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Looking Back: 10 Years at the Kahn Institute

A RETROSPECTIVE OF 10 YEARS AT THE KAHN INSTITUTE

This year the Kahn Institute embarks on its eleventh year of enriching faculty scholarship and the intellectual life of the College by supporting collaborative research. In reflecting on the past decade, we asked our former project Fellows to share some thoughts about their experiences at the Institute. Here is a sampling of the dozens of responses we received.




"I participated in the Problems of Democracy project organized by Don Robinson (2003-04). It was really a pleasurable and intellectually stimulating seminar, with colleagues and students from other departments at Smith with whom I otherwise would never have come into contact. It gave me a broader historical perspective on growing wealth and income inequality in the U.S."
—Robert Buchele, Professor of Economics Problems of Democracy (2003-2004)

"I have directed and co-directed both long-term and short-term Kahn projects, and participated in others as a Fellow. To me, the most exciting thing about a Kahn project is that they are devoted to the intellectual life of the faculty and students rather than our teaching or administrative work. On long-term projects we work with students as fellow scholars, not as mentors."
—Jamie Hubbard, Professor of Religion, Yehan Numata Professor of Buddhist Studies Religious Tolerance and Intolerance (2001-2002)

"I enjoyed our Kahn project immensely, and precisely because of its welcoming approach to interdisciplinarity. Our seminar allowed the opportunity for me to bridge the gap between two disciplines of interest-sport and religion/philosophy; and two private passions—golf and Buddhism. There was nowhere else on campus that my ideas around this could have been fostered to the degree that they were in that Kahn seminar."
—Jane Stangl, Lecturer, Exercise & Sports Studies TransBuddism: Transmission, Translations, Transformation (2003-2004)



"I was co-organizer with Paul Zimet of the year-long project Galileo at the Millennium in 1999-2000. The project was the most intellectually stimulating experience in my 28 years on the Smith faculty. We organized a wonderful series of events and I attended all of them except two that conflicted with my classes. The weekly seminars yielded a lot of interesting cross-fertilization, with insights into the methods of different disciplines—especially into the crafting and staging of Paul Zimet's play, 'Star Messengers.' My own project help to meld my interest in the history of astronomy with my burgeoning interest in contemporary sustainability."
—Dick White, Professor Emeritus, Astronomy Star Messenger: Galileo at the Millenium (1999-2000)

"At first I feared we'd become mired in circular discussions and that none of us would be on the same page. What I found was the best of the liberal arts: high-level, information-rich discussions, presentations, and readings from an astonishing variety of experts and sources. I quickly came to look forward to our weekly meetings more than anything else on my schedule. I've already incorporated many aspects of the year's exchanges into my sustainability activism work."
—James Lowenthal, Associate Professor of Astronomy Sustainable Houses, Homes, & Communities (2007-2008)

"Simply put, the Kahn Institute project Anatomy of Exile helped me turn what I expected would be an article into a book. I am about to submit the final manuscript to the University of Texas Press."
—Donna Robinson Divine, Morningstar Family Professor of Jewish Studies & Government The Anatomy of Exile (2000-2001)



"Now that I have left the Kahn Institute, I find myself talking about it to everyone I know to fill the void. Everyone I speak to is amazed that a program like this exists, in which students and faculty can engage with each other on an equal level. As part of the group, I felt that I contributed a piece of history, an insight and an experience that was my own individually. Especially working at the Art Institute of Chicago, I find Uunderground Underworld imagery in every piece I see. I relate my analysis of a little girl's portrait to Cornelia's observances of children's literature, a still of photography to our full discussion of Pan's Labyrinth, a revolutionary reference to Becky's research on guerilla warfare or an artist's brushstroke looking like Andrea's rock formations. While I have and continue to struggle writing "the piece" of my work throughout the year, I could talk about it with ease. It was challenging, exciting, confrontational at times, very agreeable at other times and I grew to value and respect each of my colleagues and friends at the table."
—Lauren Vollono '08 Undergrounds Underworlds (2007-2008)

"The Form and Function Kahn project was a wonderful departure for me. The most noteworthy was the beginning of my friendship and continuing conversation with Pau Atela. With his encouragement I spent part of my sabbatical leave painting in Barcelona. The painting project I worked on during the Kahn year prompted me to work in a much more open-ended manner than previously. "
—Gary Niswonger, Professor Emeritus of Art Form and Function (2005-2006)

"Participating as a Faculty Fellow in the Kahn Project organized by Lois Dubin and Alice Hearst, Marriage and Divorce, was one of the most intellectually rewarding experiences of my academic career. I was able to break ground on a long-standing research interest in African-American folklore and the values and attitudes toward love and marriage as reflected in that lore. The opportunity engage in the interdisciplinary exploration of multiple aspects of marriage and divorce was phenomenal."
—Adrianne Andrews, Lecturer in Afro-American Studies & Ombudsperson Marriage & Divorce (2006-2007)

"I was a faculty participant in the 2003-2004 project TransBuddhism: Transmission, Translation, and Transformation. My particular interest was a reclusive poet-monk in 12th Century Japan, and when I first met the other participants I doubted that there would be much common ground or shared interests. I was wrong. In addition to the wonderful camaraderie with fellow faculty members and students, I was most delighted, and surprised, that we could find stimulating connections and common ground in our research spanning centuries and reaching across cultural boundaries as diverse as 12th century Japan and 21st century Thailand, Tibet, and the United States. It was always enlightening to listen and learn from the presentations by my fellow Kahn Fellows."
—Tom Rolich, Professor of Japanese TransBuddism: Transmission, Translations, Transformation (2003-2004)

"The Kahn Institute is like a teenage hangout for faculty and students who need a break from business as usual. I made some good friends and enjoyed the interdisciplinary dialogues generated by Ecologies of Childhood, Exploring the Right to Write, and Narrative : Identity.
—Bill Peterson, Associate Professor of Psychology Ecologies of Childhood (1998-1999) Narrative : Identity (2006-2007)



"Each discussion topic covered in the inter-disciplinary colloquium-- ranging from the dangers of improvident urban planning to the psychology behind behavioral changes, from the importance of energy efficient housing to the benefits of low-input landscaping—has contributed immensely to how I now comprehend the vast web that connects relevant challenges at the local, national and international level. Given my interest in international development, it was also a particularly valuable experience to understand the relationship between the economic, social and environmental agents that constitute unsustainable development practices."
—Dharana Rijal '08 Sustainable Houses, Homes, & Communities (2007-2008)

"What a wonderful opportunity to learn from people from outside one’s own discipline! And learn not only how they think, how they understand things, how they talk about things, what they see and don’t see, but also how to live. Observing Dennis Hudson’s own tolerance, moving at the pace of his patience, being uplifted by his wisdom – although not the only benefits of having time with so many bright colleagues and students – certainly made the Kahn experience memorable."
—Mary Ellen Birkett, Professor of French Studies Religious Tolerance and Intolerance in Ancient and Modern Worlds (2001-2002)

"I read your message this morning in Hamburg, where my husband John and I spending the month of June. I am, in fact, working presently on a continuation of my 2000-2001 Anatomy of Exile Kahn project. Just before I received your message I had met here with a fellow Anatomy of Exile participant, Ingrid Sommerkorn who presently lives in Hamburg. We were reminiscing fondly on our Kahn experiences and were agreeing how enriching and rewarding being a Kahn fellow had been. You must have read our minds .... "
—Lale Burk, Senior Lecturer in Chemistry The Anatomy of Exile (2000-2001) Visual Languages (2004-2005)

"Our Kahn investigated the transmission of Buddhism to the West, the transformation of Buddhism, traditionally Buddhist cultures and of the West, and the role of translation in this transmission and transformation. Our institute was exciting, with spirited exchanges of ideas. The results will be evident in an anthology currently in press comprising much of the fine work that emerged from our seminar."
—Jay Garfield, Doris Silbert Professor in the Humanities and Professor of Philosophy TransBuddism: Transmission, Translations, Transformation (2003-2004)



"I really enjoyed participating in the Kahn project Sustainable Houses, Homes, and Communities; the varied perspectives of the participants and wonderfully creative projects provided a rich addition the academic year."
—Paul Voss, Assistant Professor, Engineering Sustainable Houses, Homes, & Communities (2007-2008)

"Often in academia intellectual inquiry is compartmentalized so much that two people in different disciplines asking the same question might not understand each other. The Kahn transcends that. It is very exciting to bring your work, research and ideas to the table and attack it with scholars from other disciplines. You really get all the angles and fresh perspectives when by working collaboratively between disciplines."
—Annie Parker '08 Sustainable Houses, Homes and Communities (2007-2008)

"Participating in a Kahn Institute project has been my most rewarding academic experience at Smith. Even better, it was rarely what I expected to learn! There was a genuine interest and enthusiasm for each other's projects, and a real regret that the year had to end. I learned something that advanced my understanding of sustainable houses, homes, and communities every week. The flexibility and experience of the Kahn staff were the key to making this happen: they removed the many paper and financial barriers that usually get in the way of finding the time for collaborative academic research, and provided a level of administrative support that just isn't available otherwise. The key challenge during the year was, as always, finding time for our projects, so we deliberately tried to scale back the number of public activities and events. Going forward, the key challenge will be how to sustain my research in this field, now that I've received a jump start."
—Nathanael Fortune, Associate Professor of Physics Co-organizer, Sustainable Houses, Homes, & Communities (2007-2008)

"Simply, the Undergrounds Underworlds seminar was the highlight of my academic year. The organizers managed to reach a desirable balance of work and fun in an relaxed setting where everyone seemed to feel at ease; students and faculty alike worked in an impartial and healthy environment that encouraged intellectual exchange. I will cherish this experience for a very long time."
—Ombretta Frau, Assistant Professor of Italian and Chair of Romance Languages and Literatures, Classics and Italian, Mt. Holyoke College Undergrounds Underworlds (2007-2008)



"I've only participated in one short-term Kahn project, Portraying Scientific Discovery: the Situation and the Story, but our meetings were among the most stimulating intellectual experiences I have enjoyed at the College. Our discussions increased my understanding of and esteem for my colleagues in other areas, and I went on to read some of their works."
—Deirdre Sabina Knight, Associate Professor, Comparative Literature Portraying Scientific Discovery: The Situation and the Story (2008)

"While I learned some things that will definitely advance my specific work related to our project's theme Undergrounds and Underworlds, what stands out for me when I think about the year are those moments when we worked through something difficult together. Our discussion of Walter Benjamin's "Theses on the Philosophy of History," for example, struck me as an ideal instance of a bunch of smart people putting their minds together to negotiate some tough theoretical terrain. There was a moment during that conversation that might be one of the moments I most value from our colloquium; after about 45 minutes, it felt as if the table and all of us around it lifted off the ground and in this sensation of almost literal levitation, we achieved a heightened understanding, all at once it seemed, of a key idea and its implications. It was as though every single one of us at the very same instant became a little smarter, and it couldn't have happened for any of us without all the others. Along with a whole bunch of times later in the spring when the student Fellows impressed me over and over again with their intellectual growth and maturity -- in presentations of work in progress, in the Collaborations panel, in debate with a visiting speaker -- that Benjamin moment is one that I'll remember for a long time."
—Michael Thurston, Associate Professor of English Undergrounds Underworlds (2007-2008)

"I organized a short-term session on Frames and Framing in January, 2001. I found the whole experience exciting -- particularly seeing the way different disciplines thought about the concept, and I am still learning from the contributions --both suggestions for reading and oral comments -- the members of the workshop made. It was invaluable for my continuing research, which is (slowly) turning into what I think is a book."
—Elizabeth W. Harries, Helen and Laura Shedd Professor of Modern Literature Emerita Frames and Framing (2001)

"The Kahn was a perfect introduction for me as a Professor new to Smith. It gave me a chance to convene and discourse with other faculty I would not have met otherwise...perhaps for years. The interdisciplinary aspect is always intellectually stimulating, and our experience proved this axiom yet again. Participation moved my work forward somewhat, though my thinking rather than concrete examples of work were more stimulated. I think the Kahn functions as good as the group that is formed, and our group formed slowly but did eventually get into gear. We may have been a bit too diverse in intellectual areas (versus academic disciplines); that is, the topic was broad and thus it was difficult to find our common threads. Still, overall, the experience remains vivid in memory and valued for its contribution to my Smith life personally and professionally."
—Marsha Kline Pruett, Maconda O'Connor Brown Professor, School for Social Work Marriage and Divorce (2006-2007)

"I've participated in two Kahn projects-- From Local to Global, and City Lives and City Life. Both were wonderful intellectual (and personal) experiences, albeit in different ways. The highlight of the Local to Global year-- in addition to the weekly meetings, which were terrific-- was our spring break trip to Tijuana, Mexico, to meet with a variety of groups doing organizing at the border around labor, environmental degradation, and immigration issues. It was a very full few days, and a fabulous opportunity for us all to learn, and to develop deeper relationships with one another. That trip led to our developing (jointly) a slide show on the issues, which students presented to other students both at Smith and in the area, upon our return. I have continued to explore those issues, and have had a number of wonderful opportunities to speak about them to other audiences (including Smith alumnae clubs) around the country. And, of course, much of what I/we learned on that trip has made its way into my teaching at Smith, as well. The City Lives andCity Life experience (which was more recent, and in which I was a "simple" participant, rather than a co-organizer) was similarly exciting on an intellectual basis. I enjoyed the broad-ranging conversations, and the opportunity to explore topics with an extraordinarily interdisciplinary group of colleagues from Smith and the Five Colleges, as well as with students. Those connections, too, proved to be very rich. And, as urban politics is one of the main areas of my regular teaching, the insights (and bibliographical suggestions) I developed over the course of that year have also been incorporated into my teaching as well as into my research."
—Martha Ackelsberg, William R. Kenan Professor of Government and Program for the Study of Women & Gender From Local to Global: Community Activism in the New Millenium(2000-2001) City Lives and City Life (2005-2006)