Sara is a Ph.D. student in the English department at Stony Brook University where she is also the recipient of the Dr. W. Burghardt Turner Fellowship. She holds an M.A. in English from Montclair State University, an M.Ed. from the University of Massachusetts, Boston, and a B.A. in journalism and English from CUNY Baruch College. Her budding research involves postcolonial theory and poetry and poetics with a focus on modernism and maternity. She also has a special interest in Semitic languages, and is a strong advocate for inclusive pedagogy and the public humanities, including digital humanities.
Why did you apply to HASTAC Scholars?
I applied to HASTAC Scholars after learning about the opportunity from Dr. Eric Wertheimer here at Stony Brook University. I also had the privilege of working as a teaching assistant in Eric’s asynchronous online course on Early American Literature this semester. Before applying to HASTAC, I was seeking a larger community to learn from and share my work with. Even though I love my department, I think it is invaluable to connect with scholars across disciplines at other universities.
What has been your favorite course so far (as instructor or student)? Why?
My favorite course as a student so far was a graduate seminar course I took with Dr. E. K. Tan. The course is also called “Pro Seminar” and it’s a course that’s required of all incoming English doctoral students. There are only six of us in my cohort. I’m so grateful for that course with EK. Among several fields, EK is a scholar of sinophone and anglophone literatures. It was really broadening to learn from him and make important connections to my own work. Similarly, the small size of the class allowed for intimate and in-depth conversation and debate.
What inspired your current research or creative work?
I am the proud daughter of an immigrant mother. That legacy has inspired me for quite some time to read and research literature and poetry from countries historically harmed by colonialism. Although my family history is not unique, I have always been interested in exploring narratives from areas affected by war and conflict. Literature written during the 1916 Rising in Dublin, “The Troubles” in Northern Ireland, and for the last century in Israel and Palestine stick out to me as places of continued interest and exploration. I also still believe everything starts and ends with birthing parents and find myself drawn to motherhood studies for that reason.
What do you want to do after you graduate?
I still have a minimum of four years left in my doctoral program so it’s hard to predict what the job market will look like at that time. That said, I’m very motivated to publish my writing: poems, translations, academic articles, chapters, and hopefully monographs. I’m also a visual artist and love the idea of melding my love of art, poetry, and education. I’m hopeful I’ll find an opportunity in academia or the public humanities. I previously worked as an English teacher and I’d love to continue working with students at the college-level and sharing my experience.
How does digital scholarship fit into your research, teaching, or activism?
Digital scholarship feels futuristic to some, but really for me it’s really about accessibility. In my experience, at the secondary-school level (depending on the school of course) teachers are implementing digital scholarship and resources at lightning speed. However, at the college-level it seems to be a much slower process. I consider myself a novice with digital scholarship, which feel advantageous in a way because I approach it with wonder, curiosity, and dedication. I’ve been struck by the ways scholars have published literature online such as an author’s canon with interactive maps and such.
What are you currently working on, and what do you hope to accomplish with it?
I’m currently working on a proposal for a poetry translation series. I’ve seen poetry touch even the most skeptical of readers and it [poetry] can be incredibly cathartic. I’m eager to flex my translation muscles so the speak and tap into a stimulating area of interest. It seems obvious to say but poetry in translation affords readers across languages the opportunity to engage with poets they would have otherwise been unable to read. For that reason, so much is gained.
What are you currently reading, watching, or listening to?
I’m a member of the Brooklyn Institute for Social Research and I really enjoy listening to the podcasts they put out. The College of Arts and Sciences at Stony Brook University has a podcast called “The Difference You Make.” Professors come on and talk about their interests and experiences and that’s been on my rotation recently, too.
What’s something people would be surprised to know about you?
Most people in my professional life would probably be surprised to know that I’m a parent of very young children. I rarely share that mostly because I’m afraid people will think I’m not as dedicated to my career, which could not be further from the truth. I realized recently that I’m currently the only mother among the graduate students in my department. Some people are amazed that I have this whole other life at home and I get lots of interesting comments and questions. Ultimately, I’m so grateful for my achievements and pursuits, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Collaboration and community are central to HASTAC. How have these shaped your work, or how would you like them to in the future?
I would love to collaborate more with other scholars. It’s really important to me to have other scholars to learn from and work with. On the one hand, there’s that “we’re all in the same/similar boat” feeling. On the other, I think it’s crucial to have other scholars to challenge you and make you think more critically about your own work. I’m a big proponent of college writing centers for that reason. There’s nothing like getting a second set of eyes on your writing. However, at the doctoral-level there’s so much competition sometimes it’s hard to know how to approach other scholars. I want to continue to grow my circle of people I can ask to work on shared projects together.