About Us: Center for Ethnic Studies and the Arts

Lauren Rabinovitz, Director
Professor and Chair, American Studies
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Collegiate Fellow

Advisory Board 2007-08

Associate Professor Aimee Carrillo-Rowe (Rhetoric)
Associate Professor Claire Fox (English/Latin American Studies Program)
Assistant Professor Rebekah Kowal (Dance)
Professor John Rapson (Music)
Associate Professor Laura Rigal (English/American Studies)
Assistant Professor Bridget Harris Tsemo (Rhetoric/African American Studies)
Assisant Professor Omar Valerio-Jimenez (History)
Ex officio, Jennifer Ambrose (American Studies), Managing Editor, the Cookbook Project
Ex officio, Cinda Nofziger (American Studies), Special Events Assistant
Ex officio, Sara Shreves (American Studies), Special Events Assistant

• Foster new scholarship about ethnicity and creative expression
• Encourage consideration of cultural diversity in all humanities research about the arts and expressive cultures
• Collaborate with UI departments and programs to enhance curriculum and the study of ethnic and racial communities as well as of cultural diversity
• Stimulate scholarly and public discussion about the roles of race and ethnicity in critical interpretation

History

Created in July 2006, CESA recognizes that art and creative expression are integrated components of religion, ritual, everyday life, and other cultural practices of minority communities. The Center seeks and encourages multi-disciplinary and inter-disciplinary approaches to studying these practices as well as to the ways that ethnicity and the arts shape U.S. national and international issues and cultures. It draws on the UI’s distinction in the arts as well as in histories and critical interpretations of expressive cultures. The Center’s programs include the study of historical examples as well as contemporary ones. The Center’s activities include lectures and speaker series, symposia, proseminars, and workshops.