174. Jenny Davidson, Professor of English & Comparative Literature
Release Date: 07/06/2026
178. Mara (Beverwyk) Christine, Librarian, Teacher, Lawyer
The 92 Report
Show Notes: Mara Christine (formerly Mara Beverwyk) describes her circuitous path, starting with a job at the Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) in Berkeley, followed by a role in the Oakland public library system. She pursued a library degree in Michigan and returned to New Mexico, where she worked as a school and research librarian. She transitioned to teaching at a Montessori elementary school, earning her certification, and later went to law school at age 46, becoming a prosecutor. A Career Move to Law Mara explains what drew her to the law, and she cites her midlife crisis and...
info_outline
177. Kiki Snyder, Assigned Karen at Birth
The 92 Report
Show Notes: Kiki (formerly Karen) Snyder shares her 35-year journey since her breakdown at Harvard, which landed her in restraints at McLean Hospital during exams in 1991. She discusses being misdiagnosed as severely bipolar, the 32 years she lost to toxic psychiatric medications, and the self she rediscovered. "Karen was full of fear and anger. Karen wanted to speak to the manager. But Kiki's in charge now. I am the manager." Learn more about her transformation on Instagram at and at . From Karen to Kiki Kiki elaborates on her transformation from Karen to Kiki. A massage therapist...
info_outline
176. Maya Browne, The Road Not Taken
The 92 Report
Show Notes: Maya Browne recounts her senior year at Harvard, including writing her thesis "Idealizing Vision" which was about how magazine editors, photographers, and designers had shaped the ideal female form in the 20th century, and additionally another was an article for Essence magazine about eating disorders. It was the first article of its kind that drew data from women of color, and it won an award called the Excellence in Media Merit Award (EMMA). Writing, Modeling, and Playing Violin Maya describes her first job at Details magazine under James Truman, where she handled...
info_outline
175. Chana Gable Selmon, Medicine Without Borders
The 92 Report
Show Notes: Chana Gable Selmon explains she joined Harvard as a transfer student in 1990, overlapping two years with the class of 1992. She graduated in 1993 after completing science requirements due to her history concentration. Chana decided to go to medical school at Cornell, followed by an internship in Emergency Medicine at Bellevue NYU and residency at Harvard. Commuting between Jerusalem and New Jersey Chana had her first child in 2000 and continued working as an ER doctor. She describes her experience as a fourth-year resident at Brooklyn Hospital Center during 9/11. She later ...
info_outline
174. Jenny Davidson, Professor of English & Comparative Literature
The 92 Report
Show Notes: Jenny Davidson describes her continued passion for literature, reading, and writing, her interest in primatology, adventures in Tanzania, and her new hobbies. Form and Technique in Powerlifting She details her fitness routine, including powerlifting, running, swimming, triathlon, and yoga. Jenny shares her experience with a longstanding injury affecting her ability to do high-volume aerobic training. Jenny explains the basics of powerlifting, distinguishing it from Olympic lifting. She describes her favorite lift, the deadlift, and the other two main lifts: squat and...
info_outline
173. Teresa Nakra, Exploring Music through Culture, Technology, & Creative Coding
The 92 Report
Show Notes Teresa shares her background as a music major at Harvard, focusing on conducting. She discusses her decision to apply for the Michael C. Rockefeller Fellowship to study Indian classical music in India. Teresa describes her year in India, living with a family and studying North Indian classical music. Exploring Indian Classical Music Teresa explains her experience with the violin, which was introduced to Indian classical music by the Portuguese in the 1500s. She details the differences between Western tonal harmony and Indian classical music, including the use of a drone and melodic...
info_outline
172. Michael Lim, Physicist, Mentor, Traveler
The 92 Report
Show Notes: Kim Goyette reflects on Michael Lim’s early days at Harvard, starting with their time in Dorm Crew. They met in Lionel Hall and became friends, with Michael being a physics major and Kim a sociology major. Their relationship began tentatively in their sophomore year, with many ups and downs before they officially became a couple by graduation. From Harvard to the University of MIchigan After graduation, Michael went to the University of Michigan for his PhD in physics, while Kim went to Tulane University for her MA in sociology. They maintained their relationship during...
info_outline
171. Chuck Hughes, The Road To College
The 92 Report
Show Notes: Chuck Hughes talks about his role on the Harvard Hockey team, being intimidated by recruiting processes and obtaining his teaching certificate while at Harvard. He taught maths, science, and english at a high school. He earned a masters in political science at Boston College. Working in Harvard Admissions Chuck talks about his transition to Harvard Admissions in 1995, influenced by a friend's job offer in Stanford Admissions. He describes his experiences in admissions, including visits to remote areas like Alaska and interactions with diverse applicants. Chuck highlights his...
info_outline
170. Jessica (McBee) Kerrigan, CASA Staff and Volunteer
The 92 Report
Show Notes: Jessica Kerrigan (formerly Jessica McBee) shares that she applied for an internship with the American Symphony Orchestra League but didn't get it, leading her to work with the Greater Boston Youth Symphony. She moved to Iowa City to be with her boyfriend, Wade Kerrigan, who was in law school, and worked at American College Testing. Jessica got engaged, married, and moved to Kansas City, where she worked for Andrews McNeil Publishing as a contract administrator. From Publishing to Nonprofit Work Jessica describes her transition from publishing to nonprofit work. She took some time...
info_outline
169. Ian F. McNeely, Historian of Knowledge and Dean
The 92 Report
Show Notes: Ian McNeely talks about his academic path, including a PhD in History from the University of Michigan and a position in the Society of Fellows at Harvard. He met his wife at Harvard, and they both found work at the University of Oregon where they became professors. They raised a family and lived there for 24 years. In 2024, Ian moved to UNC Chapel Hill, where he continues as a professor of history and oversees undergraduate education. The Society of Fellows When asked about the Society of Fellows, Ian explains that he thought of it as a mystique during his undergraduate...
info_outlineShow Notes:
Jenny Davidson describes her continued passion for literature, reading, and writing, her interest in primatology, adventures in Tanzania, and her new hobbies.
Form and Technique in Powerlifting
She details her fitness routine, including powerlifting, running, swimming, triathlon, and yoga. Jenny shares her experience with a longstanding injury affecting her ability to do high-volume aerobic training. Jenny explains the basics of powerlifting, distinguishing it from Olympic lifting. She describes her favorite lift, the deadlift, and the other two main lifts: squat and bench press. Jenny shares her powerlifting achievements, including her recent competitions and her current lifting numbers. She emphasizes the importance of proper form and technique in powerlifting.
Health and Community through Fitness
Jenny discusses the impact of her exercise routine on her mood and energy levels. She describes how exercise helps her maintain a schedule and provides a sense of community through fitness activities. Jenny shares her experience with yoga and how it has become a significant part of her life. She mentions her weekly private Pilates sessions for therapeutic purposes.
A Career in Literature
Jenny talks about her career in literature, starting with her graduate studies at Yale. She specializes in 18th-century British literature and has been teaching at Columbia for 25 years. She mentions several books, including Clarissa and Moby Dick. Jenny enjoys teaching a mix of introductory and specialized classes, including comparative European novels and single-author classes. She shares her enthusiasm for teaching complex literary texts and the unique challenges they present.
Recommended 18th Century Literature
Jenny recommends Jonathan Swift's Gulliver's Travels and his other prose satires as essential reading. She highlights Frances Burney's novel Evelina and Edward Gibbon's History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. Jenny also recommends Adam Smith's Wealth of Nations and Edmund Burke's Reflections on the Revolution in France. She mentions Laurence Sterne's Tristram Shandy and A Sentimental Journey as accessible entry points to 18th-century literature.
The Rise of Literacy
Jenny discusses the rise of literacy and popular print in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. She explains how books like Pamela by Richardson were shared among multiple readers, increasing their reach. Jenny notes the evidence of reading among both elite and working-class individuals. She highlights the importance of marginalia and letters in understanding the reading habits of the time.
Reading Habits
Jenny shares her unusual relationship with reading, being a very fast reader from a very early age. She describes her reading habits, including rereading books she teaches and reading modern novels for pleasure. Jenny mentions her book, Reading Style: A Life in Sentences, which explores her life as a reader. She reflects on the challenges of finding enough reading material during demanding times of the semester.
Primatology in Tanzania
Jenny discusses her recent trips to Tanzania and her interest in primatology and being influenced by Jane Goodall from a young age. She shares her experience learning Swahili and conducting oral history interviews with Tanzanian field assistants. Jenny plans to create an oral history digital repository at Columbia and potentially publish essays or a book on her findings. She describes her collaboration with a Tanzanian guide, Rama, and their efforts to revive a tree-planting education program.
AI in Humanities Education
Jenny discusses the potential and limitations of AI in humanities education. She expresses concerns about students using AI for assignments, viewing it as a form of cheating. Jenny shares her positive experience with using AI for transcription of oral history interviews. She emphasizes the importance of creating a quiet mind and immersive reading environments for deep learning.
Harvard Reflections
Jenny talks about classes with Barbara Johnson, Elaine Scarry, and Writing Narrative History with Simon Schama. She also mentions the class Judith Clara taught on political obligation, and a class called The Development of the Modern State taught by Stanley Hoffman, Peter Hall, and Tom Ertman.
Timestamps:
02:21: Powerlifting and Technique
07:45: Impact of Exercise on Personal Life
10:17: Career in Literature and Teaching
13:00: Recommended 18th-Century Literature
13:15: Reading Public in the 18th Century
26:45: Jenny's Reading Habits
29:09: Tanzania Research and Oral History
35:39: AI and Humanities Education
Links:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/214744151893608/user/112738
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenny-davidson-a89a7b1b5
*AI generated transcript and show notes.