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Interactive Arts and Technology doctoral student in the Faculty of Communication, Art and Technology

Tell us a little about yourself, including what inspires you to learn and continue in your chosen field

I love the arts and spend as much time as I can attending theatre and dance shows. I take ballet, jazz, modern, and tap classes at the Bez Arts Hub, and I write about dance for various magazines. I'm inspired to research dance history and bring important narratives out of the archives to inform future dance writing and criticism.

Why did you choose to come to SFU?

I came to SFU right after high school and have never left. After I completed my Bachelor of Arts in English and French literatures and Certificate in Liberal Studies, I started working at the university. Since then I have done my Post-Baccalaureate Diploma in Communication and my Master of Arts. Being an alumnus, staff member, and student gives me a unique perspective and I wanted to continue my academic journey with my PhD here.

How would you describe your research or your program to a family member?

I will be continuing my archival research and oral interviews about Vancouver dance history, starting from a biographical perspective on Iris Garland's life and legacy. My research will take a multimodal approach to share important historical narratives about Canadian dance history.

What three (3) keywords would you use to describe your research?

Multimodal, Research-creation, Archival research

How have your courses, RA-ships, TA-ships, or non-academic school experiences contributed to your academic and/or professional development?

I am just starting my PhD, but during my master's degree I met amazing classmates and enjoyed working as an RA. I'm looking forward to meeting new people and collaborating with other researchers in SIAT.

Have you been the recipient of any major or donor-funded awards? If so, please tell us which ones and a little about how the awards have impacted your studies and/or research

I received Graduate Fellowship funding from SFU.

What have been the most valuable lessons you've learned along your graduate student journey (or in becoming a graduate student)?

I've learned to be open to new collaborations and directions for my research. I try not to be too prescriptive about the process or outcomes and see where the research takes me.

How do you approach networking and building connections in and outside of your academic community?

I have found that reaching out to people whose research or interests align with mine and asking to have a conversation with them has been very valuable.

What are some tips for balancing your academic and personal life?

Schedule everything that needs to happen in a day with how long it should take or how long you will spend on it. Write everything down. Write and rewrite to do lists for the day.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

You can find out more about my work and the criticalmediartstudio .

Contact Tessa:tcp@sfu.ca

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