Scholarship in Motion: Regents Explore the Heart of Discovery in CLA

A woman holds a 3D printed replica of a ceramic sculpture in the shape of a very large black spoon
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Regent Mary Turner holds a 3D printed replica of original ceramic sculpture. The object was created by artist Donna Ray in 2024 and is called “Adinkra Symbol, Perseverance, Puzzle Gram, Vignette Pattern.”
A man utilizing a virtual reality headset in an office, fully engaged in an immersive digital experience.
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Regent Doug Huebsch tests a virtual reality tour of Blegen Hall
Two men stand near each other while one uses a remote control made out of a drone
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Regent James Farnsworth uses a motion-based drone controller, testing out an intuitive method for controlling drones
A woman with brown curly hair smiles and looks to the side while two lab technicians work at a computer behind her
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Maria A. Nieves Colón in the Molecular Genetics Laboratory
A man and a woman engaged in conversation
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Regent Doug Huebsch and Margaret Werry in Rarig Center
A small group of people walk up an open stairway in the middle of Rarig Center
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Dean Avilez and Regent Huebsch in Rarig Center
A woman with blonde curly hair and black chunky glasses stands in front of the Nash Gallery sign with a large blue-toned map of the United States behind her
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Christine Baeumler outside the Nash Gallery
A man stands confidently before a group of attentive individuals, engaging them with his presence and speech
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Carl Flink with dance students
A group of people listen to a man speak
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Dean Sorenson talks about a faculty jazz trio

On February 26, 2025, the College of Liberal Arts hosted a special tour for members of the Board of Regents. The half-day event provided an in-depth exploration of advanced research and creative spaces across the West Bank, showcasing the diverse ways faculty, students, and facilities contribute to discovery and artistic expression.

Presentations

A man with curly hair is animatedly discussing topics with a group of individuals, fostering an engaging dialogue.
Michael Gallope and Galin Jones discuss AI


“Our interdisciplinary strength is one of our greatest assets,” said CLA Dean GerShun Avilez as he welcomed the Regents. “Every field in CLA contributes to advancing knowledge and tackling complex challenges, offering students a foundation that prepares them for an evolving world.”

Next, four pairs of scholars presented on their work.

  • Professor David Aiona Chang and Assistant Professor Nick Estes talked about the Department of American Indian Studies, the first department of its kind and a leader in the field.
  • Associate Professor Michael Gallope from the Department of Cultural Studies & Comparative Literature and Professor Galin Jones from the School of Statistics discussed artificial intelligence, highlighting the emerging dialogue between humanistic inquiry and data science.
  • Associate Professor Jessica Gordon-Roth and Assistant Professor Dwight K. Lewis Jr. shared about the Center for Canon Expansion & Change, which aims to effect meaningful change in the way philosophy is done, understood, organized, and—especially—taught.
  • Lastly, Associate Professor Benjamin Toff and undergraduate student Atticus Marse from the Hubbard School of Journalism & Mass Communication shared about their research partnership through the Dean’s First Year Research and Creative Activities Scholars Program (DRFACS).

 

Labs

A group of people stand in the AISOS lab, listening to a woman with long black hair speak.
Samantha Thi Porter showcases the Advanced Imaging for Objects & Spaces (AISOS) lab


The first part of the walking tour focused on lab spaces, starting with Advanced Imaging for Objects & Spaces (AISOS) in Heller Hall, led by Samantha Thi Porter (MA ‘14, PhD ‘19, anthropology) and Tessa Cicak (PhD ‘23, anthropology). AISOS is a dedicated facility for macro- and mesoscale imaging of objects in two and three dimensions. It houses advanced technology for exploring objects and artifacts with new levels of precision.

 

A man in a grey suit stands in front of a screen, accompanied by a robot dog.
Eric Shook introduces the GeoCommons


At the GeoCommons in Blegen Hall, Associate Professor Eric Shook greeted visitors with a robot dog and introduced them to a variety of technologies used to explore and understand spatial relationships. GeoCommons is a collaborative hub to empower spatial innovation, promote spatial thinking, and advance geospatial technologies through research, education, and public engagement across the University, state of Minnesota, and beyond.

 

Two lab technicians wearing white cleanroom suits work with ancient DNA
The Ancient DNA Cleanroom


Attendees then explored the Anthropological Genetics Laboratories, where Assistant Professor Maria A. Nieves Colón and lab manager and instructor Carrie Miller (PhD ‘21, anthropology) introduced the Ancient DNA Cleanroom and the Molecular Genetics Laboratory. The labs use ancient DNA and modern genomics to study human population history.

 

Arts Quarter

Students perform a lively dance sequence on stage, rehearsing for "Much Ado About Nothing"
Students rehearse a dance sequence for "Much Ado About Nothing"


The group then moved to the theatre spaces in Rarig Center, where Margaret Werry, chair of the Department of Theatre Arts & Dance, and Aaron Todd Douglas, program director of the BFA Actor Training Program, gave the group a sneak peek at student rehearsals in the Thrust and Xperimental Theatres.

 

Ceramics students sitting at empty throwing wheels, engaged in discussion with a professor
Ceramics students discuss their experiences in the class


In the Regis Center for Art, Christine Baeumler, chair of the Department of Art and Chotsani Elaine Dean, an assistant professor of ceramics, led a tour of the ceramics studios, where the group interacted with students and learned how the kilns are loaded. The tour also included a walk through the wood shop, foundry, and XYZ Lab spaces. The group stopped outside the Katherine E. Nash Gallery, where the gallery director, Howard Oransky, provided insights into Associate Professor Paul Shambroom’s retirement exhibition, which closes on March 8.

 

Dancers perform energetically on stage, captivating an engaged audience with their dynamic movements and expressions.
Dance students rehearse for their spring concert, chaos theory


At the Barker Center for Dance, the guests sat in on a rehearsal of the University Dance Theatre’s spring concert, chaos theory, and a Q&A with the student dancers. Director of Dance Carl Flink and Associate Professor Joanie Smith, who holds the Barbara Barker Endowed Chair, provided context and commentary.

 

A spacious auditorium viewed from behind the stage, where a choir rehearses in front of a small audience standing on stage with them.
The University Treble Choir rehearses on the stage of Ted Mann Concert Hall


The afternoon concluded with a tour through Ferguson Hall and Ted Mann Concert Hall. Patrick Warfield, director of the School of Music, and Professor Matthew Mehaffey guided the group through practice and performance spaces, where they interacted with students and faculty musicians. The University Treble Choir, led by graduate student Christiana Howell, provided a musical demonstration on the Ted Mann stage.

Throughout the day, faculty and students showcased the intersection of research, performance, and artistic creation, highlighting the breadth of expertise and innovation across the college.

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