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HHL Student Conference Program

History Humanities and Languages Student Researc Conference
December 2, 2024
ACAD 300 (White Oak and Houston Rooms)
All 'A' Panel sessions meet in White Oak Room; All 'B' panel sessions meet in Houston Room

9:30 AM - 10:00 AM Coffee and breakfast snacks in the White Oak Room

Panel One [White Oak]

Meeting Topic:

History without Borders

Time

10:00 AM - 11:30 AM

Moderator:

Dr. Aaron Gillette

Presenters:

Emily Warren: The Compromise of 1877 and the End of Reconstruction

Mark Kansteiner: “The Correct Path of Struggle: Soviet Theories of Fascism and Their Effect on the Popular Front

Carlos Alvariño:Revoltosos y juguetones: Anarchist and Libertarian Socialist Ateneos during the Spanish Civil War

Panel One B  [Houston]

Meeting Topic:

Mixing Apples, Coconuts, and Oreos: A Comparative Analysis of Race, Gender, and Class in Ethnic American Literature 

Time:

10:00 AM - 11:30 AM

Moderator:

Dr. Vida Robertson

Presenters:

Shayan Rauf: “Disabling Injustice: Understanding the Systemic Oppression of Arnold Spirit and Polly Breedlove

Britney Molina: “Runaways: Interrogating the Escape ad Loss of Mary Spirit and Marin"

Marla Marin: “Tools of Whiteness: White Women as Agents of White Supremacy

Shanice Turner: "Father DisFigures: Examining the Flawed Paternal Figures of Cholly Breedlove and Arnold Spirit Sr."

Panel Two [White Oak]

Meeting Topic:

Philosophy, Ethics, and Social Practice

Time

11:30 AM - 12:55 AM

Moderator:

Dr. Annalee Ring

Presenters:

Cari Tucker: “Epistemic Responsibility and Social Exclusion: From Salem to Modern America

Yasmeen Ammourah: “’Are Islamic Practices Good for Animals?

Panel Two B [Houston]

Meeting Topic:

Double Vision: White Supremacy and Double Consciousness in Toni Morrison’s Bluest Eye

Time:

11:30 AM - 12:55 PM

Moderator:

Dr. Vita Robertson

Presenters:

Claudia Chappelle: “Washing Away Black Funkiness: Soaphead Church and the Religion of White Supremacy

Lyric Harris-Whitby: “In Search of Self: Pauline, Polly, and the Quest for Happiness

Josefina Guerrero: “’Escaping the Funkiness: The Heteronormativity Politics of Respectability Geraldine in the Bluest Eye

Guadalupe Villa: Blackness: Polly Breedlove’s Double Consciousness in Morrison’s The Bluest Eye

Break: 1:15 PM - 1:45 PM

Panel Three [White Oak]

Meeting Topic:

Latin American and Latinx Cultural Studies/ Estudios culturales latinoamericanos y latines (Spanish-language panel)

Time:

1:45 PM - 2:45 PM

Moderator:

Dr. Albert DeJesús

Presenters

Adam Selim Guehria: “The benefits of Immigration in the US

Alexis Gutiérrez: “Explorando la identidad híbrida en ‘My Graduation Speech’ de Tato  Laviera y ‘Alma Pocha’ de Américo Paredes

2:45 PM - 3:00 PM White Oak: Closing Remarks and Announcement of Best Paper


Student Academic Biographies

Carlos Alvariño is a senior undergraduate student at the University of Houston-Main Campus. He is a history major with a minor in Latin American studies; he also plans to pursue a second major, probably in Linguistics. His interests include Latin America, social and revolutionary movements, and indigenous peoples of the Americas. He plans on pursuing a PhD in Latin American history to work as an academic and as an activist in his home country, Perú.  

Yasmeen Ammourah is a Philosophy Major focusing on Social Theory regarding religion and feminism at the University of Houston-Downtown. She will be graduating by Spring 2025 and is planning to go to graduate school for Cross-Cultural Studies and Global Studies to become a professor in Social Studies specializing in post-colonialism and Global Issues. 

Adam Selim Guehria is a Criminal Justice major and Spanish minor at the University of Houston-Downtown. He has a special interest in legal services, politics, world cultures, and foreign languages. He will be graduating from the University of Houston-Downtown in December of 2024. He plans on applying to Law School after graduation and working in a work environment that involves intellectual work. 

Alexis Gutiérrez is a full-time student currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in Spanish at the University of Houston--Downtown. Passionate about language and literature, Alexis plans to attend graduate school after graduation, with the goal of earning a master's degree in Spanish literature. This journey reflects his commitment to exploring the rich cultural and literary traditions of the Spanish-speaking world. Beyond academics, Alexis has a keen interest in the intersections of language, culture, and identity.  

Bianca Juarez is a first-year honors student majoring in Philosophy with an interest in pursuing a double major in Political Science/Government. She has a strong passion for political work, including active research, advocacy, and activism, alongside her academic focus on philosophy, particularly in epistemology and ethics. She plans to earn a master’s in journalism with a political concentration after completing her undergraduate studies, followed by a Juris Doctor degree to pursue a career as an international corporate lawyer, politician, and/or potentially a judge. Outside of academics, she enjoys physical activity and reading, particularly in science fiction and historical genres, with a goal of reading over 50 books annually. 

Mark Kansteiner is a history major pursuing a minor in English at the University of Houston-Downtown. He is a graduate of Lone Star College where, after earning his Associate of Arts Degree, he transferred to UHD as a junior. He plans to graduate in the Fall of 2025 and teach high school history.   

Emily Warren is a history graduate student at Sam Houston State University. She is particularly interested in World War II and the Holocaust. After graduating with a bachelor's degree, this is her first year in graduate school. After college, she plans on working with the Holocaust Museum in Houston and eventually teaching the next generation of historians.