Creative Connections Network Summer 2013 Newsletter

Creative Connections Network Summer Newsletter 2013

 The alumni chapter of the International Center for Studies in Creativity. 


Dear ICSC Alumni,

For the Summer newsletter, we have a Creativity Expert Exchange Conference report; an update on the Beyonder Academy (Buffalo-area folks, take note: they’re hiring teachers for this summer’s camp!); an interview with outgoing CEE Conference Director Kristin Fields; and the introduction of CCN Board Members Kathysue Dorey and Jason Hall – plus Jason’s description of the value of CCN involvement from the perspective of a current student.

Also make sure you scroll to the Creative Class Notes section below.

A note of congratulations to all the recent graduates of the program – welcome to the alumni community!

Yours in the Creative Spirit,

Amy Frazier ‘11

CCN President

CEE Conference Update

The CCN produced a table at the Taste of Creativity during the conference opening night. Cory Wright ‘00, Shawn Kassirer, and Amy Frazier ‘11 introduced various membership and technology initiatives, including the prototype of an online alumni directory, and the Conference Ambassador and Connect2Challenge programs. Alumni who are interested in membership information are invited to contact Cory Wright, Membership Director at icsc.creativeconnections@gmail.com.

For a brief review of the faculty research presentation and other conference impressions, see also: Creativity Alumni, Experts Converge on Campus.

Expanding Beyond...

By Jenna Smith, ‘12

The Beyonder Academy formerly known as Camp UpRising, the kids creativity camp sponsored by the ICSC, is expanding beyond it's original kids day camp concept. This year, the summer camp hosted in Buffalo, N.Y. has doubled in size. As a result, camp Co-founders and Directors Ismet Mamnoon '13, Jenna Smith '12 and Pam Szalay '08 are seeking to hire Lead Teachers and Assistant Teachers for the one week camp August 5-9. 

The team is also working with groups globally to develop training programs and potential Beyonder Satellite campuses. The team is happy to report Ismet will be representing The Beyonder Academy in Santiago, Chile to work with educators and children as part of Chile's year of creativity and innovation. This Fall the Beyonder team will be traveling to China to train educators as part of an initiative by the Chinese government to infuse creativity into the current educational system in China. For more information on The Beyonder Academy, please visit their website at www.beyonderacademy.com

New CCN Board Members:

Joining the CCN team are Jason Hall, and Kathysue Dorey ’13. Jason, currently Graduate Assistant, is assuming the role of CCN Secretary. Freshly-minted graduate Kathysue is helming Special Projects.  Look for updates on their work in upcoming newsletters. We’re very happy to have them on board!

An Infinite Web of Relationships

By Jason Hall, CCN Secretary

Felix, a Catholic priest from Nigeria; Gaia, a business consultant and author from Australia; Jack, a guidance counselor from Texas; Ginny, a creativity consultant in Toronto; and Dixie, a bio-mimicry interior designer from Vancouver, are just a few of my newest and closest friends! We are all currently ICSC students and proud members of the diverse Buffalo State community. I want our friendships to last forever, because they are the most creative human beings I have ever met. 

That is exactly why, in the moment I was offered the position as Secretary of Creative Connections Network, I could not stop thinking about them—as well as the many others who are not listed. I know how important my contribution will be to seeing that my working relationships, as well as the infinite web of all the relationships formed by the amazingly creative students within our program, will grow and blossom into the future!

We fear going our separate ways. We dread our last class and master’s projects. In creative studies, it doesn’t feel great to be done unless there is reassurance that we will never be done. We need it to survive. We thrive on relationship building!  I am extremely honored to join the CCN team and very excited to assist in renewing and re-energizing connections and fostering new relationships! To the future of creativity!

Creative Class Notes:

Marta Ockuly ’10, is first author with Dr. Ruth Richards of a piece entitled Loving or Fearing Creativity? It’s all in the Definition. The article in the Journal of NeuroQuantology explores mentoring and the art of encouraging creativity, as well as reports on research Ockuly and Richards have compiled. Abstract.

Laura Ryan ’13, of LAMA Innovation is teaming up with Drs. Puccio ’87, and Cabra ’96, to offer two new products endorsed by the ICSC. Creativity in Asia and Creativity in America are multi-day seminars combining creativity and leadership training with rich cultural experiences. Creativity in America was launched last summer in Buffalo with a group from Taiwan. Creativity in Asia is slated to be launched in September in association with James Cook University’s Singapore site.

Dr. Cyndi Burnett ’01, and Paul Reali ’09, have released an edited collection of new works published by the ICSC Press. Entitled Big Questions in Creativity 2013: A Volume of First Works, Volume 1 , the book contains chapters by alumni and current students Mary Kay Culpepper ‘13, Irina Mishina ‘12, Sarah Thurber ’12, Ginny Santos ’12, Amy Frazier, ’11, Vicci S. Recckio ‘12, Robert H. Frantz, Catherine Tillman ‘13, Ted Mallwitz ‘12 and Lee Anne White ’11. The book is available at ICSC Press (and, sure, at Amazon as well…).

Have a Creative Class Note to share? Email us at icsc.creativeconnections@gmail.com

Creative Connections Network

Amy Frazier ’11, President

Stavros Michailidis ’10, Vice President

Jason Hall, Secretary

Laura Ryan ‘13, Treasurer

Shawn Kassirer, Technology Advisor

Florian Rustler ‘09, Professional Development

Cory Wright ‘00, Membership Director

Kathysue Dorey ’13, Special Projects

Courtney Johnson-Woods ‘10, Communications

Dr. Cyndi Burnett ‘01, Faculty Advisor