Shared Experiences Inspire PhD Student’s Book ‘Between Classes’

Shamim Shoomali felt as if she were the only graduate student without a sense of community when she arrived at Georgia Tech in 2023 to pursue a Ph.D. in digital media. Now, with the publication of her new book, Between Classes, she wants to help other students see that they aren't alone.  

Since she was a child growing up in Iran, Shoomali has expressed herself through art — whether on paper or the walls of her parents' home. At Tech, looking for a way to connect to her new surroundings, Shoomali brought her sketchbook to her favorite campus locations and decided to draw her observations.  

Over time, what she saw and heard led her to the realization that shared experiences bond many students at the Institute, even if they don't know it. From the stress of not having a car to finding a place to get a haircut in an unfamiliar city, her illustrations depict the ups and downs of the graduate student experience while providing a resource for future generations.  

"My first semester at Georgia Tech was the most challenging one, and if I had this book, I would have felt like I was not alone. I hope the book tells future students that someone has experienced all these things, and it’s going to get better. We can all feel isolated sometimes, but realizing that this is a part of life can help you move forward together," she said.  

Since arriving on campus, Shoomali has been involved with Arts, Belonging and Community, where she pitched the book concept and was awarded a grant to complete the project. Between Classes will be available in the Georgia Tech Library and featured at the Grad Welcome and Fall Picnic in August.   

"I want to create more opportunities for other students to share their own experiences. This can help them find connections and give everyone a chance to understand what others may be going through," she said.    

Blending Art and Technology 

After earning a bachelor's degree in visual communication design and a master's degree in animation direction and new media from the Tehran University of Art, Shoomali wanted to continue her education, and a book she read while completing her thesis led her to Georgia Tech.  

Janet Murray's Hamlet on the Holodeck guided Shoomali in her understanding of the evolving relationship between art and technology. Murray, a professor in the School of Literature, Media, and Communication, encouraged Shoomali to apply to Georgia Tech to pursue her Ph.D. and served as her advisor until her retirement earlier this year.  

Shoomali digitized her illustrations for Between Classes with an iPad and completed the publication process entirely online. In each step of her educational journey, Shoomali says that she has developed new perspectives on how to merge traditional and modern techniques in her creations. This includes her latest project, an animated short film titled Paw and Scissors, which is made up of 6,000 hand-drawn frames.   

"The process of creating a piece of art can take a long time, but technology can enhance the process and expand its audience. Traditional art can get overlooked because it may not be accessible to everyone, or audiences may not be willing to wait for something to be completed. At the same time, if we rely too heavily on technology, little by little, we are going to forget who we are, so I think it's important that they overlap," she said.  

Shoomali currently serves as an instructor of record at Tech, teaching design and media courses. After earning her Ph.D., she plans to become a professor and design interactive museum exhibits.