Graphic Novels in the Classroom

On March 26, the Graphic Novels Team organized a roundtable conversation on the innovative ways educators are integrating graphic novels into teaching and learning. Faculty from various programs on campus participated in this discussion: Carmen Serrano (Spanish), Caroline Herbelin (French), Mitch Aso (History), and Ryan Irwin (History). The roundtable was facilitated by Elizabeth Vasquez (Epidemiology and Biostatistics). Each panelist began with a brief five-minute presentation sharing their approaches, strategies, and classroom experiences using graphic novels. The remainder of the session featured a lively exchange between the audience and the speakers.

The positive impact of the roundtable was evident during the event and afterwards. You know an event has been successful when it sparks immediate engagement and reflection. The roundtable was very well received, and several faculty members shared that they found it useful for applying what they learned in their own courses and for exploring ways to integrate graphic novels more meaningfully.

A selection of graphic novels was showcased for attendees to browse. Some participants asked whether the library had graphic novels on specific topics. In some cases, we were able to help immediately; in others, we took note of their requests to inform future collection development decisions.

One of the attendees, Paul Miller, followed up by email after the event, writing: “Just a quick "Thank you" for the fantastic graphic novel event! It's Sunday morning and I'm pouring through the incredible book that I picked up at your event. It's such a blessing to work at a university and to be continually introduced to new ways of thinking.”

The Library Graphic Novels Team, dedicated to creating opportunities for dialogue and discovery around the power of graphic novels on our campus. Current members include Abby Adams, Amanda Lowe, Wendy West, Kaci Wilson, Emilie Wacogne, Ryan Clow, and Jesús Alonso-Regalado. We also manage a small fund dedicated to building a diverse graphic novel collection.

Where are the graphic novels located? Most are now part of the Popular Books Collection  Not all graphic novels scattered throughout the library have been moved yet, but they will soon be integrated into this space or another area better suited to support the collection’s growth.

Stay tuned for more graphic novel events coming soon!