By Devin Chivers ’27
Suki Kwon is using her passion for interdisciplinary studies to elevate the cultural landscape on the University of Dayton campus. As Graul Chair in Arts and Languages, her goal is to expand students’ access to international perspectives and create ways for them to experience diverse cultures.
Kwon, professor of art and design, draws inspiration from a transformative trip this summer to India, where she collaborated with a community of Marianist sisters on a project titled “Mother Mary, Mother Ganga Community Art Project.”
She worked with community members and a local artist to create large textile banners and murals symbolizing the shared values of the Marianist and Hindu communities, as well as Kwon’s commitment to creating opportunities for cultural exchange.
“We wanted to celebrate the spirit of Mother Adèle through the lens of an Indian artist and their artistic sensibility,” Kwon said.
She is translating that experience into her fall semester programming as Graul Chair, a role that involves promoting interdisciplinary approaches to arts and languages with a particular focus on international perspectives. Her events, which include lectures, a global cinema series, and music and dance performances, are focused on south and southeast Asia.
Through intercultural and artistic learning opportunities such as these, she hopes to introduce students to different cultures to help shape their educational journeys.
“I feel it’s important to bring different cultures to campus so that students have the opportunity to experience and learn about it,” she said.
Kwon was approached by the UD Global and Intercultural Affairs Center to host an art program with funding from the India Foundation, which specified the funds be used for artists and art events at the University.
This summer, she coordinated a series of workshops at the convent in Ranchi, India, through which she and the Marianist community members created “textile art pieces that symbolize the blending of Marian and various Indian traditions.”
Kwon’s also invited an Indian artist to contribute murals, including one with a “playful, kid-friendly” art style for young students and another being a reinterpretation of Mother Adèle de Batz de Trenquelléon, founder of the Daughters of Mary Immaculate, also known as the Marianist sisters. The artwork now adorn the main chapel and school buildings of the Marianist community in Ranchi, “sparking curiosity and creativity in young students,” she said.
This experience served as a catalyst for Kwon’s work at UD. Reflecting on her trip to India, she described it as “serendipity” that the opportunity arose while she was planning her fall semester programming.
At UD, Kwon is introducing a series of “thematic multidisciplinary” events to engage students with art and language from different cultures. She sees these programs as essential for broadening students’ perspectives and building a more inclusive campus community.
College of Arts and Sciences Dean Danielle Poe said Kwon exemplifies the vision for the Graul Chair in Arts and Languages through her ability to integrate her expertise and appreciation for art from diverse global cultures.
“Her recent collaborations in India have deepened partnerships and relationships with artists, local communities and Marianist communities,” Poe said.
Kwon’s impact extends beyond the University. She is working with campus partners, including the Global and Intercultural Affairs Center and the Fitz Center for Leadership in Community, to reach local artists and community members.
“I want to work with organizations that are already doing great things in Dayton,” Kwon said. “We are trying to create new spaces for conversations and collaborations.”
Kwon hopes to continue growing these initiatives during her four-year term as Graul Chair, with early collaborations such as the Writing for Health and Healing workshop series and Theater for Healing sessions already seeing success. She plans to build on this progress, committed to discovering more ways to connect students with global culture.
Kwon’s largest event of the semester is an evening of Indian music and dance at 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 22, at the Roger Glass Center for the Arts. It will highlight the arts and culture of south and southeast Asia, with performances by the Javanese Gamelan Ensemble, the World Music Choir and traditional and modern Indian dancers and musicians.
“Once people have the opportunity to immerse themselves in these experiences, whatever it is could change their life,” Kwon said.
