Susan Zieger, a professor of English at UC Riverside, completed a Rockefeller Foundation Bellagio Center Residency Program in April as part of the “Rethinking Capitalism” working group. The Bellagio Center brings together academics, artists, and leaders from around the globe to generate new ideas and tackle some of the world’s most complex challenges in a four-week program in Lake Como, Italy, according to the foundation’s website, 

“I was motivated by the strong intellectual community, the gorgeous setting in the Italian lake district, and the relief from service obligations that can often break the focused attention needed to write,” Zieger said.

Zieger, who has taught at UCR for over 20 years, applied for the residency program in spring 2023 after learning about it from a colleague at the University of Sydney who had recently completed the residency.

In spring 2023, Zieger submitted her application which included a video where she had to explain her project in one minute. According to Zieger, she found the application to the residency program, unlike any other program.

Zieger learned of her acceptance in the fall of 2023. “It's a significant vote of confidence in my project because the pool of applicants is so large,” she said.

At the Bellagio Center, Zieger focused on completing the introduction to “Supply Chain Stories: Logistics and Power,” her forthcoming book set to be published by University of California Press in 2025. According to Zieger, she considers the introduction the most challenging part of any book. “Supply Chain Stories” explores the history and rise of logistics and its dynamic with consumption, from the mid-18th century to the present. 

“The most rewarding part was meeting the other fellows, and the wonderful intellectual conversations we had and the friendships we made,” she said.

Zieger was placed in the “Rethinking Capitalism” working group. Although less formal than anticipated, Zieger worked alongside residents whose projects covered different disciplines. “Most of the other fellows were working on climate crisis projects,” she said. “There were artists, policymakers, and non-profit leaders, as well as other scholars.” The Bellagio Center’s environment fosters a collaborative atmosphere, allowing fellows to “forge cross-disciplinary and cross-cultural connections with other residents,” according to its website. 

Since her stay at the Bellagio Center, Zieger has been encouraged to pursue similar opportunities. “I hope to apply for more residencies, and my experience at the Bellagio should stand me in good stead,” she said.

Zieger looks forward to continuing at UCR in the fall of 2024. “In 2024-5, I'll be teaching ENGL 12S, ‘Intro to Genre,’ which I'm very excited about, ENGL 20A, which is an introduction to British Literature, ENGL 172T, ‘Decadence,’ a favorite, and a graduate seminar about literature and infrastructure,” she said.

FEATURED PHOTO. Susan Zieger. Image courtesy of Susan Zieger.