Winter College presenters

Dr. Stefanie K. Dunning

Associate Professor of English at Miami University

Dr. Stefanie K. Dunning is an Associate Professor of English at Miami University, as well as an affiliate of the Black World Studies program and the Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies program. She is author of Queer in Black and White: Interraciality, Same Sex Desire, and Contemporary African American Culture and her newest book is Black to Nature: Pastoral Return and African American Culture. Dr. Dunning hosts “Black to Nature,” a podcast about the environment and identity and the many ways we engage ourselves and the natural world. Her work has been published in African American Review, MELUS, Studies in the Fantastic, and several other journals and anthologies. Dr. Dunning received a B.A. from Spelman College, and a M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of California, Riverside. 
Black to Nature at Amazon.com
Black to Nature at Bookshop.org

“This book is nothing short of a revolution in Black thought at its intersection with what we know of as the natural world. Dunning’s discussions of land and sovereignty, and ownership and the Black self, are paradigm shifting and so very necessary. “Black to Nature” is beautifully argued and challenges us in this moment to find ourselves at the feet of Black conceptions of inhabitation and, yes, life.”

— Sharon P. Holland, Townsend Ludington Distinguished Professor, Department of American Studies, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Wil Haygood ’76

Finalist: Dayton Literary Peace Prize; “Showdown,” Finalist: NAACP Image Award; “In Black and White” and “The Butler"

Wil Haygood ’76 is the author of “Tigerland,” which was a finalist for the Dayton Literary Peace Prize; “Showdown,” a finalist for an NAACP Image Award; “In Black and White” and “The Butler,” which was made into a film directed by Lee Daniels. He has been a correspondent for The Washington Post and The Boston Globe, where he was a Pulitzer finalist. Haygood is a Guggenheim and National Endowment for the Humanities Fellow, and is currently Boadway Visiting Distinguished Scholar at Miami University. Among his journalism honors are the National Headliner Award, the New England Associated Press Award, the Sunday Magazine Editors Award, the Paul L. Myhre Single Story Award, the Virginia Press Association Award and the National Association of Black Journalist Award for both feature writing and foreign reporting, among others. He received a B.A. in Urban Planning.
Colorization at Amazon.com
Colorization at Bookshop.org

“This is sweeping history, but in Haygood’s hands it feels crisp, urgent and pared down. He carries you along on dispassionate analysis and often novelistic detail.”

—The New York Times on Colorization

Dave Knox ‘03

Consultant, Speaker, Executive Coach, Podcast Host and Author

Dave Knox is a consultant, speaker, executive coach, podcast host and author recognized throughout the industry as an innovator that bridges the worlds between brand marketing, digital and entrepreneurship. Dave brings a blend of classical marketing acumen along with entrepreneurial instinct to navigate a changing business landscape. As Chief Marketing Officer of Rockfish, Dave helped the company become one of the fastest-growing agencies in the country, going from $8 million in 2010 to $70+ million in revenue in 2016. Simultaneously, Dave co-founded The Brandery, one of the top 10 startup accelerators in the United States. Combining these two worlds, Dave authored the bestselling book, “Predicting the Turn: The High Stakes Game of Business Between Startups and Blue Chips” which was recognized as the Grand Prix winner in the 2017 Atticus Awards. Dave is co-founder and managing partner of Vine Street Ventures, a seed venture capital fund and he also serves as CEO of Nature’s Willow. He received a Bachelor of Science in Marketing.

Predicting the Turn at Amazon.com
Predicting the Turn at Paramount Books

“Technology has redefined the way brands build relationships with consumers and quickly eroded the significant competitive advantages that large blue-chip companies once held. “Predicting The Turn” gives you a look under the hood on this rapidly changing landscape between traditional brands and startups. Interesting and insightful, this is a must read whether you work in a company of 100,000 or 10.”

— Adam Weber, Chief Marketing Officer, Dollar Shave Club

Dr. TaraShea Nesbit

Associate Professor of English at Miami University

Dr. TaraShea Nesbit is an associate professor of English (fiction and creative nonfiction) at Miami University. She is the author of the novels “Beheld” (a New York Times Notable Book of the Year and Publishers Weekly Best Fiction Book of 2020) and “The Wives of Los Alamos.” Her writing has been featured in the New York Times, Granta, Lit Hub, The Guardian, Ninth Letter, Salon, Fourth Genre, Quarterly West, The Collagist, Iowa Review, Necessary Fiction, The Los Angeles Review of Books Fiction Issue, and elsewhere. Dr. Nesbit received a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from the Ohio State University, an MFA in Creative Writing (Poetry) from Washington University in St. Louis, and a Ph.D. in Creative Writing (Prose) from the University of Denver.

Beheld at Amazon.com
Beheld at Bookshop.org

“‘Beheld’ is a story of the Pilgrims and Puritans, the beginning of the Plymouth colony, and the first murder that occurred there. It’s a fascinating look at family, love, the importance of friendship, corruption, and human behavior. I have not read many books that take place during this time period but this one, which is primarily told from the voices of two women, is just fantastic!

— Kathy Morrison, Newtown Bookshop, Newtown, PA

A New York Times Notable Book of the Year

A Publishers Weekly Best Fiction Book of 2020

Katie Quinn ’08

Video Creator, Podcast Host and Cookbook Author

Katie is a video creator, podcast host and cookbook author. She thinks there is a story to be told everywhere and she believes that food connects people. Every week she posts food and travel videos to her YouTube Channel, QKatie. Her slogan is “Keep It Quirky” because she thinks life, both in the kitchen and out of it, is more enjoyable if you don’t take yourself too seriously. You may have caught her on NBC's Today Show, as a contestant on the Food Network's 'Chopped' or as a judge on 'Beat Bobby Flay.' She attended Le Cordon Bleu culinary school in Paris and is the author of “Cheese, Wine, and Bread,” published by HarperCollins William Morrow Imprint, and the “Avocados” cookbook, published by Short Stack Editions. She co-hosts the Food52 Podcast Network show "Either Side Eaters." Before starting the QKatie brand, she worked for NBC, Serious Eats, and as a VJ for NowThis News. She received a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and Theater.

Cheese, Wine, and Bread at Amazon.com
Cheese, Wine, and Bread at Bookshop.org

“Open-hearted and buoyant, the book weaves together her hands-on experiences in Europe and introduces us to a rich cast of people who make, sell and care about these traditions.”

—Jenny Linford, author of “The Missing Ingredient”

HA Clarke ’19

Author and Bookseller

Based in Chicago, HA Clarke is an author and bookseller. Clarke would be the first to tell you they are “here and queer, etc.” Their first novel, a YA fantasy fiction story, “The Scapegracers” was published in 2020, with the second of the trilogy, “The Scratch Daughters,” expected in fall 2022. They have been published in Lunch Ticket, PRISM international, Dream Pop Press, Portland Review, Gothic Nature Journal, Eidolon, and Chaleur Magazine. They are a Lambda Literary Fellow alumnus and a Pushcart, Locus, and Dragon Award nominee. Clarke is currently in grad school where their research focused on queerness, labor, and monstrosity. While a student at Miami, Clarke studied in London with the Literary London program, and was a two-term president of Spectrum. They received a B.A. in Classical Humanities & Creative Writing.

“In this fierce debut, a trilogy opener, Clarke conjures up a powerful, passionate tale of female friendship and found family.”

— Publishers Weekly on “The Scapegracers”

Leigh Barnhart Ochs ’83

Director of The Cooking School at Jungle Jim’s

Leigh Barnhart Ochs ’83 is the director of the Cooking School at the famous Jungle Jim’s International Market in Fairfield, Ohio. The Cooking School at Jungle Jim’s International Market was voted the Best of Cincinnati for the last eight years. Winter College attendees can enjoy the excitement and knowledge of The Cooking School from the comfort of home! Sit back, relax and watch a master at work. This option is perfect for those who would like to learn how to make a gourmet meal without getting their hands dirty! Or, you can buy your ingredients and follow along with Leigh!

Learn more about Leigh Barnhart Ochs and her journey from a career in social work to working as the director of the Jungle Jim’s Cooking School on our blog.