Each month, The Stone House Center for Public Humanities interviews a humanities scholar or community member and asks them everything from why they believe the humanities are important to what they're currently binge-watching. We hope that our new blog series, Coffee & Questions, will inspire you, introduce you to a variety of people and fields, as well as create new conversations.

This month's guest is Gisela Dieter, Associate Professor of Spanish at SRU since 2005.  She received her PhD in Hispanic Languages and Literatures from the University of Pittsburgh, PA in 2008 where she also minored in Spanish Linguistics.  Dieter has a Master of Arts in History from Youngstown State University and two Bachelor of Science Degrees from Clarion University of PA in Communications and Business. Born and raised in Panama, Dieter’s fields of expertise, interest and research are Panamanian and Cuban Literature, Women Writers, National Identity, African Diaspora, Second Language Acquisition and Pedagogy.  A passion for learning and teaching drives Dieter’s dynamic classroom style where she strives to offer her students valuable information to help them improve their communicative and cultural competence in the Spanish Language aiming at helping students become effective professionals in our diverse and multicultural job market.  

What inspires you in your current position/role?
In a word:  Students.  That is my personal reality: students inspire me.  Teachers often speak of that moment, that almost sacred moment when the light goes on and there are visible sparks in the eyes of learners…well, that is the moment I seek.  I’m not going to lie, it doesn’t happen every single time, but when it does happen…the daily struggles of the profession are suddenly totally worth it.  I know it sounds cliché, but it is true in my experience.  This past spring semester, in my Reading in Spanish, for instance, students demonstrated such a range and depth of analysis that, suddenly, a Monday evening class was something I looked forward to!  And it was not just academic insight, I was able to witness personal growth as well.  There was this moment, while I was walking around one of the small-reading/discussion groups, I overheard the students saying to one another:  “I can’t believe this kind of stuff actually happened here in the States!  Men, I have to read up on this.  I don’t know &%$#@.”  Seeing my students learning about their own reality and culture in a Spanish class, to me, carries immense weight and truly inspires me in my current position as a teacher.

What work experiences (past or present) have been the most educational for you, and why?
Working in the business world for years before becoming a college professor taught me how hard life truly is.  I understand why people outside academia often look at universities as a bubble.  This knowledge helps me guide my students more efficiently and with honesty. They see me as someone who “has been there,” and I value that tremendously.  Working as a volunteer faculty member in the Humanities Ladder Program taught me that regardless of our circumstances, the thirst for learning is always there.  The challenge is to find ways to help those unaware of such thirst to tune into their senses, experience some success, find their passion and ignite their engines to pursue it...to take a sip from that water of knowledge…in other words, finding ways to provide them with a little bit of that proverbial salt, so they realize they are thirsty!

What project(s) are you currently working on?
I have recently applied for a Grant that, if awarded, will allow the Modern Languages and Cultures Department to explore possibilities to establish working relationships abroad, in Panama, my country of origin in a variety of capacities such as service learning, study abroad, teaching English to speakers of other languages and student exchange programs. I am heading to Panama this summer to begin the legwork, hoping to make initial contacts and prepare the way if/when we can begin the actual project.

Why do you believe that the humanities are important to everyone, and not just people in academia?
The humanities are the key to human development.  In this era of communication, when we are all wirelessly connected, the greatest paradox is the reality that we are lonelier than ever before. This is a surprise to many.  However, it is easily understood if we stop and see, our relationships are all mediated. They are not genuine or real. They are “phony,” pun intended. Therefore, they are not truly satisfying.  The human experience is lost in cyberspace. I believe, the humanities are a venue to restore the “awe” factor and dissipate the sense of loss caused by the frantic chase for new tech.

What is something that people might be surprised to learn about you (hobby, skill,interesting story)?
Every time I get this question, the first thing that comes to mind is the fact that, once, a million years ago, I won a beer-drinking-contest against a bunch of people, including several experienced-beer-drinking men. Not my proudest moment…but that has remained my go-to surprising fact about me to this day.

What shows are you currently binge-watching?
I don’t binge-watch shows, per se. I’m a HUGE movie fan, rather than a TV person.  Also, I have two teenage sons, and our “thing” is to watch movies.  So, now, we’ve been binge-watching the entire Marvel Universe, individual super-hero films as well as the Avengers Saga, while at the same time, finishing the Harry Potter series too. 

What is your first thought in the morning and last thought at night?
I’m a spiritual person, so I try to turn my eyes towards heaven as the first thing in the morning, and the last thing at night.

What's a book you've always wanted to read but haven't gotten around to?
The Lord of the Rings Trilogy.  I finally got them all.  And I have a challenge with my older son to read them this year…not sure if it will happen, but at least I’d like to get started.

What is the funniest thing that has happened to you recently?
I ran into a glass door in front of my older son.  We were staying at a friend’s condo in Florida and we were getting ready to have lunch at the balcony. The a/c was on, so my son closed the sliding door after him, just as he has been taught to do when the air is on, but I didn’t realize it…so…lunch plate in hand, I ran into the stupid door.  It was not funny right away, believe me!  But after I picked up my bruised ego, we had a good laugh at the whole thing.

What is the worst job that you had while working through your degree and what would you tell your past self now?
I worked as a receptionist for an Accountants’ Firm in Panama, and the main part of my job was to guess…yes, guess, to have the super-power to be able to tell whether the owner and CEO of the firm was in the mood to take a phone call or not.  I was not allowed to send any of his calls to voicemail. But I was not allowed to transfer any calls to him either, if he was not in the mood for it/them. And he was always in his office behind close doors. So, needless to say, I didn’t last at that job.  I would tell the 21 year old me…”wait until you get married!”

~~~
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Check back next month for more Coffee & Questions. In case you missed our previous interview with Michael Dittman, click HERE.

To learn more about the Old Stone House, visit: http://oldstonehousepa.org/about/

Each month, The Stone House Center for Public Humanities interviews a humanities scholar or community member and asks them everything from why they believe the humanities are important to what they're currently binge-watching. We hope that our new blog series, Coffee & Questions, will inspire you, introduce you to a variety of people and fields, as well as create new conversations.

Our guest this month is Dr. Phil Harling, Interim Dean of the Lewis Honors College, John R. Gaines Professor of the Humanities, and Director of the Gaines Center for the Humanities. Phil has been a UK faculty member for almost a quarter of a century. He grew up in Evanston, Illinois, and received his B.A. from Grinnell College in 1986 and his Ph.D. in History from Princeton University in 1993. A specialist in the history of modern Britain and the British Empire, he is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and has authored two books and numerous articles. He is the recipient of several teaching awards at UK, notably the Provost Award for Outstanding Teaching, as well as research fellowships from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the American Philosophical Society. A Distinguished Service Professor at UK, for several years Phil served as Associate Dean of Faculty in the College of Arts and Sciences, and was Interim Dean of the College for the 2008-9 academic year.

What inspires you in your current position/role?
Working closely with students, and as director of my campus humanities center I get to work very closely each year with 24 of our most intellectually curious, highly-motivated, and interesting juniors and seniors. They have majors from all over campus, and at the Gaines Center they take an intensive all-year seminar together (which I’m lucky enough to run). They also do juried service projects (in their junior year, either solo or in teams). Then in the senior year they do a major year-long research project, usually culminating in a 50-plus page thesis (mentored by me and a committee of 3 other faculty members). In recent years I’ve also been able to travel to China with some of the fellows for a couple of weeks after the spring semester ends. It’s an amazing job and a number of our alums have become lifelong friends!
 
What work experiences (past or present) have been the most educational for you, and why?
Two things, I think. The first was working as a dishwasher in a restaurant for a couple of years in high school. It taught me work discipline and the dignity of all  labor. The second was working for a number of years as a college administrator. This taught me the value of team-work, because I couldn’t get anything at all done without relying on other folks. As a working historian I don’t collaborate as much, though now I want to collaborate a whole lot more because it’s a healthier way to work.
 
What project(s) are you currently working on?
The main thing is a study of the first age of mass emigration in the British Empire – 1840s/50s. It’s making me learn about Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Trinidad, Guyana, and Sierra Leone. Still puzzling out how it’s all gonna come together as a book – either I’ll know that by the end of the next academic year or it’s on to other stuff!

Why do you believe that the humanities are important to everyone, and not just people in academia?
Because humanities is about learning how to be in the world – with yourself and with others. And about how one’s fellow humans learned how to be in the past as well as in the present and even the future. So in the most fundamental way, the humanities are about cultivating empathy and better understanding. Lord knows we can never get enough of those things. They seem to be in relatively short supply these days, and we need to do something about that.
 
What is something that people might be surprised to learn about you (hobby, skill, interesting story)?
Well, one thing is that Spotify is slowly turning me into a much more eclectic audiophile. Last week I found myself listening (in no particular order) to Philip Glass, Sun Ra, McCoy Tyner, Robert Johnson, Mother Maybelle Carter, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Amy Winehouse, the Wu-Tang Clan, the Roots, Son Volt, Brahms, Merle Haggard, and Shostakovich.  Such an incredible variety of music at one’s fingertips these days. One of the undeniably great things about the early 21st century.
 
An interesting story? Well, a few years back I managed to get lost while hiking at the top of a mountain in the northern Oregon Cascades. Had to spend a very cold night there but managed to limp back to civilization on my own power, thereby meeting my 2 goals: 1. Not dying of hypothermia 2. Not having to be helicoptered out. Thank God it didn’t rain!
 
What shows are you currently binge-watching?
Parts Unknown. I love food, travelogues, and international politics. Anthony Bourdain mashes ‘em up in a really tasty way. And it doesn’t hurt that he’s a total badass.
 
What is your first thought in the morning and last thought at night?
First thought: I need to get up and get out to jog or walk. But only after a strong cup of coffee. And try not to linger too long over the Times before getting out the door.
 
Last thought: Ain’t life grand? (Or at least that’s what I try to go to sleep thinking about)
 
What's a book you've always wanted to read but haven't gotten around to?
David Foster Wallace, Infinite Jest. Dauntingly long, even for someone who pretty much reads for a living. Maybe someday I’ll manage it as an audiobook – a good strategy for books you just know you’ll never actually get around to reading, and you can get your geek on this way while jogging or working out at the Y. And no, it’s not cheating to listen. I got through War and Peace this way, and it was actually really pleasant. The older public-domain huge novels you can listen to for free! Just check out the Librivox app. It’ll change your life.
 
What is the funniest thing that has happened to you recently?
Trying to keep up with my girlfriend as we walked the mile and a half from our Airbnb to the Osaka train station on an impossibly muggy morning in June. We were trying to get to the airport without having to pay an outrageous cab fare. We had way too much luggage (4/5ths of it hers). I was schlepping most of it. I tried to keep up with her absurdly fast pace, but the duffel bag digging into my shoulder with every step made this impossible. Had to stop to put on a ‘do rag as the sweat was stinging my eyes. I can only imagine how comical I looked. Fortunately, passersby were too kind to point this out. She receded into the distance. Just as I was about to lose sight of her altogether, the train station came into focus. This was a good thing, as she knew where it was, I didn’t, and I knew only 2 words in Japanese. No harm done in the end – and we saved 17,000 yen.

~~~

Check back next month for more Coffee & Questions. In case you missed our previous interview with Dr. Jason M. Kelly, click here.    

Each month, The Center for Public Humanities will interview a humanities scholar or community member and ask them everything from why they believe the humanities are important to what they're currently binge-watching. We hope that our new blog series, Coffee & Questions, will inspire you, introduce you to a variety of people and fields, as well as create new conversations.

Our fifth guest is Kristen Baldwin Deathridge. She is an assistant professor of history at Appalachian State University in Boone, NC, where she works with both undergraduate and graduate public history programs. She earned her PhD in Public History from Middle Tennessee State University in 2012 and an MA in Archaeology from the University of Reading in 2005. She specializes in working with communities to help preserve their stories and places.

What inspires you in your current position/role?
Hopefully this doesn't seem cliched, but the students that I work with inspire me so much. Helping folks work through new (to them) concepts is always a pleasure, but I'm truly inspired by the energy, creativity and passion that some of my students bring to their work.

What project(s) are you currently working on?
Several at once, which means there's always something to do when one project hits a slow period. I'll share a few. I've been working with a local group, the Junaluska Heritage Association to raise money for a monument for unmarked African American graves in the town cemetery. Click here to check it out. Working with another local group, the Lincoln Heights Recreation Corporation (alumni of a Rosenwald school), we've recently earned a grant to hold a digitization day event. Alumni and friends of the school can come and have their memorabilia scanned or photographed; there will also be public programs to share the history of the place. I'm also continuing work on several traditional scholarly writing projects.

Why do you believe that the humanities are important to everyone, and not just people in academia?
Languages, literature, history, philosophy, art, anthropology - people use what we call "the humanities" to explore what it means to be human, whether they recognize it in those terms or not. People use elements of the humanities as they contemplate their place(s) in the world. Perhaps more importantly, folks use elements of the humanities to understand one another; we learn from the creative output of others and ask new questions.

What shows are you currently binge-watching?
I'm really behind on my binging! Right now I'm watching Jessica Jones on Netflix. It is intense and mesmerizing; I won't say more because I don't want to spoil it for anyone slower than me.

What is the worst job that you had while working through your degree and what would you tell your past self now?
I had pretty good luck with jobs, honestly, but the most stressful was working as a bank teller. I'd tell myself two things. One: stop taking on other peoples' stress; you have plenty of your own; just help one person at a time. (I did learn this eventually, but I wish I'd gotten there more quickly) Two: start that 401(k) they offered you right away!--you'll end up in this job longer than you think. Practical, I know, but I really wish that I'd started saving earlier, even if it was only a little bit.

Thank you, Kristen, for sharing your exciting projects and perspective on the humanities.  

Check back next month for more Coffee & Questions. In case you missed Jacob Miller's interview, click HERE.

Want to be interviewed? Contact us.   

​Studying the humanities allows for the development of well-rounded and informed citizens that are essential to the flourishing and success of any democracy. Through the exploration and study of the humanities (philosophy, art, anthropology, literature, history, etc.) we are able to:
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• Develop critical thinking skills that enhance our capacity for reason and provide us with the tools for effective decision making.
• Understand justice and foster social equality.
• Contemplate the meaning of democracy through the understanding of other cultures and human rights.
• Foster empathy and compassion by addressing ethical questions.
• Appreciate the variances and similarities that reside within different cultures.
• Understand what it means to be a citizen.
• Think creatively and ask questions that can provide insights into all sectors of life.
• Add to our knowledge about our world through researching the human experience.
• Gain a better understanding of the past while grasping a clearer picture of the future.
• Contemplate what it means to live a good life.

All of these shape the thoughts and behaviors of citizens across the globe, which can lead to the creation of a harmonious world and a stronger democracy among the people. To learn more about the humanities, and how the Center for Public Humanities is helping in our community, click  here.

Each month, The Center for Public Humanities will interview a humanities scholar or community member and ask them everything from why they believe the humanities are important to what they're currently binge-watching. We hope that our new blog series, Coffee & Questions, will inspire you, introduce you to a variety of people and fields, as well as create new conversations.

Our fourth guest is Jake Miller, alumnus from Slippery Rock University's master's program in history in 2013. He currently works as the Interpretive Programs Manager at Fort Delaware State Park/Fort DuPont State Park/Port Penn Interpretive Center with Delaware State Parks.

What inspires you in your current position/role?
I am inspired by the idea of children becoming engaged with history and beginning what may become, for some, a lifelong passion for the art. I see historical literacy as hugely important to understanding many of today's big social and political issues, and I am happy to be able to work toward improving people's knowledge.

What work experiences (past or present) have been the most educational for you, and why?
I had the opportunity to receive Certified Interpretive Guide training through work. This is valuable to me as a professional interpreter, but also has wide-ranging applications for any job I may get because it involves how to communicate a message and get others connected with that message. 

What project(s) are you currently working on?
One of the long-term projects that we are working on is putting together a program for high school students that will integrate physics and math skills with historical education. We will bring students to our 1900s era coast artillery site and get them to work on a large math/physics problem involving firing on a theoretical ship with one of the guns that was here. Integrated into this problem will be a lot of information on what life for an artillerist at the fort was like during that time period. I'm excited about the project because it integrates multiple disciplines, and so will be very valuable and popular, I think, with the educational community. 

Why do you believe that the humanities are important to everyone, and not just people in academia?
Hard to go into this in two sentences, but the humanities bring a deeper appreciation and richness to all parts of life. Humanities force you wrestle with difficult ideas and questions, and gives you the ability to understand those who are different from you. Necessary tools for life, and ones that you cannot acquire except through studying the humanities! 

What is something that people might be surprised to learn about you (hobby, skill, interesting story)?
I actually grew up overseas, in Portugal and Mozambique.

Thank you, Jake, for sharing how your work directly influences a wide variety of people.

Check back next month for more Coffee & Questions. In case you missed Karen Pierce's interview, click here.

Want to be interviewed? Contact us.   

Each month, The Center for Public Humanities will interview a humanities scholar or community member and ask them everything from why they believe the humanities are important to what they're currently binge-watching. We hope that our new blog series, Coffee & Questions, will inspire you, introduce you to a variety of people and fields, as well as create new conversations.

Our third guest is Karen Pierce, director of the Slippery Rock Community Library. Karen loves books, loves talking about books, loves finding new books to read, and well, loves helping people to find books and information. Ms. Pierce used to sell books for children and the position of librarian was a perfect fit. She is pursuing her degree in library science at Clarion University. Karen notes the best part of her job is working with the people who walk through the library door. Ms. Pierce is "information central" and can answer most any question posed to her and if she doesn't know, she knows where to go to find the answer. She has been working at the library since 2008.

What inspires you in your current position/role?   
I really like my job at the Slippery Rock Community Library.  I enjoy being able to help people find information and solutions.  I like being a point of information for the community.                                                
What work experiences (past or present) have been the most educational for you, and why?  
I was an Independent Educational Sales Consultant for Usborne Books.  I learned so much from that job -  marketing skills, including marketing not only the books but myself as well, working with the public,  customer service and some computer skills.  I loved selling kids books - really they sell themselves - they still are some of my favorite books!                    

What project(s) are you currently working on?     
We are currently working on building a new library!  I am very excited.  We are located right now in a room that is 283 square feet and we've outgrown that room a long time ago.  We've been raising funds and are ready to build a new library at 465 North Main St that will be around 2700 square feet.  Our community is ready for this!                                                                                                             

Why do you believe that the humanities are important to everyone, and not just people in academia?  
I think the study of humanities is important for everyone!  Humanities is the study and interpretation of language, literature and history among other things and I think it's good to be able to understand the context of a conversation.  For example, a conversation in our current time is about the Constitution and how it was written by the founding fathers and how it is being interpreted today.  Are we interpreting it the way our founding fathers intended? How has society changed in 200 + years?  This is but one example of why humanities is an very important part of our education.  Think of the other things we interpret - Religious texts, historical documents, ancient history - before the written word.  We are shaped as a community by events that happened in the past and the things that happen today will shape how our community looks, acts, responds in the future.   

What shows are you currently binge-watching?    
I rarely watch TV live.  I record Timeless and The Walking Dead. I am restless though so I usually can't sit through an entire episode without pausing it and doing something else for a while.        

Thank you, Karen, for sharing how you're bringing humanities into our community. We look forward to the new library!

Check back next month for more Coffee & Questions. In case you missed Seth Bruggeman's interview, click here.

Want to be interviewed? Contact us.   

The most fundamental aspects of being human come from the humanities, things such as culture, religion, artistic expression, and effective communication. In studying humanities, human flourishing is enabled by allowing for a bettering understanding of the nature of ourselves, others, and the world around us. This leads to the fostering of empathy and compassion.
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The human species maintains traits that seem to be unique from all others. This includes indulging in leisure activities such as literature and art, amongst other humanities. The rise of such things has enabled humanities and their promotion of creativity and imagination. If these things did not exist it seems that an essential part of our human make-up would be missing.  Another unique trait is the human ability to rationalize. The studying of the humanities paves a way for strong, rational thinking, which leads to constructive discourse that is critical in getting along in our world today.
Here are some other examples of how the humanities make a big difference:

• Investigating philosophy may lead to critical thoughts about ethical questions.
• Learning other languages may lead to a gained appreciation for the similarities found between cultures.
• Reading literature from a foreign religion may bleed into thoughts on democracy.
• Participating in a history course may help you better understand the past, while at the same time offering a glimpse into the future.

The humanities shape human thoughts and behaviors, which is crucial in determining our future. To learn more about the humanities, and how the Center for Public Humanities is helping in our community, click here. 

Each month, The Center for Public Humanities will interview a humanities scholar or community member and ask them everything from why they believe the humanities are important to what they're currently binge-watching. We hope that our new blog series, Coffee & Questions, will inspire you, introduce you to a variety of people and fields, as well as create new conversations.

Our second guest is Seth C. Bruggeman, Associate Professor of History at Temple University.  He is former director of the Center for Public History and currently serves as National Park Service Special Projects Coordinator for Temple’s University College.  A graduate of the College of William & Mary’s PhD program in American Studies, Bruggeman studies the role of memory in public life, and particularly how Americans have used objects—in museums, historic, sites, and other commemorative spaces—to exert control over how we understand the past.  His books include an edited volume, Born in the USA: Birth and Commemoration in American Public Memory (University of Massachusetts Press, 2012), and Here, George Washington Was Born: Memory, Material Culture, and the Public History of a National Monument (University of Georgia Press, 2008).

What inspires you in your current position/role?
Extreme though it may sound, I consider myself to be in the business of training culture warriors.  It’s a notion that, for me, dates back to the summer of 1995 when I interned at the Library of Congress’s Archive of Folk Culture where, in many ways, my identify as a historian began to form.  It was there, for instance, that I learned to do oral history, in part by listening to and processing recordings made by some of the nation’s most renowned folklorists.  But at the same time that I was getting excited about oral history and the progressive commitments of the Archive and its staff, I was also strolling past the Smithsonian’s Air and Space museum each day, where protestors flocked that summer around the new Enola Gay exhibit.  And sometimes the other interns and I would spend lunch breaks watching congressional debate, which had become fevered amid the partisan rancor that would shut down the government just months later.  I began to realize then that what I valued most about the Archive and, really, about history and the humanities, was far more vulnerable to the whims of politicians and private interests than I had ever imagined.

Now, amid ongoing assaults against public and higher education, and with the collapse of public funding for cultural nonprofits and even for the National Park Service, I’ve made it a goal to prepare students to be advocates, not just for their own work, but for the ideas and institutions that give that work meaning.

What work experiences (past or present) have been the most educational for you, and why?
During high school I worked in an auto body shop and really enjoyed it, so much so that it wasn’t clear to me then that going to college was the right choice.  In hindsight, of course, it was, but that job and several other stints over the years as a laborer and tradesperson have kept me honest about what I value and how I want to spend my time.  I know, for instance, that I can’t be content spending the entirety of my days at a desk or behind a computer.  And I get really restless when my daily orbit doesn’t extend beyond academia.  So, even though I can’t always control my work life, having some self-knowledge goes a long way toward finding a workable balance.
 
What project(s) are you currently working on?
I get bored easily, so I try to keep a handful of long and short-term projects in motion concurrently. Right now, for instance, my long-term projects include a book about the history of American maritime museums, and an administrative history of the Boston National Historical Park commissioned by the Organization of American Historians / National Park Service collaborative.  

Shorter-term projects include a guide to commemoration that I am editing for the American Association of State and Local History, and a grant proposal that aims to make non-traditional learning environments—e.g. machine shops, art studios, performance spaces—a regular part of humanities training at Temple.  The project that I’m most excited about right now involves developing a degree program for our students that would lead to guaranteed job placements in the National Park Service.  We do this now for law enforcement careers—a program called ProRanger—but my charge is to devise a parallel track for careers in heritage interpretation.
 
Why do you believe that the humanities are important to everyone, and not just people in academia?
This question always makes me think of Mihaly Csikszenthmihalyi’s wonderful essay, “Why We Need Things,” which posits that humans constantly gather stuff so as to create order within our otherwise disorganized and drifting minds.  We need things, because without some kind of external order, we lose ourselves.  I think that’s true, but I’d also suggest that the humanities strengthen our ability to organize our own minds apart from the constant noise Csikszenthmihalyi equates with consumer culture. 

Delving into the humanities shows us how to find beauty in surprising places, to see patterns across place and time, to be calm amid confusion.  The humanities make us self-reliant, but also help us learn to share ourselves with others.  They give us the confidence to confront a world wherein order of any kind is fleeting.

What is something that people might be surprised to learn about you (hobby, skill, interesting story)?
A lot of folks are surprised to discover that, despite my commitments to doing public history, I am terribly uncomfortable with being a historian in public.  I despise public speaking, and although I do really love teaching, I rarely enjoy being in front of a crowd or in any other way being in the spotlight.  I do, however, enjoy learning from people in the places where they live and work.  This likely explains why so much of my public historical work has involved oral and/or institutional history.  My students, on the other hand, are wonderfully confident public actors, and it gives me great joy to be among their audiences.

Thanks, Seth, for taking the time to share your insights about the humanities as well as what you're currently working on.

Check back next month for more Coffee & Questions. In case you missed Mary Rizzo's interview, click here.

Want to be interviewed? Contact us.