RAVEN Maragh, a first-year doctoral student in the Department of Communication Studies, was recently selected as one of the University of Iowa Obermann Center HASTAC scholar recipients for the 2014-2015 academic year.

The HASTAC award, or Humanities, Arts, Sciences, and Technology Advanced Collaboratory, awards two graduate students with a monetary gift and a unique experience to promote and attend a variety of forums and events through the Obermann Center for Advanced Studies.

The programme is specifically designed for graduate students with knowledge and interests in digital media, higher education, digital humanities, and technology in the arts. Maragh is a perfect fit for this programme as her focus is in media and communications and she has quite a bit of experience in the field.

She was born in Mandeville, Jamaica on November 29, 1990, attended Belair Preparatory School in the central Jamaica town, before relocating to Negril, western Jamaica, in November 1996.

She attended Westwood High School in Trelawny, and left that institution for the United States while an eighth grader. There she attended the Metro Christian Academy in Oklahoma.

She graciously answered a few questions I had about her involvement in the HASTAC programme and discussed some of the events and projects she’s most looking forward to in this 2014-2015 academic year:

Q: What motivated you to apply for the HASTAC award?

A: The department sent out a few emails about the HASTAC Scholar Program, and I was drawn to the description of digital media studies in a practical sense. I was thrilled to apply for the opportunity to learn and practice methods in media studies that I study at the theoretical and historical level. My journalism background also prompted my interest in critical scholarship with practical implications; I truly wanted to learn more about the field I’ve been studying in a different way.

Q: I see you’ll be maintaining a blog on the HASTAC web site and will report on activities that the Obermann Center hosts. Any upcoming events you’re particularly looking forward to? Have you worked professionally with blog/social media outlets like this before?

A: Yes, the Obermann Center chose two HASTAC Scholars; Heather Draxl from the Language, Literacy and Culture Program is the other scholar. We will be posting and strategising about ways to increase awareness surrounding many of the Obermann Center events. For example, the Designing a Digital Future symposium showcases a

human-centered focus to technology, aligning quite well with my own research interests.

I have interned with several departments and companies throughout my undergraduate career such as the School of Health Professions where I maintained their communications on social media and promoted their events to students and faculty.

Q: One of your responsibilities will be partaking in the HASTAC discussion forums. What are the kinds of things you and the other members of the forum will be going over?

A: These forums offer an opportunity to discuss any research ideas that I have with an amazing community of scholars and industry practitioners. I was drawn to the academic and industry collaboration as well as the many different fields that are represented.

Q: Are there any other plans you have with regards to this fellowship?

A: I look forward to working with and meeting other HASTAC scholars and those on the forum who stimulate each other through idea generation.

Maragh moved from Negril to Tulsa, Oklahoma in 2004 and attended the University of Missouri for her undergraduate and master’s studies. After receiving her degrees from the Journalism School, Maragh, headed to the University of Iowa to take part in the Communication Studies doctoral program with a media studies focus.

“Iowa really has an exceptional Communication Studies Department with many influential scholars who have gone before me,” said Maragh after I asked specifically why she chose Iowa for her doctorate degree. “I’m honoured to be a part of this program; the help and support I’ve received from fellow graduate students and faculty members regarding my work has been exceptional.”

When asked if there were any influences in the department that encouraged her to apply for this award, Maragh mentioned the excellent way in which the HASTAC Scholar opportunity was promoted to graduate students, noting the efforts of Department Chair Dr Walid Afifi and Graduate Director Dr Kembrew McLeod. Upon reading the announcement for applications, “I was caught by the call for those interested in the digital field,” said Maragh, and it is clear that with her past educational and professional experience in media and communications, she will be an asset to the Obermann Center through this program.

After earning both undergraduate and graduate degrees at the University of Missouri’s School of Journalism, she received a Dean’s Fellowship to the University of Iowa.

Her research interests include online communication and identity performance, specifically in the context of racial and gender performance.

The International Communication Association (ICA) in Seattle, Washington, accepted her thesis work as a panel presenter and the paper also won a Student Top Paper Award at third place.

— Additional reporting by HG Helps