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Tag: and Humanistic Studies

Poet Laureate and Artist Unite to Celebrate Virginia

Plutarch, the 1st century Greek philosopher, historian, and author wrote, “Painting is silent poetry, and poetry is painting that speaks.” Two Virginians — one a poet and the other a painter — have united in blending visual and literary art forms to enhance their creative expressions and to celebrate Virginia 250.

Mattie Quesenberry Smith, Ph.D., instructor in the Department of English, Rhetoric, and Humanistic Studies at Virginia Military Institute and Virginia’s poet laureate, has collaborated with acclaimed artist, Andras Bality, for his exhibition at Longwood Center for the Visual Arts (LCVA) in Farmville. The exhibition titled, “Close to Home: Andras Bality’s Virginia,” celebrates the breadth and beauty of the Virginia landscape and includes 25 of Bality’s paintings.

Smith was commissioned by LCVA to write a poem in response to Bality’s work. The poem, “Twilight in Bath County, Virginia,” was written in memory of Alden Smith Shriver and her husband, Beverly R. Shriver, longtime residents of Bath County, now buried in Warm Springs Cemetery. Its opening stanza describes the breaking of dawn in Bath County: “Across the oceans, breeze-blown eastern light rises — just like the bright morning sun. It slips across the Atlantic’s rankled edge, spills onto the Piedmont’s fallow fields, and crests Shenandoah.” The entire poem is displayed between two of Bality’s paintings; “Rockbridge Longhorns,” and “Brownsburg View” at LCVA.

The exhibition opened Feb. 20 and will run through Sept. 6. In tandem with the display, a book by the same name of the exhibition has been published highlighting the paintings as well as Smith’s poem. Additional information may be found on LCVA’s website.

Cadets Present at Southern Humanities Conference

wo Virginia Military Institute Honors cadets, John Paul Adams ’27, an English major, and Aleck Tiller ’27, an international studies major, presented at the Southern Humanities Conference (SHC) in Annapolis, Maryland, Feb. 6. Founded in 1947, the SHC provides a welcoming and robust space for research presentations that cross disciplines and inspire imaginative discussion. This year’s theme was “Tides and Time, Ebbs and Flows.” The cadets were notably the only undergraduate presenters at the conference. Others were professors, graduate students, and independent scholars.

Adams presented his 2025 Summer Undergraduate Research Institute project titled, “Scriptural Monster: A Study of Tolkien’s Jonah,” in which he connects J.R.R. Tolkien’s translation of the Old Testament book of Jonah for the Jerusalem Bible — a Roman Catholic translation of the Bible — to the theme of mercy in Tolkien’s classic, “The Lord of the Rings.” Adams shared what he likes about the Book of Jonah is that it fits well with Tolkien’s ethos. “It’s a very mythical book of the Bible, and it’s got a lot of fairy tale elements that Tolkien used in his fiction.” Adams added that his experience at SHC was marvelous. “It was exciting to be able to present in front of professionals, and engage in great conversation with them.”

Aleck Tiller ’27 listens as John Paul Adams ’27 discusses his research at the Southern Humanities Conference Feb. 6. –Photo courtesy of Col. Steven Knepper.

Tiller’s presentation entitled, “BrAInpower or ConstrAInt? The Importance of Human-Made Art in an AI World.” His research took up the question of why people respond to a work of art more positively when they know it is created by a human, as opposed to artificial intelligence (AI). He drew on research in psychology as well as the philosophies of G.W.F. Hegel and Susanne Langer. Tiller agreed with Adams that SHC was a wonderful opportunity for them to share their research with other scholars.

“Since we were the only undergraduates, our presentations caught the attention of many professors and academics. This was the first time either of us have presented research, but it certainly won’t be the last. VMI molds a cadet to do things that they never imagined.”

The cadets were accompanied by Col. Robert McDonald, associate dean for academic affairs and director of the honors program, and professor of English and fine arts; Col. Steven Knepper, professor of English and holder of the Bruce C. Gottwald Jr. ’81 Chair for Academic Excellence; and Maj. Henry A. Wise III ’05, assistant professor of English. The three delivered a panel presentation called, “The Art of Past-Haunted Places: Photography, Fiction, and Poetry,” which focused on the role that place plays in their respective creative endeavors. Knepper noted, “Place is more than a backdrop. It actively shapes people and carries both vestiges of the past and a sense of possibility.” McDonald presented photographs from his recently published book, “Studio Notes: My Time With Cy Twombly.” Wise read excerpts from his novel, “Holy City,”and discussed the relationship between the fictional county described in the book and the factual region of Southside, Virginia. Knepper read poems about his family’s Pennsylvania dairy farm. The trio also talked about VMI’s Department of English, Rhetoric, and Humanistic Studies, and how it encourages both interdisciplinary and creative work.

The cadets’ travel was supported with a grant from the VMI Center for Undergraduate Research.

Richter Publishes 7th Book

Dr. Duncan Richter, professor in the Department of English, Rhetoric, and Humanistic Studies and holder of the Charles Luck III ’55 Institute Professorship at Virginia Military Institute, has recently authored his seventh book titled, “Wittgenstein Versus Anscombe on How to Live: Linked Philosophical Lives,” published by Bloomsbury Publishing.

The book explores the lives of two of the most influential philosophers of the 20th century, Ludwig Wittgenstein and Elizabeth Anscombe. Anscombe was Wittgenstein’s friend and student, chosen by him to be his translator and editor, but the two had very different views on ethics, religion, killing in war, sexuality, politics, God, and the meaning of life. Drawing on previously unpublished work by Anscombe, Richter explains where these beliefs came from, how they affected the lives of these two great philosophers, and some of the strengths and weaknesses of their divergent positions.

All seven of Richter’s books may be purchased on Amazon.

Gilman Scholarship Available for Studies Abroad

Col. Jeff Kendrick, director of the Office of Global Education at Virginia Military Institute, announced the U.S. Department of State’s Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship is currently accepting applications. The Gilman and Gilman-McCain Scholarships are merit-based awards for American undergraduate students with high financial need who want to study or intern abroad for academic credit.

Josiah Farrell ’28 and Anderson Robles Rodriguez ’28 both benefited from the scholarships when they participated in the Taiwan Huayu BEST Program to study Mandarin Chinese at the National Chengchi University in Taipei last summer.

Farrell, who is double majoring in international studies and modern languages and cultures, shared studying abroad was a lifelong dream come true. “The funding provided by Gilman kept my parents and myself from worrying about how my summer studies would be funded, and allowed me to focus on learning Mandarin. Additionally, with the funds I had left over, I was able to completely fund my follow-on service project to hold a Chinese Moon Festival last October.” 

Robles Rodriguez, a mechanical engineering major, said his summer studying Mandarin in Taiwan was one of the most meaningful experiences of his life. “Through daily immersion, I gained confidence using Mandarin in night markets, on public transportation, and while traveling independently throughout the country. Without the Gilman Scholarship, studying abroad in Taiwan would not have been an option for me, and its support allowed me to fully enjoy the experience without financial stress. I was incredibly happy during my time abroad, and it reinforced how powerful and life-changing studying in a foreign country can be.”

Gracie Harlow ’27, who is double majoring in history and English with a concentration in literature, has been awarded a Gilman Scholarship to study Spanish at Universidad de Alcalá in Madrid, Spain, this summer for four weeks.

“As a Pell Grant student, I already come from a low-income background, so I never believed that studying abroad at another university would be in the cards for me. But this scholarship is covering half of the program costs, which relieved a lot of financial stress. VMI has made this amazing opportunity possible for me, and I couldn’t be more thankful.”

Kendrick reported VMI has enjoyed a 100% success rate in applications submitted and funded over the last year, and credits it to the hard work cadets put into drafting, editing, and refining their applications.

“Having served on the national review panels for both awards, I can testify that the competition is stiff. These cadets must tell a compelling story and thoughtfully connect their study abroad plans to future career goals. Over 17,000 applications were submitted nationwide last year in the March cycle, and of those, roughly only one-fourth were funded. Last year’s October cycle had 7,700 applications and only 20% were selected. This speaks to the high quality of our outstanding cadets. Furthermore, our two cadet awardees from 2026 maxed out the award at $5,000 each, and were awarded an additional $3,000 for the study of a critical language. This is a significant contribution and makes studying abroad a reality for cadets who might not otherwise have the opportunity.”

Cadets interested in studying abroad should visit the Office of Global Education on post to learn the requirements of the Gilman and Gilman-McCain Scholarships or other available awards, or email GlobalEd@vmi.edu for more information and to start on their application.

Knepper Featured on ‘With Good Reason’

Col. Steve Knepper, professor in the Department of English, Rhetoric, and Humanistic Studies at Virginia Military Institute, is featured on ” The Weight of a Whale”, a poetry episode of the public radio program, “With Good Reason,” that first aired Dec. 5. The show airs on 136 radio stations in 36 states.

Knepper is a poet and writer who founded an online poetry journal called New Verse Review: A Journal of Lyric and Narrative Poetry. He grew up on a small dairy farm in Pennsylvania and came to poetry relatively late in his career. His poem, “Breech,” is his memory of his father’s struggle to help a distressed cow give birth to her calf.  On the show, he talks about his own poetry and some of the poets featured in the online journal.

“With Good Reason” is sponsored by the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities. Local broadcast times, as well as audio files of full programs and companion news features, are on the “With Good Reason” website.

Virginia Business Names Smith in 100 People to Meet in 2026 List

Mattie Quesenberry Smith, Ph.D., instructor in the Department of English, Rhetoric, and Humanistic Studies at Virginia Military Institute, and Virginia’s poet laureate, has been chosen by Virginia Business (VB) for their list of “100 People to Meet in 2026” in the Educators category.

For the seventh year, VB, a publication dedicated to covering economic activity in every sector and region of Virginia, highlighted a group of fascinating people in the commonwealth. A lifelong resident of Virginia, Smith grew up in Appalachia in humble surroundings. The first of her family to go to college, she received her undergraduate degree from Hollins University where she double majored in biology and English literature. She continued her studies at Hollins, earning a master’s degree in English literature and creative writing. She earned her doctorate from Virginia Tech in 2024.

Smith’s poetry has appeared in many periodicals. She has written screenplays with her husband and VMI peer, Douglas N. Smith. Their documentary film, “Between Two Fires” garnered a CINE Eagle and Best Documentary of the Show in the New York International Independent Film and Video Festival. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences awarded the film an Oscar for excellence in graduate student filmmaking.

Using funds she received from an Academy of American Poets Laureate fellowship, Smith launched “Perseverance and Resilience: Supporting Veterans through Poetry,” a project that supports veterans’ health and well-being. The project involves regional workshops throughout Virginia, facilitated by creative writing instructors and contemporary veteran poets. Through the workshops, veterans explore ways they have persevered and found resilience in challenging times.

Smith confessed she was taken by surprise when VB initially contacted her to tell her she had been chosen. “Virginia Business is a fantastic resource for Virginians. Useful information and professional insights fill its pages. I am thankful for the support this endorsement provides for my veterans poetry project.”

Smith is currently working on a book of poetry titled, “Optics and Doubt.”

The entire list of “100 People to Meet in 2026” may be viewed online.

Cadets Present Research Projects at SURF

Five Virginia Military Institute cadets, with Dr. Sherif Abdelhamid, assistant professor in the Department of Computer and Information Sciences and outreach liaison officer for VMI’s Cyber Defense Laboratory, traveled to Spartanburg, South Carolina, to present research projects at the SoCon Undergraduate Research Forum (SURF), at Wofford College Oct. 24-25.

SURF brings together students from across the Southern Conference league’s member institutions to showcase their academic excellence.

Cadets who attended include Benjamin Davis ’26, who is double majoring in applied mathematics and computer science; Jackson Pelt ’26, a mechanical engineering major; Shahryar Shah ’26, a computer science major; Gracie Harlow ’27, who is double majoring in history and English; and Jeremiah Woods ’27, a history major.

Woods said SURF was a great opportunity to share his first research experience. His project titled, “African Americans at VMI: 1851-1865,” explores the contributions of the enslaved and free Black men and women who lived and worked in connection with the Institute during the years leading up to and throughout the Civil War.

“It highlights their lives, labor, and legacies, while reflecting on how their presence shaped the foundation of VMI and how their stories can be more fully recognized today,” he explained.

In her project titled, “Commemorating Service: Preserving Memory Through Archival Research at the American Battle Monuments Commission,” Harlow focuses on U.S. military personnel who died during the Normandy campaign in World War II, and the importance of preserving their stories. Last summer, she presented her research at the Normandy American Cemetery in France.

“I am extremely thankful to have had the opportunity to also present my research at SURF. The feedback from graders who evaluated the presentations, allowed me to move forward and broaden my views,” she said.

According to Abdelhamid, attending SURF was an invaluable experience for the cadets. “They not only showcased their research with confidence and professionalism, but also engaged deeply with peers and faculty from across the Southern Conference. SURF provided them with a meaningful platform to exchange ideas, receive constructive feedback, and see firsthand how their academic work connects to larger conversations in their disciplines.”