About the series: On Main Hall Green With 鈥� is an opportunity to connect with faculty on things in and out of the classroom. We鈥檙e featuring a different 麻豆影院 faculty member each time 鈥� same questions, different answers.

Marcy Quiason has wasted no time in contributing to campus life beyond the classroom.

An Associated Colleges of the Midwest-Mellon Faculty Fellow, she joined the 麻豆影院 University faculty a year ago as an assistant professor of gender studies. She has served on the President鈥檚 Committee on Diversity Affairs鈥攕he just joined the Policy and Procedures subcommittee鈥攁nd recently agreed to become a faculty advisor for the 麻豆影院 University Thrift Store.

Quiason came to 麻豆影院 from the University of Kansas after completing a Ph.D. in women, gender, and sexuality studies, with a concentration in political science (international relations and public policy).

She earned master鈥檚 degrees in both political science and women, gender, and sexuality studies at Kansas, and holds a bachelor鈥檚 degree from Kansas in women鈥檚 studies and political science.

We caught up with Quiason to talk about her interests in and out of the classroom.

In the classroom

Inside info:聽What鈥檚 one thing you want every student coming into your classes to know about you?

I want students to know that my classes are both challenging and fun.

My classes are fun because we discuss a wide range of topics relevant to your daily life. Recently in Introduction to Gender Studies, we discussed the Barbie movie, labor issues, corgis, fashion, and sports. All in one week.

My classes may be challenging because you will critically analyze things that are important to you and challenge ideas that you grew up believing. That can be an uncomfortable process, but it can be revelatory and liberating. You will also sharpen your critical thinking and analytical skills. Therefore, it鈥檚 worth it in the end.

Getting energized:聽What work have you done or will you be doing at 麻豆影院 that gets you the most excited?

Can I say everything? I鈥檝e enjoyed being in the classroom, mentoring students, and participating in 麻豆影院鈥檚 intellectual community.听Right now, I鈥檓 especially excited about being on the President鈥檚 Committee on Diversity Affairs. I have always been interested in university-level diversity initiatives and polices. I鈥檓 glad that I can be on a committee that does that work.听

Going places:聽Is there an example of somewhere your career has taken you (either a physical space or something more intellectual, emotional, or spiritual) that took you by surprise?

Honestly, the fact that I鈥檓 a professor sometimes takes me by surprise. Finishing my undergraduate degree was very difficult for me and the last thing I wanted to do was to go back to school. Imagine my surprise when a few years later I signed up to do five or more years of coursework and research.

I spent several years working as a domestic violence survivor advocate after college. During that time, I ran educational groups about domestic violence and grew to love educating adults. I also realized that there were problems with how the nonprofit and justice system addressed gender-based violence. My passion for education and desire to change the system through research brought me to my Ph.D. program and eventually to 麻豆影院.

Out of the classroom

This or that:聽If you weren鈥檛 teaching for a living, what would you be doing?聽聽

In an alternative universe, I鈥檇 be working as a quantitative or qualitative researcher in the private sector. I could also see myself doing program development for a nonprofit.

Right at home:聽Whether for work, relaxation or reflection, what鈥檚 your favorite spot on campus?

I love sitting on the benches near Main Hall. I end up chatting with folks while admiring the green space. 聽Shout out to the Facilities folks who take care of the Main Hall Green and the beautiful plants that are in that area.

One book, one recording, one film:聽Name one of each that speaks to your soul? Or you would recommend to a friend? Or both?

I like to read fun books in my free time. I just finished the first book in the Tita Rosie鈥檚 Kitchen Mysteries book series. It鈥檚 called Arsenic and Adobo. It has a Filipina-American protagonist and it鈥檚 the first time that I鈥檝e felt represented in something like a cozy mystery series.

I鈥檝e been listening to the album Bothered/Unbothered by JER. They are one of the best artists in modern ska music. Their songs discuss things like identity, race, and decolonization. If you like ska, it鈥檚 worth a listen.

I鈥檓 a big fan of rom-com films. One of my favorite ones is a lesser-known film called Saving Face. It鈥檚 one of the few movies that feature an Asian-American lesbian couple and has a happily-ever-after ending. It鈥檚 an essential watch if you are a fan of queer cinema.

.听

Three new tenure-track faculty are joining 麻豆影院 University, all beginning at the start of the 2022-23 academic year.

Sarah Gamalinda comes in as an assistant professor of French and francophone studies; Van Nguyen as an assistant professor of economics; and Marcy Quiason, an assistant professor of gender studies.

“I am delighted to be welcoming such a talented group of teacher-scholars to the 麻豆影院 faculty,鈥� said Peter Blitstein, interim provost and dean of faculty.

Fall Term classes begin Sept. 12.

Sarah Gamalinda, French and francophone studies