Sign of Pride: Linguist's Studies Raise Recognition for Black ASL

The growing visibility of Black Deaf signers — on TikTok, at Super Bowl 2021 and in a documentary screening nationwide — is also putting the spotlight on the work of a UC Davis linguist.

Professor Robert Bayley doesn’t consider himself a sign language specialist; as a sociolinguist, he studies language variation. But he has collaborated for 24 years with sign language experts at Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C., and other universities for the Deaf.

UC Davis Expands Study of South Asian Religions With Jainism

Although Jainism is one of the world’s oldest religions and continues to have significant influence globally, it isn’t widely known. Thanks to a $1.5 million gift from longtime UC Davis supporter Mohini Jain and the recent hire of Assistant Professor Lynna Dhanani in the Department of Religious Studies, UC Davis is helping to increase the visibility of Jainism through research, academic and public programming, and course offerings.

Most Teen Bullying Occurs Among Peers Climbing the Social Ladder

Teens who bully, harass, or otherwise victimize their peers are not always lashing out in reaction to psychological problems or unhealthy home environments, but are often using aggression strategically to climb their school’s social hierarchy, a UC Davis study suggests. These findings point to the reasons why most anti-bullying programs don’t work and suggest possible strategies for the future.

Graphic History Wins Award for Scholarly Excellence

Charles Walker, professor of history and director of the Hemispheric Institute on the Americas at UC Davis, has won a 2021 PROSE Award from the Association of American Publishers for his graphic history, Witness to the Age of Revolution: The Odyssey of Juan Bautista Tupac Amaru.

Middle East Historian Awarded NEH Fellowship

Arab textile workers in North and South America will be focus of new book.

UC Davis historian Stacy Fahrenthold — author of an award-winning book on the activism of Arab immigrants during World War I — has received a National Endowment for the Humanities fellowship to write a global history of the Syrian working class.