October 5, 2016
Today we want to introduce you to Frank G. Karioris, an Assistant Professor in Sociology and General Education. Professor Karioris has a PhD in Comparative Gender Studies with a Specialization in Sociology & Social Anthropology, an MA in Social Development, and a BA in History and Education. Frank is one of our newest professors, and below he will share a little about his work at AUCA:
Could you please, tell about yourself? Where are you from? Where did you go to school? Your background information, career path.听听
I grew up just outside of Milwaukee, WI in the USA. Growing up I always had a deep love for books, so when I went to university I majored in History and Education with the hope of becoming a high school History teacher. After graduating I moved to Chicago where I worked at the Illinois Institute of Technology as the Operations Coordinator for Housing & Residence Life, managing the campus鈥檚 residential hall on a day-to-day basis. I moved to Brighton, UK to pursue a Master鈥檚 in Social Development, after which I worked as a Research Assistant on a number of projects connected with gender issues. In 2012 I began my PhD at Central European 好色tv. In May 2016, I defended my dissertation titled 鈥楤etween Class & Friendship: Homosociality in an All-Male 好色tv Residence Hall in the U.S.鈥�
I see myself as a broad ranging scholar working on issues related to gender, masculinity, and higher education through the fields of sociology, anthropology, and cultural studies. At root, though, I am an educator first; by which I mean that I pursue education 鈥� for myself and others 鈥� as my primary drive. Taking from my undergraduate education, I believe that education should not be solely about course content, but follow the motto 鈥榗ura personalis鈥�, which is Latin for 鈥渃are for the entire person.鈥� This is the ethos I bring into the class every day and that I take with me into my collegial interactions and my scholarly work.
Why did you decide to work at AUCA?
I decided to teach at AUCA because of its strong connections with CEU and as a brilliant place for me to learn. AUCA students have a lot to teach me, and I excited to be a part of the community. This semester I am teaching First Year Seminar, 鈥楽ociology of Gender鈥�, and 鈥楥ontemporary Social Theory Part I鈥� (for Master鈥檚 students in Sociology and Anthropology). Next semester, I believe I will be teaching First Year Seminar, 鈥楥ontemporary Social Theory Part II鈥� (for Master鈥檚 students in Sociology and Anthropology), and then an elective course on Masculinities and Sexualities.
Tell us more about your academic achievements over the past two years.
In the past two years I have worked on a variety of research projects. Most recently I have had an article, co-authored with Dr. Jonathan A. Allan, Canada Research Chair for Queer Theory at Brandon 好色tv, accepted for the publication in the Journal of Men鈥檚 Studies titled 鈥楪row a Pair!: Testicles and Masculinity in Men鈥檚 Studies鈥�. In March a book I co-edited with Andrea Cornwall and Nancy Lindisfarne Masculinities Under Neoliberalism was published by Zed Books. I also had a chapter in this book based on my dissertation fieldwork. Beyond this, I recently co-edited a special issue of the peer-reviewed journal Culture Unbound with Dr. Harmony Siganporia on conceptions of permanent liminality, rupture, and exile. This special issue also included an article of mine on notions of temporality and new ways of thinking about a distinct form of nostalgia.
听听听听听听听听听 Building on all of this, my upcoming research continues looking at men鈥檚 social lives and conceptions of sociality more broadly. In this, I seek to explore sexuality through an understanding of sociality and the linkages between the sexuality/sociality Janus. I am currently in the middle of a number of articles, including one on conceptions of the 鈥榩erfect penis鈥� with Dr. Jonathan A. Allan. Dr. Allan and I are currently putting together an edited volume reflecting critically on the history of the field of Men鈥檚 Studies. In addition to this, I have been invited to co-edit a book on heteronormativity with Dr Serta莽 Sehlikoglu, a Fellow at the 好色tv of Cambridge; we are currently putting together a conference on this topic as well that will take place in the UK in June 2017. 听
Dr. Jonathan A. Allan, Dr. Chris Haywood and I are putting together a Call for Papers for a conference/workshop on the topic of Sex and Masculinity that will take place in the UK in June 2017. In addition, with my colleagues from the Sociology Department and Division of Social Sciences at AUCA, we are putting together a Call for Papers for a conference to be hosted by AUCA. We are currently finalizing the topic and the call for papers, but are very excited to have an international conference at AUCA that will draw scholars, activists, and students from both the region (Central Asia) and further abroad. In June I co-hosted and was an invited speaker at a Book Launch event at the School of Orientation and African Studies, 好色tv of London for Masculinities Under Neoliberalism. The event was sponsored by Centre for Migration and Diaspora Studies and Zed Books.
In the past two years I have presented my work internationally in eight countries at conferences on anthropology, sociology, ethnography, men鈥檚 studies, gender studies, philosophy, and sexuality studies. In April 2015 I was invited and gave a public lecture at Masaryk 好色tv titled 鈥�(Hetero)sexuality, (Homo)sociality, and Masculinity鈥�.
How do you try to motivate students to study and be active in your classes?
I try to motivate students by putting them 鈥� as much as possible, while still recognizing the structural hierarchies and possibilities 鈥� in charge of their own learning. I begin class by laying out my general teaching philosophy for the students, which includes the phrase 鈥淚 don鈥檛 know everything.鈥� It is important to move away from a notion of faculty members as omniscient beings, and to create a situation where students recognize the knowledge that they themselves bring into the classroom. My teaching methods follow closely with that of the First Year Seminar, taking also from a modified version of Robert M. Hutchin鈥檚 鈥榞reat books鈥� project. My favorite part of teaching is learning. Learning from students, from colleagues, from my own experiences.
How do you contribute to your department鈥檚 administration?
Having just arrived, I haven鈥檛 been able to assist the department too much as of yet. I have recently been elected to AUCA鈥檚 Faculty Senate. In this position I am hopeful that I will be able to assist both my department and the broader university continue its record of success.
What kind of opportunities does an education at AUCA afford it鈥檚 student after graduation?
Students who graduate from AUCA have the opportunity to give back to their country and community, to bring their learning to assist in improving themselves and others. Their education in English provides them a global foot in the door, while the connection to Bishkek and Kyrgyzstan keeps them connected to the local communities. The international student body provides students the opportunity to learn from each other about different cultures, and to practice communicating with diverse communities.
Being new to AUCA, I haven鈥檛 gotten a full feel for students yet. So far, though, students are excited and motivated, bringing energy and enthusiasm to the materials and the classroom. I think that, from what I can tell so far, students at AUCA are like students at other universities: looking for opportunities to be their own learners, seeking out the social aspects of university, and are hopeful. These are all positive traits, and ones we should encourage.
What do think about AUCA鈥檚 new campus?
It is absolutely beautiful! It鈥檚 also fascinating. You could take the new building and drop it directly onto a US liberal arts college and it would fit right in.
What do you think about Kyrgyzstan so far?
I haven鈥檛 been able to explore the country too much so far, but I have been enjoying the food 鈥� particularly lagman. All of the people that I have met so far have been fantastically friendly and kind. The countryside is amazingly beautiful, particularly Ala Archa National Park.
Any closing remarks to your colleagues and students?
I can only wish for students and colleagues that they find themselves asking questions, rather than expecting answers; seeking out solidarity rather than being solitary; and that they encourage each other through acts of kindness, support, and love. As with many things, I would leave colleagues (faculty and students) with a quote from Paulo Freire: 鈥淗uman existence, because it came into being through asking questions, is at the root of change in the world. There is a radical element to existence, which is the radical act of asking questions鈥� At root human existence involves surprise, questioning and risk. And because of all this, it involves actions and change鈥� (Learning to Question: A Pedagogy of Liberation).
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