Individualized Programs of Study – Page 2

Faculty & Staff Individualized Programs of Study Sciences, Humanities & Visual Communications

Sociology Faculty Members Present at Conference

Two sociology faculty members at Pennsylvania College of Technology presented a paper at the 64th annual meeting of the Pennsylvania Sociological Society, held Oct. 25 at Lebanon Valley College, Annville.

Vinay Bahl, associate professor of sociology, and Richard Sahn, instructor of psychology/sociology, presented “Sociopathic Institutions: The Reasons for ‘Moral Monday’ in North Carolina.”

The discussion focused on the protests that began in Raleigh in 2013 and evolved into a grassroots social injustice movement that spread to other states in 2014, as well as on the role legislative institutions may play in enacting laws and policies leading to such protests.

Centennial Events Faculty & Staff Individualized Programs of Study Sciences, Humanities & Visual Communications

Colloquium Highlights Consideration of Context Over Memorization of Dates

Under the lights of the ACC Auditorium dome (and the glow from the projection screen and students' electronic devices), a sizable crowd gathers for the final Centennial Colloquium. — Under the lights of the ACC Auditorium dome (and the glow from the projection screen and students’ electronic devices), a sizable crowd gathers for the final Centennial Colloquium.

Craig A. Miller offers an overview of the technological, economic, environmental and cultural issues that surrounded construction of the Union Pacific and Central Pacific railways – including displacement of American Indians.

Miller responds to an audience question about the ultimate impact of automation on the workforce, optimistically saying that, while technology will continue to alter the way we live and work, humans will always be involved.

The college's Centennial is drawing to a close, but Miller – along with the five other Penn College faculty members who contributed to the enlightening colloquia series – will reconvene for a panel discussion in February. — The college’s Centennial is drawing to a close, but Miller – along with the five other Penn College faculty members who contributed to the enlightening colloquia series – will reconvene for a panel discussion in February.

Past and present meet as Miller time-travels across the stage, introducing his audience to Thomas C. Durant, vice president of the Union Pacific Railroad.

Defining history as a “conversation between the past and the present … and almost always about the future,” faculty member Craig A. Miller delivered the concluding lecture in Penn College’s Centennial Colloquia Series on Tuesday night. The assistant professor of history and political science discussed “Technology, Power and Responsibility” in the Klump Academic Center Auditorium, engaging his audience the same way he challenges his students: “I’m not here to teach you history. I’m here to use history to teach you to be critical thinkers.” So while the presentation was shaped around the construction of the transcontinental railroad, that story served as a thought-provoking springboard to the broader connection between choices and consequences. Cross-country rail service was “truly a technological marvel” steeped in progress and industrial speed, he said, a monumental achievement that was not without fallout. True, it ushered in an era of development and helped the United States become a global economic power. But the territorial expansion also relocated Native Americans under a policy of “assimilate or move,” fostered financial chicanery and altered the workforce. In an informed give-and-take, Miller urged attendees to vigilantly weigh multiple perspectives, to logically and critically analyze the societal price of decisions, and to “accept uncomfortable truths and learn from them.” The hourlong program, introduced and moderated by Paul L. Starkey, vice president for academic affairs and provost, was followed by a question-and-answer session and a reception in Wrapture.

Centennial Events Faculty & Staff Individualized Programs of Study Sciences, Humanities & Visual Communications

Lecture to Examine Responsibilities of Technological Innovation

Pennsylvania College of Technology faculty member Craig A. Miller will present the concluding lecture in the college’s Centennial Colloquia Series on Nov. 18 at 7 p.m.

Miller, an assistant professor of history/political science, will offer a talk titled “Technology, Power and Responsibility” in the college’s Klump Academic Center Auditorium. The lecture is free and open to the public.

At a college of applied technology, Miller says, it is important to discuss and assess the responsibilities associated with technological innovation.

To illustrate the maxim “choices have consequences,” Miller will evaluate the technological, economic, environmental and cultural issues that surrounded the construction of the Union Pacific and Central Pacific railways, a massive undertaking that involved technological innovation, colossal financing, unique labor arrangements and the displacement of American Indians from Minnesota to California.

Faculty & Staff Individualized Programs of Study Natural Science Sciences, Humanities & Visual Communications Students

Faculty Member, Students Present at Penn State Symposium

A Pennsylvania College of Technology chemistry faculty member and two students were invited speakers recently at the Penn State Symposium for Teaching and Learning with Technology.

Kelly B. Butzler, associate professor of chemistry; Meghan C. Cunningham, a sophomore in individual studies from Williamsport; and Brian M. McKeon Jr., a freshman in general studies from Trout Run, co-presented a session titled “Flipping the Classroom: Is it Worth the Hype?”

A “flipped classroom” is a blended learning approach to a standard classroom. The presentation offered perspectives on teaching and learning in a variety of courses, how students and teachers perceive a flipped classroom, and how the flexible approach affects students’ learning outcomes.

Faculty & Staff Individualized Programs of Study Sciences, Humanities & Visual Communications

Sociology Faculty Member Publishes Article in Professional Journal

A member of the sociology faculty at Pennsylvania College of Technology was published recently in Sociological Viewpoints, the journal of the Pennsylvania Sociological Society.

Vinay Bahl, associate professor of sociology, wrote an article titled “Muslim Women’s Attire and Identity Politics,” offering insight on the issue culturally, politically, economically and historically.

Faculty & Staff Individualized Programs of Study Sciences, Humanities & Visual Communications

History Faculty Member Presents Paper on Pequot War

Craig A. Miller, assistant professor of history/political science at Pennsylvania College of Technology, was invited to present a paper at the 17th Century Warfare, Diplomacy & Society in the American Northeast Conference, held recently at the Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center, Mashantucket, Conn.

Miller’s presentation, titled Political Economy and the Pequot War, 1636-1637, examined the causes of the Pequot War by studying different political economies of the Pequot tribe and English settlers.

Faculty & Staff Individualized Programs of Study Sciences, Humanities & Visual Communications Students

Family Shares Precious Artifact for Holocaust Course

An armband worn by a Jewish man forced into slave labor by the German army during World War II has helped bring to life the horrors of the Holocaust for students enrolled in a humanities course at Penn College.

A priceless artifact and the story of one man’s survival against incredible odds have made a significant impact on students’ understanding of the Holocaust in a humanities course at Pennsylvania College of Technology.

The yellow armband worn by the late Nandor Blau, a Jewish man forced into slave labor by the German army during World War II, has been loaned by the Blau family to William J. Astore, professor of history at Penn College, for the Fall 2013 semester. The Blau family resides in California and is friends with Astore.

Astore says the armband, along with Blau family photos and stories, have brought to life the horrors of the Holocaust for students enrolled in Humanities 315, The Holocaust.

General Information Individualized Programs of Study Sciences, Humanities & Visual Communications

Expert Guides Anthropology Students Across Time, Cultures

Gary L. Fogelman (right), of Indian Artifact magazine, and faculty member D. Robert Cooley conduct a Tuesday field demonstration of the atlatl.

Fogelman shows students the array of atlatls and darts used by ancient hunters.

Melissa L. Warner, a building science and sustainable design major from Stroudsburg, readies the atlatl that she made as part of Cooley's Introduction to Cultural Anthropology class. — Melissa L. Warner, a building science and sustainable design major from Stroudsburg, readies the atlatl that she made as part of Cooley’s Introduction to Cultural Anthropology class.

An acknowledged master shares his expertise with students ... — An acknowledged master shares his expertise with students …

... and displays world-class form in launching a dart. — … and displays world-class form in launching a dart.

The editor and publisher of Indian Artifact magazine traveled to Penn College on Tuesday to help show an Introduction to Cultural Anthropology class how sophisticated “primitive” technology can be. Gary L. Fogelman, of Turbotville, joined D. Robert Cooley, assistant professor of anthropology/environmental science, in a demonstration of the atlatl, an ancient tool used for throwing large darts at prey. The lab exercise on the Madigan Library lawn has been a tradition among Cooley’s classes in recent years, but the addition of Fogelman – a world-champion in atlatl circles – provided a special touch.
Photos by Craig R. Urey, student photographer

Events Faculty & Staff Individualized Programs of Study Sciences, Humanities & Visual Communications

Penn College Hosts State Sociology Conference

Four Penn College faculty members participated in a panel discussion at the annual conference of the Pennsylvania Sociological Society, hosted Oct. 11-13 by the college. From left, are Craig A. Miller, assistant professor of history/political science; Roy P. Fontaine, professor of psychology; Richard Sahn, instructor of psychology/sociology; and Vinay Bahl, associate professor of sociology.

Pennsylvania College of Technology recently hosted the 63rd annual meeting of the Pennsylvania Sociological Society. The theme for the conference, held Oct. 11-13, was “On Getting by with Change,” focusing on trends in modern society.

Five Penn College faculty members participated in conference presentations.

Faculty & Staff Individualized Programs of Study Sciences, Humanities & Visual Communications

Economics Professor Chairs Sessions for Pennsylvania Economists

An economics professor at Pennsylvania College of Technology recently chaired two panels at the Pennsylvania Economic Association Annual Conference.

Abdul B. Pathan, an ex-officio director of the association, chaired a panel session in which he presented his paper “Making the Principles of Economics Class Interesting to Your Students.”

He also chaired and was a discussant on a “Student Session” panel that featured papers written by five university students.

Faculty & Staff Individualized Programs of Study Sciences, Humanities & Visual Communications

Economics Professor Named to Who’s Who Publication

Abdul B. Pathan, professor of economics at Pennsylvania College of Technology, was selected for inclusion in “Who’s Who in America 2014.”

Who’s Who in America, published by Marquis Who’s Who, is a compendium featuring more than 90,000 profiles of leading figures from every industry and every profession around the country. Listing is provided free of charge and is available both online and in print.

Faculty & Staff Individualized Programs of Study Sciences, Humanities & Visual Communications

Faculty Member Writes Chapter on ‘Star Wars’ Historical Connections

William J. Astore, professor of history at Pennsylvania College of Technology, wrote the lead chapter in “Star Wars and History,” a book approved by the saga’s creator, George Lucas.

Astore’s essay, “Why Rebels Triumph: How ‘Insignificant’ Rebellions Can Change History,” opens the book.

Faculty & Staff Individualized Programs of Study Sciences, Humanities & Visual Communications Students

Holocaust Discussion Held as Follow-Up to Museum Visit

Students supplement classroom assignments with museum field trip.

Thirty-two Penn College students and guests traveled Saturday to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C. They were accompanied by Malinda C. Love, assistant director of student activities for diversity and cultural life, and Tom A. Zimmerman, associate professor of psychology (who also provided the photo). The students, many of whom have taken psychology courses with Zimmerman and history courses with faculty members William J. Astore (professor) Craig A. Miller (assistant professor), attended an introductory session by Astore about the historical aspects of the Holocaust. They also received readings from Astore related to Holocaust history and from Zimmerman on survivorship and resilience. A follow-up discussion about the trip, the museum and the readings was held Thursday afternoon in the Klump Academic Center. The museum visit was a joint effort of the School of Integrated Studies, Student Activities and the Lycoming County Brotherhood Alliance.

Faculty & Staff Individualized Programs of Study Sciences, Humanities & Visual Communications

Sociology Faculty Member Named Examiner for South African Study

Vinay Bahl, associate professor of sociology at Pennsylvania College of Technology, has been appointed to serve as an external examiner for a South African university study.

The Department of Industrial Psychology and People Management at the University of Johannesburg, South Africa, appointed Bahl as the external examiner for a master’s degree study for 2013.

Faculty & Staff Individualized Programs of Study Sciences, Humanities & Visual Communications

Faculty Members Participate in Sociological Society Conference

Vinay Bahl, associate professor of sociology at Pennsylvania College of Technology, recently organized a panel discussion at the Pennsylvania Sociological Society’s annual conference.

Bahl also served as a panelist for the discussion, which was titled “Impact of Technology, Assessment, Student Evaluation, and Administrative Class Observation on Undergraduate Teaching in the USA.”

She was joined on the panel by Penn College faculty members Craig A. Miller, assistant professor of history and political science, and Richard Sahn, instructor of psychology and sociology.

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