Public Engagement
Building Relationships Through Shared Discovery
Once Upon A Map: Cartographies of Power
February 2026 | Texas A&M International University
Once Upon a Map: Cartographies of Power was an interdisciplinary outreach program that invited participants to explore the relationship between geography, storytelling, and cultural identity through the creation and interpretation of maps.
Drawing inspiration from fantasy literature, folklore, mythology, and historical cartography, the program encouraged students to think critically about how maps communicate information, construct narratives, and influence our understanding of both real and imagined worlds.
Rather than presenting maps solely as navigational tools, the event positioned them as cultural artifacts that reveal relationships between space, memory, identity, and power. Through interactive mapping activities, participants explored how landscapes shape stories and how stories, in turn, shape our understanding of place.
The program reflected my broader philosophy that libraries can foster curiosity and interdisciplinary learning by creating experiences that connect research, creativity, and critical inquiry.
About
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One of the goals of Once Upon a Map was to challenge assumptions about what academic learning can look like within a library setting. By inviting participants to create, interpret, and discuss maps, the program transformed abstract concepts such as information organization, authority, perspective, and cultural memory into tangible, creative experiences.
Developing the program strengthened my interest in designing outreach that begins with curiosity rather than instruction alone. I believe experiential learning creates opportunities for deeper engagement because participants discover ideas through exploration rather than passive observation. This philosophy continues to influence my approach to library programming, instruction, and public engagement.
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Experiential Learning
Public Humanities
Information Literacy
Visual Literacy
Program Design
Outreach Strategy
Creative Pedagogy
Event Management
Assessment Planning
Interdisciplinary Collaboration
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Conceived and designed the overall program concept.
Developed the educational framework connecting literature, cartography, folklore, and information literacy.
Coordinated event planning and logistics.
Designed interactive mapping activities encouraging exploration and creative scholarship.
Developed interpretive materials explaining cartographic concepts.
Collaborated with campus partners to support programming.
Planned outreach and promotional strategies.
Evaluated participant engagement and program success through assessment
A promotional sign for the Fairytale Mapping event.
Another promotional sign for the Fairytale Mapping event.
The event table set-up for the Fairytale Mapping event.
Students engaging with the materials and participating in the event.
More students engaging with the materials and participating in the event.
A group of students engaging with the materials and participating in the event.
A student engaging with the materials during the event.
A faculty member engaging with the materials and participating in the event.
An exhibition of books with decorations for a fairytale themed experience. Many students wanted to sit at this table.
The instructions and an example of a map a student drew.
Books on display to help students better understand maps.
The set-up of the event activity at one table before the event began.