Arts for All is pleased to announce the recipients of the Fall 2024 ArtsAMP Graduate Student Research Grants and Collaborative Student MicroGrants. These grants will support a wide range of projects that integrate the arts with other disciplines, foster interdisciplinary collaboration, or address issues of social justice. We wish to recognize Hart M. Rossman '98, MBA '08 and Melissa S. Rossman '99, whose generosity helped fund these student grants.
Here are the winners:
ArtsAMP Graduate Student Research Grants
Alice Bi, a Ph.D. student in English, will develop “D1CT33,” an interactive digital installation inspired by Theresa Hak Kyung Cha's 1982 experimental text “Dictee.” Using projection mapping and gesture-based interactions, the installation will invite participants to read aloud multilingual passages as a way to explore themes of postcoloniality and identity.
Oluwafunmilola Fadairo, a Ph.D. student in English, will use virtual reality (VR) to develop immersive 3D representations of Nigerian heritage sites, including Idanre Hills, Nike Art Gallery and the National Museum in Benin City. Her project, “Examining Visual Rhetoric through Immersive Representations of African Heritage in Diasporic Education,” will analyze the impact of these experiences on Black high school students in the diaspora, fostering cultural connection and challenging stereotypes.
Somto Ihezue, a graduate student in creative writing, will develop “Borders,” a multilingual digital story-form merging poetry, prose and interactive art to explore themes of migration, identity and language. It will use various languages—particularly endangered languages—to engage with both cultural diversity and language preservation.
Yoonhee Eunice Kim, a D.M.A. candidate in collaborative piano, will present “Hidden Gems,” a collection of works by overlooked German female composers from the Romantic Era. This project aims to bring these compositions to the public’s attention and inspire others to perform them.
Ryan Nock, who is pursuing an M.A. in theatre and performance studies, will investigate the experiences of disabled individuals in the performing arts through a comprehensive literature review and a survey. This project will culminate in a detailed report providing actionable recommendations for improving access and inclusion in the arts.
Michele Bowyer, a Ph.D. student in urban education, will create “in2 mi eye cee,” a multimodal project exploring memory, immersive art and urban spatial justice. The work reflects on her intimate walks with her maternal great-grandmother in West Baltimore in the mid-1990s and examines the healing powers of "unforgetting" through creative engagement with her past.
Jalen Rose, a dance M.F.A candidate, will develop “Painting Corporealities” (working title), a choreographic exploration of movement, abstraction and visual representation. The project uses technology to transform dancers' unique movement signatures into living abstract paintings, connecting audiences to the performers through color and texture rather than physical identifiers.
Jill Stauffer, an M.F.A. student in studio art, will create ”Simulacrum for the Remnant Woods,” an installation replicating endangered green spaces in College Park. Using digital documentation and artificial recreation, the project will explore memory, technology and the impact of environmental loss.
ArtsAMP Collaborative Student MicroGrants
Ruka Ayele ’25, an information science and African studies double major, will create “Nuru: Bridging Ethiopian Culture and Modern Technology.” This innovative project merges Ethiopian cultural heritage with wearable technology, featuring creations like a digital headpiece, an AR-integrated dress and interactive sandals. Nuru—meaning "to live on"—will spark dialogue and preserve cultural narratives by blending tradition with innovation.
Jing Fan ’27, a violin performance and general biology major, will launch Healing Harmonies, a concert series bringing live music to local medical institutions. These performances aim to support patient recovery and provide stress relief for healthcare workers while giving music students opportunities for meaningful outreach.
Avishai (Shai) Margulies ’26, a psychology and criminology major, received funding on behalf of his group Rak Shalom, a Jewish a cappella group, which will use the grant to record their 10th studio album. The album will blend contemporary musical styles with traditional Jewish and Hebrew cultural songs and will be released on streaming platforms in September 2025.
Kaisha Snowden ’26, a dance and public health practice double major, will host Majorette Masterclass, a series of dance workshops in Baltimore that celebrate the tradition of majorette dance within Black culture. The workshops will promote physical health and creative expression in Baltimore City.
Miele Murray ’26, a theatre major, will expand her project, “Here to Wed Socabane.” Originally a hand-puppetry piece produced for the Jim Henson Award (2023) at The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, the work is now being enhanced in collaboration with UMD's robotics department. Murray aims to integrate animatronic technology into the fantastical tale of a young couple seeking peace amidst chaos, with plans to debut an animated bust in live and filmed performances by 2024.
Nivetha Rajapandi ’26, a neurobiology and physiology major with a minor in innovation and entrepreneurship, received funding on behalf of Maryland Minza, UMD’s premiere South Asian fusion dance competition. The event will foster camaraderie among competing teams while celebrating the cultural roots and traditions of South Asian dance through interactive activities.
Andrea Woguia Simo ’25, an African American studies major and Black women studies minor, will create “Living in Color: The Seeds of Love,” a painted love letter that reflects on love as a transformative force and an act of resistance. This project will serve as a space for remembrance and celebration of love through art.
Sophie Zhang, ’27 who is majoring in information systems and finance, received funding to go towards organizing the Tianyi Dance Team Showcase, UMD's premier event celebrating Chinese cultural dance. Scheduled for April 12, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. in the Hoff Theater, the performance will feature dances representing the traditions of China’s ethnic minorities, including Tibetan, Xinjiang, Han, Qiuci, Dai and Yi groups. The showcase will foster cultural connection through the art of dance, inviting the community to experience the vibrancy and diversity of Chinese traditions.