Alumnus Jashar Awan is highlighted in Little Village magazine for his latest picture book, Every Monday Mabel, which “radiates pure joy,” writes Casey Maynard. “I have loved Awan’s previous titles, especially Towed by Toad, but this one feels like a new creative stride. . . . Everything about the presentation showcases Awan’s colorful style and wonderfully paced narrative.”
The Daily Hub
A roundup of ideas and projects from around the Institute
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Visiting Assistant Professor in the School of Information Claudia Berger, MSLIS ’21, and Gabby Evergreen, MSLIS ’24, led a workshop, “Exploring Environmental Data Through Data Physicalization,” at the 2025 METRO STEM Information Professionals Mini Conference. At that same conference, alumna Diedre Brown, MS Data Analytics and Visualization ’21, gave a talk, “Empathy for the Faceless: Using Coloring Books to Exploring the Urban Aerobiome Microclimate,” and alumna and METRO staff Mary Bakija, MSLIS ’20, helped organize the conference.
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Emily Vasquez, BFA Art and Design Education ’26, received the 2025 Seraphin Bernard Student Leader of the Year Award.
![Emily Vasquez smiling and holding up a plaque award. She wears a red top and glasses.]()
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Visiting Assistant Professor in the School of Information Ben Zweig published “This Prompt Contains Prohibited Words’: Language, Ekphrasis, and the Limits of the Generative Imagination” in The International Journal for Digital Art History. Also, a panel that he organized titled “Rethinking the Ethics of “Open” in the Shadow of AI” was accepted for the Digital Humanities 2025 conference in Lisbon, Portugal.
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Visiting Assistant Professor in the School of Information Sam Raddatz, MSLIS ‘15, has launched Forest & Trees, a consulting firm specializing in supporting cultural institution leaders who recognize a mismatch between their organization’s insides and outsides. The firm’s signature offering, the Question Catalyst, helps teams identify and address fundamental questions before investing in solutions. Learn more at forestandtrees.us.
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Studio and Gallery Manager Taylor Bielecki, MFA Fine Arts (Painting and Drawing) ’22, reviewed exhibitions by Judi Keeshan and Sarah Martin-Nuss in Art Spiel.
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Visiting Assistant Professor in the School of Information Claudia Berger, MSLIS ‘21, gave a talk concluding their year as the Scholars’ Lab’s first Virtual Artist in Residence. Their talk covered a data quilt made for them exploring the history of the Appalachian Trail and who national parks are designed for. Also, the companion zine to the special issue they edited for dh+lib won best DH Training Material at the 2024 DH Awards. The zine also includes work from Associate Professor in the School of Information Nancy Smith.
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Amanda Phingbodhipakkiya, MFA Communications Design ’15, was featured in Artsy as one of the “must-know women artists.” “I first came across Amanda’s work at a fiber arts show at the South Street Seaport in New York last spring,” said arts patron Carla Shen. “She had this stunning site-specific installation of layers of cotton and silk flowers and greenery draped over a 12-foot diameter grain hoist that had been part of the building since the 18th century. She has also created numerous large public installations and murals driven by her commitment to using art to engage the community and find collective ways to address loss, transformation, and healing.”
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The School of Information Faculty Innovation Fund (FIF) was awarded to Assistant Professors Kathy Carbone, Sai Shruthi Chivukula, and Ashley Lee, and Professors Irene Lopatovska, and Cristina Pattuelli.
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Hins Xun Zuo, MFA Communications Design ’23, as part of the agency ICNCLST/, worked with Sky Gellatly and Edison Chen to launch “CAFEAO,” “a new art-and-design-themed café and conceptual retail venture” in Taipei, which was featured on the Instagram of various publications, including Elle Taiwan, GQ Taiwan, Harpers Bazaar Taiwan, Juksy Magazine, and Everyday Object.
More Pratt Institute News
Drawing His Own Path
As Angel Ortega, BFA Fine Arts (Drawing) ’25, prepares for his thesis exhibition, he reflects on his time at Pratt, his creative process, and what’s next.
IDC Foundation Awards Second $1 Million Grant to Pratt’s Research Accelerator Hub
From Pratt Institute News
This funding supports core initiatives at the Research Yard of Pratt Institute in the Brooklyn Navy Yard.
Pratt and a Century of The New Yorker
From Pratt Institute News
On the occasion of the magazine's 100th anniversary, a look back at the many Pratt artists, writers, and creatives who have helped shape the renowned publication.