9 Nov 2012 -- IU Southeast School of Education Diversity Conference, Graphic Novels: Diversity in Pictures & Words
12 Oct 2013 -- IU Southeast Diversity Symposium, POW! Diversity Themed Graphic Novels in the Classroom
Graphic novels and comics cover the spectrum of human experience, and the diversity of all peoples. Diversity can be expressed in many different ways: gender, sexual identity, race or ethnicity, physical ability, socioeconomic status, religion or culture. The IU Southeast Library collections have a sampling of graphic novels covering many of these themes.
This project began with a mutual admiration for graphic novels and a desire to increase an awareness of diversity and utilization of graphic novels and comics as an approachable medium for introducing sometimes challenging to discuss issues into the classroom.
Gary Pinkston, PhD, is an Associate Professor of Educational Technology at Indiana University Southeast in New Albany, Indiana, and has taught courses on the Hero’s Journey in graphic novels and how to incorporate graphic novels into the classroom. He enjoys creating and teaching teachers about digital storytelling and the importance of art and technology in the classroom. Gary also has lengthy teaching experience with the Navajo Nation and in Saudi Arabia. In his spare time he enjoys taking photographs of his Australian shepherd dogs and making them into comic book heroes.
Melanie Hughes, MLS, MBA, is an Associate Librarian, Coordinator of Automation and Technical Services, and library liaison to the School of Education at the Indiana University Southeast Library in New Albany, Indiana, where she is developing a graphic novel collection to support student learning. She previously served as an elementary librarian in Louisville, Kentucky and an English teacher in Japan where she was first exposed to manga. She serves on the school board for Community Montessori, a public charter school, and is currently helping found The Sudbury School of Kentuckiana. She recently started scripting her first graphic novel.