SUNY Poly Professor of Anthropology and Coordinator of the Information Design & Technology Master's program, Dr. Kathryn Stam, recently accepted an invitation to participate in the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Summer Institute, "Place, Race, and Gender in Northeast Gothic Literature" in Standish, Maine for three weeks in June/July 2024.

Most of the activities took place at St. Joseph College in Standish, Maine, with virtual visits from experts in the topic such as Joseph Bruchac, indigenous author of the book "Whisper in the Dark," and Drs. Faye Ringel, Frank Bremer, and Emerson Baker. The highlight of the Institute was a set of field trips to historic sites related to the Salem Witch Trials (Essex National Heritage Area), vampire folklore sites in Exeter, Rhode Island, and a visit to Brown University to see the archives of H.P. Lovecraft and others.  As a result of the experience, Dr. Stam is writing a lyric essay based on what she learned about fear and the role of horror, particularly as it relates to women's lives during the relevant period of history and today.  

Dr. Stam is pictured above in the front row wearing a green jacket. The photo was taken by Dr. Chris Fuller.