Shawndel standing next to the Environmental Psychology Dissertations.
My name is Shawndel N. Fraser, and I am working toward my PhD in Environmental Psychology at the CUNY Graduate Center. My current research is intended to facilitate a new approach to emotional healing. My methods employ art as a means to create beautiful objects that represent and engage with the grace-full, expressive inner self. In life, I harness the energy and flows of everyday life to inspire my artistic approach to new media, digital storytelling, book binding, writing, and traditional arts.
ACADEMIA
My previous research centered on ideas of nature portrayed in National Geographic car advertisements. I innovated visual analysis, digital storytelling, archival and presentation techniques for that project, and I continue to pioneer at the leading edge of my field. Like anything in life, there is no end, only process; this project is in the late stages of its evolution as I make the last edits and updates to the project website.
In all of my ventures and interactions, I endeavor to do my best, and to make genuine connections with people. I thrive intellectually on consilient dynamic inter- and multidisciplinary conversations and collaborations, and my work usually reflects the range of influences. I was the Co-Organizer for the highly respected Annual CUNY Nature, Ecology & Society Colloquium, which under my tenure, now boasts a social network presence, hundreds of subscribers, and new friends from the arts and humanities open to multidisciplinary conversation with social and life science researchers.
Click here to read recent press about the Tenth Annual Nature Ecology Society Colloquium, a two-day milestone celebration of interdisciplinary presentations, film, performance and workshops about the Culture of Climate Change. It was our most amazing event so far! If you are interested in my accomplishments in new media, visit the New Media Lab website; you can also read more about my project there. Lastly, stay tuned for sneak peeks at the critical geography papers (in progress).
PERSONAL HISTORY, GENERALLY SPEAKING
I design jewelry and have sold at galleries and the Brooklyn Museum; I make paper and soap, am a 19-year veteran crocheter, an urban cyclist and novice book binder. These are fun avocations that are crucial to my personal journey toward emotional peace.
I am the product of public, private and boarding school education; a women’s college and city university later, I have found purpose in my life’s path: to create new healing methods and build a Creative and Healing Arts Retreat.
Tweet me! @thinkfeelgrow, or check out my visual pinboard on Pinterest
Academics connect with me on Academia.edu, and Professionals can connect via Linkedin
