News

From performing to directing to storytelling, Emily Radcliffe’s undergraduate experience demonstrates her desire “to do all the things.”

By Olivia Vanderwal (previously posted on the Faculty of Arts web page)

The Dean of Arts, along with members of the departments of Communication Arts, English, Philosophy, and Political Science, are very pleased to welcome four new faculty members who join Waterloo as part of the Black Excellence and Indigenous Excellence hiring initiative.

The National Killam Program announced that Dr. Naila Keleta-Mae (Communication Arts) has won a 2023 Dorothy Killam Fellowship that provides support for dedicated research time to scholars “whose superior, ground-breaking, best-in-class research stands to have significant impact on a national or global scale.”

THIS WEEK ONLY!! The Theatre & Performance program is excited to share our production of Portia’s Julius Caesar.  This play represents a radical adaption of William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar.

Dr. Naila Keleta-Mae’s Black And Free Project is engaging with the public, showcasing Ontario-based Black artists

By Claire Francis

In the Canadian academic landscape, scholar, artist, and professor, Dr. Naila Keleta-Mae (Communication Arts) is a visionary. Her Black And Free Project explores Black expressive culture through various mediums — and this year, Keleta-Mae’s work is going beyond academia and being brought to life for the public. A series of events, classes, and exhibits are planned which explore the themes inherent in her multi-year research-creation project on blackness and freedom.

Vershawn Young is many things: a professor in the department of Communication Arts and English Language and Literature; the director of the new Black Studies program, a program in which he led in the development; a solo performance artist, translating all of his academic work into stage productions; and a writer of books and articles.

He is now participating in the leading role of Sir Robert Chiltern, in the production of An Ideal Husband by Oscar Wilde at Firehall Theatre.

Every year, the Royal Society of Canada (RSC) elects new cohorts for outstanding artistic, scientific and scholarly achievements. Waterloo is hosting this year's RSC 2023 Celebration of Excellence and Engagement conference in November.

Several Waterloo researchers have been nominated this year and will be joining the incoming cohorts of the RSC fellows and the new members of the RSC College. One of which is from the Communication Arts department! Professor Naila Keleta-Mae.

Students in this spring term’s Introduction to Critical Design Thinking course (SPCOM 149/THPERF 149) shared their work in public spaces on campus, expressing ideas and solidarity, and raising awareness toward social and environmental action.