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Allison Daniele Notter ’00

A picture of Allison Notter

Allison Daniele Notter ’00, December 18, 2010, in Cuba, from a sudden illness. Allison earned a BA from Reed in history and literature, and wrote her thesis, "The Creation of Chicano Cultural Consciousness: The Arts in the United Farm Workers of America," with Laura Leibman, [English and humanities, 1995–]. Laura recalls Allison as one of her all-time favorite thesis students. “She had a great sense of humor and fun and I always looked forward to our weekly meetings. Even when she hadn't gotten writing done for that week, she was honest about it and moved on to the next hurdle in her usual upbeat approach to life.” Laura said that the thesis focused largely on dramas written, produced, and acted by members of the Chicano farm workers movement, and that Allison did a substantial amount of primary research to complete it, including reading and translating large numbers of dramas and newspapers written in Spanish. After graduation, Allison returned to her hometown, New York City, and was performing, studying, and teaching dance there. She was a dance education major at New York University on a K-12 certification track, and taught ballroom dance in public schools through the American Ballroom Theater. A colleague described her as a conscientious and cooperative individual, who handled the ups and downs of performance with equanimity and grace. Allison had taken a year's leave of absence from the university to continue her study of Cuba's popular dances. “It does not surprise me that she was back in Cuba,” said Laura. “Throughout her time at Reed she was dedicated to learning about other cultures in a hands-on way. I am sure her students must miss her very much.”

Appeared in Reed magazine: June 2011

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