Keith Hamm

1 week ago | news.ucsb.edu | Keith Hamm

The history of Guatemala is fraught with what Ixil Maya people refer to as a series of invasions. The first began 500 years ago with the arrival of Spanish colonizers. The second was the rise of the plantation economy in the late-19th century. The country’s third invasion was tied to state-sponsored genocide during more than three decades of civil war.

1 month ago | news.ucsb.edu | Keith Hamm

The stage is set for UC Santa Barbara’s final round of Grad Slam, an annual event that challenges graduate students to finetune their research, hone their public-speaking skills and take home some cash. Now in its 13th year, Grad Slam has always been marked by friendly competition and a wide variety of disciplines.

1 month ago | independent.com | Keith Hamm

The backstory of today’s kitchen island has roots in the standalone scullery workstations of large estates in the 18th century. In the early 20th century, architect Frank Lloyd Wright’s open-plan homes blurred or eliminated physical barriers between kitchen, dining, and living spaces, with islands serving as important pieces of functional furniture for mingling and food prep.

1 month ago | news.ucsb.edu | Keith Hamm

Beating 19 teams from schools across California, Nevada, Hawaii and Guam, UC Santa Barbara’s Army ROTC Surfrider Battalion won the Ranger Challenge regional competition in February at Fort Hunter Liggett. The victory earned the team a historic first for UCSB — an invite to New York to compete in the championship event, the Sandhurst Military Skills Competition, held at U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

1 month ago | independent.com | Keith Hamm

Q&A: Jessica Risko Smith, Interior Designer Art and Creativity are All in the Family By Keith Hamm Thu Mar 06, 2025 | 12:04am Add to Favorites Jessica Risko Smith | Credit: Jennifer Yau After studying design and business at Auburn University in Alabama, Jessica Risko Smith started her career at a global commercial firm in Los Angeles, focusing, she says, on “design as a tool” to enhance business, productivity, and workplace satisfaction. In 2004, she landed in Santa Barbara and launched her...