The Athenaeum hosts events that explore and enhance the intellectual life of the University and the region through lectures,
readings, performances, discussions, and other events.
By bringing together scholars, performers, students, and community members for intellectual discussion and the sharing of cultural
experiences, the Athenaeum reflects the importance the University places on the humanities, the arts, and the sciences.
All Athenaeum events begin at 1:00 PM and are held on the south end of the Library's second floor, unless otherwise noted.
| 18 January 2012 25 January 2012 01 February 2012 08 February 2012 |
22 February 2012 29 February 2012 07 March 2012 21 March 2012 |
28 March 2012 04 April 2012 11 April 2012 |
18 January 2012
The Return of the American Teachers
Vanessa Fernandez Greene, Assistant Professor, Global Studies and World Languages
Alicia Reed, Instructor, Global Studies and World Languages
In 2010 Winona State was invited by the government of San Juan, Argentina, to take part in "The Return of the American Teachers," a celebration of education and international cooperation honoring the bicentennial of the birth of Domingo Faustino Sarmiento, who was instrumental in modernizing and broadening education throughout Argentina at the end of the 19th century. Of the nearly 65 American teachers who helped aid in this development, nearly half were graduates of Winona Normal School. Their contribution transformed Argentine society and lead to the expansion of professional opportunities for women and eventually the presence of the female voice in all aspects of society. Ten scholarship participants from Winona State participated in the events in San Juan, including the opportunity to work in a school named in honor of a Winona Normal School graduate and continue the legacy of WSU's educational impact in Argentina.
Vanessa Fernandez Greene will discus the history of Winona State's connection to the country of Argentina. Alicia Reed will discuss how she reinitiated contacts between Winona and the province of San Juan, Argentina. Several students who participated in the program "The Return of the American Teachers" will speak on their experience, and we will then discuss Winona State's plans to continue a relationship with San Juan into the future, including teacher/student exchanges, travel study and study abroad programs, and bilateral teacher training initiatives.
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25 January 2012
Lessons from a Secret History Investigator: The Benefits of Combining Two Disciplinary Passions
James W. Parlow, Assistant Professor, WSU Sociology/Criminal Justice
Samuel Clemens, Silver and Gold, Wealth and Philanthropy in the late 1860's in the US Territorial wild west, rivaling a current day Warren Buffet or Bill Gates. A name lost in history comes alive through his own writings and of others. Reuel Colt Gridley left a unique mark in the lives of many soldiers, Grey and Blue, through his gift of diligence.
The presentation will show the value of interdisciplinary research using the investigative skills of Criminal Justice and the lost conclusions of History. It will highlight the journey from student to researcher to presenter through the story of the rediscovery of the 'Greatest Un-armed Hero' of the Civil War. Students and the general public will hear the not-so by chance, happenstance investigation, which involves unique discoveries, dogged research and eerie coincidences. Or, in other words: History via Criminal Justice through The Twilight Zone.
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01 February 2012
Interdisciplinary Collaboration Course Experiment
James A. Bowey, Assistant Professor, Mass Communication
Joan Francioni, Professor, Computer Science
Chun Lok Mah, Assistant Professor, Art – Graphic Design
During the 2011 Fall Semester, Professors Bowey, Fancioni, and Mah brought together students from three different disciplines to study and experience interdisciplinary collaboration. The students were used to working on group projects but they were not at all familiar or even comfortable with true collaboration. Using a combination of short projects, lectures, and outside speakers, we worked with them to understand the role of interdisciplinary work in creative production and how to leverage their individual strengths and knowledge in this kind of work. For the final project, they worked in small teams to create an impossible real-life scene that looks natural and reflects some aspect(s) of the social implications of computing. In this presentation, Bowey, Francioni, and Mah will discuss what they think worked best in this class and what they would change in the future. They will also showcase some of the final projects.
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08 February 2012
Higher Order Thinking in the Dance Studio
A.T. Moffett, Adjunct Faculty, Dance Program/Theater and Dance
Professor A.T. Moffett's research focuses on ways dance teachers can invite students into advanced levels of engagement in the studio classroom. Partnering with students from her Modern Dance class, A.T. will discuss the unique ways dance allows for a full-bodied, robust version of higher order thinking. This presentation weaves together insights from dance education experts, anecdotal responses from WSU students, and live performance. It is conducted in conjunction with THAD's production of 'Dancescape,' which runs February 16-18 on PAC's main stage. Tickets are available at the WSU box office.
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22 February 2012 - Canceled
Laundry or Lawn Mowing? Housework as Gender Performance in Same-Sex Couples
Nicole Civettini, Assistant Professor, Sociology
Professor Civettini will discuss her test of an original theory that incorporated the idea of normative vs. non-normative gender displays with the "gender performance" approach and a trend toward gender liberalism among lesbians and gay men. In a survey of 244 members of same-sex couples, people who expressed high levels of gender-normative traits (femininity for lesbians, masculinity for gay men) did not use housework as way to create a gendered identity. However, women who expressed greater masculinity did a smaller share of housework than other women, and men who expressed greater femininity contributed a larger share of housework relative to other men in the sample.
29 February 2012
What Was New in History? History through History Textbooks
Gregory Schmidt, Professor, History
The presentation will focus on change and continuity in the content of college-level American History textbooks have changed since the early 20th century. The public generally assumes that history textbooks represent the unchanging Truth about history. Examining change and continuity in history textbooks, however, reveals that history sometimes changes substantially and that the Truth is an elusive target.
07 March 2012
Business in Africa
Kathryn J. Ready, Professor, Business Administration
Professor Ready participated in a faculty development study tour during May 2011 of businesses, cultural areas, game reserves and government offices/embassies in Kenya and Tanzania. Professor Ready will discuss the political and economic climate as it pertains to issues that businesses currently face in this region.
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21 March 2012
The Cultural Implications of Globalization
Hamid Yeganeh, Assistant Professor, Business Administration
The most well-known interpretation of cultural globalization is homogenization or McDonalization which emphasize the cultural convergence across the globe especially through multinational corporations. I take a different position and discuss the cultural implications of globalization under three paradigms; homogenization, differentialism, and hybridization. Consequently, I conceptualize globalization as a dialectical phenomenon that fragments as it coordinates. Building on this conceptualization, I reflect on the business and social implications of globalization.
28 March 2012
What Winona State has Taught Me
Judith Ramaley, President, Winona State University
In his recent book, The Social Animal, David Brooks writes that, "We become who we are in conjunction with other people becoming who they are." One of the major challenges facing higher education today is to enhance our relevance and connectedness to the issues and problems that deeply concern the broader society we serve. At the same time, as a community of learners, we can explore and model what it means to draw upon the talents and interests of every member of our community to create a sustainable and democratic way of academic life. President Ramaley will reflect on what she has learned about building a sense of shared purpose and about how to foster deep engagement between the university and the communities it serves.
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04 April 2012
New Poets Read from their Work
ENG 412 Poetry Students
James Armstrong, Professor, English
In celebration of National Poetry Month, students from James Armstrong's Advanced Poetry Writing class will read from their work.
11 April 2012
The Actor as Chameleon, As Explored Through the Works of William Shakespeare
Lolly Foy, Assistance Professor, Theatre and Dance
In 1998 Lolly Foy helped found the all female Shakespeare company, "Chickspeare," in Charlotte, NC, to generate more performance opportunities for a talented, and woefully underutilized pool of women actors. The company soon adopted the philosophy that the actor should strive to be a vessel, devoid of age, sex, or type, into which the character can be poured. For instance, one does not "play" a man, but rather becomes the unique individual that is Falstaff. To demonstrate this ideal, Ms. Foy will perform a one woman. or rather, one actor romp through some of Shakespeare's best loved plays and characters.
The Athenaeum is located on the second floor of the Darrell W. Krueger Library, on the south side, overlooking the bluffs.
Directions to the Darrell W. Krueger Library
Tom Bremer
Gretchen Cohenour
Colette Hyman
Joe Jackson
Cindy Killion
Kendall Larson
Vernon Leighton
Cathie Logan
Deanne Mohr
Joe Mount
Greg Neidhart
Allison Quam
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