APRIL 9, 2024 — Mel Webb, UTSA Philosophy and Classics professor of instruction, recently reached a milestone in their academic career: the fifth anniversary of an honors class that positively impacts the lives of UTSA students and incarcerated individuals at the Fabian Dominguez State Jail.
This experiential learning program, The UTSA Philosophy and Literature Circle, is a 12-week reading, writing and discussion program directed by Webb that fosters a vibrant learning community in which incarcerated participants and university students engage in a sustained exploration of enduring texts and questions in the humanities.
The program is an Honors seminar, cross-listed as an upper-division humanities elective and a graduate-level philosophy seminar, to ensure students from across UTSA have access to this opportunity.
Webb and select students will reflect on the program and its outcomes at the upcoming Pizza & Research event, “Trust Across Divides: Learning with Incarcerated Scholars,” from noon to 1 p.m. on Thursday, April 10, in the John Peace Library Assembly Room (JPL 4.04.22) on the UTSA Main Campus.
Along with Webb, students make weekly visits to the jail to join incarcerated scholars in completing the program. Sessions typically involve Webb and the UTSA students meeting with incarcerated participants in a classroom setting, starting with a poetry reading or writing prompt, followed by small group discussions sharing insights on literature, philosophy and the arts.
“Dr. Webb's course structure and content and their pedagogy remind us of the connections we have to one another, despite social location and personal circumstance. The program reminds us of our shared humanity,” said Jill Fleuriet, UTSA vice provost for honors education.
The program advances UTSA’s mission of providing access to educational excellence and preparing citizen leaders for the global environment by creating a learning environment in which UTSA students and incarcerated participants together develop capacities in critical thinking, close reading, logical and ethical reasoning, interpersonal communication and creative self-expression.
This initiative encourages individuals to explore their place within human history and discover ways to contribute positively to their communities.
UTSA student participation in the course involves completing an application that confirms the students’ understanding of the requirements and articulating what draws them to the opportunity. Interested students can email Webb to learn more.
In the Pizza & Research series, UTSA Libraries hosts lively lunchtime presentations and discussions to help attendees gain insights into UTSA research. Held every semester, faculty, staff and students learn about scholarly research across disciplines by engaging with researchers and professors.
Dean Hendrix, vice provost and university librarian, expressed his pride in the Pizza & Research series, emphasizing its role as a dynamic platform for intellectual exchange and academic enrichment.
"The Pizza & Research series exemplifies our commitment to promoting academic excellence and fostering a community of lifelong learners," Hendrix stated.
Pizza & Research is free and open to all students, faculty and staff. Pizza will be served while supplies last.
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