Faculty receiving tenure at Florida State University now have a lasting legacy included in the collection of the University Libraries. Each year, members of the new class of tenured faculty will hand-pick an item for the Libraries in a subject area of their choosing. These new library holdings will bear a bookplate inscribed with the faculty member’s name, department, and the year. In addition, the faculty members are asked to write a brief paragraph explaining why the book they selected is meaningful to them. This project will serve the dual purpose of honoring the achievement of earning tenure, while also helping to sustain the University Libraries’ ongoing efforts to develop collections that support teaching, research, and intellectual inquiry.
2025 Newly Tenured Faculty
Below are the newly tenured faculty and a brief explanation of the books or materials they hand-picked to be purchased and book plated in their honor.
Andy Ballard
Department of Political Science
John Aldrich was my grad school advisor and also wrote one of the foundational books on the study of political parties in the United States. I wouldn’t be where I am today without him or his work.
Andres Felipe Barrientos
Department of Statistics
Advice for New Faculty Members
This book guides new assistant professors in navigating the tenure track. It offers insights on how to balance the many demands we face. It was recommended to me by a faculty member who knew about my transition from postdoc to assistant professor. It has been especially helpful during overwhelming times when juggling multiple responsibilities. The book introduces mindfulness as a key tool for managing the challenges of academia. I genuinely believe this book should be part of the welcome kit for all new faculty members.
Andrea Barton-Hulsey
School of Communication Science & Disorders
Breaking the Speech Barrier: Language Development through Augmented Means
I read this book for the first time the summer after my freshman year of undergrad while working the research labs of Dr. Romski and Dr. Sevcik. The work described in this book made a lasting impression on my direction of study thereafter and continues to inform my own program of research. It is important that we continue to include individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in all aspects of school, community and the workplace, advance technology, and continue to design and test intervention approaches within these contexts that support communication development to their fullest potential.
Michael Bukoski
Department of Philosophy
This book had a big influence on me early in my graduate study. It helped to spark my interest in metaethics and my long focus on a particular philosophical problem–the problem of explaining the nature of normativity and, in particular, the “source” of the authority of moral norms–as well as inspiring the subject of my dissertation and one of my early publications. I wouldn’t describe myself as a defender of Korsgaard’s views, but it seems fitting to acknowledge the influence of her book.
Christopher Dominick Constantino
School of Communication Science & Disorders
“You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You.” Augustine articulates our search for meaning, of discarding what is false to obtain what is true. By carrying out this conversion daily, and through God’s grace, we become messengers of perfect joy in every circumstance. It is from this well spring of joy that my career flows. I am so grateful for the gift of my work and for the support of my colleagues at FSU. Pax et bonum!
Tyra Dark
Department of Behavioral Science & Social Medicine
And Still I Rise: A Book of Poems
Maya Angelou’s “Still I Rise” is an expression of faith that one will overcome and triumph against adversities and reclaim one’s history from misrepresentation. “Still I Rise” is a constant source of inspiration, encouraging me to defy oppressive social expectations through its powerful expression of strength and resilience. “Still I Rise” urges me to refuse to cower and instead to carry myself with pride, with an upright posture and a confident stride. Knowing that although my academic journey may be arduous, and often dispiriting—Still I Will Rise!
Adam Kabir Dewan
Department of Psychology
Grigory Fedyukovich
Department of Computer Science
Jeongbin Kim
Department of Economics
Panayotis League
College of Music
Black Marxism: The Making of the Black Radical Tradition
This book inspired me to think critically from an American perspective about the structures of power that have conflated race and class in the US. This approach to social analysis informs all the work I do today as a researcher, educator, artist, and citizen.
Lichun Li
Department of Industrial & Manufacturing Engineering
Back in the summer of 2013, this was the first book I read on game theory, and I was amazed by the depth and richness of the subject. Beyond the well-known Nash equilibrium—a strategic balance between players’ actions, as seen in chess—this book introduced another fascinating concept: cognition balancing. This idea applies to multi-round games with players holding private information, such as Texas Hold ’em. The book opened a new world of understanding for me, ultimately inspiring my NSF Early Career Award, Learning Equilibria of Dynamic Bayesian Games Efficiently with Nash, Bellman, and Lyapunov.
Daniel Luedtke
Department of Art
At the very beginning of my visual art-making career I volunteered at the Video Data Bank at the School of the Art Institute which is one of two video art specific collections in the US. Between clerical work processing royalty fees for the prominent artists in the collection and mailing out DVD’s, Hi8 and VHS tapes to museums and galleries I was encouraged to view anything I wanted in the screening room. I was voracious. This piece from 1987, “A Perfect Pair” by Valie Export really made an impact. It depicts a future where individual consumers’ bodies are used as walking billboards, promoting all kinds of products and services. Using very early computer animation and quick, magic trick-like editing the video depicts gleeful consumers that willingly participate in their exploitation for the monetary rewards it grants them. The work has an obvious and prescient understanding of what social media and the internet would become but it is the humor, sensuality, and entertainment value of the work that grabbed me. Although I work in primarily non-video mediums such as printmaking and ceramics, I too investigate the ways that bodies are quantified and assigned value. This piece deeply influenced the trajectory of my work and life as an artist.
Meredith Laura Lynn
Department of Art
Artists aren’t often celebrated as writers. If we’re lucky, words from curators, critics, and historians will attach to our work. Their interpretations bring deep meaning and context to what we do, but also change it. Pope.L has been a hugely influential artist to me – an inspiration through his uncompromising and withering gaze turned on the often comical grinds of the human condition. In this collection of his own writing, I find a wealth of poetry, nuance, and clear-eyed insight that cuts through the detritus of daily life.
Elizabeth B. Madden
School of Communication Science & Disorders
The Science of Reading: A Handbook
This book was instrumental in shaping ideas for my dissertation study and directing me down a path focused on helping stroke survivors regain reading abilities.
David S. March
Department of Psychology
Attitudes: Insights from the New Implicit Measures shaped both my methodological approach and theoretical understanding of social cognition. It deepened my thinking about the dynamic and context-dependent nature of attitudes, particularly their tenuous and cryptic role in shaping behavior. The book challenged me to refine how I study attitudes and provided the foundational social cognitive lens through which I conduct the entirety of my research.
Attitudes: Insights from the New Implicit Measures
Elizabeth A. Murphy
Department of Classics
Ravinder Kumar Nagpal
Department of Health, Nutrition, & Food Science
Tom Needham
Department of Mathematics
Metric Structures for Riemannian and Non-Riemannian Spaces
This is a classic book in metric geometry. It is filled with insightful and creative ideas, which have inspired much of the work done in my research area.
Michelle Anne Stegemeyer Parvatiyar
Department of Health, Nutrition, & Food Science
Excitation-Contraction Coupling and Cardiac Contractile Force
I read this book cover to cover as a graduate student and had the privilege of meeting Dr. Bers annually at the Cardiac Muscle Society meetings. As a trainee, I found it invaluable to engage with a leading scholar in my field who served as a source of inspiration.
Zhiying Qian 钱之莹
Department of Modern Languages & Linguistics
From the moment I first encountered “Dream of the Red Chamber” as a child, I was captivated by its rich stories and unforgettable characters. I still remember discovering a beautifully bound set in a bookstore, priced at just one dollar but equivalent to hundreds today. Without hesitation, my mother bought it for me, unknowingly sparking a lifelong love for this masterpiece. Over the years, I have collected many editions and watched countless adaptations. Today, I share this passion with my students and hope to inspire their appreciation for Chinese literature and culture.
Tanya R. Renn
College of Social Work
Stress and Health: Biological and Psychological Interactions
This book encapsulates the intricate interplay between stress, biology, and health, reinforcing the importance of understanding trauma’s impact on overall well-being—a core focus of my work with vulnerable populations.
Myriam Rudaz
Department of Human Development & Family Science
Full Catastrophe Living: Using the Wisdom of Your Body and Mind to Face Stress, Pain, and Illness
In 2010, I had the privilege of interning in the 8-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Program at the Center for Mindfulness, University of Massachusetts Medical School. Since then, I have passionately developed, conducted, and evaluated Mindfulness- and Compassion-Based training. Full Catastrophe Living beautifully emphasizes embracing all aspects of life, including its joys and sorrows, with mindfulness and acceptance.
S. Unnikrishnan
Department of Mechanical Engineering
“Wings of fire” is the autobiography of Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, the 11th President of India, and a renowned scientist in the area of aerospace engineering. He played a critical role, both through technical and leadership roles, in developing India’s space and defense programs. To me, he is one of the most inspiring individuals, whose story motivated me to pursue a career in Engineering, and specialize in the area of aerodynamics.
Joel Michael Smith
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
This book describes how to make various psychedelic molecules and the experiences felt by each after taken by the authors of the book. Research into psychedelic molecules has been a major research thrust in the Smith Lab at FSU and has led to therapeutic leads for various neuropsychiatric ailments. It is encouraged that you read some of the vivid descriptions of psychedelic experiences described in this book as a way of introducing yourself to the psychoactive power of these molecules.
Mark-Christoph Spieker
Department of Physics
Nuclear Structure from a Simple Perspective
Atomic nuclei are complex mesoscopic objects making up the bulk of visible mattter in our universe. Yet, simple structures emerge and we observe experimental signatures that we can understand in terms of the atomic nucleus assuming, e.g., an American-football-like shape. This textbook, written by one of my mentors, helped me to understand the foundations of nuclear structure when being a student, is still a book which I use myself as a reference, and which I suggest to my graduate students for their studies.
Rebekah Downes
Department of Industrial & Manufacturing Engineering
Finite Element Analysis of Composite Materials Using Abaqus
This book is significant to my career because it provides a strong foundation for modeling and analyzing composite materials using finite element methods. As my research focuses on hybrid nanocomposites and extreme environment materials, understanding the computational tools for predicting their behavior is essential. Abaqus is widely used in industry and academia, making this resource valuable for both my research and teaching.
Vandana Tripathi
Department of Physics
I received this book as a prize in 11th grade for standing first in my class. I started reading it, but I could not and did not as it was quite sad and depressing. Years later when I came to know about the movie based on the book with one of my favorite actors, I had to read it to figure out what I missed. The book is set in the slums of Howrah (twin city of Kolkata in India) and revolves around the trials and tribulations of the 3 main characters as they navigate life. The novel is characterized as fiction but could very well be real. With all the sad and ugly episodes related to poverty, hunger, caste system and illness, the ending is calm. It emphasizes that life goes on no matter what. We should be grateful for we have as it could be worse and also to give other people the benefit of doubt whenever possible as you never know what they are going through. I have kept these thoughts in my mind, and I feel I should read it again as I am way older now, likely there will be a new perspective.
Liliya Ugay
College of Music
Compositions
This is a collection of works by my former mentor – a composer and conductor Fred Cohen, whom I was fortunate to meet and work with during my undergraduate studies at Columbus State University Schwob School of Music, which was my first experience of being in the United States. Dr. Cohen’s oeuvre includes many genres from solo instruments to concertos and orchestra music; his music is full of expression, knowledge, wit, and lyricism. Dr. Cohen currently serves as a director of School of Music and Dance at San Jose State University.
Roberto Vincis
Department of Biological Science
Smell and Taste – Handbook of Clinical Neurology
This is one of the most comprehensive and up-to-date books on chemosensory neuroscience, offering valuable insights into the field. I love having the paper version in my office, as it serves as both a reliable reference and a source of inspiration for my work.
Steven Zane
College of Criminology & Criminal Justice
The Limits of the Criminal Sanction
In his classic work, Packer highlights two fundamental conflicts in criminal justice and law. First, punishment as moral justice versus a means of preventing antisocial behavior. Second, the criminal process as “crime control” versus “due process.” Packer approaches his subject with humility, recognizing the complexity and inherent contradictions between deep moral commitments and visions of how the social world operates. He ultimately acknowledges that there are no perfect solutions—only trade-offs. Though I do not share all of Packer’s conclusions, his thoughtful and never tendentious presentation of criminal justice’s conflicting goals remains unsurpassed.
Qian Zhang
Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering
A Practical Guide to Microstructural Analysis of Cementitious Materials
This is a very well written book about advance techniques for characterization of concrete materials that I found very helpful. I would also love to have this in the library collection for students.
Robert C. Schoen
School of Teacher Education
Garcia Grisman Album
This album has been instrumental in my life. It was often played in the background at a restaurant called The Kitchen, where I worked as a young adult. I enjoyed listening to it while working and eventually purchased a copy. That album introduced me to an all-American approach to music that has been my muse for the subsequent 30 years (and counting). Upon my arrival in Tallahassee, I missed the live acoustic music I had grown to love. Not knowing where to find it, I resolved to learn how to create it myself. I later realized that Tallahassee has a rich music history and is teeming with great music and musicians that have since immeasurably enriched my life. This album was the catalyst for my musical journey. To me, it represents a never-ending source of entertainment, inspiration, creativity, culture, and so much more. Had I not encountered this album in my young adulthood, I am certain that I would not have had the participatory experience in music that has become one of the central features of my life. I owe this album and its creators a debt of gratitude for creating this inspiring work of art. I hope this copy of the album serves to inspire others who tread these halls at FSU.
Elizabeth Avery
College of Music
Michael Hanawalt
College of Music
Art and Science in the Choral Rehearsal
This book espouses creativity and student centeredness in the choral classroom, and has been a lovely point of inspiration for me and my students as we discuss how to make choral rehearsals as engaging and effective as possible.
Amber Ward, Art Education
Decolonizing Educational Research: From Ownership to Answerability by Leigh Patel
Most of my books live either in my home or campus office. A handful, however, travel with me between both spaces and others because I might need to lean on their wisdom at any given moment. Leigh Patel’s (2016) Decolonizing Educational Research often is passenger in my bag because her words remind me of how important our work is as researchers and educators to liberate (higher) education from coloniality.
Sergey V. Mityakov, Finance
The Palgrave Companion to Chicago Economics by Robert A. Cord (Editor)
The University of Chicago’s Department of Economics has, since its founding, exerted a profound influence on the field of economics. As an alumnus of that department I am pleased that future generations of students at Florida State will have access to this excellent book, which provides a comprehensive intellectual history of what is widely known as the Chicago School of economics. To a large extent, this history is told through detailed analyses of the individual works of the most prominent economists affiliated with the department, some of whom I had the honor to have as professors. Those faculty members include Gary Becker, to whom I am deeply indebted for teaching me how to think like a Chicago economist; Lars Hansen and James Heckman who taught me not just empirical methods but how those should be deeply based in underlying economics; and Robert Lucas, who stimulated my interest in financial economics, which became my primary area of teaching and research. Last but not least, I had the great good fortune to interact regularly with Arnold Harberger during my decade on the faculty of Clemson University, where he was a recurring Visiting Professor. He provided me with many invaluable insights into what is now known as “Chicago price theory” which emphasizes the understanding of a wide range of human behavior through the lens of core economic theory.
James Edward Wright II
School of Public Administration Cops, Teachers, Counselors: Stories from the Front Lines of Public Service by Maynard-Moody, S. W., & Musheno, M. C
This book served as the foundation for why I wanted to study the field of public administration.
Tyler McCreary, Geography
Cartography in the Traditional African, American, Arctic, Australian, and Pacific Societies
(Volume Two, Book Three of History of Cartography Series) Edited by David Woodward and G. Malcolm Lewis
As a critical geographer, much of my work has involved thinking through the power relations embedded in practices of cartographic representation. Particularly, I have sought to examine the ways that dominant representations of space historically served imperial
and colonial interests, and conversely how Indigenous peoples present other paradigms for approaching geographic knowledge. Cartography in the Traditional African, American, Arctic, Australian, and Pacific Societies is an important text that documents the mapping traditions of Indigenous peoples. These maps reflect and codify Indigenous spatial ontologies and epistemologies, encompassing the different ways that various Indigenous societies understood both human relationships to the world and processes of building geographic knowledge.
Geoffrey Scott Deibel, Music
The Early History of the Saxophone by Frederick L. Hemke
Dr. Frederick Hemke was one of the preeminent pedagogical figures of the saxophone, and was my professor and mentor as an undergraduate and masters student at Northwestern University. Dr. Hemke’s approach to the instrument and teaching music went far beyond technical and pedagogical proficiency; he taught students to play with their ears, minds, and hearts. He helped students understand and embrace the unending richness of what it means to be a human being through making music. This volume is the definitive work on the early history of the instrument, and is a demonstration of Dr. Hemke’s reverence for a life well-lived through music.
Yolanda A. Rankin, School of Information
Black Feminist Thought: Knowledge, Consciousness, and Political Empowerment By Patricia Hill Collins
This book changed my life and deeply influenced my research trajectory. Black feminist thought serves as the foundation of my research which includes advancing the representation and retention of Black women in computing and developing more equitable design practices to benefit minoritized populations. Collins helped me to find my voice and to amplify the voices of other Black women in computing.
Jessi Halligan, Anthropology
Principles of Geoarchaeology: A North American Perspective by Michael R. Waters
I first read this book as an undergraduate early in my archaeological career as part of a geoarchaeology course, and it (and the course in which it was used) profoundly shaped my approach to understanding the archaeological record. Years later, I was fortunate to be accepted into graduate school to work under the author, who became my PhD advisor and has since been the mentor who has most shaped my academic career.
Lindsey J. Eckert, English
Fugitive Pieces and Reminiscences of Lord Byron: Containing an entire new edition of Hebrew Melodies. Also some original Poetry, Letters and Recollections of Lady Caroline Lamb by Isaac Nathan
Nathan’s text is notorious for the information that it provided about the celebrity poet Lord Byron and the scandalous author Lady Caroline Lamb (who also had a public, volatile affair with Byron in 1812). This book is important to me as an early example of the type celebrity culture that many people associate with our own contemporary moment but which, my own research argues, had its roots in the Romantic era. Beyond the value of the text itself, this copy above is of interest because it remains in its original board binding and has the original printed spine label.
Aleksandr Reznikov, Mathematics
The Physics of Filter Coffee by Jonathan Gagne
Almost every mathematician (and scientist, and student) drinks coffee; for some people coffee is a survival condition, especially for those who are woken up by little kids in the morning and have to teach or write papers in the afternoon. To be a successful researcher, one needs to be a perfectionist. You don’t want to write so-so papers with mediocre results; you always want to make things better. At some point, I decided that coffee from gas stations is not ideal. I started researching ways to brew better cups, and it turned out that there is a lot of STEM behind brewing coffee. The book requested, for example, is written by a person who has PhD in astrophysics. Better coffee made my life ultimately better, and I think having this book available will be helpful to others who want to improve their everyday life quality via better coffee.
Pablo Maurette, English
The Complete Works of Sir Thomas Browne, Volume I: Religio Medicib by Sir Thomas Browne; Editors Reid Barbour and Brooke Conti
Sir Thomas Browne not only opened me to the best prose ever written in the English language, thus inspiring me to become a better writer, but he also taught me that it is possible to think without prejudices of any kind. Religio Medici is the product of a truly independent mind who is never afraid to explore even at the risk of erring. This new edition, co-curated by my mentor Reid Barbour, preserves the unique history of a text that was born as manuscript and then became a literary sensation. Browne’s fans are few, but grand: Emily Dickinson, Herman Melville, Virginia Woolf, Jorge Luis Borges, Sebald, Coleridge, Poe, and other giants of literature.
Vincent Joos
Modern Languages & Linguistics
Sweetness and Power by Sidney Mintz
Tisha Joseph Holmes, Urban and Regional Planning
I Can See Clearly Now by Johnny Nash
“I Can See Clearly Now” was one of my father’s favorite songs. He did not live to see me graduate with my PhD or receive tenure. I dedicate this album of joy, love, and loss in his memory and in memory of all my family members who helped me persevere but are no longer with us to celebrate. I am grateful for my amazing family, friends, and community who believe in and lift me up every step of the way. I can see clearly now.
Kehinde Ishangi, School of Dance
Dynamic Alignment Through Imagery, Third Edition by Eric Franklin
Eric Franklin’s teachings radically shifted how I perceived the human body and, more importantly, understood the importance of functional anatomy. My explorations and intense study of the Franklin Method revolutionized my teaching, and I encourage every dancer and movement educator to read Dynamic Alignment Through Imagery.
Michelle C. S. Therrien, School of Communication Science and Disorders
Speaking Up and Spelling It Out Edited by Melanie Fried-Oken and Hank A. Bersani, Jr.
“The silence of speechlessness is never golden. We all need to communicate and connect with each other--not just in one way, but in as many ways possible. It is a basic human need, a basic human right. And much more than this, it is a basic human power...” - Bob Williams (p. 248) Effective communication is essential for quality of life; it offers access to education, careers, and relationships. It allows us to come as close as possible to truly knowing another person. My interest in the power of communication ultimately led to pursuing a career researching and teaching in Communication Science and Disorders in the hope of supporting communication access for individuals with disabilities who have limited access to speech, and who benefit from alternative modes of communication, often referred to as augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). This book is a collection of essays written by individuals who use AAC. Their stories document both struggles and successes. They inspire me to continue working to eliminate barriers faced by individuals who use AAC, and to teach students the skills they need to do the same.
John Mathias, Social Work
En-gendering individuals: the language of re-forming in twentieth century Keralam. Orient Longman.by Jayakumari Devika
Dr. J. Devika’s scholarship on cultural politics in India challenges readers to re-consider hegemonic or “common-sense” narratives, foregrounding marginalized stories and perspectives while also avoiding reductive accounts of domination and resistance. This
book explores how reformist efforts aimed at liberating individuals in Kerala, India counter intuitively led to constrictive gender norms, especially a “modern” feminine domesticity modeled on the Western nuclear family. Devika’s rigorous, always insightful work has long been an inspiration to me, and her mentorship was crucial to my formation as a scholar.
Prashant Singh, Nutrition & Integrative Physiology
Food Microbiology: An Introductionby Kalmia E. Kniel, Thomas J. Montville and Karl R. Matthews
I am a food microbiologist by training. This is the first book I purchased at FSU. This book reflects the beginning of my story at FSU and food microbiology research on the FSU campus.
Dr. Sahoko Sato Timpone, Music
Kosaku Yamada Song Collection Vol. 1 and 2 by Kosaku Yamada
Kosaku Yamada is Japan’s most prolific composer who pioneered Western-style music in Japan, most notably Japanese art songs. His songs have profoundly influenced my musical development, and I hope to introduce them to the FSU community.
Marcy Stonikas, Music
Ariadne auf Naxos Op60 by Richard Strauss / Boosey & Hawkes
As a young singer, Richard Strauss made an incredible impact on me. The first time I listened to a recording of his Vier Letzte Lieder (Four Last Songs) with Jessye Norman as the soprano soloist, I knew that classical music was the way for me! I went on to study quite a bit of Strauss’ other repertoire and had become infatuated with the score of Ariadne auf Naxos. It was funny and smart in the Prologue, while epic and moving in the Opera. I had the honor to first perform the title role as a Young Artist during my first season
at Seattle Opera. It was such an exciting rush to be able to bring this fantastic score to life off of the page and it was a production that was also formative for me and my trajectory as a professional singer. I have had the great fortune of singing the role on several other occasions and hope that there will be more to come! This score will always hold a special place in my heart.
Anasa Hicks, History
A Picture of Freedom: The Diary of Clotee, A Slave Girl by Patricia C. McKissack
I don’t remember the first or the last time I read A Picture of Freedom, just that I read it so many times as a child that the story felt as close to me as ones I made up myself. This masterful narrative of an enslaved girl who taught herself how to read introduced me to many ideas at once: that slavery had existed and was abhorrent; that inside such an abhorrent institution, people had created circles of love and care; that even young girls trapped inside networks of oppression could resist the chains that constrained them. The more I read this book, the more deeply those ideas nestled in my brain. When I studied history in high school and in college, assertions about oppression and resistance in books by leading historical scholars did not surprise me. They confirmed what it seemed like I had always known because of A Picture of Freedom and other books like it.
Shayok Chakraborty, Computer Science
Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach
Jonathan Livingston Seagull is a story about a seagull who is trying
to learn the art of flying. It describes how Jonathan overcomes obstacles and challenges, and ultimately learns to fly higher and faster than he ever imagined. Jonathan’s story delivers the message that if we follow our dreams, we too can soar. This book has inspired me to always stay focused on my goals, to embrace challenges, and to never give up
Stijn De Cock, College of Music
American Grab Bag by Logan Skelton
This CD displays the brilliance, wit, and musical intellect of a pianist, composer, teacher, and mentor whose devotion to teaching forever changed the lives of those fortunate enough to learn from him. His legacy endures through the generations of young pianists for whom he forged career paths as performers and teachers. Counting myself among them has been, and will forever be, one of the greatest privileges of my life.
Evan M. Eastman, Risk Management / Insurance, Real Estate & Legal Studies
Financial Economics of Insuranceby Ralph S.J. Koijen and Motohiro Yogo
Despite clear importance to the broader economy, insurance markets have often received less attention in both the broader public, and within certain fields of academic research. Recent work by Koijen and Yogo has started to increase the visibility of the insurance industry as an interesting area of research. Much of their work, ultimately culminating in this book, has informed my own research and how I think about the intersection of insurance markets and how they are regulated.
Tak Kametani, Mechanical Engineering
Handbook of Superconductivity 2nd edition by David A. Cardwell, David C. Larbalestier and Aleksander Braginski
Those 3 volume books are the collective review efforts of state-of-art on Applied Superconductivity.
Jessica Wendorf Muhamad, School of Communication
The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran
For every season of life, this is where I have found guidance.
Stephanie M. Sickler, Interior Architecture and Design
The Good House: Contrast as a Design Tool by Max Jacobson, Murray Silverstein and Barbara Winslow
The Good House: Contrast as a Design Tool has been a constant source of inspiration since I first encountered it during my graduate studies. The authors here are trying to answer the central question, ‘what constitutes good house design?’ That is, what about the physical form of a dwelling (supportive, vibrant, and appealing to both the intellect and the senses) makes it a good place to inhabit? Good design, the authors say, is ‘the the production of harmony through the orchestration of strong contrasts’. You can delight in the idiosyncratic aspects of a building if they exist in relation to a logical order, because parts of a building should be thought of as links between other contrasting elements. The principles in this book have shaped my career both as a designer and educator as I have sought to impart this wisdom to my students. Marrying the built environment to its occupants and their needs is paramount to good design. This book has always kept that notion in the forefront of my mind no matter the design challenge at hand.
Sanghyun Lee Mathemathics
Finite Elements I: Approximation and Interpolation by Alexandre Ern and Jean-Luc Guermond
This is the book that introduces the research topic which guides
throughout my research from a graduate student to a tenured
faculty member.
Anne H. Stagg, Art
Anni & Josef Albers, Equal and Unequal by Nicholas Fox Weber
Choosing a tenure book was more difficult than I imagined. There are so many good books and deciding upon which direction to go was tough. In the end, I chose this book not only because both Josef and Anni Albers’ work have influenced my own, but also because I regularly reference their work in the classroom. Their work demonstrably changed the way that artists think about and use color, preferencing our experience of color over theory about color.
Neda Yaghoobian, Mechanical Engineering
Boundary Layer Climates by T.R. Oke
Boundary Layer Climates was the first book introduced by my advisor when I start learning about the atmospheric boundary layer and the physics therein. The author, Tim Oke, has a unique way to describe complex technical concepts of the lower atmosphere physics in simple, yet scientific ways. This book is fundamental to my research, as well as my special topic course. I continue to come back to this reference and still each time I find interesting facts in it.
Scott M. Pickett, Behavioral Science and Social Medicine
Wherever You Go, There You Are by Jon Kabat-Zinn
Wherever You Go, There You Are by Jon Kabat-Zinn is a book that brought balance and courage into my life when I was nearing the end of my undergraduate years, not knowing what was next, and debating coming out. My deep respect for mindfulness practice inspired me to shape a clinical and research career around sharing the benefits of mindfulness-based treatments/practices and studying the impact of mindfulness on mental and physical health outcomes. I still pick up the book and read a chapter or two (or the whole book), when I need a reminder that the only moment we have is now.
Casey Dougal, Finance
Book of Mormon by Joseph Smith
Of the many books I have read, none has influenced me more than the Book of Mormon. It is the basis of my religion and, by extension, the source of many of my life’s choices, including my decision to pursue a career in academia. It is a book I love, and though it remains the same text, each time I read it, it becomesnew to me. As such, I find it to be a fount of endless inspiration.
Patricia Homan, Sociology
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
As a woman scientist and a scholar who has dedicated my career to studying the harmful health consequences of sexism and racism, I found this novel to be deeply moving. It is frustrating and gut-wrenching at times, but also inspiring, challenging, heartwarming, and uplifting. The novel chronicles the struggles of a brilliant woman chemist fighting to be taken seriously in the sexist 1950’s scientific establishment. Throughout its unexpected twists, her story is one of love, loss, perseverance, friendship, justice, and hope. The author called this book ‘a love letter to scientists.’ I hope other scientists and students will enjoy reading this novel, recognize themselves in its pages, and be emboldened to take risks, challenge the status quo, be true to themselves, and pursue their passions.
Hanhan Xue, Sport Management
My Neighbor Totoro by Studio Ghibli
My Neighbor Totoro is an animation movie that presents a beautiful magical mysterious world through the eyes of two girls who seek to reunite with their father and mother. The forest spirit Totoro, the cat bus, and acorn wish trees all carried the girls’ misses to their families. I selected this movie in memoriam of my father, who raised me and supported me throughout my pursuit of a Ph.D. and academic career and the achievement of tenure. I love you and miss you so much, my father.
Nilay Özok-Gündoğan, History
Miners and the State in the Ottoman Empire: The Zonguldak Coalfield, 1822-1920 by Donald Quataert
When I was a junior at BoÄŸaziçi University, Turkey in the early 2000s, I went to a talk by a history professor from the United States, Professor Donald Quataert at Binghamton University. The title of his talk was “Ottoman History from Below.” I was a Political Science major and the ‘history’ that I knew of the Ottoman Empire was only the state-centered, nationalist, and top-down narratives. In a plain language accessible to laypeople, in his talk, Professor Quataert explained the new vistas ‘history from below’ perspective can open in Ottoman historical writing. Donald Quataert’s talk was a life- changing moment for me. The question of how to uncover the voices of the suppressed groups in Ottoman-Turkish history -workers, peasants, ethnic and religious minorities, and women- became my foremost scholarly curiosity. I wanted to write a bottom-up history of Kurds and Kurdistan. In the context of the protracted contemporary conflict between Kurds and the Turkish state, the history of the Kurds had largely been pushed into the margins of mainstream historical accounts. To remedy this, I sought to show that Kurds existed, just like any other group in the empire, not just in those moments of outright destruction and political struggle but in their quotidian lives as laborers, tribesmen, plaintiffs, criminals, petitioners, husbands, daughters, artists, neighbors, and so on. I wrote my first book, The Kurdish Nobility in the Ottoman Empire Loyalty, Autonomy and Privilege, with this historical imagination - a perspective that I first learned from the late Professor Quataert’s work.
Dr. Justin Benavidez, Music
Storyteller by Justin Benavidez
This recording is a collection of performances with the exceptional faculty and students of Florida State University, and it is of great significance to me personally and professionally. I am so grateful for the opportunity to have performed with the FSU Wind Orchestra, FSU Wind Ensemble, and FSU Symphonic Band with my wonderful and talented colleagues Richard Clary, Patrick Dunnigan, and David Plack. I am especially thankful for the moving performances with my piano colleague, Deloise Lima. This recording celebrates the collaborative spirit that I have enjoyed during this meaningful chapter of my career.
Sean Dobbs, Chemical Engineering
Nuceli and Particles by Emilio Segre
A classic of the genre - Segre covers the knowledge at the time of strongly interacting systems from nuclei to quarks in a very accessible manner. This book started me off on the journey to where I am today.
Tiffany Rhynard, School of Dance
Exercises for Rebel Artists: Radical Performance Pedagogy by Guillermo Gómez-Peña and Roberto Sifuentes
Gómez-Peña has been a significant artist and influential artist during my career as a border crossing artist. In my teaching, research, and service, I traverse varied genres, research areas, and political landscapes. This book has served as a constant reference in my work and practice as a human centered artist, thinker, and mover.
Kourosh Shoele, Mechanical Engineering
Mathematical Analysis in Engineering How to Use the Basic Tools by Chiang C. Mei
Explaining hard mathematical concepts in a readable and understandable style is often hard. The author in this book shows how instructors and even researchers can introduce complex ideas in a readable manner. The book despite its conciseness provides thoughtful illustrations that are both simple and not trivial and presents practical applications where rigorous mathematical concepts can be applied.
Ibrahim Ekren, Mathematics
Brownian Motion and Stochastic Calculusby Ioannis Karatzas and Steven E. Shreve
This is the first graduate level mathematics book that I purchased.
Mathew Hauer, Sociology
Climate and Human Migration: Past Experiences, Future Challenges by Robert A. McLeman
This was one of the first books I read when I started doing research on climate migration. Without this book, I likely would’ve never started researching climate migration.
Mollie Kathleen Romano, School of Communication Science and Disorders
From Neurons to Neighborhoodsby Jack Shonkoff (Ed)
This book was pivotal in helping me to understand the connections between infants’ biology, their earliest interactions with their caregivers, and the policies that support children as parts of their communities. I hope other students find this work and that it builds their understanding of how children learn within their earliest environments with the important caregivers that surround them.
Cameron C. Beatty, Educational Leadership & Policy Studies
Teaching to Transgress: Education as the Practice of Freedom by Bell Hooks
In Teaching to Transgress, bell hooks-writer, teacher, and intellectual powerhouse that centers Blackness-writes about a new kind of education, education as the practice of freedom has been a tranformative text for my career. Teaching students to “transgress” against racial, sexual, and class boundaries in order to achieve the gift of freedom is our most important goal as educators. bell hooks reminds us that “To educate as the practice of freedom,” , “is a way of teaching that anyone can learn.” bell hooks speaks to the
heart of education today: how can we rethink teaching practices in the age of multiculturalism? What do we do about educators who do not want to teach, and students who do not want to learn? How should we deal with racism and sexism in the learning space? These are the typel learning spaces I wish to cultivate and this text has informed how I do that throughout my career.
Sylwia Piatkowska, Criminology and Criminal Justice
Crime and the American Dream, 5th Edition by Steven F. Messner
In this book, Messner and Rosenfeld draw on both Merton and Durkheim in proposing a macro-level Anomie Theory to explain why the United States has such high violent crime rates and such an extreme response to crime. Like Merton, they explain these facts by looking to the social organization of the U.S., wherein individuals are subjected to the pressure of striving for economic success with little access to or focus on the legitimate means of achieving it. They also follow Merton in that they see the interplay between culture and structure as being key to understanding crime. Messner and Rosenfeld expand upon this line of thought by distinguishing four different values that are believed to underlie
the American culture. These include individualism, achievement, universalism and materialism, and together they give rise to the American Dream.