Today, the University of North Texas College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences (CLASS) announced its semesterly series topic, In-CLASS Distinguished Faculty Series to be held on Wednesday, October 12, 2022, at the University Theatre.

Topic: Embodied Heritage.

"The In-CLASS Distinguished Faculty Series invites CLASS scholars doing important and innovative work to present their projects to UNT, the Denton community and beyond", said James Meernik, CLASS Interim Executive Dean. "The goal of the series is to enhance the intellectual life of liberal arts and social sciences, by providing a venue for dialogue among faculty members, students, alumni and many stakeholders. This dialogue is key to maintaining a vibrant environment within CLASS for scholarly discussion, including talks about how our creative arts, research and other work gives us insight into people and society," said Meernik.

Combining the creative arts and performance, Reyna Mondragon, Lecturer in the Department of Dance and Theatre will lead the In-CLASS series featuring her work that focuses on the multiple ways to incorporate cultural heritage and rhythm, kinesthetically, visually, and musically into dance.

Regarding her work on embodied heritage, says Mondragon, "I hope to connect with audiences by offering a space for witnessing dance and sharing tools to support community and personal reflection on culture and heritage".

As an educator Mondragon's focus is to provide a global perspective to education by offering materials, resources, and activities that speak to gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, age, socioeconomic status, ethnicity, race, nationality, religion, and culture related to the dance community and world at large.

The In-CLASS committee this year includes Dr. Jacqueline Demeritt, associate professor, Political Science, Dr. Anna Hinton, assistant professor, English, Dr. Miguel Gualdron Ramirez, assistant professor, Philosophy & Religion, and Dr. Steve Wolverton, chair, Geography and the Environment.

Doors open at 6 p.m., while the program will start at 6:30 p.m. It is free and open to the public. Registration is recommended, but not required.

About In-CLASS Distinguished Faculty Series: The In-CLASS Distinguished Faculty Series features diverse academic connections across the great range of subjects taught and studied by University of North Texas College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences (CLASS) faculty. Each academic semester, CLASS engages an audience with a speaker or panel aimed at drawing attention to salient and important topics across the many disciplines within the liberal arts and social sciences. The programs are designed to appeal to the public, faculty, and students by highlighting the most fascinating and innovate work of one of many of CLASS's outstanding faculty.

About Reyna Mondragon: Reyna is a dancer, choreographer, educator, and researcher born in Chihuahua, Chihuahua, Mexico. Her work focuses on the multiple ways she can incorporate her cultural heritage and rhythm, kinesthetically, visually, and musically into dance. Mondragon holds her B.F.A in Dance and minor in Spanish from the University of North Texas and her MFA in Dance from Texas Woman's University.

by: ct