Four are Named as Recipients of the 2025 Alumnae Curriculum Award

pam.james 24 February, 2025 02:35 PM

Read the complete article from Northwestern NowThe faculty recipients are:  Claudia Quevedo-Webb, César Hoyos Álvarez, María Jesús Barros García and Spencer Striker.

One new curriculum uses virtual reality to promote intercultural understanding (Claudia Quevedo-Webb,  César Álvarez, and María Jesús Barros García), and the other is a new curriculum developed by Spencer Striker "AI for Enhanced Creative Production".

Spencer Striker

Curriculum Innovation Award Recipient, 2025

The following is an excerpt from Northwestern Now.  

"The future of digital media design

Spencer Striker is an associate professor of digital media design at Northwestern Qatar.

His curricular innovation is to integrate creative production curriculum with NU-Q’s AIM Lab research to advance human centered AI innovation in media, creative production and digital communication.

By incorporating AI tools across various courses and leveraging AIM Lab's research infrastructure and partnerships, Striker seeks to establish a sustainable model for long-term innovation in creative technology education that will benefit NU-Q students for years to come.

In Game Design, students will explore content generation and AI-assisted level design, while focusing on core gameplay principles. Animation courses will balance traditional principles of movement and timing with emerging AI tools for character animation and style transfer. Sound Design will integrate AI audio synthesis with acoustic theory, and Web Design will investigate AI-driven interface generation within the framework of user-centered design principles.

Striker joined Northwestern in 2019. His work focuses on designing game-based learning experiences, immersive VR simulations, and generative AI-driven production pipelines that bridge storytelling with educational impact."

María Jesús Barros García

Curriculum Innovation Award Recipient, 2025

The following is an excerpt from Northwestern Now.  

"Cultural immersion within the classroom

Claudia Quevedo-Webb, César Enrique Hoyas Álvarez, and María Jesús Barros García, all faculty members in the Spanish and Portuguese department at Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences, have begun using VR technology to create cultural immersion learning experiences for students within the Northwestern classroom. 

Although study abroad experiences are recognized for developing critical intercultural communicative competence (ICC) in language learners, not all students can study abroad, and if they do, they may not have the opportunity to take part in cultural practices.

The team's curricular innovation utilizes VR to immerse students in various scenarios and real-life situations. Paired with classroom discussions, cultural comparisons, and self-reflection, this approach helps students develop cultural competence and a deeper appreciation for different cultures.

Quevedo-Webb’s research focuses on using new technologies in the language classroom and diversity and inclusion practices.  She joined Northwestern in 2022.

Hoyos Álvarez joined Northwestern in 2022. His research centers around the application of critical pedagogies and addresses the need for more inclusive learning environments that cater to the linguistic and socio-affective needs of emergent bilinguals.

Barros García joined Northwestern in 2018. Her research focuses on intercultural pragmatics, politeness theory and second language acquisition."

César Hoyos Álvarez

Curriculum Innovation Award Recipient, 2025

The following is an excerpt from Northwestern Now.  

"Cultural immersion within the classroom

Claudia Quevedo-Webb, César Enrique Hoyas Álvarez, and María Jesús Barros García, all faculty members in the Spanish and Portuguese department at Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences, have begun using VR technology to create cultural immersion learning experiences for students within the Northwestern classroom. 

Although study abroad experiences are recognized for developing critical intercultural communicative competence (ICC) in language learners, not all students can study abroad, and if they do, they may not have the opportunity to take part in cultural practices.

The team's curricular innovation utilizes VR to immerse students in various scenarios and real-life situations. Paired with classroom discussions, cultural comparisons, and self-reflection, this approach helps students develop cultural competence and a deeper appreciation for different cultures.

Quevedo-Webb’s research focuses on using new technologies in the language classroom and diversity and inclusion practices.  She joined Northwestern in 2022.

Hoyos Álvarez joined Northwestern in 2022. His research centers around the application of critical pedagogies and addresses the need for more inclusive learning environments that cater to the linguistic and socio-affective needs of emergent bilinguals.

Barros García joined Northwestern in 2018. Her research focuses on intercultural pragmatics, politeness theory and second language acquisition."

Claudia Quevedo-Webb

Curriculum Innovation Award Recipient, 2025

The following is an excerpt from Northwestern Now.  

"Cultural immersion within the classroom

Claudia Quevedo-Webb, César Enrique Hoyas Álvarez, and María Jesús Barros García, all faculty members in the Spanish and Portuguese department at Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences, have begun using VR technology to create cultural immersion learning experiences for students within the Northwestern classroom. 

Although study abroad experiences are recognized for developing critical intercultural communicative competence (ICC) in language learners, not all students can study abroad, and if they do, they may not have the opportunity to take part in cultural practices.

The team's curricular innovation utilizes VR to immerse students in various scenarios and real-life situations. Paired with classroom discussions, cultural comparisons, and self-reflection, this approach helps students develop cultural competence and a deeper appreciation for different cultures.

Quevedo-Webb’s research focuses on using new technologies in the language classroom and diversity and inclusion practices.  She joined Northwestern in 2022.

Hoyos Álvarez joined Northwestern in 2022. His research centers around the application of critical pedagogies and addresses the need for more inclusive learning environments that cater to the linguistic and socio-affective needs of emergent bilinguals.

Barros García joined Northwestern in 2018. Her research focuses on intercultural pragmatics, politeness theory and second language acquisition."

Block exhibit and lecture

pam.james 20 January, 2025 02:06 PM
"It takes a long time to stay here: Paintings by Jordan Craig"
The Artist Talk at 6 p.m. Wednesday, February, 26, 2025, will celebrate the opening of a solo exhibition of Craig's large-scale paintings, titled:  "It takes a long time to stay here: Paintings by Jordan Craig," on view at the Block's Alsdorf Gallery from January 25 through April 13, 2025. Click here for description of the exhibit on the Block Museum's website.
 

2025 Grants Request for Proposals

Posted on
The Alumnae of Northwestern University's Grants Committee is soliciting proposals to support projects not included in the University's current budget. Last year’s awards were between $1,850 and $10,500, with an average award of $4,760. Past funding has supported the purchase of unique equipment and supplies, the creation of exhibits, conferences, symposia, innovative programs and support for research. There will be approximately $130,000 available for funding opportunities in 2025.
 
PROPOSALS should be no more than 500 words in length, in addition to the application form (see link below) and must include:
·      A narrative description of the project.
·      Dates to start and complete.
·      A detailed line-item budget.
·      If full funding is not possible, indicate whether partial funding is acceptable.  If so, what is the minimum amount required and where will additional funds be obtained.
·      Describe how this grant will be acknowledged and publicized.
·      Student organizations and groups, recognized by the University and having a chart string number, may apply.  But their faculty adviser must submit the application on their behalf. 
·      No applications from individual students will be accepted.
 
The PROPOSAL SUBMISSION DEADLINE is 11:55 p.m. on Friday, January 31, 2025.   Please use the following link to submit your application form and proposal description: https://forms.gle/VSigEHD6qH4QBjE17  Proposals sent any other way WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. 
Successful grant applicants will be notified no later than Friday May 2, 2025.
 
Carolyn Krulee and Carol Zsolnay,
Members of The Alumnae of Northwestern University Grants Committee
 
The Alumnae of Northwestern University is an all-volunteer women’s organization that raises funds for a wide range of projects to benefit Northwestern University, while sharing the University's academic resources with the community through its Continuing Education program for adults, now in its 56th year. Founded in 1916, The Alumnae has awarded over $10 million to the University in the form of grants, fellowships, scholarships, summer internships and endowed professorships. For more information about our activities, visit The Alumnae website at nualumnae.org.

Ally Peek

STEM Scholarship Recipient, 2024

Ally Peek, School of Education and Social Policy (SESP), from Chicago, Ill., is a member of the class of 2026 and a candidate for a master’s degree in education and social policy. She is majoring in neuroscience and plans to be a researcher in public health, focusing on psychological disorders with neurological mechanisms for schizophrenia. She is double majoring in social policy as well.

Click here for the complete news release for the ten 2024 STEM Scholars.

Kelsey Davis

STEM Scholarship Recipient, 2024

Kelsey Davis, (WCAS) from Houston, Texas, will receive her bachelor of arts degree as a member of the class of 2026, majoring in neuroscience. Through her coursework and extended studies, her goal is to reach a comprehensive understanding of the brain. She aspires to bridge the gap between science and its practical applications.

Click here for the complete news release for the ten 2024 STEM Scholars.

Charles Kalousek

STEM Scholarship Recipient, 2024

Charles Kalousek, McCormick School of Engineering (McC), is from Palos Heights, Ill., is a member of the class of 2026. He plans to receive a bachelor’s degree in computer science. His primary interest is in learning about the software involved in computer engineering and technology. He’d like to be a team leader in the tech field and would love to work for Walt Disney Imagineering.

Click here for the complete news release for the ten 2024 STEM Scholars.

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