In “Race, Romance and Rebellion: Literatures of the Americas in the Nineteenth Century,” University of South Carolina Upstate professor Dr. Colleen O’Brien presents her first book and delves into the intricacies of territorial expansion, freedoms, and disenfranchised groups in the nineteenth century Americas.

Scheduled for release on September 27, this book explores the enigma of race and gender-based rights during an era of conflicting portrayals of American history and the hemispheric developments transpiring at that time, in particular those that united the
United States with Africa, Cuba and other parts of the Caribbean.

“I don’t just look at the U.S. or U.S. citizens,” O’Brien noted. “I consider the interrelationships between different parts of the Americas and different groups, many of whom were disenfranchised. Images of violent slave insurrection repeatedly coincide with stories of interracial romance, both in cautionary tales that depict the revolution as a gothic nightmare and in reform literature that idealizes and romanticizes race relations.”

A cultural historian, literary scholar and associate professor of English, O’Brien presents a compelling look at how transnational print cultures consistently flashed back to moments of domestic controversy over race, gender and rights. Her extensive research and review of official documents and histories, such as speeches given in the U.S. legislature, as well as newspaper reports, private letters, novels and narratives by people whose voice wasn’t part of the public record otherwise, reveal a common concern: a future in which romance and rebellion engender radical social and political transformation.

“I chose this topic because the process of freedom is ongoing, not guaranteed,” she said. “There are pervasive issues of human rights in the United States and throughout the world today that I think can be traced back to the founding of the United States and the Colonial era, in general.”

“Race, Romance and Rebellion: Literatures of the Americas in the Nineteenth Century” is published by University of Virginia Press and the Mellon American Literatures initiative.

For more information, contact Dr. Colleen O’Brien at (864) 503-5678 or cobrien@uscupstate.edu.

Bryan Hiott, an adjunct Art History instructor, was awarded first place in the first Juried Art Exhibition  sponsored by Spartanburg County Public Libraries.

The competition was judged by Will South, chief curator of the Columbia Museum of Art.

Hiott’s work will be displayed through Sept. 27.

John Riley, associate professor of Physics in the Division of Natural Sciences and Engineering at the University of South Carolina Upstate, presented “Using Interactive Object Movies of Flower Dissection to Visualize Botanical Structure, during the International Virtual Reality Photography Association’s June meeting in Selfoss, Iceland.

The talk was co-authored by Dr. Ben Montgomery.

Recent publications by Greta G. Freeman, EdD, associate professor in the School of Education at the University of South Carolina Upstate.

Freeman, G. G. & Wash, P. D. (2013). “You can lead students to the classroom and you can make them think: Ten brain-based strategies for college teaching and learning success.” Journal on Excellence in College Teaching, 24(3), 99-120.

Freeman, G. G. & Wash, P., a peer-reviewed presentation “Undergraduate Teacher Education Students’ Fears: Research Results and Program Application” at the Lilly Conference on College and University Teaching, Greensboro, NC, February, 2013.

Freeman, G. a peer-reviewed presentation “Developing a School or Classroom Poetry Club” at the South Carolina Middle School Association Conference, Myrtle Beach, SC, March 2013.

Freeman, G., a peer-reviewed presentation “Research-Based Strategies and Children’s Literature for Dealing With Childhood Bullying” at the (ACEI) Association for Childhood Education International Global Summit/Conference, Washington, DC, March 2012.

Alpha Sigma Lambda National Honor Society is the only national honor society for non-traditional students who attend college either full-time or part-time and have achieved academic excellence while facing competing interests of home and work. The distinctive, 60-year-old honor society recognizes the achievement of adult students.

The University of South Carolina Upstate recently inducted 18 students into its Sigma Chi Upsilon Chapter of Alpha Sigma Lambda. USC Upstate students inducted into Alpha Sigma Lambda represent the top 10% of all nontraditional students at USC Upstate.

Dr. Tom Moore, Chancellor of USC Upstate, presented the tribute to nontraditional students and Dr. Judith Prince, Dr. Yancy McDougal, and Dr. Lynette Gibson conducted the Alpha Sigma Lambda Induction Ritual. Music was provided by University of South Carolina Commercial Music Group Mast Quartet.

Four nontraditional students made presentations about the challenges and joys of earning bachelor’s degrees at USC Upstate as adults with families and work responsibilities. Speaking during the ceremony were: Matthew Bloomer (Johnson College of Business-Business Administration), Deborah Chappell (School of Education-Early Childhood Education), Shun-Wen Cheng (College of Arts and Sciences-Theater), and Nancy Lynn (Mary Black School of Nursing). Katie Poindexter, 2011 Mary Black School of Nursing Graduate and 2011 Recipient of an Alpha Sigma Lambda National Honor Society Scholarship, made the evening more memorable with her closing remarks.

Seven faculty and staff were recognized by nontraditional students as having made significant contributions to their academic success at USC Upstate. The following non-traditional student advocates were inducted into Alpha Sigma Lambda:
Dr. Jim Charles, School of Education;
Dr. Diane Daane, College of Arts and Sciences;
Mr. Stacey Mills, Student Life;
Professor Lee Neibert, College of Arts and Sciences; and
Dr. Frank Provenzano, College of Arts and Sciences.

Dr. Lynette Gibson, Mr. Tim Ellis, and Ms. Mary Myers, who had been previously inducted into the honor society, were recognized again for their contributions to nontraditional students at USC Upstate.

The following students were inducted into Alpha Sigma Lambda at the April ceremony:
Mary Andrews, Nursing, Mary Black School of Nursing;
Matthew Bloomer, Business Administration, Johnson College of Business and Economics;
Christy Cauthen, Nursing, Mary Black School of Nursing;
Misty Chapman, Experimental Psychology, College of Arts and Sciences;
Deborah Chappell, Early Childhood Education, School of Education;
Shun-Wen Cheng, Theatre, College of Arts and Sciences;
Amber Chesney, Criminal Justice, College of Arts and Sciences;
Kerry Flynn, Early Childhood Education, College of Arts and Sciences;
Phyllis Johnson, Nursing – R.N., Mary Black School of Nursing;
Mai Neng Lor, Business Administration, Johnson College of Business and Economics;
Nancy Lynn, Nursing, Mary Black School of Nursing;
Sheryl Mann, English, College of Arts and Sciences;
Gladys Patino, Secondary Education, School of Education;
Justin Polivka, Engineering Technology Management, College of Arts and Sciences;
Stacy Savage, Nursing, Mary Black School of Nursing;
Jonathan Terry, Middle Grades Education, School of Education;
Sumaya Wilson, Nursing, Mary Black School of Nursing;
Stacey Zimmerman, Nursing, Mary Black School of Nursing.

Weber, L. K. “Hot Topics in College Health: Seeking Opportunities, Meeting Challenges, and Maintaining the Gains,” Panelist at the Southern College Health Association Annual Meeting, Athens, GA, 2011.

Weber, L. K. “CDC Teen Pregnancy Prevention Grant,” South Carolina Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, Grant, $25,000.

Weber, L. K. Travel Grant to attend the 2012 Southern College Health Association Annual Meeting, Gainesville, FL, Southern College Health Association, $500.

Puckett-Boler, L. “Social Networks: Using Them Wisely,” Presented at Erskine College Student Convocation Series, Erskine College, Due West, SC, October 2011.

Mitchell, C. “Upward Bound,” US Department of Education (USDE), Grant, $285,915.

Minsky, I. “Student Support Services 2010-15,” US Dept of Education (USDE), Grant, $258,241.

Minsky, I. “Student Support Services 2010-15 Grant-in-Aid,” US Dept of Education (USDE), Grant, $32,275.

Merriweather, H. “ACHIEVE 2010-11,” Upstate Workforce Investment Board (WIB)/DOL, Grant, $197,823.

Merriweather, H. “ACHIEVE 2010-11 (Administrative Account),” Upstate Workforce Investment Board(WIB)/DOL, Grant, $92,156.

Merriweather, H. “ACHIEVE 2011-12,” Upstate Workforce Investment Board(WIB)/DOL, Grant, $20,000.