Julia Luisa Abramson, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Modern Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, Dodge Family College of Arts and Sciences, will join the Office of the Vice President for Research and Partnerships as a 2023 Faculty Fellow for the arts and humanities.
Abramson brings deep interdisciplinary expertise to the role, where she will work with OVPRP senior leadership in implementing the research agenda set forth in the Strategic Research Framework and liaise with other organizations such as the OU Arts and Humanities Forum, Center for Faculty Excellence, Research Council and the Institute for Community and Society Transformation.
“I really view this role as, first and foremost, a bridge-building role,” Abramson said. “The challenge is to enhance the strong efforts already underway on campus. How can we offer more prominence, more opportunity especially to those scholars working in the humanities and arts? How can we enable connections across fields?”
Abramson also points out that support for faculty research and creative activities creates opportunities for students, strengthening the whole campus community.
“Some may have the perception from reading the research verticals that there is an undue emphasis on empirical research, on quantitative research,” she said. “I think this is an opportunity to really help round out the picture, which is appropriate for an R1 research institution like OU. You need all parts of the research enterprise to be moving forward.
“My hope would be to work with others on campus to leave some sort of legacy that really highlights the humanities and the arts. Building on the work that's already been accomplished, we have the chance to shape something that will be enduring and that will highlight the work of humanists and faculty in the arts into the future,” she said.
