More than 100 staff members work in the Division of the Humanities. We'll introduce you to our staff in this continuing series.

Angela Risi
Department Assistant 
Department of Music

What do you like most about your job?
The most gratifying work I’ve done this year was participate in the Latinx Heritage Month Planning Committee. As the Music and Dance Chair, I presented three events: a Bomba dance workshop with 3Arts Awardee Ivelisse Diaz; a performance and meet-and-greet with Don Michael Randel Ensemble-in-Residence Plena Libre; and a drag show featuring local queens Irregular Girl, Chanel Mercedes-Benz, and K’hole Kardashian. Highlights include learning bomba to live drumming from Plena Libre, an awesome Q+A session with Plena Libre facilitated by Harris School’s Milvia Rodriguez, and a stunning rendition of “Amor Eterno” (a ballad from Rocio Durcal) by Irregular Girl. That last performance was so moving that people cried!

What was the last good book you read?
I'm currently reading Time Slips: Queer Temporalities, Contemporary Performance, and the Hole of History by Jaclyn Pryor. This book explores how linear perceptions of trauma, memory, and time are troubled and can be reimagined through performance.

You might work with me if...
… your department, center, or organization would like to request support from the Music Department, or if you need advice on catering, event planning, facilities improvements, and booking travel. Please also get in touch if you’re interested in collaborating on programming for marginalized campus populations or discussing topics regarding staff culture or I.B.T. Local 743.

What's your New Year's resolution? 
I practice reflecting on the past year and setting intentions for the coming year. For 2019, my intention was “building community” for myself and others. I materilized this intention through joining the Performing Intensive Program at Joel Hall Dancers & Center and starting a queer book club. I haven’t yet settled on an intention for 2020, but I’m interested in leaning into my passions a bit more.