Laeticia Moon Conard Project
Grinnell College, ONGOING
As a Vivero Fellow, I’ve had the privilege of contributing to a digital archive project that highlights the life and legacy of Laetitia Moon Conard, one of Grinnell College’s most impactful yet often overlooked figures. Laetitia was a pioneering woman in the college’s Sociology Department, an advocate for women’s suffrage, and an active participant in national and international peace movements. She also made history by running for governor of Iowa on the Socialist Party ticket.
This project aims to bring her contributions to light through an interactive website featuring timelines, photo histories, and curated content from recent student research. In collaboration with faculty and students, I helped design the website’s structure, ensuring Laetitia’s work is accessible to a wider audience. We are also incorporating multimedia elements, such as videos, to further engage viewers and highlight key aspects of her life and impact.
Through this fellowship, I’ve gained hands-on experience in digital humanities, archival research, and storytelling, while playing a role in preserving and amplifying the legacy of a remarkable woman.
Project Link: https://laticiamoonconard.sites.grinnell.edu/blog/
*Note: This link is currently inactive as the project is still ongoing. Please refer to the Work and Ikigai Project for a published digital humanities website.
Laetitia “Trailblazer” StoryMap: https://arcg.is/1yXaO8
Work and Ikigai Project
Grinnell College, Fall 2024
For my final project in SOC-365: Work in the “New” Economy, I conducted interviews with four women in my family to explore how ikigai—the Japanese concept of one’s reason for being—relates to work and perceptions of labor. I presented this research through a WordPress site designed in the style of a book. The landing page welcomes visitors with a gallery showcasing the Kumano-Maloney women.
The first section, “Literature: Ikigai,” introduces the concept of ikigai and reviews existing research, followed by an analysis of Japanese and American perspectives on work. Each page includes a navigation button guiding readers to the next section.
Subsequent sections are dedicated to each generation I interviewed, starting with my grandmother and concluding with myself and my sisters. Each interview is narrated using an ArcGIS story map and followed by a written analysis.
Feel free to explore the site to learn about ikigai, the intersections of work and identity, and my family’s history!
Project link: https://workandikigai.emmasagekm.sites.grinnell.edu/project/
In the Eye of the Beholder: Asian American Women’s Navigation of Dual Beauty Standards
Grinnell College, Fall 2023
This project was completed for my SOC-295 class, The Sociology of Asian America. For our final project, we conducted interviews with 24 participants to explore how Asian American women navigate and balance beauty standards. Given the differing beauty ideals in Asian countries and the United States, along with the history of Asian Americans visiting their countries of origin and preserving cultural practices, we sought to understand how beauty is experienced across borders and its impact on identity.
Our findings revealed that skin complexion often stood out as a significant point of contrast between the beauty standards tied to dual identities. For instance, some women expressed a desire to “stay pale” when visiting their countries of origin.
In addition to our research paper, we designed a magazine using Figma that highlights the history of our research and includes creative elements. Check out the magazine below!
Titular Head Film Festival Immersive Game
Grinnell College, Spring 2025
As the head organizer of Grinnell College’s annual humor-based film festival, Titular Head (Tithead), I created a Twine story to help educate students about the event’s atmosphere and planning process. Please note that the story contains expletives and sexual references in keeping with the festival’s comedic nature. Check it out here: Let’s make a Tithead!
Immersive Story for Ojiichan
Grinnell College, Spring 2025
For my final project in Digital Literary Methods, I crafted one more Twine story—this time with my grandfather in mind. As one of his caregivers, I’ve spent countless hours encouraging him to speak: Alzheimer’s has dulled his memory, and engaging his mind is vital to slowing further decline. As a Certified Nursing Assistant experienced in working with dementia patients, I know that familiar photographs and stories from one’s life can spark conversation and exercise the brain. With this in mind, I designed an immersive narrative that unfolds like a dialogue between me, his granddaughter, and my grandfather. I hope you enjoy this piece of memory and family heirloom. Give it a play here: Story for Ojiichan.