Meet the Staff: Hyeonjin Schubert
More than 100 staff members work in the Division of the Humanities. We’ll introduce you to our staff in this continuing series.
Hyeonjin Schubert
Center Administrator
Center for East Asian Studies
What do you like most about your job?
I enjoy working with amazing colleagues every day and the lively environment at UChicago. I also love interacting with our faculty and students through the various public events, conferences, and seminars we organize on campus year-round. I have the opportunity to travel and support the Center at the Association for Asian Studies annual conference. These experiences not only help me grow as a professional administrator but also keep my workday interesting and fulfilling
What was the last good book you read?
A good friend of mine recommended a book called Pachinko, so I borrowed the book from her and read it in one sitting. The novel, written by Korean- American author Min Jin Lee, starts with the line, "History failed us but no matter." It follows several generations of a Korean family living in Japan from the early 20th century to the 1980s. While you can watch it as a TV drama on Apple TV, I highly recommend reading the book first. It’s profoundly moving and inspirational, and I found myself deeply empathizing with the immigrants' struggles depicted through the main and supporting characters.
You might work with me if …
If you’re a graduate or undergraduate student interested in East Asian studies or are doing any research related to East Asia. I’m here to help connect you with the right people for our film library, outreach opportunities, grants and fellowships, and East Asian-related resources on and off campus in Chicago. I also work closely with the university’s payroll and HR departments to hire and place student workers and process payments and reimbursements.
What is your favorite holiday, and how do you usually celebrate it?
Robyn Schiff's epic poem 'Information Desk' draws critical acclaim
When Prof. Robyn Schiff sat at the information desk at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, she felt as if, “I was living my life at the center of the world.” Nearly 30 years later, Schiff transformed her experiences into an epic poem, expertly weaving its collections of visual art and connections to the world into her life’s journey, material world and imagination.
For "Information Desk: An Epic" (2023), Schiff recently received the 2024 Four Quartets Prize from the Poetry Society of America. The international Prize celebrates multipart poems, with the winner receiving $20,000. Previous recipients of the Four Quartets Prize include Courtney Faye Taylor, John Murillo and Dante Micheaux.
The valuable role video games play in the classroom
Do video games belong in the classroom?
It may sound counterproductive to learning, but experts say the right games can help students stay engaged and learn about history, science, math and more.
A 2019 study from Carnegie Mellon University found that nearly 75% of teachers have used digital game-based learning in their lesson plans.
UChicago's Film Studies Center to preserve groundbreaking work by Black and Filipino filmmakers
Inside a climate-controlled vault at the University of Chicago are hundreds of films and pieces of cinematic history. Each celluloid frame is cared for by the Film Studies Center, who maintains the collection for students, faculty and the public.
Thanks to two grants from the National Film Preservation Foundation, the Center’s vault will soon be home to groundbreaking and restored films by Black and Filipino filmmakers. These include two experimental short films by filmmaker Aarin Burch—Dreams of Passion (1989) and Spin Cycle (1990)—and five home movies depicting early 20th-century Filipino community life.
Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations changes name to Department of Middle Eastern Studies
The Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations at the University of Chicago Division of the Humanities announced Aug. 19 that it will be renamed the Department of Middle Eastern Studies, effective immediately.
The change is the result of the Department’s work in recent years to acknowledge the interdisciplinary and geographic research of its scholars. In an email announcing the change, Department Chair Ahmed El Shamsy wrote that the new name is “more recognizable, fits the region geographically, and arises from a new understanding of its relevance and significance now and throughout its ancient history.” Also, he noted that the usage and meaning of “Near Eastern” have changed over time.
For a 'Citizen Artist,' Creativity Is a Matter of Survival
When I sat down to interview the artist vanessa german in her bright, airy temporary studio at the University of Chicago, she was the one who asked the first question. And the second, and the third. She wanted to know who I was and what motivated me in my work and life. She listened to my answers so intently that I was momentarily unnerved.
When I finally asked her how she became an artist, she said, “I might cry, but I’ll just keep going.”
The exchange with german (who styles her full name in lowercase letters) distilled much about her self-taught approach. Her beaded totemic sculptures, some modeled on African power figures, along with an installation on the National Mall, her community-based activism and her collaborative performances have lately been garnering art world attention and major awards.
Media Mentions July 2024
The latest media mentions, quotes, profiles, and writings from Division of the Humanities faculty, students, staff, and alumni. Visit us on X, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Facebook for more updates
James C Scott: A scholar who went against the grain
The Indian Express
Dipesh Chakrabarty (South Asian Languages and Civilizations) writes a homage to James C. Scott and his intellectual influence and legacy. Scott was the Sterling Professor of Political Science Emeritus, Yale University, who passed away on July 19, 2024.
Hug the Robot? AI and the Humanities
Miller's Book Review
Shadi Bartsch-Zimmer (Classics) discusses how AI can help bridge the gap between the humanities and sciences, fostering creative thought and interdisciplinary connections within academia. She stresses the importance of human agency and early collaboration among experts to mitigate potential negative outcomes of AI.
Meet the Staff: Déja Motley
More than 100 staff members work in the Division of the Humanities. We’ll introduce you to our staff in this continuing series.
What do you like most about your job?
I love that I get to work for a university that represents my hometown. I can interact with fellow Chicagoans and a global community within the university campus. Seeing and interacting with a diverse population and various cultures is an amazing experience. I lived overseas in a homogenous country for almost a decade, so I appreciate the diversity here at UChicago. It is food for the mind and soul.
What was the last good book you read?
I read NPR's Podcast Start-Up Guide by Glen Weldon because I started a podcast for my department and needed to learn the basics. It was very informative. Normally, I love reading self-development and psychology books. I also love reading books on how various races and ethnicities have developed their cultures and communication as this relates to my job.
You might work with me if …
You are part of the Division of the Humanities and are referring international students who have learned English as a Second Language (ESL) to my office, the English Language Institute (ELI). Or maybe you need help with ESL or pedagogy support for your international students. You could also just stop by our office to say hello. We love meeting people at the ELI.
What was the most memorable class you took as a student, and what made it stand out for you?
I took a reconciliation and forgiveness class while studying global religions during my second year in graduate school. I learned so many people have complex relationships and pasts where they have been hurt and don't know how to heal. As a society, we don't have the tools for dealing with conflict and interpersonal relationships while consistently creating conflict or finding ourselves in it. People are stressed and confused. I think nationally, we need to revisit concepts such as mental health, diplomacy, empathy, service, kindness, love, and conflict resolution. It's time to get back to the basics.
Prof. Shadi Bartsch-Zimmer Elected to the British Academy
Prof. Shadi Bartsch-Zimmer would like to abolish the siloed nature of knowledge and embrace the interdisciplinarity of the humanities and sciences. For the broad scope of her scholarship and innovative ideas, the University of Chicago classics scholar was elected on July 18 as a fellow to the British Academy.
Bartsch-Zimmer is well known for her books and articles on ancient Rome, on rhetoric and philosophy, and on the reception of the western classical tradition in contemporary China. Her book "Persius: A Study in Food, Philosophy, and the Figural" received the 2016 Goodwin Award of Merit, and her translation of the “Aeneid” was one of The Guardian’s best books of the year.