Wrapping up

On endings, beginnings, and on-goings

Mar 13, 2025

Oh my goodness, Substackers, some things have HAPPENED since I last wrote to you! (This will be a very exclamation-mark-heavy post.)1 A little over two weeks ago, I successfully defended my doctoral dissertation for the COMMode Project at the University of Bern.

The night before my defense, I put the final stitches in the border of my “dissertation mood blanket” that you might remember from this post. The final blanket is big (like bed-sized) and uneven and gaudy and it is one of my FAVORITE things I have ever made! I brought it along to my defense in a tote bag decorated with “Geoffrey Chatser” the cat that Bee made for me. After my examiners deliberated and called me back in for my results, I was able to take out the blanket and share this funny visual record of my dissertation revision journey, with all the days of headache or triumph, with all the panic and confusion, with all the heart palpitations and conference attendance clearly legible by color and stitch. The finished project honestly deserves its own post. Someday!

Many people warned me about post-dissertation blues as a very real concern and a very common experience but I managed to avoid them by not having a gap between my defense and another exciting project: an upcoming two-day symposium at the Newberry Library in Chicago which aims to bring cartoonists and medievalists together to make some new connections and think through what our disciplines can bring to each other. Planning for this event has been in the works for over two years now and I am so thrilled that it’s nearly here! Three of my favorite comics friends will also be presenting at this event, Lucy Bellwood, Marnie Galloway, and Chris Schweizer! The symposium includes public events (no registration required) as well as a workshop component that requires application via the website. If you are in the Chicago area, will be in the Chicago area, or could come to the Chicago area and are interested, please consider joining us! I truly believe this event will be something special.

As if that weren’t enough to keep me busy, I’m also working on two comics projects: an article for an academic journal that I love and a new autobio zine for an upcoming event online. Though I can’t say much more about these projects right now, I will be sure to report back with updates as they progress!

So that’s me these days, friends! WHEW. What works have you completed or started in the past several weeks? Will you be joining us in Chicago in June?

With all possible exclamation marks,

(Dr. des.) KHC (!!!)2

(My powerpoint, my blanket, and my truly exceptional examiners! <3 )

!!!!!

For those of you who have not seen this designation before, it’s “Doctor designatus,” which means that my examination/defense was passed but I still need to publish my dissertation. The work never ends!!! (Also I will never sign off with a title again but I’m just a little excited! Ha!)