Category Archives: Lyusyena Kirakosyan

I am delighted as editor of the RE: Reflections and Explorations series to welcome Dr. Lyusyena Kirakosyan back to its pages this week. Dr. Kirakosyan first proposed this series while a doctoral student at Virginia Tech and provided the leadership … Continue reading →

Lebanese theater-maker, actor and playwright Rabih Mroué has argued that theatre is an ideal medium for exposing complex and uneasy issues, and an especially powerful vehicle to raise questions and to formulate fresh ideas, without reaching conclusions and judgments (Mroué, … Continue reading →

Few would argue with the idea that stories represent a universal human activity across history and cultures that has served many different purposes. Bruno Bettelheim believed that through narrative human beings come to know themselves better, becoming more able to understand others and to relate to them in mutually satisfying and meaningful ways. I have been a member of the Virginia Tech Institute for Policy and Governance Community Voices team for several years now, as we invited a number of local, national and international leaders to Blacksburg to share their stories and perspectives on social change. Our guests have used the power of narrative to connect people, stories and resources, to begin conversations around health, arts and culture, economy, technology and community engagement, and perhaps to encourage some of us to take action. Continue reading →