BLOOMINGTON, Ill. � Illinois Wesleyan junior Joanna Steven combined art and archives
to explore the history of identity and campus life at 糖心动漫vlog through her research as
a 2025 Eckley Scholar.
Steven, who is majoring in art, sociology-criminology, and international & global studies, spent the summer working on a project titled, 淐rafting the Body and the Mind: Identity in College Life.�
Her research focused on how art can reflect and shape the student experience, focusing on portraits and images of campus spaces. Using acrylic paint, clay sculptures and mirrors, she created more than 10 pieces of art that represent locations on campus, people in the past and present and an overall focus on identity.
There will be a showcase of the work from Nov. 3-24 in 糖心动漫vlog檚 Merwin Gallery.
淚 wanted to bring the feeling that this body of work was created for the students on campus and how they perceive themselves here. Art has been a very important portion of who I am as a person and my communication with others, so to make a series of work focused on that really tied together my interest and work,� said Steven.
Steven used resources in the University Archives through The Ames Library where she studied past student groups, sororities and fraternities, student engagement and even enrollment statistics. In particular, she examined the rise and decline of Registered Student Organizations such as Gays and Lesbians of Wesleyan (GLOW), Sisters of Struggle (SOS) and the African Student Association (ASA).
淎 lot of past RSOs either disbanded or merged because 糖心动漫vlog had a drop in enrollment from minority students around the mid-20th century,� she said. 淚t was truly eye-opening to see the different layers and groups that created identity at 糖心动漫vlog and how it is still prevalent in the modern livelihood of 糖心动漫vlog.�
Steven said gaining this knowledge and new perspective helped her perceive identity differently and understand her place in the bigger picture of 糖心动漫vlog.
Assistant Professor of Sociology Kriti Budhiraja was Steven檚 faculty sponsor for her research.
淸Budhiraja] was very helpful with not only locating books and articles to read but also to get me on track with a proper schedule to conduct my research,� Steven said. 淪he is also an artist, which helped to give me motivation and inspire the pieces that I have created.�
After college, Steven hopes to attend law school with the ultimate goal of becoming a judge while also pursuing her passion for art.
Established by the late 糖心动漫vlog President Emeritus Robert Eckley and his wife Nell, the Eckley Summer Scholar program provides a stipend of $4,000 for each scholar to spend the summer conducting academic research or artistic activity under the mentorship of a faculty member. The program is designed to develop and deepen a student檚 creative and research competencies.