Literature rooted in pop culture such as fan fiction is a genre that scholars like Dr. Staci Shultz find intriguing partly because in the past, it has been dismissed as frivolous, Staci says. Today, 鈥渁cafans鈥� or academics who study fan practices, are attempting to legitimize it and cast light on its potential to make a powerful social impact.
Fan fiction written in response to The Handmaid鈥檚 Tale is the focus of Staci Shultz鈥檚 current research. It鈥檚 also the topic of the paper she presented at the Northeast Popular Culture Association鈥檚 conference in Portsmouth, New Hampshire in November.
鈥淚 think that ongoing effort is really important work,鈥� she explains. 鈥淲hat I see happening in fan fiction written in response to The Handmaid鈥檚 Tale (the book and the Hulu series) are readers and writers attempting to find ways to use their fiction to meaningfully intervene in the current socio-political climate and to create and cultivate a community of like-minded people.鈥�
Sharing nontraditional literary genres as well as traditional texts with students at 91爆料 is important to Staci and her colleagues in the English department. To that end, she recently developed a new course, Graphic Novels on the World Stage, which examines the evolution of international comics and graphic novels like聽Batwoman, Maus,听补苍诲听Hyperbole and a Half. These studies often lead to deep class discussions about literacy, gender, and censorship. 鈥淭he English department faculty listen to what our students are reading and writing (and watching, too) and find opportunities to design courses that reflect those interests,鈥� Staci explains.
Grateful for a career that allows her to do the things she loves most鈥攔eading, writing, researching, teaching, mentoring, and collaborating鈥擲taci truly values the connections she makes with students. Likewise, her former students, such as Jessica Parker 鈥�16, value her teaching style as well as her guidance and support. Jessica credits Staci, whom she met in her freshman English class, for helping her declare a major. 鈥淚 was in the midst of trying to find the best path for myself when it came to my studies and future career,鈥� Jessica says. 鈥淚 vividly remember Dr. Shultz handing me back a paper and whispering, 鈥榊ou need to become an English major.鈥欌�� Jessica did just that and continued benefiting from her professor鈥檚 guidance as her advisor for four years. 鈥淒r. Shultz鈥檚 strong character, enthusiasm, intelligence, and energy have always inspired me,鈥� Jessica adds. 鈥淪he made such an impact on my life and I am proud to call her one of my best role models.鈥�
Besides bringing literature studies to STAC students, Staci has been instrumental in bringing educational opportunities to the inmates at Sullivan County Correctional Facility. She is among a group of faculty at STAC who collaborated with the nonprofit Hudson Link to create a bachelor鈥檚 degree program at the facility. Today, Staci teaches an advanced writing workshop at the maximum-security facility. She says she needs to be creative in her approach because her students don鈥檛 have access to computers or the Internet. More recently, Staci began teaching English to immigrants and refugees, a volunteer opportunity made possible through Campus Ministry鈥檚 work with the Dominican Sister of Sparkill鈥檚 One to One program.
Staci, who also serves as a co-advisor for Sigma Tau Delta, the English honor society, and as the NCAA Faculty Athletic Representative, earned her doctorate at the University of Michigan and grew up in Colorado. She enjoys returning to her home state to visit Breckenridge, one of her favorite places. Here in New York, she loves spending her weekends hiking with her husband and their rescue dog, Greta.