We are thrilled to announce our keynote speaker, K.J. Rawson!
Alt Text: Professional photo of K.J. Rawson
K.J. Rawson works at the intersections of the Digital Humanities and Rhetoric, LGBTQ+, and Feminist Studies. Focusing on archives as key sites of cultural power, he studies the rhetorical work of queer and transgender archival collections in brick-and-mortar and digital spaces. Rawson is founder and director of the Digital Transgender Archive, an award-winning collection of trans-related historical materials, and he chairs the editorial board of the Homosaurus, an LGBTQ+ linked data vocabulary.
Restorative Circles Affinity and Community Building Sessions: We will continue in the practice started at our 2023 conference at Spelman of having a facilitated discussion space and time set aside for affinity discussions on race and ethnicity.
Join us for a 90-minute session centered on connection, reflection, and renewal. While affinity spaces often emerge from shared challenges, this gathering is designed to host restorative community building as a source of support, inspiration, and collective energy. These spaces will provide an opportunity to engage in honest conversation, deepen relationships, and ground us in the shared work ahead. During lunch on Friday, July 18th, if you’d like to continue your conversation, we will have the “Den” space set aside in Holloway Commons.
Sessions will be held Thursday, July 17th 4:00PM-5:15 PM and Friday, July 18th 8:30-9:45. Please meet in room 205 in Hamilton Smith Hall.
Daily Lunch: Lunch is included each day in Holloway Commons in the Memorial Union Building. In “The Den,” upstairs, we will have some events each day during lunch–conversation starters, chances to meet others, so if you’re dining solo, you’ll have friends to meet!
Silent Auction: Throughout the conference we will have auction items set at a table in the atrium. The CFSHRC Development Team is collecting some nifty items! All proceeds from the auction will support future graduate student Feminisms and Rhetorics attendees through the Shirley Wilson Logan Diversity Scholarship Awards and the Nan Johnson Outstanding Graduate Student Travel Awards.
Awards Presentation: Thursday, July 18th 6-7 PM. Our CFSHRC Award Ceremony will take place at our Pool Party Cocktail Reception. This will be held in the indoor area by the UNH Outdoor Pool.
Pool Party: Thursday, July 17th 6-9 PM. Enjoy swimming in our zero-depth entry outdoor pool. Lifeguards will be on duty. There will be indoor space with some fun games to play (Giant Connect-4, etc.) so this event is rain or shine. There will be a complimentary dinner buffet and a cash bar.
Grad Student Mixer: Friday, July 18th 5PM-6:30PM. Sponsored by the UNH Graduate School, a grad student mixer will be held in the Huddleston Ballroom in Huddleston Hall. There will be refreshments, good company, and fun activities. Many thanks to Coalition Graduate Engagement Committee for this great idea!
Movie Night: Friday, July 18th, at 8PM. We will show Everything, Everywhere, All at Once in the Memorial Union Building Theater 2. Free Admission.
Introduce Your Book Event: Saturday, July 19th 10:45-11:30. This event is open to all and will be held in the Hamilton Smith Hall, Room 210. Do you have a book to share, or one coming soon? Do you want to share information on publishing in your book series? Do you want to hear about publishing possibilities in our journal Peitho? Join FemRhet attendees for a book share! Participants should feel free to bring exam copies, fliers for books, or series information. You might even consider bringing a copy or two to donate to our silent auction!
National Archives of Composition and Rhetoric: The University of New Hampshire is proud to hold a large portion of the National Archives of Composition and Rhetoric (NACR)–an endeavor begun over thirty years ago by Bob Connors at UNH and Bob Schwegler at URI. While you’re in Durham, it might be fun to peruse the archive and launch a new research project.
Along with its archive of over 4200 composition and rhetoric textbooks (UNH Beale Collection) from the past 200 years, the NACR began the work of collecting paper copies of syllabi, course descriptions, and program materials from faculty and program members, nationwide, dating back to the 1960s, the beginning of the modern era of composition/ writing studies as a field. We are planning to have a display curated for the conference, but please see the NACR website for inspiration: https://www.unh.edu/national-archives-comprhet/
Fun for All Ages: We will be creating a limited number of “kid kits” with some little toys, etc., to keep the lil ones happy. I’m also collecting some puzzles so you could bring them back to the dorm in the evening and maybe casually chat with some new friends. Speaking of friends, there will be materials for you to make friendship or “camp bracelets”–another chance for you to quietly craft or casually break the ice with someone you just met!