Sometimes, it is about finding the voice that is not there, hearing the words that have not been recorded and trying to determine why, according to Dr. Brianne Jaquette, assistant professor in the School of English Studies at The College of The Bahamas.
Discovering that voice is vital for Dr. Jaquette, who began her faculty appointment at the college this Fall as one of 11 new members of the teaching staff. She is one of nine who have terminal degrees and are conducting research in various academic disciplines, and sees writing, research, and critical thinking skills as integral parts of creating well-informed citizens.
“I study 19th century American literature and culture with a focus on the literature of place and women writers. My research focuses on both marginalized places and marginalized voices, and while my research is mostly historical, finding places of silence and uncovering them is important work that has ramifications for contemporary society in terms of learning to recognize who has access to being heard and why,” she said.
In addition to the creation of well-informed students – and particularly those students who come under her direct tutelage – Dr. Jaquette says she wants to ensure that those writing, research, and critical thinking skills inspired in her class stay with her students during the rest of their time at COB and in their future careers.
The new faculty member also looked forward to her own contribution as the college transitions into a university.
“In my research I also value the production of knowledge and I am looking forward to the potential to develop the hemispheric scope of my scholarship and add to the recognition of COB as an institution on a larger scale,” she said.
“I have been impressed with the Harry C. Moore Library and think that the situating of it as the cornerstone of the new entrance bodes well for the priorities of the university,” Dr. Jaquette added. “I would love to see the collections of the library expanded and would personally be interested in contributing to the newly established American Corner.”
Brianne Jaquette has an MA from Boston College and a PhD in American Literature from the University of Missouri. She studies 19th century American literature and specifically focuses on the circulation of print culture in regional networks.
Dr. Jaquette’s article, “‘Written for the National Labor Tribune’: Community Formation through Poetry in Pittsburgh’s Labor Newspaper” is forthcoming in the Journal of the Midwest Modern Language Association.
She is currently working on a project that traces the poetry submitted by readers to the National Labor Tribune, which was founded and headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania but reached a much wider audience of workers concerned with the labor movement.
Dr. Jaquette also recently co-founded a group blog about teaching called ‘Pedagogy and American Literary Studies.’
