READING, Pa. -- The upcoming Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences (HASS) Colloquium will feature two separate presentations: one titled “Learning about the Vietnam War through Conversations with Veterans” and another titled “A Communications Plan for the Health and Wellness Expo.” The colloquium will be held from 1-2:20 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 14, 2014, in room 104 of the Franco Building on the Penn State Berks campus. This presentation focuses on pedagogy and student research/projects. The event is open to the campus community and light refreshments will be served.
Michelle Mart, associate professor of history, will present “Learning about the Vietnam War through Conversations with Veterans.”
For the past few years, many students at Berks have participated in service learning and community-based research projects through various courses, especially those supported by the college’s Center for Service Learning and Community Based Research. Such projects can be exciting opportunities for students to connect their academic work with the lives of community members, but they also present some difficulties for instructors to negotiate. This presentation will discuss the research conducted by students in American Studies 100: The Vietnam War in History and in Memory, during the spring semester of 2014.
Catherine Catanach, lecturer in communication arts and sciences, will present “A Communications Plan for the Health and Wellness Expo.”
Students in COMM 471: Media Relations Methods worked with a start-up non-profit health education organization, navigating the landscape of strategic communications using tactics such as media relations, writing, and event management, as well as producing PSAs in the college’s Media Commons. In developing a communications plan for their client, the students grapple with the realities of social media messages, numerous “bosses,” and client deadlines. This presentation focuses on a special project with this client: an annual regional health and wellness event.
The HASS Colloquium Series features informal presentations that serve as opportunities for HASS faculty to share their completed or in-progress research. Faculty members discuss their research in presentations that welcome dialogue, discussion and questions. For more information on the HASS Colloquium Series, contact Cheryl Nicholas, associate professor, communication arts and sciences, at cln12@psu.edu.