GW English Department Claims Two Luther Rice Undergraduate Fellows: Julie Dreyfuss and Jimi Patalano
The English Department is proud to announce that two of our students, Julie Dreyfuss and Jimi Patalano, have received Luther Rice Undergraduate Fellowships for the 2012-2013 school year. The Luther Rice Collaborative Fellowship grants $5,000 to each student to conduct undergraduate research in a special area of interest under the guidance of a faculty member who receives an additional $1,000 for the joint endeavor.
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| Julie Dreyfuss |
Julie Dreyfuss conducted a research trip in the UK focusing on the scientific and sociohistorical background of Shakespeare’s “The Tempest” for her project. Her trip included many highlights such as meeting with Dr. Louise Devoy (curator of the British Museum’s Enlightenment exhibition) at the British Museum to discuss early modern objects associated with early modern scientist (some say “conjurer”) John Dee. Julie was able to consult Dee’s correspondences and Elizabethan court connections at the British Library. At the Science Museum and the Museum of London she explored aspects of the complex relationship between what we would now call early modern “occult” science and religion. Her trip culminated in a viewing of the Royal Shakespeare Company’s production of “The Tempest” at Camden. She intends to build upon these research experiences in the fall as a member of the GW-Folger Undergraduate Research Seminar at the Folger Shakespeare Library and a student in the English Honors Program. Julie will be working with Professor Jonathan Hsy.
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| Jimi Patalano |
Jimi Patalano grew up in Winchester, MA just outside of Boston, and graduated with honors from Winchester High School. Some of the English classes he has enjoyed at GW include “Freud, Shakespeare & Dostoyevsky” and “Ecocriticism.” His research builds on a project begun in his “Critical Methodologies” class, examining representations of schizophrenia and of treatment of schizophrenia in the context of neoliberalism. This summer he spent 20 days in Ghana working as a volunteer for the nonprofit Unite For Sight. Jimi assisted local eye clinics to deliverer high-quality eye care to those living in poverty and in remote areas of the country. Be sure to check out his photoblog from Ghana and drop in on his “Random Thoughts” Blog. Jimi will be working with Professor Robert McRuer
