By Emmalyn Campbell
Staff Writer
The Provost’s Colloquium Series for the spring semester of 2018 began Feb. 14.
There will be six colloquiums held this semester, with an additional special event as well. Hosted by the Provost Dr. Joanne Bruno, the series of presentations gives East Stroudsburg University faculty the chance to show their expertise to a broader academic community.
“Where better than on a college campus, to provide the opportunity for learning about something new, something that may challenge our basic knowledge, something that perhaps we never had the chance to ‘mull over’ and to establish a position about?” said Bruno about the colloquiums.
A committee of ESU faculty members reviews submissions for possible presentations and makes a decision based on “established criteria, representation of departments and number of times that a person has already presented,” Bruno explained.
The current committee co-chairs are Dr. Eugene Galperin of the math department and Dr. Cem Zeytinoglu of the Communication Department.
Dr. Ko Mishima gave the first presentation of the series, “US-Japan Security Alliance and Peace in Asia” in Beers Lecture Hall on Feb. 14.
This colloquium was originally scheduled for Feb. 7, but had to be rescheduled due to inclement weather.
“Japan is the U.S.’s most important partner in the Asia-Pacific region,” Mishima said. His presentation covered the security alliance made by the two countries during the Cold War, which is now “redefining its missions and deepening cooperation” as he puts it.
When asked about the importance of his presentation to the academic community and community in general, Mishima believes that in global politics, “the risk of major conflicts is now rising due to shifting power balances.”
Furthermore, the U.S. “could benefit from the diplomatic asset that it built up during the Cold War, namely, its global alliance system, including the US-Japan security alliance,” continues Mishima.
The second presentation of the series, “Summer Study Abroad at Lund University, Sweden”, will be a joint presentation by Dr. Kelly McKenzie and Dr. Rob McKenzie and will be held in Beers Lecture Hall on Feb. 28 from 5:30-7:00 p.m.
The presentation will cover the experiences of Dr. Rob McKenzie’s students taking his Comparative Media course at Lund University in Sweden last summer.
While studying at the School of Journalism, the students had guest lecturers from Sweden and Spain and visited many exciting places in the country.
“A study-abroad experience opens up a whole range of learning experiences and brings you close with a group of other students all going through the adjustment to another culture,” Dr. Rob McKenzie said.
Dr. Kelly McKenzie also taught two students in independent studies while on the trip, receiving a grant for one of the projects, which she then presented at a conference back in the U.S.
This is will be her first time presenting at the Colloquium Series.
“I would hope that students and faculty walk away from the presentation wanting to take advantage of a study abroad experience because it is an extraordinary, valuable learning experience,” Dr. Kelly McKenzie said.
All of the Provost’s Colloquiums will be held in Beers Lecture Hall from 5:30 to 7 p.m. For more information visit https://www.esu.edu/about/administration/provost/colloquium-series.cfm.
Email Emmalyn at:
ecampbell6@live.esu.edu
