My name is Michael Stern. I was born and raised in the Bronx and landed in Oregon in 2001 after many in-betweens. One of those in-betweens was the University of California where I earned a Ph.D. I was the first in my family to do so. Neither of my parents went to college. They were working people and never had the opportunities that I enjoyed. So I am grateful to be where I am, and happy to be your Professor for the first term of your college career.

My scholarly work is comparative. I write about narratives, poetry and philosophy and research writers and thinkers from 3 continents and the Caribbean islands. The world of stories tells us about who we think we are and this fascinates me. We humans love to invent things, to come upon shapes and rhythms and we are constantly trying to narrate, explain, interpret, and order the world. And we always fail. The world is always in excess of our attempts to know it and that is a good thing. Our FIG will be about stories and the worlds they describe. It will touch upon love, honor, luck, desire, walking, the environment, and the movements people have made sliding from one world to another. I am happy to welcome you to this FIG, Stories We Tell, and I am eager to hear the stories you tell about yourself and the world. 

Email: mjstern@uoregon.edu

Hi there! My name is Sära, and I’m so excited to be working with you all this year as your FIG Assistant. I am a sophomore at UO majoring in Psychology with a minor in Spanish. Eugene is actually my hometown, and I grew up here, so I would be more than happy to recommend the hidden gems around this area. You made a great choice in coming here, there is so much to see!

I love spending time in nature, road trips, and exploring Oregon with friends in my spare time when I am not studying. I also love music and reading so any recommendations are always welcome.

I’m really looking forward to getting to know you all so don't hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns, anything from questions about school to activities in Eugene, or even if you just want to chat. I would love to help! Feel free to email me whenever. Looking forward to getting to know you all this year!

Want to connect with your FA? Email figs@uoregon.edu to get connected!