Paw'd Defiance

In this episode of the podcast we're joined by UW Tacoma Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Success, Bonnie Becker, and Senior Director, Student Transitions and Success, Amanda Figueroa. You may have already guessed (judging by their titles) that Becker and Figueroa do a lot of work around student success. We'll talk about what we mean when we say "student success." We'll also get into why college is important to individuals and to society. Research suggests that having a college degree impacts everything from social mobility to health. Becker and Figueroa will also outline UW Tacoma's revamped approach to student success including the importance of HIPs (no, not the thing connect to your torso). Resources & Programs for students:First Generation InitiativesOffice of Student Advocacy & SupportTeaching & Learning Centers

In this episode, we talk about Tacoma's Asia Pacific Cultural Center. We talk about the history of the Center and its role in the community. We also talk about mental health in Asian American and Pacific Islander communities. 

In this episode, Class of 2023 grad Angel Reddy reads from a letter she wrote to her future self. In the letter, The letter talks about her experience at UW Tacoma and includes a list of what she wants for her future self. Reddy's parents came to the United States from Fiji. They settled in Lakewood and ran their own business. Reddy and her older brother grew up in the area. 

Jai'Shon Berry and Exita Lealofi met four years ago at UW Tacoma. They didn't quite hit it off, but the did eventually become best friends. In this episode, Berry and Lealofi talk about why they're friends. They also talk about the importance of their friendship and how it helped them deal with the stress of college and with outside stress including break ups and family emergencies. 

Dr. Ronee K Wopsock Pawwinee recently completed her doctoral degree in educational leadership at UW Tacoma. Wopsock Pawwinee is one of 10 members of the inaugural Muckleshoot Cohort. She talks about her experience in the program, including her ups and downs as well as the connections she made to other members of the cohort. Wopsock Pawwinee also discusses the role of education in her life as well as how she plans to use her degree to help her tribe. 

Born in Fiji, Amy Maharaj lived through a coup on the island. Maharaj and her family eventually resettled in Canada. Maharaj initially struggled in school but overcame those struggles to earn a bachelor's, master's, and recently, a doctoral degree. In this episode Maharaj talks about her life and her experience in the Muckleshoot Ed.D. program. The cohort is a partnership between the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe and UW Tacoma. The first cohort is set to officially graduate on June 9. 

The Milgard Women's Initiative in the Milgard School of Business at UW Tacoma works to advance women as leaders. The program does this in a number of ways, including through workshops and guest lectures. The biggest impact MWI has is through its mentorship program that connects students to community leaders. In this episode we talk about the program with Rachel Vaughn, Executive Director of the Center for Leadership & Social Responsibility in the Milgard School of Business, Sarah Kendall, former Vice President, Corporate Affairs and Sustainability at Weyerhaeuser Company, and UW Tacoma alumna Marion LaRocque.

In this episode UW Tacoma alumna Raihab Baig talks about her experience with Ramadan. Baig is Muslim and actively practices her faith. She talks about her connection to Islam as well as her relatively recent decision to start wearing a hijab. Baig also discusses what Ramadan means to her and how fasting helps her focus on things that really matter to her.

SIAS Dean Natalie Eschenbaum studies disgust, specifically disgust in early modern English literature.  In this episode, we hear about poems that feature maggots and eye infections. The poems are gross and important. We'll talk about the role of disgust in these poems and in other works. We'll also talk about the role of disgust in our lives including why a lack of disgust might be a sign of love. Finally, Eschenbaum tells us why disgust as an area of study has become popular in recent years.

UW Tacoma Associate Professor Danica Miller and UW Tacoma Assistant Professor Sara Eccleston are both members of the Puyallup Tribe of Indians. UW Tacoma is situated on the ancestral homeland of the Puyallup. In this episode, Miller and Eccleston talk about the role of education in their lives. For both women, education didn't just happened in the classroom, it also happened in their community. The pair also discuss the challenges they've faced as Indigenous women in higher education. Finally, Miller and Eccleston talk about what colleges and universities need to do to attract and retain Native and Indigenous students.

In this episode, a conversation about death with UW Tacoma Assistant Teaching Professor Sarah A. Chavez. Chavez studies the performative aspects of death, namely the elegy, eulogy and obituary.  During the episode, Chavez talks about how she got interested in these forms, why they're important and the attributes of each. She also discusses what makes a "good" elegy, eulogy or obituary. Finally, Chavez ponders how she would like to be celebrated after she passes. 

Part II of our behind-the-scenes look at the process of bringing Rock of Ages to the stage. In this mini-episode we hear from four UW Tacoma students who have roles in the show. The group talk about their experience as well as their interest in performing. 

Get ready to rock! In this episode we go behind the scenes of "Rock of Ages." UW Tacoma's theater program and the Tacoma Little Theatre  collaborated to bring the jukebox musical to the local stage. The show's director Maria-Tania Bandes Becerra Weingarden as well as the show's musical director Kim Davenport, agreed to record a series of audio diaries from the first week of rehearsal to the last. The pair discuss the ups and downs of putting together a large-scale musical. They talk about everything from COVID to forgetting to block a scene to stripper poles. 

In this episode we talk with a group of five UW Tacoma alumni. The five work at Tacoma's Multicultural Child and Family Hope Center. The center provides a range of services including early learning and childcare. The group talks about what drew them to the work. They also talk about the ups and downs of the job. Finally, the five discuss the impact education had on their lives.

Annie Nguyen's parents fled Vietnam in 1975 and ultimately ended up living in Alabama. Growing up, Nguyen says she tried hard to fit in with everyone around her, and that meant suppressing her Vietnamese heritage. In this episode, Nguyen reads from an essay where she talks about embracing her heritage including learning how to celebrate the Lunar New Year. 

UW Tacoma Associate Professor Michelle Montgomery joins us in this episode of the podcast. Montgomery is here to talk about the book, "Re-Indigenizing Ecological Consciousness and The Interconnectedness To Indigenous Identities." Montgomery served as the book's editor. The book contains a number of essays written by Indigenous scholars. The authors write about different topics including Indigenous identity, nature, history and decolonizing education. We'll talk about the book and the process of putting it together. We also talk with what it means to decolonize education. Finally, Montgomery discusses her work with the School of Education's Muckleshoot Ed.D. cohort. That cohort is scheduled to complete their doctoral degrees in the spring. More information about the Indigenous Speaker Series. 

UW Tacoma alumnus Peter Jung uses the board game Dungeons & Dragons to connect with neurodivergent kids. Jung was bullied as a kid and often felt isolated. He says gaming changed his life and helped him find a community. Jung is autistic and sees games, especially D & D as a great way to help build skills and relationships. 

KNKX News Director Florangela Davila stopped by the studio to talk about her experience in the news industry. Davila and the KNKX team recently launched an eight-part podcast series called "The Walk Home." The series details the life and death of Manny Ellis, a Tacoma man who died in police custody in 2020. We'll talk about the podcast, we'll also talk about the push to tell a more diverse range of stories as well as  the challenges of reporting the news. Finally, we discuss the future of journalism as well as what students need to do to prepare themselves for a career in the industry.

Welcome to Paw'd Defiance where we don't lecture but we do educate. I'm Eric Wilson-Edge. In this episode we hear from UW Tacoma Advisor Isabella Webb. Besides advising students, Webb runs the Husky Success Series which helps new students connect to campus. We'll also hear from three UW Tacoma students who are part of the Husky Success Series. Eliza Gines, Kara Peterson and Jake Detert will talk about their experience in college, including their choice of major and challenges they've faced. They'll also share some words of wisdom for future students. 

UW Tacoma Associate Professor and Ed.D. Director Robin Zape-tah-hol-ah Minthorn has collaborated on a new book called "Indigenous Motherhood in the Academy." The book is a collection of short essays written by Indigenous mothers who work in higher education. The stories from these mothers are honest, and at times, difficult. We'll talk about the book, the process of putting it together as well as the challenges facing Indigenous mothers in academia. We'll also talk about the process of writing a book during the pandemic as well as the pandemic's impact the contributors personal and professional lives.Muckleshoot cohort:https://www.tacoma.uw.edu/soe/EdD/muckleshoot-cohort

UW Tacoma Assistant Professor Vern Harner recently completed their doctorate in social welfare and will begin teaching on campus this fall. In this episode Harner talks about their interest in social work. They also discuss the importance of having trans researchers conduct  research about the trans community. Harner is trans and played an important role in getting the University of Washington to change its diploma name policy. Until recently the university only allowed full legal names on diplomas. Harner got involved with the issue after a few of their trans students expressed concern about the policy.  We'll talk about that and Harner's long history of activism.School of Social Work & Criminal Justice CEI

Isabella Webb was born and raised in Australia. For years she tried to hide her Aboriginal heritage. In this episode, Webb talks about how higher education and travel helped her embrace her heritage. Webb earned a bachelor's, master's and is currently working on a doctorate. We also discuss Aboriginal history including the Australian government's attempt to eradicate the Aboriginal way of life. Finally, Webb talks about her role as an academic advisor including how she empowers students to embrace their journey and succeed in college.

UW Tacoma Associate Professor Eric Madfis is an expert on mass shootings and has been quoted in numerous publications including the New York Times, Politico and the Washington Post. Madfis has also written four books about mass shootings. His latest book “All American Massacre: The Tragic Role of American Culture and Society in Mass Shootings” comes out in the fall. In this episode we talk with Madfis about mass shootings in the United States. We talk about how access to guns along with gun culture contributes to gun violence. We also discuss the idea that "the only way to stop a bad guy with a gun is a good good with a gun." Finally, the discussion turns to ways to prevent school shootings. Research suggests a positive school environment might be a more effective way to stop school shootings before they start.

In this episode we talk to Cho Shimizu and Eileen Yamada Lamphere about the forced incarceration of Japanese and Japanese Americans during World War II. Shimizu was a small child when both he and his family were forced to leave their family farm and move first to the Puyallup Assembly Center and later to the Minidoka War Relocation Center. Lamphere's mother was also held at the Puyallup Assembly Center. Her parents later met at Minidoka. In these two episodes, Shimizu and Lamphere discuss what life was life for Japanese and Japanese Americans living in the South Sound prior to the start of World War II. They will also talk about conditions at places like the Puyallup Assembly Center and the impact this experience had on their families and on themselves. Finally, Shimizu and Lamphere talk about the importance of remembering this history and the vital role education plays in ensuring this happens. 

In this episode we talk to Cho Shimizu and Eileen Yamada Lamphere about the forced incarceration of Japanese and Japanese Americans during World War II. Shimizu was a small child when both he and his family were forced to leave their family farm and move first to the Puyallup Assembly Center and later to the Minidoka War Relocation Center. Lamphere's mother was also held at the Puyallup Assembly Center. Her parents later met at Minidoka. During the next two episodes, Shimizu and Lamphere discuss what life was life for Japanese and Japanese Americans living in the South Sound prior to the start of World War II. They will also talk about conditions at places like the Puyallup Assembly Center and the impact this experience had on their families and on themselves. Finally, Shimizu and Lamphere talk about the importance of remembering this history and the vital role education plays in ensuring this happens. 

In this episode of the podcast we hear from UW Tacoma senior Andre Henderson and his mother Renay Henderson. Andre graduates on June 13 with a degree in social welfare. Andre's journey has been a difficult, but no matter what he always had the support of his family, including his mother. Renay earned a degree in human resources back in the early 2000's, while raising three children and working full-time. Andre and Renay discuss their experiences in higher education and why they decided to attend college. Finally, mother and son talk about what it means to them to see each other succeed. 

In this episode of the podcast we take a tour of Professor Mike Honey's office. Honey is a founding faculty member of UW Tacoma. He started in 1990 and moved into his current office in 1997. The office overlooks Pacific Avenue which runs right through the heart of downtown. Honey's office is lined with books and posters. Research material and graded papers are stuffed into accordion file folders. There are at least two guitars and a banjo in the space. There are also records, cassettes and VHS tapes. The carpet is faded and worn from use. Honey has spent countless hours here. It is, in many ways more than just an office; it's a home, a library and a gathering place. In this office Honey has conducted research, and written articles and books. He's also met with students, community members and civil rights and labor leaders. Honey is retiring from teaching in July and will hand over the keys to his office, eventually. Honey may be retiring from teaching, but that doesn't mean he's done working.

In this episode UW Tacoma Professor Katie Baird talks about her new book "Growing Mangos in the Desert." The book chronicles Baird's experience in the Peace Corps. The then twenty-something was sent to Mauritania to teach farmers there how to grow rice. Baird had very little training and couldn't speak the local language. Needless to say things didn't go as planned. Baird talks about her experience in Mauritania, how the transition to rice upended Mauritanian culture and whether or not the project worked. She also talks about the friendships she made and what the experience taught her. 

In 1996 Howard Zehr published "Doing Life." The book features photos and stories of men and women serving  life sentences in Pennsylvania prisons. Years later, Zehr partnered with UW Tacoma Associate Professor Barbara Toews on a follow up book. "Still Doing Life, 22 Lifers, 25 Years Later." In "Still Doing Life," Toews and Zehr talked with some of the same men and women featured in the original book. In this episode we talk about the books and the stories of men and women who have spent decades in prison. We also discuss life sentences, restorative justice and how "lifers" keep going and find meaning.

UW Tacoma Professor Heather Dillon and a group of students worked together to get a campus chapter of The Society of Women Engineers at UW Tacoma. Dillon and the students - Anna Wen, Jasmine Davis and Sophia Elmobdy - talk about the importance of having a SWE chapter on campus. The group also discusses the barriers women in engineering face. Finally, the conversation turns to why each student decided to pursue a degree in engineering and how they're hoping to build a welcoming environment at UW Tacoma for women considering a career in engineering. 

UW Tacoma junior Illia Meserenko is an international student from Ukraine. In this episode Meserenko talks about the war between Russia and Ukraine. Meserenko's mother, father and grandmother are still in Ukraine. His mother and grandmother fled Kyiv but his father stayed behind. Meserenko talks about how they're doing and the impact that war has had on him. Finally, he talks about his decision to attend college in the United States and how he plans to use his education to help Ukraine.Ukrainian Association of Washington

This is the 100th episode of Paw'd Defiance! We wanted to do something a little different, so we handed over the microphone to alumna Jazmyn Pratt and asked her to interview UW Tacoma Chancellor Sheila Edwards Lange. The two had never met prior to recording, but you'd never know it from the conversation. The pair sound like old friends as they talk about their individual college experiences as well as the role higher education has played in their lives. Chancellor Lange also talks about her first six months on campus as well as her vision for UW Tacoma.

We're now in year three of the COVID-19 pandemic. Case counts are declining and while we don't know what the future holds, it felt like a good time to stop and reflect on what we've experienced. This is the first in a series of episodes where we ask members of the UWT community to talk about the last two years and the impact it's had on them. First up, UW Tacoma Associate Teaching Professor Cynthia Howson. Howson has been dealing with long COVID since being diagnosed in October of 2021. She'll talk about that experience including what she sees a silver lining and how Young Adult Fantasy Fiction is helping her get through.

Television journalist Michelle Li went viral for a tweet she posted to social media. The tweet showed Li reacting to a message from a viewer who said Li was "being very Asian" during a segment about traditional New Year's Day foods. #VeryAsian became a global sensation and attracted attention from the media, including Ellen DeGeneres. Li used the incident to launch the Very Asian Foundation. In this episode we talk with Li about her tweet and the impact that had on her life.  Associate Professor JaeRan Kim also joins us. Both Li and Kim were adopted by white parents. They talk about their struggle with identity and feeling like an imposter. They also discuss how they made their way in fields that have historically not been open to Asian women. Finally, the pair discuss what they think it means to "be very Asian."UW Tacoma Asian American and Pacific Islander Impact Endowment

Grief is about more than just death. Grief is a way of expressing loss. We may grieve over the loss of a job or we may grieve when a friend moves across the country. Loss and grief are an important part of the human experience. In this episode we talk with UW Tacoma Professor Charley Emlet. Emlet researches aging, particularly in vulnerable communities. For the past several years he's also taught a course on grief. Emlet talks about why grief is important. We'll also discuss how the act of grieving varies across cultures as well as how COVID impacted how we grieve. Finally, Emlet talks about his decision to retire from teaching and how we plans to grieve that loss.

Early libraries in the United States were private and available to only a few. Women played an important role in transforming libraries and turning them into public spaces that can be enjoyed by everyone. UW Tacoma Library Director Annie Downey talks about this history and the racism/sexism these librarians faced. Downey also discusses the overlap between libraries and the feminist movement. 

In this episode we talk with Rabbi Bruce Kadden and Associate Professor Bonnie Becker about what it means to be Jewish.  Our conversation includes a brief overview of some of the basic tenets of the religion. We also discuss anti-Semitism, its history and why this hatred of Jewish people persists to this day. Finally, Dr. Becker tells us why she decided to publish an op-ed about the Whoopi Goldberg controversy. 

In October of 2021, the American Academy of Pediatrics and other medical organizations declared a national emergency in children's mental health. In this episode we're joined by Ashley Mangum, Program Manager of Pediatric Mental Health at Mary Bridge Children's Hospital, Kianna Carter, Youth Engagement Services Behavioral Health Clinician at Mary Bridge and Chris Barrans, Director of Field Education/Assistant Teaching Professor at UW Tacoma's School of Social Work & Criminal Justice. The three discuss how the issues we're seeing now with children's mental health started long before the pandemic. We'll also talk about how the pandemic exacerbated theses issues. We'll also hear about the resources available to children, their parents and caregivers.Kids Mental Health Pierce CountyYES Tacoma

Tacoma recently launched Growing Resilience in Tacoma (GRIT). The guaranteed income program will distribute $500 a month for a year to 110 Tacoma residents. UW Tacoma alumna Abigail Lawson serves as Program Director for GRIT. In this episode we'll talk about guaranteed income, universal basic income and the difference between the two. We'll also talk about GRIT, including how it works and who it benefits. The program has funding for a year. Lawson will discuss program goals and what the next steps will be once GRIT ends. 

We're nearing the end of year two of the pandemic and the news isn't great.  The omicron variant is disheartening. Needless to say, many of us are tired and stressed out. We wanted to do something to help lift everyone's spirits. So, we asked a group of UW Tacoma students, faculty, staff and alumni to tell us a joke, preferably a "dad joke." You know what these are, these are the jokes that make you groan and also make you laugh. Have a listen. We hope the next ten minutes will bring you some joy and a few giggles.

Part two of our conversation about the Labor Solidarity Project with UW Tacoma Assistant Teaching Professor Alex Miller, Assistant Professor Sonia De La Cruz and alumna Teresa Dennerlein . In this episode we talk about the pandemic's impact on work including the "Great Resignation." We also discuss the changing nature of work as well as what it's like to work in higher education during COVID.Listen to The Labor Solidarity Project Part I.

The Labor Solidarity Project at UW Tacoma  consists of faculty and students working to highlight labor studies in the curriculum, in research, and through community outreach. In this episode, the first of two parts, we talk with UW Tacoma Assistant Teaching Professor Alex Miller, Assistant Professor Sonia De La Cruz and alumna Teresa Dennerlein about the LSP, its mission and why an understanding of labor history and current labor issues is important. Listen to The Labor Solidarity Project Part II.

The 133 foot schooner Adventuress has been to the Artic and was used by San Francisco Bar Pilots to transfer pilots to and from cargo vessels near the Farallon Islands. Today Adventuress is operated by the non-profit organization Sound Experience, as a platform for environmental education about the Puget Sound. In this episode we board the Adventuress with Associate Teaching Professor Julie Masura as well as a group of current UWT students and recent grads. Masura and Associate Vice Chancellor for Research Cheryl Greengrove teamed up with Sound Experience to provide students with a chance to do some field work. 

In this episode UW Tacoma student Ashley Young tells her story. Young struggled in high school. After graduation she attended community college for a year but eventually left school and moved to Florida. She got a job selling sport bikes. The 2008 financial crash lead Young to move back to Washington where she eventually decided to join the Air Force. Young talks about her experience in Afghanistan including the injury she sustained. She also talks about life after the military and how she regained a sense of purpose by going back to school and by playing women's tackle football.

The Tacoma-Pierce County Housing Justice Project provides free legal aid to low-income Pierce County residents who are facing eviction. In this episode we talk about the status of the eviction moratorium in Washington state. We also discuss the changes to state housing law. Among the changes, providing representation to tenants facing eviction as well as creating fair repayment plans to tenants who have fallen behind on their rent.Rental Assistance in Pierce County: https://www.piercecountywa.gov/7142/Rental-Assistance

For the first time in 18 months, the UW Tacoma community gathered on campus as part of the annual back-to-school celebration called Convocation. In this episode we'll drop in on the event and hear from some of the speakers including new Chancellor Sheila Edwards Lange. We'll also listen as new and returning students talk about life during the pandemic and how they feel about coming to campus, some for the first time.

Most of UW Tacoma's students, faculty and staff have been working, teaching and learning remotely for the past 18 months. In this episode we hear from the campus community as the university pivots back to an in-person model of instruction. Students, faculty and staff share their concerns as well as their hopes about returning to campus. They also discuss how the pandemic has changed them and how they'll think about this time years from now.

In this episode we talk about the role students play in getting people vaccinated against COVID-19. We also talk about what life has been like for healthcare professionals during the pandemic and how the healthcare field can address vaccine hesitancy. We're joined by Carol McFarland, Assistant Dean, Strategic and Community Partnerships at Seattle Pacific University and Briana Sanger, Nursing Staff Development Coordinator at Seattle Cancer Care Alliance.

UW Tacoma alumna Erica Myron has been crowned Ms. Wheelchair USA 2021-2022. In 2003 the then-20-year-old was shot four times. A bullet lodged in one of the vertebrae in her lower back and left her paralyzed from the waist down. Myron talks about her life and how competing in pageants helped her find her voice. Myron plans to spend her time as Ms. Wheelchair USA advocating for things like accessible playgrounds and increased representation in the media for people with mobility issues.

UW Tacoma alumni Dana Malick and Lyndsey Conway work in the healthcare field at a time that is unparalleled in recent history. Malick recently completed her master of nursing and Conway received her degree about a year ago. Over the last few months Malick has been working at a vaccine clinic at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance. Conway is a program supervisor at the Cancer Care Alliance. The two will talk about why they went into nursing. We'll also hear about the challenges of working in healthcare during a global pandemic and what it's like to be on the frontlines of history. 

A friend encouraged Jeffrey Bantay to come to a meeting of the Tacoma Community College student veteran's club. There Bantay met Thomas Di Giorgio. The two developed a bond. They regularly met at the small space reserved for the veteran's club. The space consisted of some chairs, a table and a communal microwave. Here Bantay and Di Giorgio got to talking about their experience in the military and the difficult transition to civilian life. In this episode, the two men talk about their friendship and how it helped them get through some challenging times. They also talk about their decision to join the military and what it meant to have a space at TCC and UW Tacoma for student veterans.