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

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.

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

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

Senator Warnock All around wonderful events, with Senator Raphael Warnock as commencement speaker and my undergraduate research assistant, Haley Armor, graduating; my graduate assistant, Kimberly Velez, as reflection speaker at the MS College ceremony; and John Tien speaking to the newly commissioned Army Second Lieutenants. Great events to sum up our semester and academic year. Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts Leaders

A great opportunity to speak with two wonderful colleagues from the Geogia Tech Library: Fred Rascoe (Scholarly Communication & Engineering Librarian) and Alex McGee (Head of Archives & Special Collections), in a convo for WREK Atlanta's Lost in the Stacks podcast (here is the version sans music). The topic: "Crisis is our Natural Habitat," about the current and past iterations of the humanities (and the role of libraries) in higher education. I loved the convo as well as th

The world faces complex problems that demand more than just technical solutions. Climate change, ethical dilemmas in technology, social inequality, and rapid cultural shifts require a blend of skills and perspectives. Traditionally, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) and liberal arts have been treated as separate domains. Yet, combining these fields can create a powerful approach to solving today’s challenges. A recent article I wrote for University Busi

Project: Atlanta Black Theatre Festival Great atmosphere and strong projects this morning during the final showcase for students in Dr. Allegra Smith's "Content Strategy" (LMC 3415) class in Skiles 302. The students shared their research, writing, and website design and social media content developed in concert with six nonprofits: The Atlanta Black Theatre Festival Lostintheletters NEST4US RE:IMAGINE ATL The TADA Foundation The Suzi Bass Awards These organizations meet a v