A wide shot of a ceramics studio, featuring students working with pottery wheels and other tools.

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Jill Riddell

Associate Professor, Adjunct

Contact

Bio

Adjunct Assistant Professor, Writing (1999). BA, 1983, Northwestern University. Podcast: The Shape of the World Show. Publications: City Creatures; Trop; Chicago Reader; Chicago Magazine. Awards: Audubon Award for excellence in environmental reporting.

Personal Statement

I write stories, essays, and articles, and I collaborate on museum exhibitions and audio podcasts. Currently, I'm writing an ongoing, serialized novel for the West Coast literary website, Trop Magazine, and I'm working on a nonfiction book about my quest to find a species of plant or animal never seen before. I've been the vice president of a natural history museum, the co-host of a podcast on green living, and a newspaper columnist. I have a small urban farm in Chicago with apple trees, vegetables, and honeybees.

Current Interests

I write essays and stories, and I also make audio pieces. I'm the host of The Shape of the World, a podcast about cities, nature and people. I collaborate on museum exhibitions and other multimedia art projects. Currently, I'm working on a nonfiction book about my quest to find a species of plant or animal never seen before. I've been the vice president of a natural history museum and a newspaper columnist. I have a small urban farm in Chicago with apple trees, vegetables, and honeybees. I serve on the City of Chicago Mayor's Nature & Wildlife Committee.

 

Courses

Title Department Catalog Term

Description

We read work by pioneers of immersive journalism from the mid 20th century and its contemporary practitioners, and attempt versions of the practice ourselves. We explore how seeking new experiences sharpens detail in written work and how immersion can provide fodder for any genre of writing or visual art. Students produce work that stems from life experience sought for the specific purpose of making. This is an opportunity to practice careful first-hand observation; capturing dialogue; and conducting research and interviews. Short, low-stakes assignments are given throughout the course, and one larger, longer work is presented near the end of the semester. Authors include Gloria Steinem, Barbara Ehrenreich, George Plimpton, and Amy Hempel.

Class Number

2119

Credits

3

Description

Taken every semester, the Graduate Projects courses allow students to focus in private sessions on the development of their work. Students register for 6 hours of Graduate Project credit in each semester of study.

Class Number

1989

Credits

3 - 6