Paw'd Defiance

UW Tacoma Assistant Professor Vern Harner recently completed their doctorate in social welfare and will begin teaching on campus this fall. In this episode Harner talks about their interest in social work. They also discuss the importance of having trans researchers conduct  research about the trans community. Harner is trans and played an important role in getting the University of Washington to change its diploma name policy. Until recently the university only allowed full legal names on diplomas. Harner got involved with the issue after a few of their trans students expressed concern about the policy.  We'll talk about that and Harner's long history of activism.

School of Social Work & Criminal Justice
CEI

Isabella Webb was born and raised in Australia. For years she tried to hide her Aboriginal heritage. In this episode, Webb talks about how higher education and travel helped her embrace her heritage. Webb earned a bachelor's, master's and is currently working on a doctorate. We also discuss Aboriginal history including the Australian government's attempt to eradicate the Aboriginal way of life. Finally, Webb talks about her role as an academic advisor including how she empowers students to embrace their journey and succeed in college.

UW Tacoma Associate Professor Eric Madfis is an expert on mass shootings and has been quoted in numerous publications including the New York Times, Politico and the Washington Post. Madfis has also written four books about mass shootings. His latest book “All American Massacre: The Tragic Role of American Culture and Society in Mass Shootings” comes out in the fall. In this episode we talk with Madfis about mass shootings in the United States. We talk about how access to guns along with gun culture contributes to gun violence. We also discuss the idea that "the only way to stop a bad guy with a gun is a good good with a gun." Finally, the discussion turns to ways to prevent school shootings. Research suggests a positive school environment might be a more effective way to stop school shootings before they start.

In this episode we talk to Cho Shimizu and Eileen Yamada Lamphere about the forced incarceration of Japanese and Japanese Americans during World War II. Shimizu was a small child when both he and his family were forced to leave their family farm and move first to the Puyallup Assembly Center and later to the Minidoka War Relocation Center. Lamphere's mother was also held at the Puyallup Assembly Center. Her parents later met at Minidoka. In these two episodes, Shimizu and Lamphere discuss what life was life for Japanese and Japanese Americans living in the South Sound prior to the start of World War II. They will also talk about conditions at places like the Puyallup Assembly Center and the impact this experience had on their families and on themselves. Finally, Shimizu and Lamphere talk about the importance of remembering this history and the vital role education plays in ensuring this happens. 

Part I: https://www.buzzsprout.com/265902/10766712-the-puyallup-assembly-center-part-i-treated-like-an-enemy

In this episode we talk to Cho Shimizu and Eileen Yamada Lamphere about the forced incarceration of Japanese and Japanese Americans during World War II. Shimizu was a small child when both he and his family were forced to leave their family farm and move first to the Puyallup Assembly Center and later to the Minidoka War Relocation Center. Lamphere's mother was also held at the Puyallup Assembly Center. Her parents later met at Minidoka. During the next two episodes, Shimizu and Lamphere discuss what life was life for Japanese and Japanese Americans living in the South Sound prior to the start of World War II. They will also talk about conditions at places like the Puyallup Assembly Center and the impact this experience had on their families and on themselves. Finally, Shimizu and Lamphere talk about the importance of remembering this history and the vital role education plays in ensuring this happens. 

Part II: https://www.buzzsprout.com/265902/10767528-the-puyallup-assembly-center-part-ii-they-didn-t-know-what-had-happened-in-their-community

In this episode of the podcast we hear from UW Tacoma senior Andre Henderson and his mother Renay Henderson. Andre graduates on June 13 with a degree in social welfare. Andre’s journey has been a difficult, but no matter what he always had the support of his family, including his mother. Renay earned a degree in human resources back in the early 2000’s, while raising three children and working full-time. Andre and Renay discuss their experiences in higher education and why they decided to attend college. Finally, mother and son talk about what it means to them to see each other succeed. 

In this episode of the podcast we take a tour of Professor Mike Honey’s office. Honey is a founding faculty member of UW Tacoma. He started in 1990 and moved into his current office in 1997. The office overlooks Pacific Avenue which runs right through the heart of downtown. Honey’s office is lined with books and posters. Research material and graded papers are stuffed into accordion file folders. There are at least two guitars and a banjo in the space. There are also records, cassettes and VHS tapes. The carpet is faded and worn from use. Honey has spent countless hours here. It is, in many ways more than just an office; it’s a home, a library and a gathering place. In this office Honey has conducted research, and written articles and books. He’s also met with students, community members and civil rights and labor leaders. Honey is retiring from teaching in July and will hand over the keys to his office, eventually. Honey may be retiring from teaching, but that doesn’t mean he’s done working.

In this episode UW Tacoma Professor Katie Baird talks about her new book "Growing Mangos in the Desert." The book chronicles Baird's experience in the Peace Corps. The then twenty-something was sent to Mauritania to teach farmers there how to grow rice. Baird had very little training and couldn't speak the local language. Needless to say things didn't go as planned. Baird talks about her experience in Mauritania, how the transition to rice upended Mauritanian culture and whether or not the project worked. She also talks about the friendships she made and what the experience taught her. 

In 1996 Howard Zehr published "Doing Life." The book features photos and stories of men and women serving  life sentences in Pennsylvania prisons. Years later, Zehr partnered with UW Tacoma Associate Professor Barbara Toews on a follow up book. "Still Doing Life, 22 Lifers, 25 Years Later." In "Still Doing Life," Toews and Zehr talked with some of the same men and women featured in the original book. In this episode we talk about the books and the stories of men and women who have spent decades in prison. We also discuss life sentences, restorative justice and how "lifers" keep going and find meaning.

UW Tacoma Professor Heather Dillon and a group of students worked together to get a campus chapter of The Society of Women Engineers at UW Tacoma. Dillon and the students - Anna Wen, Jasmine Davis and Sophia Elmobdy - talk about the importance of having a SWE chapter on campus. The group also discusses the barriers women in engineering face. Finally, the conversation turns to why each student decided to pursue a degree in engineering and how they're hoping to build a welcoming environment at UW Tacoma for women considering a career in engineering. 

UW Tacoma junior Illia Meserenko is an international student from Ukraine. In this episode Meserenko talks about the war between Russia and Ukraine. Meserenko's mother, father and grandmother are still in Ukraine. His mother and grandmother fled Kyiv but his father stayed behind. Meserenko talks about how they're doing and the impact that war has had on him. Finally, he talks about his decision to attend college in the United States and how he plans to use his education to help Ukraine.

Ukrainian Association of Washington

This is the 100th episode of Paw'd Defiance! We wanted to do something a little different, so we handed over the microphone to alumna Jazmyn Pratt and asked her to interview UW Tacoma Chancellor Sheila Edwards Lange. The two had never met prior to recording, but you'd never know it from the conversation. The pair sound like old friends as they talk about their individual college experiences as well as the role higher education has played in their lives. Chancellor Lange also talks about her first six months on campus as well as her vision for UW Tacoma.

We're now in year three of the COVID-19 pandemic. Case counts are declining and while we don't know what the future holds, it felt like a good time to stop and reflect on what we've experienced. This is the first in a series of episodes where we ask members of the UWT community to talk about the last two years and the impact it's had on them. First up, UW Tacoma Associate Teaching Professor Cynthia Howson. Howson has been dealing with long COVID since being diagnosed in October of 2021. She'll talk about that experience including what she sees a silver lining and how Young Adult Fantasy Fiction is helping her get through.

Television journalist Michelle Li went viral for a tweet she posted to social media. The tweet showed Li reacting to a message from a viewer who said Li was "being very Asian" during a segment about traditional New Year's Day foods. #VeryAsian became a global sensation and attracted attention from the media, including Ellen DeGeneres. Li used the incident to launch the Very Asian Foundation. In this episode we talk with Li about her tweet and the impact that had on her life.  Associate Professor JaeRan Kim also joins us. Both Li and Kim were adopted by white parents. They talk about their struggle with identity and feeling like an imposter. They also discuss how they made their way in fields that have historically not been open to Asian women. Finally, the pair discuss what they think it means to "be very Asian."

UW Tacoma Asian American and Pacific Islander Impact Endowment

Grief is about more than just death. Grief is a way of expressing loss. We may grieve over the loss of a job or we may grieve when a friend moves across the country. Loss and grief are an important part of the human experience. In this episode we talk with UW Tacoma Professor Charley Emlet. Emlet researches aging, particularly in vulnerable communities. For the past several years he's also taught a course on grief. Emlet talks about why grief is important. We'll also discuss how the act of grieving varies across cultures as well as how COVID impacted how we grieve. Finally, Emlet talks about his decision to retire from teaching and how we plans to grieve that loss.

Early libraries in the United States were private and available to only a few. Women played an important role in transforming libraries and turning them into public spaces that can be enjoyed by everyone. UW Tacoma Library Director Annie Downey talks about this history and the racism/sexism these librarians faced. Downey also discusses the overlap between libraries and the feminist movement. 

In this episode we talk with Rabbi Bruce Kadden and Associate Professor Bonnie Becker about what it means to be Jewish.  Our conversation includes a brief overview of some of the basic tenets of the religion. We also discuss anti-Semitism, its history and why this hatred of Jewish people persists to this day. Finally, Dr. Becker tells us why she decided to publish an op-ed about the Whoopi Goldberg controversy. 

In October of 2021, the American Academy of Pediatrics and other medical organizations declared a national emergency in children's mental health. In this episode we're joined by Ashley Mangum, Program Manager of Pediatric Mental Health at Mary Bridge Children's Hospital, Kianna Carter, Youth Engagement Services Behavioral Health Clinician at Mary Bridge and Chris Barrans, Director of Field Education/Assistant Teaching Professor at UW Tacoma's School of Social Work & Criminal Justice. The three discuss how the issues we're seeing now with children's mental health started long before the pandemic. We'll also talk about how the pandemic exacerbated theses issues. We'll also hear about the resources available to children, their parents and caregivers.

Kids Mental Health Pierce County
YES Tacoma

Tacoma recently launched Growing Resilience in Tacoma (GRIT). The guaranteed income program will distribute $500 a month for a year to 110 Tacoma residents. UW Tacoma alumna Abigail Lawson serves as Program Director for GRIT. In this episode we'll talk about guaranteed income, universal basic income and the difference between the two. We'll also talk about GRIT, including how it works and who it benefits. The program has funding for a year. Lawson will discuss program goals and what the next steps will be once GRIT ends. 

We're nearing the end of year two of the pandemic and the news isn't great.  The omicron variant is disheartening. Needless to say, many of us are tired and stressed out. We wanted to do something to help lift everyone's spirits. So, we asked a group of UW Tacoma students, faculty, staff and alumni to tell us a joke, preferably a "dad joke." You know what these are, these are the jokes that make you groan and also make you laugh. Have a listen. We hope the next ten minutes will bring you some joy and a few giggles.