eating at my favorite Winston-Salem spots, and going for walks on the trails at Reynolda. I’m so excited to be involved in Project Wake 2024 and look forward to meeting you all!
Author: Matt Haig
Discussion Leaders: Eunice Jianping Hu & Rebecca Permar
Description
We want to explore what it means to be human and how we connect with each other through the lens of an alien imposter, and how that translates into college life. This book takes a humorous approach but asks really profound questions about purpose, belonging, and happiness that we think students will appreciate.
Discussion Leader Bios
Eunice Jianping Hu: I am a Teacher-Scholar Postdoctoral Fellow in the Program for Leadership and Character and the Interdisciplinary Humanities Program. I earned my Ph.D. in Philosophy at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore and hold an M.A. in Chinese Philosophy and a B.A. in Philosophy from East China Normal University in Shanghai. Previously, I was a visiting scholar at Duke University (2019-2020) and at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (2016).
Rebecca Permar: I am a Postdoctoral Fellow in Leadership and Character for Pre-Health Professions and work for the Office of Academic Advising and the Program of Leadership. I received my Ph.D. in Medical Humanities from the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, TX, and a joint MA/MLitt degree in German and Comparative Literature from the University of Bonn, Germany, and the University of St. Andrews, Scotland. My research interests include neuroethics, trauma studies, and social justice questions. I particularly enjoy bringing discussions about ethical challenges and character/identity formation into the education of future and current healthcare providers. I look forward to being a part of the academic journey of WFU students into healthcare professions, ethics, and humanities spaces.
Author: John Petrocelli
Discussion Leader: John Petrocelli
Description
Our most effective way of interconnecting with others is through communication. According to H. P. Grice’s theory of cooperative communication, conversation can be divided into four maxims, including quantity, quality, relation, and manner. These four maxims describe specific rational principles observed by people who follow the cooperative principle in pursuit of effective communication. As a result, people are expected and assumed to provide clear and factual information in the claims they offer. The problem is that much of our reasoning and communication today is not based on truth and genuine evidence. The focus of The Life-Changing Science of Detecting Bullshit is to provide readers with better tools for communicating ideas based on truth, genuine evidence, and/or established knowledge, as well as more effective ways of detecting and disposing of the unwanted, insidious social substance of bullshit.
Discussion Leader Bio
John Petrocelli: I am a Professor of Psychology. More specifically, I am an experimental social psychologist who studies social cognition (i.e., how people select, interpret, remember, and use social information to make judgments and decisions about themselves and the social world), with a special focus on bullshitting and bullshit detection, attitudes, persuasion, and judgment and decision making. I teach a capstone course for majors in psychology entitled “Contemporary Issues in Psychology: Bulls#!ting and Calling Bulls#!t” and frequently lead discussions about the problems with bullshit and how to detect and combat it. I’m eager to think more with you about this topic.
Author: Nikki Erlick
Discussion Leader: Kayla Harvey
Description
The book explores how people would live if they had the opportunity to know the length of their lives. Would you choose to know that information or never find out? Our conversation will be centered on that question, and we’ll explore the impacts of those choices. How does knowing or not knowing impact the relationships formed with those around you? Your career? Family life? Do you share the results with others, even if the truth may hurt them? We’ll also explore the political, economic, and social impacts of this information as we come to our own personal conclusions on whether or not we’d find out our destiny
Discussion Leader Bio
Kayla Harvey: I am the Assistant Director of Staff Selection, Recruitment, and Leadership in the Office of Residence Life & Housing. I’ve been at Wake for 2 years and enjoy getting to know students, walking campus when the weather is nice, and partaking in the many events and opportunities Wake has to offer. I also serve as a Guardian ad Litem, where I help advocate for and support children in foster care in Forsyth County. In my free time, I enjoy gardening, spending time with my family and cat, and reading. Last year, my favorite books read were Fourth Wing and Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros. In addition to a great storyline, I felt particularly connected to the main character because we share the same disability, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome.
Author: Dr. Harry Edwards
Discussion Leader: Em Cheramie
Description
The Revolt of the Black Athlete is a deep look at the struggles of Black athletes in the US, especially leading up to the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City. Dr. Edwards critically engages the complex situation that these athletes find themselves in and how they can use their voices and positions as athletes and even more so collegiate athletes to fight for what they believe in. Many of the struggles are still occurring today for student-athletes and students of color or of a minoritized identity. By using the historical context of the book, students would better understand the part collegiate athletics play on their campus and how the experiences of some of their peers are shaped by this ongoing struggle for race, positionality, and power on campus.
Discussion Leader Bio
Em Cheramie (they/them): I serve as the Program Coordinator for the LGBTQ+ Center. Before coming to Wake Forest University, I completed my Master’s in Sport Management at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst and my Bachelor of Arts in English at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where I was also a student-athlete. While at Nebraska, I discovered my passion for social justice, especially in the areas of sports inequity, racism, gender bias, and the marginalization of queer people in sports.
Author: William Gardner Smith
Discussion Leader: Dr. Andrew St. James
Description
The Stone Face is a novel published in 1963 about a young black man who takes refuge from American racism in France, only to find himself complicit in French racism against Algerians. The novel is deeply rooted in themes of interconnectedness and humanity. The novel asks important questions about how we relate to and connect with the “other,” when and how we speak up against society and the politics we disagree with, and how we build bridges across differences.
Discussion Leader Bio
Dr. Andrew St. James: Hi, I’m Dr. Andrew St. James! I am an Assistant Teaching Professor in the Biology Department here at Wake Forest, where I teach Microbiology, Biology of Soils, and Microbial Physiology. I hold a B.S. in Biology from Georgia Tech and a Ph.D. in Microbiology from Cornell University. In addition to teaching, I oversee undergraduate research on microbial genomics and carbon cycling in bogs, where I am particularly interested in greenhouse gas cycling. In my free time, I love to read, cook, and take advantage of all the exciting restaurants, coffee shops, festivals, and hiking destinations offered by Winston-Salem and the broader NC region! I’m starting my fourth year as a Deac, and I look forward to many more!
Author: Liz Orr
Discussion Leader: Liz Orr
Description
The book is largely focused on the practice of self-compassion, using the framework of the Enneagram, and in particular, the shadow side of the Enneagram, to strengthen our muscles of self-compassion. The book also operates on the assumption that the most generous version of compassion that we can extend to others is sourced from our own reserves of self-compassion. I believe this premise strongly connects with the theme of interconnectedness – helping us to extend compassion to ourselves, especially our most defended, self-protected self, allows us to extend compassion and understanding to others. The framework of the Enneagram also allows us to see the world from different perspectives than our own and helps us to dig under the surface of our perspective and the perspective of others, which allows us to have empathy and understanding as it relates to how different people perceive and respond to the world.
Discussion Leader Bio
Liz Orr: I joined the Chaplain’s Office team in June of 2014 and now serve as the Associate University Chaplain for Spiritual Formation. In this role, I support our university community in the form of one-to-one spiritual direction and pastoral care, facilitate Enneagram Typing Interviews and workshops, help to inform and update crisis response and policy practices with our partners across the university, equip our Christian Campus Ministers and Religious Life professionals with university resources to support their important work with our students, and provides logistical and programmatic leadership for Office of the Chaplain signature events, such as Lovefeast and Summit Pre-Orientation. My study of the Enneagram has intersected with my practice of spiritual direction, my deeply held belief in the necessity of self-love, and my equally deeply held belief in the necessity of a sense of humor about ourselves; this has all converged into my presenting style and practical application of the Enneagram that is unique, snarky, and yet at the same time, guided by the aim of encouraging and strengthening our wells of compassion within. I am also the author of The Unfiltered Enneagram: A Witty and Wise Guide to Self-Compassion, a book about the Enneagram that illustrates how embracing the shadow side of our Type with humor can liberate us from it.
Author: Brendan Slocumb
Discussion Leader: Hu Womack
Description
Brendan Slocumb’s “The Violin Conspiracy” is so much more than a mystery. This novel deals with issues of race, class, and community while reminding us of the racism that still exists in so many institutions. This book is also the “On the Same Page” community read for Forsyth County in 2024, and Slocumb will be speaking on the campus of Wake Forest University in October.
Discussion Leader Bio
Hu Womack: I’m Hu Womack, a librarian in the Z. Smith Reynolds Library and a “double deac”! I graduated from Wake Forest University in 1990 with a BA in English and Studio Art. I received my MBA from Wake Forest in 2000 and completed my MLIS degree at UNC-Greensboro in 2008. I’m also a huge fan of Project Wake and can’t wait to talk about this book, the author, and his upcoming visit to campus!
Author: bell hooks
Discussion Leader: Rebecca Johnson
Description
Everyone needs to love and be loved—even men. But to know love, men must be able to look at the ways that patriarchal culture keeps them from knowing themselves, from being in touch with their feelings, and from loving. In The Will to Change, bell hooks gets to the heart of the matter and shows men how to express the emotions that are a fundamental part of who they are—whatever their age, marital status, ethnicity, or sexual orientation. But toxic masculinity punishes those fundamental emotions, and it’s so deeply ingrained in our society that it’s hard for men not to comply—but hooks wants to help change that. With trademark candor and fierce intelligence, Hooks addresses the most common concerns of men, such as fear of intimacy and loss of their patriarchal place in society, in new and challenging ways. She believes men can find the way to spiritual unity by getting back in touch with the emotionally open part of themselves—and lay claim to the rich and rewarding inner lives that have historically been the exclusive province of women. A brave and astonishing work, The Will to Change is designed to help men reclaim the best part of themselves.
Discussion Leader Bio
Becca Johnson: I am a Professor of Communication here at Wake. I specialize in interpersonal relationships and computer-mediated communication and teach intro to interpersonal, special topics in technological communication, and empirical research methods at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. In addition to being an avid reader, I enjoy birding, hiking, gardening, painting, streaming my way through Dark Souls, and ice hockey. I am almost always accompanied by my foxhound friend, Athena, whom you can find relaxing on the couch in my office (she loves meeting new friends, so feel free to stop in and say hi when you’re around Carswell Hall)!
Author: Wake Forest University Faculty, Staff & Administration
Discussion Leader: Dr. José Villalba
Description
This collection of essays, written about Wake’s connections to the institution of slavery, will challenge and expand our own notions of Pro Humanitate
Discussion Leader Bio
Dr. José Villalba: The VP for Diversity and Inclusion, and a Professor of Counseling, I’ve been at Wake since 2011, and I’ve been VP since 2018. I was born in Miami, FL, got all of my degrees from the University of Florida, and lived in Indiana for two years before moving to NC in 2003. Of all the things you might want to know about me, the most meaningful is that my wife, Rachel, is awesome, and my daughter and two sons are pretty cool.
Author: Vivek H. Murphy, MD
Discussion Leader: Miaohua Jiang
Description
In our current social-media-driven era, the importance of fostering meaningful human connections at all levels of our human environment – family, friends, work colleagues, and neighbors is highlighted in this book in a very insightful way. Problems of loneliness, which are at the root of so many of our physical and mental challenges, are analyzed in the context of interesting stories, and simple solutions are recommended. It is a book that can help us to become better humans by building supportive, joyful, and meaningful connections (Samit Ghosh).
Discussion Leader Bio
Miaohua Jiang: I am a Professor of Mathematics and joined the Wake Forest faculty in 1998. I was born in China and grew up during the Cultural Revolution. My wife and I raised their two children in Winston-Salem. Besides teaching and conducting research in mathematics, I enjoy reading books on human nature, listening to classical music, walking in nature, and growing vegetables.
Author: Gabrielle Zevin
Discussion Leader: Jackie Friedman
Description
This fictional selection chronicles a relationship between friends over the span of their lifetime while exploring dynamics of what connects us with others in our life. Told from differing perspectives throughout, underlying themes of friendship, partnership, disability, and love, both in the real (fictional) and virtual (gaming) world of the book, are explored in an engaging and thought-provoking way. No knowledge of specifics of gaming required!
Discussion Leader Bio
Jackie Friedman: I work in the Center for Learning, Access, and Student Success at Wake Forest, where I work directly with Wake Forest students looking to build skills for academic success (such as time management and managing test anxiety) and help students with disabilities access accommodations in the classroom. I’m a Clinical Psychologist by training and have long been fascinated by aspects of human relationships in terms of how we each bring a unique lens to the common experiences we share.
Author: Alexis Pauline Gumbs
Discussion Leader: Jes Bolduc
Book description:
In this book, the author gives many different examples of marine mammals that operate in solidarity and interconnectedness in order to survive oppressive and threatening forces like hunting, poaching, predators, etc. Gumbs then extrapolates those as models for how we can survive systems that threaten humanity: fascism, white supremacy, capitalism, patriarchy, etc. There is an emphasis on the resilience of species through their creative forms of communication that outsmart enemies or threats. It highlights our need for one another both within our species but also across species delineations as part of the interconnected ecosystem: “my survival also depends on yours”. In each example, we see the creature’s commitment to their group and what they are willing to do for their group in the face of danger. It’s also beautifully written, almost like small poems/odes/homages to these different creatures as well as to their dedication to survival and living within community. This is a powerful place to look for examples of successful community, solidarity, and interconnectedness because these animals are ancient beings that have survived millennia. We have much to learn from their examples.
Discussion leader bio:
Jes Bolduc (she/they): I am an Assistant Teaching Professor in the Chemistry Department who mainly focuses on Biochemistry/Organic Chemistry. In the course of my research studies, I focused on protein cooperativity, which is very similar to interconnected ecosystems but on a micro scale. I think this book does an amazing job of reminding us with stunning poetic prose that we need each other and that every living thing is in community with every other living thing!
Authors: Judith Butler
Discussion Leader: Kristina Gupta
Description
In recent years, we have seen movements in the U.S. and in other parts of the world to restrict reproductive justice, undermine protections against sexual and gender violence, and strip trans and queer people of their right to pursue a life without fear of violence, based on a critique of what these movements call “gender ideology.” In Who’s Afraid of Gender? (2024), luminary feminist scholar Judith Butler critiques the use of “gender ideology” as a bogeyman for rights-stripping movements worldwide. In the book, Butler works to turn down the heat on an inflamed argument in order to allow for more thoughtful engagement. Butler offers a model of coalition for moving forward, writing, “Coalitions do not require mutual love…They require only a shared insight that oppressive forces can be defeated by acting together and moving forward with difficult differences without insisting on their ultimate resolution.” The book is an effective diagnosis of contemporary polarization and also offers a non-idealistic way to make connections through coalition.
Discussion Leader Bio
Kristina Gupta: I am an Associate Professor in the Department of Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies here at Wake. My research interests are in the areas of asexual identities and feminist studies of science and medicine. I teach courses such as “Sexual Politics in the U.S.,” “Gender and the Politics of Health,” and “Men, Masculinity, and Power.”
Event Details
- Date: Sunday, August 25
- Time: 1:30-3 p.m.
- Locations: Varies by subject