Whitman Today
 

Thursday, November 9, 2023

Visiting Writers Series Welcomes Poet Robyn Schiff

Black and white portrait photo of Robyn Schiff, with shoulder length, dark curly hair.

Whitman College’s 2023–2024 Visiting Writers Reading Series (VWRS) continues with award-winning poet Robyn Schiff, tonight at 7 p.m. at Kimball Theatre in Hunter Conservatory.

Schiff is an English and literature professor at the University of Chicago and is a director of their creative writing program. She is also an editor at Canarium Books, a small independent press focused on publishing poetry.

Schiff has published four poetry collections at Penguin Random House including her most recent book, “Information Desk: An Epic” published in August 2023. The two-volume poem draws on Schiff’s experience fielding questions at the information desk at the Metropolitan Museum of Art as a young writer. 

Schiff was also awarded a fellowship in 2023—a Joseph Brodsky Rome Prize at the American Academy in Rome.

The audience will have the opportunity to learn more about Schiff’s writing process and work. Students of any major are encouraged to attend the series.

“The Visiting Writers Reading Series has enabled me to see how writing guides these authors’ lives in unique, personal ways,” says Hanna Lynch, a senior Anthropology major.

Lynch says the VWRS has prompted her to consider how writing has influenced her own life and how it translates into her creative endeavors. She hopes to see other creatives in attendance.

The 2023–2024 series features eight writers, including two Whitman alums, Zoe Ballering ’12 and Katey Schultz ’01. (See attached flyer.)

Noteworthy

Korin Baker ’24 Named to D3hoops.com Preseason All-America Team

Senior forward Korin Baker ’24 was recently named to the D3hoops.com Preseason Women’s Basketball team. Baker earned Northwest Conference Player of the Year, all-region and all-American honors last season and guided the Blues to regular season and tournament titles. Go Blues!

 

Jack Jackson To Be Visiting Scholar at the Emory University School of Law

Associate Professor of Politics Jack Jackson has accepted an invitation to be a Visiting Scholar at the Emory University School of Law. He will be in residence at Emory for a portion of spring semester and affiliated with the Feminism and Legal Theory Project and the Vulnerability and Human Condition Initiative. He will be working on a new book that tracks and critiques a discourse of “return” and “restoration” in liberal responses to the Roberts Court. The research is focused on three areas of constitutional law: abortion, affirmative action and corporate speech. At the conclusion of the residency, he will present his research to the Emory community. This work is supported, in part, by Whitman’s sabbatical program. 

Submit a Noteworthy Announcement

Announcements

Student-focused Q&A with John Yong Shik Concklin Tomorrow

The Walla Walla Symphony will host students from Whitman College and Walla Walla University for a Q&A session with John Young Shik Concklin on Friday, Nov. 10 at 1:30 p.m. in Kimball Theatre at Hunter Conservatory. Concklin is Music Director of the Spartanburg Philharmonic and Hendersonville Symphony Orchestra and will lead the performance of “New Sounds Find Belonging” on Tuesday, Nov. 14 at Cordiner Hall.

 

Fridays @ 4 Concert Series Tomorrow

The Music Department will present a free concert of baroque music on Friday, Nov. 10 at 4 p.m. in Chism Recital Hall. Performers will include John Lenti on theorbo and Carrie Krause, Anna Okada and Reynaldo Patiño on violin. Music will include works by Rossi, Couperin, Pachelbel and more.

Photo Finish

Two Visiting Writers Reading Series posters (top) and four books of poetry (bottom).

Photo (Spokane Ensemble Theatre): Whitman College will host a touring production of “According to Coyote” tonight at 7 p.m. at Harper Joy Theatre on the Alexander Stage. The one-actor play combines creative elements of music, dance and theater and is performed by Nez Perce actor Kellen Trenal (“Reservation Dogs”).

Happening Today

 

Noon

Teaching Demonstration: Math Candidate

Olin Hall, Room 201

Noon

Webinar: Flexible Spending Accounts

Virtual (Register)

12:10–12:50 p.m.

Movement That Matters: SWAT

Sherwood Athletic Center

4 p.m.

Research Presentation: Psychology Candidate 

Maxey Hall, Room 304

5 p.m.

Living Room Conversations: Intersectionality Between Faith and Identity

Glover Alston Center (RSVP)

5 p.m.

Behavioral Genetics Lecture

Hunter Conservatory, Kimball Theatre

6 p.m.

Drip Drop Dance

Dance Studio

7 p.m.

According to Coyote: Spokane Ensemble Theatre

Harper Joy Theatre

7–10 p.m.

FGWC Gala

Harper Joy Theatre

7 p.m.

Jazz 1 & 2 Fall Concert

Hall of Music, Chism Recital Hall

7 p.m.

Visiting Writers Reading Series: Robyn Schiff

Hunter Conservatory, Kimball Theatre

8 p.m.

La Soirée Cinéma

La Maison Interest House

9 p.m.–Midnight

Tabletop Games Club: Game Night

Penrose Library, Café 41

Whitman Events Calendar

Would you like to share an event with campus? Submit the information to the Events Calendar.

“Whitman Today” is produced by the Office of Communications and is emailed Monday through Friday to Whitman College staff, faculty and students.

All submissions are welcome! If you have accomplishments to celebrate, an event to publicize or other content to share with the Whitman community, email whitmantoday@whitman.edu. Submissions of 125 words or less are due by noon for the following day’s newsletter. Submissions may be edited and/or held for a later date according to space and editorial needs. Your submission also authorizes use on Whitman's social media unless otherwise specified.

Previous issues of Whitman Today are archived on our website.

Mountain graphic

Find us on social media: @whitmancollege

instagram TikTok YouTube twitter facebook LinkedIn