Shai Fenwick was born in Trinidad and Tobago to two economists and has been involved in both politics and education since she was a toddler. She has copy-edited engineers in Houston; edited and written for a daily newspaper and a monthly state magazine; worked with hearing and visually impaired students on behavior modification; taught science and social studies; and worked with faculty, staff, and a diverse array of students, faculty, and staff at the University of Oklahoma. Her history is multinational and multiethnic. She has served on the board of the Oklahoma Coalition for Reproductive Justice, the steering committee for Take Root Conference on Red State Reproductive Justice, the board of the Future Society of Central Oklahoma, and currently serves on the Diversity Committee of the Oklahoma Council of Teachers of English, Oklahoma Arts Council, the committee for Oklahoma’s Creative Writing state standards, and is a union representative in the OEA. Fenwick earned her bachelor's degree in Anthropology, her master's in Professional Writing, and is currently pursuing her PhD in instructional leadership and academic curriculum. She is a founding partner of Cobalt Prairie Consulting LLC in Norman, teaches high-school senior English and creative writing, and is a fierce advocate for equity, inquiry, and justice everywhere.
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10:00 AM | Location: Oklahoma G
How do creators draw from real-world cultures to create rich, diverse worlds in speculative fiction? Panelists discuss the importance of research, respect, and authenticity.
Moderator: David Rike
Panelists: Candace Kade, David Rike, Shai Fenwick
1:00 PM | Location: Sooner A
Explore how different sci-fi stories address gender, identity, and sexuality. How do works like The Left Hand of Darkness and Star Trek challenge traditional gender roles and expectations?
Moderator: Busty Springfield
Panelists: Busty Springfield, Dara Fogel, PhD, Doodlez The Dastardly, Magician Michael Corley, Shai Fenwick
4:00 PM | Location: Oklahoma G
From the Marvel Cinematic Universe to Star Wars and Fast & Furious, modern blockbusters often lean on spectacle, humor, and irony. But where are the heartfelt stories that once defined these films? In this panel, we'll examine how the shift to action-packed, self-aware storytelling has changed the emotional landscape of blockbuster cinema. Is sincerity a casualty of the modern movie industry, or is it just waiting to make a comeback? Let's unpack what we've lost -- and what we might still find -- in today's biggest films.
Moderator: Dara Fogel, PHD
Panelists: FoxDaddy, A. Lee Martinez, Charles Dane Clark, Dara Fogel, PHD, Shai Fenwick
12:00 PM | Location: Boomer B
Delve into the ethical and philosophical themes of Star Trek, from the Prime Directive to the Federation's ideals of equality.
Moderator: Busty Springfield
Panelists: Shai Fenwick, Selina Rosen, Busty Springfield, Libby A. Smith, Clinton Girkin
3:00 PM | Location: Sooner A
With most of the world living under authoritarian regimes, is democracy really the global standard? This panel explores political history, cultural perspectives, and ethical considerations surrounding governance in the modern world.
Moderator: Dr Paisley
Panelists: Joshua Trope, Dr Paisley, Tim Frayser, Aislinn Burrows, Shai Fenwick