Welcome, Sierra!

We’re excited to introduce Sierra Sherland, our George P. Griffis intern for the 2021–2022 school year. Get to know Sierra and the books she’s diving into as she joins the OSU Press team.

I’m a third-year undergraduate student who just transferred to Oregon State University to study English! I decided to study English because of the way literature is able to reflect and comment on culture and society. There are few other artforms that can so fully and completely dissect issues that we’ve experienced in the past and are experiencing today. I enjoy reading various genres and exploring beyond my comfort zone, which is speculative fiction. I’ve recently been reading more creative nonfiction. I’m so excited to be a part of the book creation process at OSU Press!

Sierra's Reading List:

Bearing Witness: The Human Rights Case against Fracking and Climate Change, edited by Thomas A. Kerns and Kathleen Dean Moore: There’s nothing like 359 pages of prosecuting fracking and climate change through the lens of human rights for a nice, light summer read! As the climate crisis continues to pick up steam, it’s clear that humans will not be able to remain insulated through the use of technology. I feel this most vividly when the air conditioner in my room begins to falter at 100 degrees and instead pumps out warm air. Bearing Witness breaks down the ways in which fracking and climate change violate human rights through a variety of viewpoints and authors, including testimonials and firsthand accounts of the destruction fracking can bring.    

rough house by tina ontiveros: It’s difficult to unravel the complicated web of feelings that come with a relationship with an abusive parent. Tina Ontiveros manages to do it in a compelling, gripping memoir that takes the reader through her complicated relationship with her father and past. Once I started reading, it was difficult to stop.  

This Is Not For You: An Activist's Journey of Resistance and Resilience by Richard Brown and Brian Benson: The first thing I noticed when reading the first few chapters of this book is the voice. It feels like a conversation between the reader and Brown, a lifelong activist and photographer. Brown’s memoir explores his past, and also provides a much-needed perspective of Portland, Oregon. I’m looking forward to reading more of this book and learning from Brown’s rich and engaging narration.