Digital Media | University Categories | CAS in the Media

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Grant Continues Support of Indigenous Culture Preservation

October 22, 2014

A recent federal grant of $698,605 will help WSU continue to provide training to local tribal archives, libraries, and museums in preserving their cultural assets through digital archiving technology.

The grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services will also support a new tribal digital archives curriculum coordinator in the WSU Libraries.

The libraries and College of Arts and Sciences are creating a three-year project, the “Tribal Stewardship Cohort Program: Digital Heritage Management, Archiving, and Mukurtu CMS Training.”

The new program will address a key need to provide hands-on, long-term training for tribal archives, libraries and museums that emphasizes both the technical and cultural issues surrounding digitization and preservation of cultural heritage materials, said Kim Christen Withey, WSU associate professor of English and director of digital projects for the WSU Plateau Center, Native American Programs.

Find out more

WSU Tri-Cities students hold charity costume walk

August 8, 2014

Students in the digital technology and culture (DTC) and fine arts programs at WSU Tri-Cities hosted a community walk to raise awareness and funds for My Friend’s Place, a local, nonprofit homeless shelter for at-risk youth.

Participants were encouraged to dress in costume and were treated to music and other festivities in Howard Amon Park.

Fine arts professors Doug Gast and Peter Christenson challenged their summer students to produce an event that artistically intervenes in the community at large while giving at-risk youth a voice.

“What is really exciting about this project is that we as students are able to use the skills we have learned in our summer courses and get involved in the community to have a positive impact,” said Joe Jensen, a DTC junior working on the event.

Faculty member to explore culture, community via Fulbright

August 5, 2014

Peter Christenson works to connect his creative students at WSU Tri-Cities to like-minded members of the community. As a Fulbright award winner, he will apply this innovative approach in Scotland, as well.

An assistant professor in digital technology and culture and fine arts, he received a Core Fulbright Scholar Award; about 800 U.S. faculty and professionals earn this honor each year. He will spend seven months at the University of Dundee starting in January.

With students, faculty and staff, he will produce a video archive and multimedia exhibition about the diverse culture, traditions and stories of the region. The project will focus on new media art and exploring space—how to activate space, draw people into it and foster discussion.

Learn more about this creative and scholarly work

For WSU graduate, a photo op five years in the making

May 12, 2014

Almost there! 2014 Arts and Sciences undergraduates lining up for Commencement. — Arts and Sciences seniors line up for 2014 Commencement.

What got Freddy Reyes through the past five years was a mental image of himself wearing a cap and gown.

Like many college freshmen, the digital technology major had never been out on his own before coming to WSU in 2009. He had hopes of a better life, but sometimes wondered if he’d ever get there. There were times when he was homesick and thought about quitting, times when he considered postponing his college dream so he could get a job and help his family financially. His own finances were so thin he wasn’t sure he could go on.

But he kept picturing himself wearing that cap and gown on graduation day.

“I learned a lot about myself and what I’m capable of doing,” Reyes said, shortly after attending the last class of his undergraduate career and only days away from walking across the Beasley Coliseum stage. “There were tough times, but I never lost sight of what I came here to do.”

Read more about Reyes in The Lewiston Tribune (subscription required)

Creative media students hone career skills with e-book project

January 31, 2014

Project team, from left to right: Nicholas Rudy, WSUV Student & Project Manager; Greg Shine, NPS Chief Ranger & Historian; Dr. Dene Grigar, WSUV Course Instructor & CMDC Director; Bryan Ruhe, WSUV Student & Lead Designer; and Kyleigh Williams, WSUV Student & Content Specialist. Not pictured, Meagan Huff & Heidi Pierson, NPS Museum Technicians.

“Our plan is quite simple – we want to take over New York City publishing.”

That’s how Dr. Dene Grigar feels after witnessing her students produce a new digital book on the life of Dr. John McLoughlin, chief factor of the Hudson’s Bay Company at Fort Vancouver.

Grigar, an associate professor in English and director of WSU Vancouver’s Creative Media and Digital Culture (CMDC) program, believes that the old model of publishing is dying, and that the 225 students in her program are gaining real-world experience in the new model: digital.

Three CMDC students worked with the National Park Service on the digital publication which is called “The McLoughlin Family Collection: A Look Inside the Fort Vancouver Museum Collection.” The e-book features photos and 3D images of McLoughlin family artifacts from the National Historic Site collection, an animated overview of Dr. McLoughlin’s life and struggles on the frontier, and music recorded directly from the family melodeon, a type of early organ.

“This project fits well in the vision for the CMDC program,” Grigar explained. “We are developing a digital publishing track in our program and experimenting with open source technologies to produce scholarly, artistic and commercial publications.”

Learn more about the creative media project