December 2020
Dear Arts & Letters Community:
We are definitely in the home stretch of the Fall 2020 semester! It’s the last week of classes, and exams are just around the corner. As you prepare for your online exams or final projects, please remember to balance study and work with appropriate self-care, including getting enough sleep.
Of course, with the end of the semester comes the winter holidays. While we all understandably want to spend time with family and friends, please be mindful of public health guidelines: to stay home as much as possible and always wear a face covering over your nose and mouth when outside your household and around others; depending on where you are at the moment, there may be more restrictions, including a prohibition on gathering with anyone outside your household. As it has been throughout the pandemic, this is a rapidly evolving situation, so please take good care.
Despite the pandemic, there is a lot to look forward to next semester! On February 25, renowned poet Claudia Rankine, author of the critically acclaimed Just Us: A Conversation, will be our 2021 Jean Burden Poet, reading from her work and interacting with students throughout the day. The enormously popular Eagle-Con returns in a virtual format March 11-13; within the same time-frame, your work can be showcased in the 29th Annual Student Symposium on Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activities. National Humanities Advocacy is also that week.
Our focus on making Professional Pathways visible and achievable continues in the spring semester with three exciting professional development opportunities, all on Fridays:
February 12 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm Creating a Profession Website and Pitch Deck
Led by Professors Zachary Vernon (Art) and Heather Fipps (TVFM)
March 19 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm Professional Communication: Resumes, Cover Letters, Interviewing
Led by Professors Mijan Rahman (English), Julie Matos (Communication Studies), and Bingjie Liu (Communication Studies)
April 9 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm Financial Literacy for Freelancers
This interactive workshop will be led by Elaine Grogan Luttrull, author of Arts and Numbers
As we approach new ways of connecting with our community during this time, we are finding various opportunities and formats for showcasing student work, engaging community dialogue, and civic engagement. We invite your participation and feedback, below my letter are just a few events in our college community that you can engage with virtually.
Finally, I want to wish you, your families, and your loved ones all of the JOY this season brings. A New Year begins in just a few weeks – may it bring with it peace, health, and love.
Warm wishes,
Linda Essig
Dr. Linda Essig, Dean
PS. I continue to hold open office hours for students on Friday mornings from 10:00 am - 11:00 am at https://calstatela.zoom.us/j/5109496386
Associate Dean Weiss also has open office hours on Tuesday afternoons from 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm at https://calstatela.zoom.us/j/92387087821