2024 Graduate Dean’s Dissertation Fellowship Recipients

The Claire Trevor School of the Arts is pleased to announce the 2024 UC Irvine Graduate Dean's Dissertation Fellowship (GDDF) recipients. The competitive fellowship provides financial support to graduate and doctoral students in the final stages of their thesis and dissertation research. This year's honorees are Minoo Emadi from the Department of Art, Grigorios Mathioudakis for the Department of Music and Carly Shaw for the Department of Drama. Their research and projects align with UC Irvine's broader emphasis on interdisciplinary scholarship across the arts.

Minoo Emadi — M.F.A. Candidate, Studio Art

Minoo Emadi's graduate thesis project, Three Echoes, is an ongoing series of paintings inspired by the intersection of fundamental physics, theatrical framework, semiotics, visual design and spatial thinking. Emadi's exploration draws inspiration from the rich history of reproduction in art but ultimately challenges the notion of a singular viewpoint. This project deconstructs the dominant approach to achieving a unified perspective through seriality, exploring how diverse visual choices can still generate cohesive sensory experiences.

“Receiving this fellowship, alongside other inspiring projects across diverse fields, has encouraged me to examine the boundaries of painting and push them further," shared Emadi. "This support significantly facilitates my interdisciplinary research, allowing me to focus my time and energy on my work, culminating in my thesis show in spring 2025."

Grigorios Mathioudakis — Ph.D. Candidate in History and Theory of Music

Image: Sketch courtesy of Grigorios Mathioudakis.

Grigorios Mathioudakis’ research centers on the notion of ecstasis in the works of twentieth-century avant-garde composer Iannis Xenakis. His project examines Xenakis’ compositions, including his seminal treatise, Formalized Music: Thought and Mathematics in Composition (1971). Mathioudakis aims to analyze the musical movements within Xenakis’ Metastaseis (1953-54) and other works by integrating music and philosophy.

“Being part of this fellowship is important to me as it recognizes my work in my research field,” shared Mathioudakis. “It allows me to work exclusively on my dissertation during the summer, helping me to finish by the end of the next school year.” 

The GDDF will enable Mathioudakis to research over the summer and fall quarters at the Iannis Xenakis archives in Paris and the Athens Conservatoire.

Carly Shaw – Ph.D. Candidate in Drama

Image: National Theatre's Speak Up Celebration in Havering, Outer East London. Photo courtesy of Carly Shaw.

Carly Shaw’s research explores the transformative potential of theatre and play in ameliorating trauma, mental health issues and facilitating identity reconstruction. Her project posits this by harnessing the innate creativity young people exhibit through play and how the creation of theatrical pieces can generate spaces of transformation.

Within these spaces, experiences of emotional overwhelm, which might otherwise manifest as aggressive or destructive behavior, can be reframed into imaginative, creative drives. This process facilitates the collaborative creation of expressive and productive works.

“This fellowship has granted me the opportunity to expand my research with the hope of making a real impact in the lives of young people,” shared Shaw. “First-hand observation, participant interviews and access to archival material are vital to the development of my project and its potential implications and would be impossible without the support this award has provided.”

The Claire Trevor School of the Arts honors the UC Irvine GDFF recipients of the arts. Their work highlights the school's commitment to integrating creativity with academic research.