Following the story: Professor Sarah Hampson

Posted on September 30, 2015 by pppauwt

Sarah Hampson, an Assistant Professor in PPPA starting her second year at UW Tacoma, has a few secrets.

Enthusiastic about her classes and her research into work/life policies surrounding motherhood, as well as her self-identity as an idealist occasionally called “Pollyanna”— Hampson is also a huge sci-fi fan!

“I love sci-fi!” she said, laughing. “Star Trek. Time travel. But also historical fiction, and any kind of meta story.”

“I just want to be in a really good story and never have it end.”

A bit surprising for a Law and Policy professor? Maybe.

But maybe not so much when that professor was an undergraduate English major who spent a year studying at Oxford and still loves reading novels—at least when she has time.

But with a love for sci-fi and British literature, how did Hampson end up teaching Law and Society at UW Tacoma?

Well, that’s quite a story… Continue reading →

From Perçem village to Tacoma – Professor Turan Kayaoglu

Posted on July 14, 2015 by pppauwt

.Associate Professor of International Relations at UW Tacoma
Editor-in-Chief, Muslim World of Human Rights.
Associate Dean of Faculty Affairs in the School of IAS
Author of two books—one of which was just published last month

Turan Kayaoglu’s credentials are impressive, but there is so much more to his story.

A Long and Winding Road…

Kayaoglu grew up in Istanbul, after moving from his birthplace—Perçem village, in the Erzincan Province of eastern Turkey—when he was just four years old. A massive migration from rural villages to industrial centers was taking place, turning farmers into shopkeepers or factory workers at a dizzying pace. As a result, he was one of nearly 60 students crowded into an elementary classroom. Yet it was his family’s move to the city that made his presence in that classroom even possible.

Without the access to education that Kayaoglu enjoyed, his father has no formal schooling, but “kind of reads.” His mother’s longing to read—in her 60s—inspired him, and her failure to learn after two years of trying made him more sensitive to the difficulties faced by some of his own students.

Kayaoglu is the fourth of five sons born to Sadullah and Hanim Kayaoglu, with 19 years between the oldest and youngest. He and his younger brother are the only two with a university education, although one of his older brothers did go to a technical college. “But, I was the first to attend a four-year university.” He may have taken it “too seriously,” he said, as a way to compensate for his older brothers’ lack of educational opportunities.

Continue reading →

UW Tacoma student and alumni accomplishments

Posted on March 26, 2015 by pppauwt

2015 Rangel Scholar – A UW Tacoma first

Huge congratulations to UW Tacoma student Omer Adam–one of fifteen Rangel Scholars nation-wide. He will be spending his summer in Washington D.C. participating in the Rangel International Affairs Summer Program. There, he will learn about current issues in international affairs and acquire valuable skills to prepare him for a career in the field.Omer is most interested in how religion shapes foreign policy and hopes to improve relationships between the US and Muslim countries. Continue reading →

UW Tacoma’s 2015 Fulbright finalist

Posted on January 23, 2015 by pppauwt

UW Tacoma alumna Lizeth Garcia recently received some great news: she has been named as a finalist for the Fulbright US Student Program.

A 2013 graduate of the Politics, Philosophy, and Economics program, Garcia is hoping to teach English in Mexico through the Fulbright English Teaching Assistant (ETA) Program in 2015-16. After being chosen as a finalist by a domestic screening committee, her application has now been passed to the host country for final selection. She will hear in April or May whether she will receive the award. Continue reading →

More alumni news:

Posted on December 12, 2014 by pppauwt

Passing an Initiative – As a communications staff member of the Washington Alliance for Gun Responsibility, Tallman Trask worked to pass Initiative 594, one of the few progressive success stories of the 2014 election cycle. Primarily responsible for being the eyes and ears of the communications department, as well as various media and press work, Trask played an important role in taking steps to reduce gun violence in Washington through the passage of common-sense background checks for all gun sales. Trask was a member of the class of 2013, graduating with a degree in Politics, Philosophy & Economics.

Applying for a Fulbright Scholarship – Lizeth Garcia recently submitted her application for the 2015-2016 Fulbright ETA program. As an advocate for education, Garcia decided to apply to the Fulbright ETA program to empower students in Mexico with the ability to speak English. As a tutor with a local Hispanic organization, she has gained valuable skills that will prepare her for a Fulbright ETA assignment. She is currently working as a legislative aide for King County Councilmember Pete von Reichbauer. Garcia believes the skills she is developing through her employment with KCC and community involvement stand to be useful tools as she pursues a graduate program upon her return from a Fulbright assignment.

Garcia states, “I encourage students who are considering applying for Fulbright to start early. The application process can be quite rigorous and demands a lot of time. It’s a daunting task, but is very rewarding. It’s important to develop strong relationships with professors and gain experience in extracurricular activities. These will be vital parts of your application. Additionally, don’t be discouraged if you don’t have an ideal GPA. Fulbright is interested in students who are passionate about making a change. Lastly, have fun. It was neat to see how much I learned about myself through this process.”

We wish her all the best as she awaits the results of her application. (The above photo was taken in Trinidad, Cuba at the Manaca Izuaga Watch Tower.)

Information session – UW Tacoma fellowship opportunities

Posted on October 8, 2014 by pppauwt

Students are invited to an informational session on Wednesday, October 29, 2014 @ 12:30 pm in BB 104. Cindy Schaarschmidt, director of the UW Tacoma Office of Student Fellowships and Awards will be presenting information on competitive institutional, national, and international fellowships available to students. Hope to see you there!