PORT ANGELES — Samantha Schmehl Hines will offer the final Studium Generale for the fall quarter at 12:30 p.m. Thursday.
Her lecture, “Space Raptor Butt Invasion: Self-publishing for Industry and Social Change,” will be followed by a dialogue with the audience and an opportunity to engage in conversation.
The Studium Generale series is free and open to the public. To join the Zoom meeting, go to zoom.us/j/95156136928. The meeting ID is 951 5613 6928.
Hanes’ lecture was inspired by a controversy in 2016 about the Hugo Award.
She said that right wing sci-fi fans nominated a “dino-erotica” author in an attempt to thwart the nomination of NK Jemisen, a Black woman.
“The situation opened up a discussion about race and identity in science fiction, alongside the rising role of self-published literature in a very traditional industry,” organizers said.
Hines has served as the associate dean of instructional resources at Peninsula College since 2016, overseeing library, eLearning and tutoring services.
A professional librarian since 2003, she considers the role of the modern academic library to be that of engaging scholars in conversation with one another, with a focus on the creation and dissemination of knowledge in all formats.
She is ABD (all but dissertation) at Union Institute and University in the interdisciplinary doctorate program, and her research focuses on the use of online education to deliver anti-racist training for library managers.
“Samantha pays careful attention to the role of the library and its influence on the PC community as well as the communities we serve as a college,” Studium Generale Coordinator Kate Reavey said.
“She has put countless hours into designing and creating displays that are thematic and provide important opportunities not only for curricular tie-ins but for community members to keep apprised of the resources available.”
The Writer in Residence Program has been greatly enhanced by Hines’ attention to providing context for students and the community through displays of the writer’s work and their influence and renown, Reavey said.
“As part of the closing reception during our Visiting Elders Project, Sam created a display in the library titled ‘Native Lives Matter,’ and many students told me that this display was enormously helpful to them, and also introduced them to the Native art on display in the Library/Media Center,” Reavey said.
In addition to the physical displays, Hines has brought more resources to the digital environment, and while doing so, honored and celebrated the scholarship and creativity of PC faculty, staff and administrators. To learn more about the archive, visit pencol.libguides.com/scholarlyarchive.
“Sam has been an advisor, a collaborator, and a leader, and she has been a great supporter of the Studium series, so we are delighted that she will now take the mic and offer this unique program,” Reavey said.
