Medievalitas

Had a great time joining the panel for one of this year's alumni fireside chats (aka Ivan Allen Advantage Speaker Series), this one with distinguished alumni Gene Kansas, M.S. Digital Media 2016, and Paul Oh, B.S. International Affairs and Modern Languages 2012. More than 50 students came to hear about the fascinating career paths Paul (vice president of public policy and external affairs at the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce) and Gene (founder and CEO of Gene Kansas | Commerci

Some conferences are memorable because of the papers. Others stay with us because of the people who made the exchange possible. The International Conference on Medievalisms, held October 9-10, belonges in both categories. I want to offer my sincere thanks to Luiz Guerra, who organized the conference with care, vision, and a clear sense of why medievalism studies needs shared spaces, generous questions, and open and global intellectual exchange. I am also grateful to the parti

A short reflection for The EDU Ledger (formerly: Diverse: Issues in Higher Education) on the work of the Council of Leaders of Liberal Arts Colleges at Technological Universities: Liberal arts units at technological universities offer a model for integrating humanistic and technical education. Their longstanding collaborations position them to address enrollment pressures, interdisciplinary reform, and AI-related challenges. : It’s 9 a.m. on the Friday morning ahead of the U.

The first of our four events on "AI and Society" was a great success. Working with Kyle Poe and Brian Magerko on the organizing committee, and with the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts staff team, made this an outstanding experience. Our speakers, Dr. Wendy Wong (UBC), Carolin Gwynn Monagle (R1 RCM), and Dr. Marilyn Brown (GT), with Dean Amanda Murdie as moderator, addressed numerous aspects AI's complexity.

A review at Medievally Speaking from one of the world experts on medievalist cinema, Kevin J. Harty, on director Paul Greengrass' The Uprising. READ the REVIEW HERE medievalism, médiévalisme, medievalismo, Mediävalismus

My recent reflection for Medievalists.net focuses on Marc Bloch at the Panthéon, where the French historian is honored through the phrase “Dilexit veritatem." I rethink Bloch’s life as a co-founder of the Annales school, a veteran of two world wars, and a member of the French Resistance. READ the article HERE medievalism, médiévalisme, medievalismo, Mediävalismus

In this recent article Michael Pearson reflects on the discussions we had earlier this month with 25 deans, associate deans, and chairs from the U.S. and Mexico (the Council of Leaders of Liberal Arts Units at Technological Universities) about Humanity & Technology and the special role of the liberal arts for the future of higher ed. How Georgia Tech and Peer Institutions Are Reimagining Liberal Arts for the AI Era

Strategic planning has always been somewhat of a challenge in academic circles. Many faculty view it as part of the often unbearable institutional ADMINSPEAK the academy has borrowed from industry. Then again, if well conducted and inclusive of all of a unit's constituencies, a strategic plan (and especially its top values and mission/vision), can offer helpful pathways to improve a unit's work. I would like to think that Ivan Allen College's refreshed Strategic Plan has the

One of the most fascinating resources for anyone laboring in the vineyard of medievalism studies. Anne Besson, William Blanc, and Vincent Ferré have edited a comprehensive handbook for those engaged in the afterlives of all medievalia. Just published in Paris with Hoëbeke & Gallimard. Mighty glad to have contributed an entry on "racisme et antisemitisme" to this incredible source of inspiration and information.

The group of leaders founded the Council (CoLLT) with ten institutional representatives in April, but the September meeting gathered 25 of them, an indication of the need for advocacy and collegial exchange. April 2026

Once again, after a first smaller meeting in April, Georgia Tech's Ivan Allen College brought together the newly founded Council of Leaders of Liberal Arts Units at Technological Universities (CoLLT). We united 25 deans, associate deans, and chairs from STEM institutions from across the U.S. and Mexico. In addition to learning about our various strengths and challenges, we focused on the theme of Humanity & Technology and discussed a series of practices at which our units hav

One sure indicator of an academic unit's health is if a new cohort of colleagues is joining at the beginning of a new academic year. Had a great time meeting our new colleagues in Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts. Oh, and did you know that we have a larger percentage of liberal arts faculty with educational backgrounds and experience in STEM disciplines than traditional universities? It adds another layer to what we call the Ivan Allen Advantage! And all of this happening i

Lead by our Dean, Amanda Murdie, our team of 'old' and new staff and faculty united around discussions of our refreshed college strategic plan to continue creating the conditions under which great learning and studying might happen (with the all important Ivan Allen Advantage and our new slogan, Human. Intelligence. in mind). All that surrounded by exhibits that left no doubt about our responsibility to be "drum majors for good."

Did a short interview for Campus Insights Media on "Why Homer's Odyssey Still Resonates Nearly 3,000 Years Later." "Nearly 3,000 Years Later Christopher Nolan's upcoming adaptation of The Odyssey has renewed interest in one of the world's most enduring stories. Richard Utz, professor and senior associate dean in Georgia Tech's Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts, explains why Homer's epic poem is considered difficult to adapt for film, how modern audiences can connect with its

"On Thursday, June 18, 2026, the wire services carried the sad news that Sherwood Forest’s Major Oak had died. Long ailing and suffering from multiple misguided attempts to preserve it that only hastened its demise, the oak was the stuff of legend, in no small part because of its association with yet another legend, that of Robin Hood, who was said to have hidden his treasure and maybe even himself in the tree’s hollow. Estimated to be anywhere from 800 to 1200 years old, the

Wonderful opportunity to represent Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts at the inauguration of the exhibit, Spain and Hispanics in the Independence of the USA, with Georgia Tech's President Ángel Cabrera just the 'right' person to deliver the welcoming remarks. The exhibit can be visited in the East Gallery of the Ferst Center. More information HERE.

I wrote a short piece on the automatic and performative critique of the Norwegian soccer team's PR photo for the World Cup, which shows them self-mockingly in Viking garb. Please find it HERE. VIKINGS SACK LINDISFARNE! -- AGAIN?

On June 2, 2026, Atla and EBSCO hosted a webinar titled “Humanizing STEM: How the Humanities Are Transforming Research, Teaching, and the Future of Higher Education.” This webinar featured guest speaker Richard Utz, Senior Associate Dean for Strategic Initiatives in the College of Liberal Arts at Georgia Teach, with discussion moderated by John Kutsko, Atla’s Executive Director. Growing evidence supports the idea that humanities-integrated STEM education benefit learners and

TODAY: I attended meetings at SeedAI, with partnering organizations Workday and Georgia Tech, of AI Across America: Atlanta, a forum exploring how AI-powered tools can accelerate skills-based hiring in Georgia, making it a top state for both business and talent. The event brought together key decision makers from Georgia's Fortune 500 employers, state government, higher education institutions, as well as other thought leaders, to contemplate why businesses are turning to skil

06/02/2026 | 2:00pm ET CTA: Register for webinar #TalkAboutHumanities About As higher education faces rapid technological change, emerging evidence shows that integrating the humanities—including theology and religious studies —with STEM disciplines leads to stronger educational outcomes, more creative research, and more effective professionals. In this EBSCO & Atla webinar, Richard Utz, Senior Associate Dean in Georgia Tech’s Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts, makes the cas