SE’s new “Faculty Feature” series in Henry G. Bennett Library kicks off on April 2, featuring publication by Dr. Mila Zhu

March 24, 2026

Southeastern Oklahoma State University associate professor of Educational Instruction and Leadership Dr. Mila Zhu’s new book, The StrataPlay Methodology: A Lorekeeper’s Game Design in Postqualitative Inquiry, will be the highlight of a Faculty Feature: Research Edition event.

This new “Faculty Feature” event series hosted by the department of Academic Affairs is designed for Southeastern faculty to showcase their publications to a wider audience. The event will be held at 2 p.m. on Thursday, April 2, in the Native American Commons in the Henry G. Bennett Library. Dr. Zhu will host a brief presentation on the publication and refreshments will be served.

Dr. Zhu was a 2025 “40 Under 40” honoree by Oklahoma Magazine and is in her sixth academic year at Southeastern. In addition to her faculty role, she serves as the EDUC Program Coordinator and is the Founding Director of the Center for Interconnected Curriculum and Networked Learning (ICoN Learning). Her research integrates health-science–informed pedagogy and ethical decision-making with ludic and narrative-based approaches to curriculum and inquiry. She is the series editor of Ludic Scholarship: Games, Learning, and Innovative Pedagogy (Peter Lang), where she advances work that bridges game design, learning sciences, and educational philosophy.

Book cover of "The StrataPlay Methodology" by Mila Zhu, featuring a frog illustration and red emblem.

The StrataPlay Methodology: A Lorekeeper’s Game Design in Postqualitative Inquiry presents StrataPlay, an innovative post-qualitative methodology that blends academic inquiry with playful, narrative-driven gameplay. Grounded in posthumanism, post-qualitative research, and psychoanalytic theories, the book guides readers through a series of game-like challenges designed to explore fluid, fragmented identities, the intersections of power and autonomy, and the absurdities of modern academia.

Each chapter invites readers to step into immersive worlds where they confront complex philosophical questions through narrative and metaphor. By offering an interactive approach to knowledge creation, this book pushes boundaries and encourages a dynamic and ever-evolving relationship between theory, identity, and storytelling.

The book is published by Peter Lang Inc., International Academic Publishers of New York and will be available for purchase and signing at the event. The book is also available on Amazon and other online booksellers.