Three TMU professors embark on distinguished research leave
James Nadler, Jonghun (Jay) Park and Monique Tschofen are visiting scholars at Massey College.
James Nadler, of RTA School of Media, Monique Tschofen, of the Department of English, and Jay Park, of the School of Graphic Communications Management, have been selected as visiting scholars at Massey College for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Massey College (external link) is a postgraduate residential college affiliated with the University of Toronto. The college brings together scholars, distinguished professionals and full-time graduate students in an interdisciplinary intellectual community.
The Massey Fellowship is the result of a partnership between Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) and the college, facilitating the annual appointment of a TMU faculty member to the college for a one-year research leave.
James Nadler
James Nadler is a media production professor at TMU’s RTA School of Media. He teaches screenwriting, television producing, and runs the popular summer RTA in L.A. program on the campus of UCLA. He is a recipient of both the dean's teaching and service awards at TMU, and served as chair of the School of Creative Industries and chair (Interim) for RTA.
As part of his fellowship, Nadler plans to revisit his creative work by crafting a feature film screenplay entitled Cortez, inspired by true events. The screenplay will explore themes of identity, ethnic otherness and cultural assimilation, accompanied by research into how Jewish performers historically adapted their identities in media settings.
“This project resonates with contemporary discussions on personal and professional reinvention and or representation in media and academia, especially amid recent geopolitical conflicts,” says Nadler. “By way of analogy, talking about what people did in the twenties and thirties may allow people today to look at the current polarization with a bit more nuance.”
This fellowship will offer an opportunity to merge his creative practice with academic theory, allowing for a deep reflection and refinement of his research-creation (SRC) focus.
Nadler is also looking forward to the collegial and collaborative environment that Massey College offers.
"Interacting with scholars from different disciplines can help break through the narrow focus that often accompanies deep specialization. From my own experience, integrating insights from various fields has proven both commercially and critically successful. I am hopeful that the Massey Fellowship will enable me to broaden my perspective by engaging with individuals who offer diverse ideas and viewpoints."
Jonghun (Jay) Park
Jonghun (Jay) Park is a professor in the School of Graphic Communications Management at TMU. He also is affiliated with the Environmental Applied Science and Management program and Yeates School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies at TMU.
During his sabbatical year, Park’s goal is to develop sustainable solutions that enhance the effectiveness of packaging in product distribution. To achieve this, he plans to complete six ongoing research projects, each contributing to his broader vision of improving packaging practices.
By dedicating this time to his research, Park aims to advance innovative approaches with fellow scholars that will facilitate the use of proper packaging, ultimately supporting more sustainable distribution methods.
Given the multidisciplinary scope of his research, Park is looking forward to being in Massey College's academically diverse environment and hearing about the work of other academics.
“I'm really looking forward to having the opportunity to collaborate and connect with scholars from other disciplines during the fellowship,” says Park. “I am certain that the Massey fellowship will provide me with space and time to not only refine and complete my multiple ongoing research projects but also to foster new, innovative research ideas by communicating with scholars with varying perspectives and areas of expertise.”
Monique Tschofen
Monique Tschofen teaches in the department of English and the York-TMU Joint Graduate Program in Communication and Culture. Her work spans film, literature, the lyric essay, literary hypertext, and installation art, examined through a feminist theoretical lens.
Building on this work, Tschofen’s fellowship will focus on completing an article on American writer Gertrude Stein for the scholarly journal Modernism/modernity, and an interactive digital edition of Stein’s book of poetry, Tender Buttons, using the media-rich electronic publishing platform Scalar.
Tschofen’s sabbatical also coincides with the final year of a SSHRC-funded project with Decameron Collective (external link) collaborators involving a major exhibition and symposium celebrating Canada’s digital research creation. Professor Tschofen aims to build supportive, interdisciplinary spaces for graduate students across Canada, providing them with opportunities to contribute to collaborative research. The symposium will offer junior fellows at Massey College a chance to showcase their work and participate in the event’s organization and publication.
Tschofen is looking forward to being in Massey College’s cross-disciplinary environment and hearing about the work of other scholars. “As a digital storyteller, I’m interested in exploring a range of critical questions. I recognize that cross-disciplinary discussions often activate different vocabularies and methodologies, and it’s precisely these complex models that will lead to the engaging conversations I’m hoping for.”
“I’d like to extend a heartfelt congratulations to James Nadler, Monique Tschofen and Jonghun Park for being named Massey Fellows from TMU for the 2024-2025 academic year,” says Roberta Iannacito-Provenzano, provost and vice-president, academic. “This recognition is a testament to the exceptional talent and innovation present within our faculty. We look forward to seeing your impactful contributions enrich the broader academic community and further elevate the scholarly research and creative work underway at TMU."
TMU has a strong history with Massey College. Previous appointees include Danielle Lamb, of the Ted Rogers School of Management (TRSM), Asmaa Malik, of the School of Journalism, Ruth Panofsky, of the Department of English, Sarah Henstra from the Department of English, Carolyn Kane from the Creative School, and Atefeh Mashatan from the Ted Rogers School of Management.
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