Faculty and Staff Highlights: Ayob, Faizuillaev, Hoover, Hyman, Kennedy, McKenzie, Rich

Webster University faculty and staff highlights offer a roundup of recent Webster faculty and staff activity and achievements.

Ayoub Featured in Hybrida Journal

Salim Ayoub, professor of French in the Department of Global Languages, Cultures and Societies at the Webster Groves campus, had an article published in the academic journal Hybrida.

Faizuillaev Publishes Book Chapter in Oxford Handbook 

Alisher Faizuillaev, Leif J. Sverdrup Global Teaching Fellow and adjunct professor at Webster University Tashkent, recently had a book chapter titled “Digital Diplomacy of the Central Asian Countries,” included in the January 2024 edition of The Oxford Handbook of Digital Diplomacy.

Faizuillaev has previously published two books — “Diplomacy for Professionals and Everyone” and “The Mediator: A Negotiation Fable,” which is designed to help students learn negotiation theories and concepts in a fun way.

Hoover Participates in U.S. Writing Conference

Assistant Professor of English Elizabeth Hoover recently participated in two events at the Association of Writers and Writing Programs' Conference, the largest conference in the U.S. for creative writers and creative writing teachers. It was held in the Kansas City Convention Center in Kansas City, Missouri. in early February. The conference also included a virtual component comprised of prerecorded and livestreamed events.

As part of the conference, Hoover read her creative nonfiction in the Southeast Review's reading at the Kansas City Public Library. The next day, she moderated the panel "Writers Who Drag,” which focused on the art of drag and the ways in which concepts of hyperbole, metaphor, lyricism, and musicality can be directly applied to literary work.

Hyman Selected as Changemaker Speaker at Principia College

Webster University Adjunct Professor Randall Hyman was selected to serve as Principia College’s 2024 Changemaker Speaker. Hyman was chosen because of his work as a global photojournalist, artist and lecturer, and for serving as an advocate on climate change, indigenous rights and social justice.

“Principia is especially aware of my work because my interactive oral history photo exhibit on Scandinavia's Sámi people is concluding its five-year tour of North America on their campus (through April) and will then travel to Norway for permanent acquisition by the Sámi parliament,” said Hyman.

Hyman’s written work and photography is also being featured as the cover story in the March issue of Astronomy magazine

Other recent articles by Hyman include Discoveries From the Depths: Climate Change Research at the Norwegian Polar Institute, Into the Portal Night: Ocean Life Abounds in a World Devoid of Sunlight, The Arctic After Dark: A Secret World of Hidden Life and Navajo Women Making a Mark.

Kennedy, McKenzie, Rich Form Webster Faculty and Staff Hiking Group 

From left to right: Rich, Kennedy and McKenzie smile by a trail sign during a recent hike.

Since March of 2023, a small group of Webster University faculty and staff members have started to meet at various trails and state parks in the area for moderate hikes. Three staff members in particular — Shane Kennedy (College of Science and Health), Ian McKenzie (Admissions) and Stephen Rich (Office of Research and Sponsored Programs) — have gone even further and completed three overnight, backpacking trips together.

The group has hiked and backpacked through areas such as Hawn State Park, Meramec State Park, Pickle Springs, Don Robinson State Park, Rockwoods Reservation and more. They also like to try out new trails whenever possible. Participants attest that the hiking group has been a great way to get into nature and connect with people from other departments.

Webster faculty and staff who are interested in joining the hiking group for future adventures are encouraged to email Stephen Rich.