Acknowledgements
This proposal could not have been envisioned had it not been for the encouragement of our EN 595 professor Dr. Kim Christen Withey. As graduate students within the field of composition and rhetoric, there is a strong connotation for a start of a project or summative seminar paper within a semester and a clear end. Dr. Withey encouraged us to break this mindset and begin to see our scholarship and application as "serious play", encouraging mistakes and start overs in theory, methodology and practice along the way. In asking students to do a proposal where we don't actually "do" the research, it gives us the opportunity to let our minds soar as we envision how our "dream" project would be conducted within the digital humanities. Dr. Withey, thank you for giving us the freedom to exceed our own expectations of ourselves in entering a new field and breaking the mindset of "start to finish" so that we could play, make mistakes, and learn in ways that wasn't so punitive.
The pride I have in my proposal wouldn't be possible if I didn't have exceptional colleagues in the seminar with me to encourage, critique, and question my proposal in its progression throughout the semester. Entering a new conversation and field is difficult, and I am so fortunate to have had the opportunity to discuss and learn from some of the brightest minds in the fields of digital humanities and composition and rhetoric. Lacy, thank you for your constant critique, always challenging and always yearning to learn more and more each day. Your quest for knowledge and your drive motivates me to remember that we all have our own unique voice in these fields that deserve to be heard. Mark, thank you for your dialogue and analysis in each discussion of readings, theory and practice within the digital humanities. I appreciate your drive to want to do things well and the care and attentiveness you take towards your scholarship. You inspire me that our generation will still be comprised of scholars who care and who want to inspire and push our students in ways that are meaningful and proactive. I learn something new every time you open your mouth to contribute to the conversation. Thank you both for the opportunity to learn so much through your inquiry and optimism.
The work ethic that I have maintained this semester would not have been possible without my family. Being in a competitive program has its tolls, and it wouldn't even be fair to simply just say my family has suffered from my lack of attention due to my studies. To Kevin, thank you for being so wonderful and giving me space when I needed to read or needed to writer, your encouragement and attention to my needs has been difficult but incredibly appreciated. You are my rock and with you I am strong. To my two sweet dogs, Charlie and Jax. I am sorry that my progression of my career has resulted in not as many walks in the park and definitely not enough tennis ball throws. I promise, this summer, I will throw the ball until my arm gets numb.
In addition, I would also like to thank my mentors Dr. Patricia Ericsson, Dr. Kristin Arola, and Dr. Victor Villanueva for continually encouraging me that I'm doing great things that our disciplines will benefit from. At times when I feel discouraged, you are all there to offer me an immense amount of support and wisdom to keep me moving forward. Without you, I'm not sure where I would be.
Thank you can't even begin to scratch the surface, but it's a start...
Lucy