On this podcast, we celebrate the people whose hard work, talent, and intellectual firepower drive the research and teaching mission of UM: our excellent faculty and our talented graduate students. We also aim to capture the bristling energy of intellectual life of this great university. An essential aspect of a great graduate experience is finding a community driven by curiosity and a willingness to dive deep into ideas.
This podcast aims to celebrate that rich culture of exchange and creativity through conversations with faculty and their graduate students about the ideas that move them and motivate their work. We delve into the theories and practices of graduate education, explore the cutting-edge ideas in research and creativity that underpin their work, and we try to have some fun!
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Willow Alliance Lead Dr. Ruth Plenty Sweetgrass-She Kills
University of Montana--Missoula. Graduate School
Episode 89 rounds out Confluence’s series on the Willow Alliance, in conversation with Dr. Ruth Plenty Sweetgrass-She Kills, who leads the project. She talks about her time as a student in academia and how that guides the work she does now, exploring how Indigenous scholarship ... Read More
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Phoebe Bean (Ph.D.) Clinical Psychology
University of Montana--Missoula. Graduate School
In episode 88, Clinical Psychology Ph.D. candidate Phoebe Bean continues Confluence's spotlight on mental and behavioral health programs. Hear about Phoebe's uniquely interdisciplinary approach to her work, how she incorporated climate change, and her vision of resilient communities.
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Jenny Rotzal (Ph.D.) School Psychology
University of Montana--Missoula. Graduate School
Episode 87 launches Confluence into a short series focusing on the mental and behavioral health programs at UM that serve key stakeholders in the community, the state and the region. School Psychology Ph.D. candidate Jenny Rotzal kicks things off, highlighting the importance of mental health ... Read More
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A Conversation with Bryan Cochran on LGBTIQ+ Psychology
University of Montana--Missoula. Graduate School
Bryan Cochran has been pushing the boundaries of the clinical psychology field to be more inclusive of LGBTIQ+ studies and treatment for over two decades. In this episode, he talks about growth in that field, the vital importance of mentorship there, and his work at ... Read More
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Dean Nicolai's Willow Alliance Story
University of Montana--Missoula. Graduate School
In episode 85, Confluence's series on Willow Alliance faculty members flows on with Dean Nicolai, department head of Native American studies at Salish Kootenai College. He talks about tribal historic preservation and what the practice offers western archaeologists. He also recalls the people and experiences ... Read More
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Diana Doan-Crider kicks off the Willow Alliance Series
University of Montana--Missoula. Graduate School
Episode 84 marks the beginning of a short series on Confluence, featuring faculty fellows on a grant with the Willow Alliance. The project focuses on Native American STEM faculty and the ways Indigenous Research Methodologies are being and should continue to be implemented into higher ... Read More
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A Conversation with Julia Galloway on Old and New Inspirations
University of Montana--Missoula. Graduate School
Julia Galloway is in her 20th year of teaching in the Visual Arts program at the University of Montana. In this episode, she talks about shifting inspirations for her ceramics works and how that's brought her to her current work: "The Endangered Species Project."
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Adrienne Tauses (Ph.D.)Counselor Education & Supervision
University of Montana--Missoula. Graduate School
In this episode, we wrap up our coverage of GradCon 2022 just in time for GradCon 2023. Episode 82 features Adrienne Tauses, a Bertha Morton scholarship winner and a counselor for over a decade. She presented at GradCon 2022 about a new methodological approach to ... Read More
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Juthika Thaker (Ph.D.) Public Health
University of Montana--Missoula. Graduate School
In Episode 81 of Confluence, we continue our countdown towards GradCon (2/24) at UM. This episode, we feature Ph.D. student Juthika Thaker, who participated in a panel at last year's GradCon sponsored by the Institute of Health and Humanity. Thaker discusses her research into vaccine ... Read More
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Rebekah Brassfield (M.S.) Systems Ecology
University of Montana--Missoula. Graduate School
In Episode 80, Confluence talks with Rebekah Brassfield, a Systems Ecology student at UM. Brassfield describes her fascinating research into bumblebees and huckleberries, both crucial to Montana's ecological health. Along the way, we also discuss Brassfield's impactful mentors and the impressive research being done at ... Read More
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Becky Kendall (Ph.D.)Toxicology
University of Montana--Missoula. Graduate School
In Episode 79, Confluence talks with UM Ph.D. student Becky Kendall. Kendall is studying toxicology, and won the Best in Conference award for a STEM poster presentation at last year's Grad Con. In our conversation with Becky we discuss her creative new research into antidepressants, ... Read More
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A Conversation with Emily Ruskovich the Power of Writing
University of Montana--Missoula. Graduate School
In Episode 78, Confluence talks with Professor Emily Ruskovich, whose 2017 novel "Idaho" was awarded the prestigious International Dublin Literary Award. Ruskovich shares about her time as an undergraduate student at the University of Montana, her love affair with Anne of Green Gables, and the ... Read More
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Gabi Graceffo (MFA) Poetry
University of Montana--Missoula. Graduate School
In this episode, Confluence talks with Gabi Graceffo, an MFA student studying poetry and simultaneously finishing an MA in English literature. Her fascinating background includes both work in photography and art history. Graceffo's art blends media including original photography, narrative writing, and poems that respond ... Read More
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Rebecca Durham (Ph.D.) Interdisciplinary Studies
University of Montana--Missoula. Graduate School
On this episode of Confluence, we visit with Ph.D. student Rebecca Durham, one of the Bertha Morton award winners for 2022-2023. She is working on a unique dissertation that blends her scientific interests with her significant talent in poetry. Having published research in Botany and ... Read More
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Thomas Basolo (MSW) Social Work
University of Montana--Missoula. Graduate School
This episode of Confluence is the second in a two-part series honoring our graduate student veterans during Veterans Week. Thomas Basolo retired from the military in 2017. In this episode, we discuss his study in social work, his service ethic, and his support for other ... Read More
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Elizabeth Barrs (Ph.D.) History
University of Montana--Missoula. Graduate School
This episode of Confluence is our discussion with Ph.D. student Elizabeth Barrs. In a delightful conversation, Barrs shares about her journey to the graduate program after a 20-plus-year career as an army military officer. We also discuss the validation of winning the Richard Drake Writing ... Read More
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Haley Omeasoo (Ph.D.) Anthropology
University of Montana--Missoula. Graduate School
In this episode of Confluence, we talk with Haley Omeasoo, a Ph.D. student in Anthropology here at UM whose recent research presentation won top prize at UM’s GradCon. In the conversation, Haley talks about her research on fracture patterns in cases of domestic violence, her ... Read More
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A Conversation with Dr. Cory Palmer on the Power of Collaboration and Mathematical Maturity
University of Montana--Missoula. Graduate School
In this episode, Confluence talks with Dr. Cory Palmer, a UM professor in his 10th year here. Dr. Palmer has a fascinating background, having spent time in Hungary as an undergraduate. He later returned to the Central European University for his Ph. D., where he ... Read More
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Anastasia Halfpap (Ph.D.) Mathematics
University of Montana--Missoula. Graduate School
In Episode 71, Confluence talks with Bertha Morton Award winner and native Montanan Anastasia Halfpap, a Ph.D. student in the Mathematical Sciences program at UM. During our conversation, Halfpap discusses finding a family in the mathematics department, her journey from math prodigy to flourishing Ph.D. ... Read More
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A Conversation with Dr. Elizabeth Metcalf on Recreation Conflict and Planning
University of Montana--Missoula. Graduate School
In Episode 70, Confluence talks with Dr. Elizabeth Metcalf, the Joel Meier Distinguished Professor of Wildland Management and Senior Associate Dean for Undergraduate Affairs at UM. Dr. Metcalf shares about her past research in recreation conflict, her current work in developing recreation plans with rural ... Read More
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Michelle Terwilliger (Ph.D.) Forestry and Conservation Sciences
University of Montana--Missoula. Graduate School
In this episode, Confluence interviews Michelle Terwilliger, Ph.D. candidate in Forestry and Conservation Sciences at UM. Terwilliger is winner of the P.E.O. award which honors female graduate students making a distinctive contribution to education. In our conversation, Terwilliger discusses her work with Montana EPSCoR where ... Read More
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Ada Smith (Ph.D.) Forestry and Conservation Sciences
University of Montana--Missoula. Graduate School
This episode of Confluence celebrates Ada Smith, Ph.D. candidate in Forestry and Conservation Sciences at UM. Recently, Smith was announced as a winner of a the P.E.O. award, a national organization that honors a female graduate student making a distinctive contribution to education. Listen in ... Read More
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D’Shane Barnett, Julie Cahoon: Models of Cultural Strength in Native Research Collaborations
University of Montana--Missoula. Graduate School
This episode celebrates the success of two recent graduates of UM’s program in Public Health, Julie Cahoon, who completed her Masters last December, and D’Shane Barnett, who completed his doctorate in Spring 22. Listeners will hear about their academic and research journeys, which demonstrate the ... Read More
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A Conversation with Katie Kane on Academic Beginnings, Autotheory
University of Montana--Missoula. Graduate School
In Episode 66, we hear from Dr. Katie Kane, an associate professor in the English department. Dr. Kane shares about her academic journey, and her recent research on autotheory and petromodernity, as well as her new book project, “Deep North”.
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Nirvan Rouzbeh (Ph.D.)Neuroscience
University of Montana--Missoula. Graduate School
In Episode 65 of Confluence, Nirvan Rouzbeh, a graduate student in the Neuroscience department, shares about his journey to UM and his research on glutamate receptors.