Join us for this series of inspiring faculty presentations featuring current research, projects and experiences. Theses lunch hour events are free and open to everyone, both live and virtual attendance encouraged! Look for our Fall '24 speakers soon!

March 19, 2025

Dr. Jesse Wolfe, English Department

En Route

Presentation

Professor Wolfe will read a brief selection of poems from his chapbook as well as pieces that he’s currently working on. As suggested by the chapbook title--En Route--his poems explore journeys on which people embark at different times in their lives. These poems feature characters who are old and young, male and female, rich and poor. Some reach their destination; others don’t. Some look forward in hope or uncertainty; others look back with gratitude or regret; others savor the present. Collectively, they provide a mosaic of perspectives to stimulate readers’ curiosity and compassion.

Bio
Dr. Jesse Wolfe has been teaching English at Stanislaus State since 2006. A poet and literary critic, he has authored two scholarly monographs about intimacy and twentieth-century British literature. He has also written a poetry chapbook, En Route (2020), and published poems in numerous journals. 

Dr. Goshu Wolde Tefera, Ethnic Studies

Mapping Ethiopian Eateries in the U.S.:
Spatio-Temporal Analysis of Black Immigrant Food Geographies (in-progress)

Presentation

Place-making is tied to temporal and spatial displacement. Ethiopian and other African diasporic eateries serve as social hubs that cultivate intergenerational connections and a sense of belonging, while navigating broader socio-economic and political challenges. This research explores how Ethiopian dining practices—through communal meals, cultural gatherings, and rhythms tied to traditions—strengthen Black immigrant geographies that sustain long-term Black immigrant empowerment within the urban landscape.

Bio

Dr. Goshu Tefera is an Assistant Professor of Ethnic Studies at California State University, Stanislaus. He specializes in Human Geography with a focus on contemporary African diasporic experiences. His research, featured in leading academic journals, is informed by extensive experience in international development and community engagement across three continents. Previously, he served as the Strategic Partnerships Coordinator for the Gippsland region under the Victorian Government’s Department of Families, Fairness, and Housing, supporting culturally and linguistically diverse communities in Australia.

Updated: January 29, 2025