Alumni College Schedule

Alumni College 2011 Courses    

Return to campus AND the classroom this year to explore history, economics, philosophy and more! This year's courses feature a variety of classes taught by distinguished Gettysburg College faculty and fellow alumni. "Graduate" faculty this year include several members of the Class of 1971, who are leading courses Friday afternoon as a tribute to "Symposium '70," the landmark three-day event in the Spring of 1970 that was a watershed occurrence during those turbulent days. All alumni are welcome at these sessions.

Don't miss this opportunity to go "Back to School" (without having to fill out a Blue Book...) and be inspired by continuing to learn with fellow Gettysburgians.

For more information on Alumni College, contact Alumni Director Joe Lynch '85 at 717-337-6518 or jlynch@gettysburg.edu.

 

Thursday, June 2, 2011

1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
GC 101
The Financial Crisis Two Years Later: What Do We Know, And Does it Matter?
Brendan Cushing-Daniels, Associate Professor of Economics

With the benefit of hindsight, what can we say about the causes and consequences of the financial crisis? Much is still being said in Washington and in policy circles about this subject, and very little of what is being said seems to be borne out in the data. We will look at the data to see what is being said and if any of it helps us avoid the same problems in the future.

Dr. Brendan Cushing-Daniels received a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of California, Berkeley in 2001 and is currently an associate professor of economics at Gettysburg College. He has been at Gettysburg College since 1995, with a two-year stint at the Government Accountability Office (2001-2003) and a year at the Urban Institute (2007-08). His research is primarily on federal transfer programs (Social Security, TANF, etc.), but he has also published in the areas of labor, crime, and transportation. He lives in Gettysburg with his two daughters.

1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
GC 102
Is Film a Language or Not?
Jim Udden, Associate Professor of Film Studies

One of the unresolved issues in film studies is whether or not film is like a language. On the one hand, given how it more directly represents objects in the world, this is not something made of arbitrary signs like human language. But on the other hand, films are often constructed in a particular way, as if there was a sort of grammar involved. So which is it? And why is this even important? If there is a grammar, is this culturally specific like language normally is? In this class we will look at the possibilities by actually looking at some examples, including a prolonged sequence from Billy Wilder's SOME LIKE IT HOT. Not only will you laugh, you will explore how perhaps film both is - and is not - a language.

Dr. James Udden received a Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2003 and is presently an associate professor of Film Studies. He specializes in Asian cinema and is working on a book-length study of the Taiwanese director, Hou Hsiao-hsien.

2:45 p.m. - 4:45 p.m.
GC 103
Living With the Environment
Lou Hammann '51, retired Professor of Religion and Philosophy, Professor Emeritus

Join Lou for a guided tour of his Hundredfold Farm, which was featured in last year's Alumni Magazine for its innovative approach to environmental sustainability, particularly as it relates to the conservation of water and use of solar energy. Shuttles will leave from the CUB at 2:45 and return in time to attend 5 p.m. classes. You must wear shoes, even though this is not a workday. Read more about the farm at www.hundredfoldfarm.org.

Lou '51, who earned his Master's of Divinity from Yale, Master's in Philosophy from Penn State, and his Ph. D. at Temple in "History of Religion," joined the faculty in 1956 and taught for 52 years. He is the author of Religious Traditions and the Limits of Tolerance; Religion and Mythology: Married of Necessity, and Is That All There Is? A Philosopher "looks at" Religion. He has also written numerous articles and papers, all the while making a lasting impact on several generations of Gettysburg students. He first "retired" in 1997 and earned the title of Professor of Religion, Emeritus, but then served as an Adjunct professor in the Philosophy department from 1998 to 2008. Currently he is a member of the ecologically sustainable Hundredfold Farm, a self-proclaimed political agitator, and so forth.

3:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
GC 104
Was It Morally Good For You, Too? An Introduction to Moral Reasoning
Steven Gimbel, Associate Professor of Philosophy

A college course may not be able to get people to always do the right thing, but it can help sharpen your thinking in tough cases about what the right thing is. In this class, we will look at the basic components of moral deliberation and explore why open-minded, but rigorous discussion of ethical issues is essential to a healthy society.

Steve, who earned his Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins University, teaches classes in logic, ethics, critical thinking, and philosophy of science. He has taught or written with other faculty members from many different departments, including physics, mathematics, chemistry, religion, environmental studies, and economics. His books include Defending Einstein: Hans Reichenbach's Early Writings on Space, Time, and Motion and Rene Descartes: The Search for Certainty, and his editorials on ethical issues have appeared in papers including The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Baltimore Sun, and The Sacramento Bee.

5:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
GC 105
The Wines of Chile: A Study & Tasting Tour
Joe Lynch, Sr. P '85, Wine Consultant, Total Wine & More

This course will look deep into the southern hemisphere and "visit" the wineries of Chile, which have developed the country into one of the world's most efficient wine producing nations. It's also one of the world's largest wine producers. The course will include an overview of the Chilean wine region, as well as offer "students" the opportunity to taste and discuss a variety of Chilean wines. Come ready to take notes, learn and sip. Participants must be 21 or older.

Joe earned a B.S. in chemistry from Philadelphia University in 1952. He was employed by E.I. Dupont for 40 years in Development and Marketing Management of Textile Fibers. Currently, he is a fine wine consultant and journalist for Total Wine & More, a retail chain of 35 stores in six eastern states. He has traveled extensively to major wine regions of the world and has also "taken" Alumni College classes to Australia, Chile, Italy, Spain, South America, California, New Zealand and the Pacific Northwest over the last decade.

5:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
GC 106
Foursquare 101
Paul Fairbanks, Associate Director / Coordinator of Technical Operations, Web Communications & Marketing

Learn how to use Foursquare and Gowalla, new social networking applications that are based on your smartphone's built-in GPS device. These apps find your location and display what is going on around you. We will download the apps, create accounts and explore campus on foot. We will check-in to places, take photos, leave notes, earn badges and stamps, and check out special offers (@Alumni House). We will also look at privacy issues and how to limit sharing information to protect your safety. Attendees will need to bring their smartphones with them (iPhone, Blackberry, Droid, etc.).

Paul has worked as the Associate Director of Web Communications for Gettysburg College since September 2008. He oversees the content contributors, works to develop new multimedia content including video production, oversees use of e-communications tool, and monitors social media.

9:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
GC 107
Night at the Observatory
Michael Hayden, Director of Infrastructure & Operations
Larry Marschall, Professor of Physics
Jackie Milingo, Assistant Professor of Physics

Activities for this annual-favorite course will include tours of the Gettysburg College Observatory and our local night sky. We'll start with a look at the array of equipment used in our astronomy survey courses, upper-level lab courses, and student-faculty research. Weather permitting, you'll see how we use our larger optical and radio telescopes to acquire the data that informs our labs and research projects. We will also have smaller telescopes and binoculars set up to observe a few seasonal favorites and give you some pointers to guide yourself around the night sky. This promises to be an exciting and unique Gettysburg alumni experience, so come out and interact with the astronomy faculty. Please note astronomical observatories are purposefully remote; as part of the course takes place outdoors please plan your attire accordingly.

Dr. Laurence Marschall earned a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago in 1971; that same year he joined the Gettysburg faculty. He has been a visiting professor at Boston University (1987 and 1995) an Erskine Fellow at the University of Canterbury, Christchurch, NZ (2002), and a visiting scientist at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (1986, 1994, and 2001) and Yale University (1980). In 1998 he received a distinguished Teaching Award from Gettysburg College. Marschall's areas of research include observational studies of binary stars (very young stars), supernovas and recently, asteroids. He is also known among astronomers for his work in astronomy education, both in promoting the use of electronic cameras for undergraduate research at small observatories and in directing the College's Project CLEA (Contemporary Laboratory Experiences in Astronomy), which develops innovative computer exercises in astronomy. Marschall is the author of The Supernova Story, as well as more than 40 articles in professional journals.

Michael received his B.S. in electrical engineering from the University of Maryland, College Park. He was a co-investigator with Project CLEA (1993 - 2000) and is also an active amateur astronomer with interests in both optical and radio observations. He came to Gettysburg College in 1989 as an instructor of physics and has taught a variety of astronomy and physics labs. He is currently the program manager for the department's 21-cm radio telescope, and since 1996, the director of infrastructure and operations at Gettysburg College.

Jackie received her Ph.D. from the University of Oklahoma in 2000 and is currently an assistant professor in the physics department at Gettysburg. An observational astronomer and proud Kansan, Jackie joined the College in 2006. She lives in Gardners, PA with her partner Mark Drew (Asst. Editor of the Gettysburg Review), their cat Sammy, and numerous apples and busy woodchucks.

  

Friday, June 3, 2011

9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
GC 208
"What has happened to the Gettysburg Battlefield since 1863?"
David Booz, Instructor, Civil War Era Studies

This program will cover the first attempts to clean up the battlefield and then the creation and maintenance of the field as sacred ground. We will look at the efforts of veterans in the latter part of the nineteenth century, the re-unions of the veterans, and the creation of the National Military Park. We will try to see how closely the battlefield today looks like the one of 1863.

Dave is an adjunct instructor in the Civil War Studies Department. He served 31 years in public education, has taught at three different colleges, and has been at Gettysburg for five years. He has an extensive background in Civil War studies, has authored several articles and served on numerous national committees regarding the Civil War. His courses the last three years at Alumni College have been extremely popular.

9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
GC 209
Digital Photography Primer: Step away from full AUTO
Joel Springer '69, Lecturer in Digital Photography & Digital Imaging, York College

The course will familiarize those new to digital photography with the way in which the digital camera works to record an image and how the various settings (user selected by ASMP or icons) affect the appearance of the final image.

The relationship of resolution and sensor area to image quality and the relationship of light source color temperature to image color cast will also be discussed.

Joel H. Springer graduated from Gettysburg College, 1969 (Major in English Lit, Minor in Chemistry and Physics) and from the Gettysburg Lutheran Theological Seminary, in 1973 (Concentration in Church History and Christian Education). After thirteen years in parish ministry he began a new career as a fine art photographer and lecturer in photography and digital imaging at York College of Pennsylvania.

Springer has been exhibited in Caracus, Venezula; Yuma, Arizona; Motreal and Toronto, Canada; The Art of the State exhibition at the State Museum in Harrisburg, Pa. (1996, 2001, 2005, 2006); Triennial V and VI exhibitions at the Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art, Loretto, Pa.; the Albright-Knox Gallery in Buffalo, N.Y.; and the Phoenix Gallery in Chelsea, New York City.

His work is included in the collections of Gettysburg College, Gettysburg, PA; The Pennsylvania State University, York, PA; York College of Pennsylvania, York, PA; The Glatfelter Insurance Group, York, PA; and private collections internationally.

9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
GC 210
Make Your Own Hand-Made Book!
Christine Ameduri, Assistant Archivist - Special Collections
Mary Wootton, Book Binder/Conservator

Come learn the fundamentals of the book-making process by making your very own hand-made book. Participants will get to design their own books by choosing their own pre-cut cloth, board and paper from a variety of designs and colors, and assemble it from scratch, beginning with sewing the text block to the last step of "casing in."

Enjoy working in the newly renovated Special Collections conservation space using bookbinding equipment recently purchased by the Friends of Musselman Library (FOML) and learn a bit about the history of bookbinding.

Christine received her M.A. in American Studies from Penn State University and M.S.L.S. from Clarion University and is currently Assistant Archivist in Musselman Library's Special Collections. Among other duties she is responsible for the conservation of Special Collections' rare book collection. She has taken numerous conservation and bookbinding courses at the American Academy of Bookbinding with Don Etherington, who is internationally recognized for the implementation of state-of-the-art conservation procedures.

Mary is a professional conservator and bookbinder who has been working in the field for almost 30 years. She is currently in private practice, but most recently held the position of Senior Rare Book Conservator at the Library of Congress, where she treated materials from the Library's diverse rare collections, including the manuscripts of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Joseph Haydn and George Gershwin. She was also the conservator of the Lincoln Bible that Barack Obama took his inaugural oath on in January 2009.

11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
GC 211
Management & Music: "Listening in" on Classes in Organizational Behavior
Philip Bobko, Professor of Management and Psychology

Some concepts/variables from organizational behavior classes will be reviewed, and we will explore links between them and music. For example, we will consider some classical music that portrays the so-called "big-five" personality factors aurally rather than textually. Other examples of Organizational Behavior concepts include locus of control, power and influence, and group cohesion (using composers such as Beethoven and Bernstein). Also, students have been challenged to find parallel examples in rock (and punk rock) music. Bring your own musical tastes to the discussion.

Dr. Philip Bobko received his Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from M.I.T., his Master's in Educational Research from Bucknell University, and his Ph.D. in Economic and Social Statistics from Cornell University. He is currently Professor of Management and Psychology at Gettysburg College. Phil is the author of two books and over 90 publications in research methods, management, and industrial/organizational psychology. He has been scientific advisor or principal scientist on several efforts, and he was Principal Scientist on a project to revise the selection system for air traffic controllers in the United States. He has served as associate editor for the Academy of Management Journal and as editor of the Journal of Applied Psychology. He received the Academy of Management's career achievement award in research methods.


11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
GC 212
Will Biofuels Become Our Next Transportation Fuel?
Tim Funk '00, Assistant Professor of Chemistry

Biofuels such as ethanol and biodiesel have already found their way into our gas tanks, but will they ultimately make petroleum-based fuels obsolete? We will discuss what biofuels are and how they are made, and we will look at the pros and cons of using biofuels compared to other types of traditional and renewable fuels.

Tim Funk graduated from Gettysburg College in 2000 and received his Ph.D. in Chemistry from Caltech in 2006. He has done pharmaceutical research at both Merck and GlaxoSmithKline. Since 2007 he has been an assistant professor at Gettysburg College. His research interests include synthetic organic chemistry and environmentally benign organometallic catalysis.


2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
GC 213
"In the Hall of the Mountain King: Following the Footsteps of the early Welsh Court of King Arthur through the Stories and Stones of Iron Age Britain"
Chris Fee, Associate Professor of English

Drawing upon research for Chris's recently-released book Mythology in the Middle Ages, as well as utilizing the interactive multimedia resources of Gettysburg College's Medieval North Atlantic project, this class first takes us to Wales. We will begin by touching upon the 14th century Mabinogion, the great epic cycle of medieval Welsh mythology. After an overview of the elements of Welsh myth suggested by tale of Culhwch and Olwen, this course follows the heroic Culhwch in his quest for the hand of the fair daughter of the larger-than-life king who finally yields his head to this Giant-Slayer Hero. We will end our journey with a "virtual visit" of two Iron Age British fortifications which will ground our explorations in the landscape which gave birth to such myths. Some of the themes and details may date from before 1000, and may be thought to illustrate links between early Welsh and Irish traditions stemming back into the Romanized Britain which gave birth to the legends of Arthur.

Fee attended a small liberal arts college in Ohio; his undergraduate experience was not unlike that of his current students, and Gettysburg at times seems eerily familiar. Fee received a Master's in English at Loyola University in Chicago, where he spent a lot of time reading at the Newberry Library, drinking coffee with hipsters in Rogers Park, and riding the El at all hours of the night. From there Fee moved on to the University of Connecticut, where he received a Master's in Medieval Studies and admired the foliage. Fee then went to the University of Glasgow, in Scotland, where he received his Doctorate in English Language. He also ate a lot of haggis (he did!), drank very little single malt scotch, and hiked and climbed extensively in the Highlands. Fee's first book, Gods, Heroes, and Kings: The Battle for Mythic Britain, written with David Leeming, was published by Oxford in 2001; the paperback was issued in March 2004. Fee's most recent book, Mythology in the Middle Ages: Heroic Tales of Monsters, Magic, and Might, a volume in the Praeger series on the Middle Ages, came out in January of 2011. Fee's current work includes forthcoming articles on Old Norse assembly sites and on the language of weapons and wounds in the Old English Dream of the Rood. Current book projects explore the pagan context of the Anglo-Saxon Rood, as well as the many faces of Indo-European battle goddesses. Fee embraces technology in both its pedagogical and its scholarly guises: The Secret of Otter's Ransom helps users to visit and to learn about some of the most spectacular archaeological and cultural sites of the British Isles and Iceland.

2:00 p.m. -3:30 p.m.
GC 214
Symposium '71, Part I: Will You Run Out of Money Before You Run Out of Time? (open to all alumni)
Bob Cox '71, MD, and Bruce Stefany '71, MBA, moderated by Jane Dalrymple Finn '71

Spock told us, "Live long and prosper!" But can we do both? Over the past 100 years, biomedical progress has extended average life expectancy more than 30 years. Now, as we demand even more health and wellness, radical longevity is on the horizon. At what cost? This program will outline why scientific developments that continue to push the survival envelope will revolutionize Social Security, Medicare and pension plans. What's left that you can control? Your personal philosophy, savings and investment strategies. Learn how the "Retirement Paradigm" has shifted and been redefined for all future generations. Understand how new products, changes in attitudes and novel approaches toward retirement are now necessary if we are ever to reach (and enjoy) it! After all, this is not your parents' financial planning!

Robert L. Cox, MD, is double board certified in Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases, practicing in Denver, Colorado for 22 years. As the Founder and President of BioForecasts, he has helped corporations and associations look at the Biological Future from a new perspective. His focus is how 21st Century developments in the biological sciences will dramatically impact our world, not just in terms of health and longevity, but also in economics, product development and disaster preparedness.

Bruce Stefany, MBA, has held senior management positions in the financial services industry since graduating from Gettysburg and is currently is the Senior Financial Consultant with Ledyard Financial in Hanover, New Hampshire. He received his MBA from Drexel University Graduate School in 1977. He was also the Past-President of the Gettysburg College Alumni Association and a trustee of Gettysburg from 1986-1998, and now serves as a trustee emeritus.

4:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
GC 215
Syposium '71 Part II: Bite-Size Tidbits for the Hungry Mind (open to all alumni)
Karen Carolan ‘71, Tim Judd ‘71, EdD, Susan Waring ‘71, CLU, ChFC, Judge Elliot Solomon ‘71, moderated by Jill Kelly Drew '71

Four professionals from the Class of ‘71 representing a range of fields serve up a sensational smorgasbord and present a brilliant buffet of courses, sure to please any appetite:
• The ins, the outs and the secrets of fine art appraisal, especially as valued for tax purposes by the Internal Revenue Service
• The extraordinary education of West Point cadets, and how global events influence the curriculum
• Leaderships lessons in staying grounded, respected and approachable while remaining in charge
• The evolution of the legal profession in response to cultural, technological and economic change

Karen E. Carolan was the Director of Art Appraisal Services and Chair of the Art Advisory Panel of the Commissioner of Internal Revenue since 1983. She has more than thirty-six years of experience as an appraiser of fine art for tax purposes, has testified as an expert witness in numerous cases in U.S. Tax Court and speaks frequently on appraisal practices and valuation issues. She recently became Executive Director Appraisal Services of the Art Dealers Association of America. The Art Dealers Association of America is a non-profit membership organization of the nation's leading dealers in fine art.

Tim Judd, EdD, received his doctorate from Teachers College, Columbia University in 1984 in research in special education, and worked in various administrative positions in a community college in the State University of New York system for over two decades. In 2005 he went to West Point as an Assistant Dean for Academic Assessment and faculty member in the Department of Behavioral Sciences and Leadership. He and his wife (Nancy Kaspar, 1971) just finished putting their four children through college.

Susan D. Waring, CLU, ChFC, is retired from State Farm Life and Health Insurance Companies, where she served as Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer. Susan has also served on the Boards of LIMRA, LOMA, MIB, ACLI, The American College and Illinois Wesleyan University.

Elliot Solomon, JD, graduated from Temple Law School in 1974 and has served as a Superior Court judge in Connecticut for the past 15 years (presiding, at different times, over major crime trials and family law matters). Prior to that, he served as a trial lawyer with Army JAG, a prosecutor's office in New Jersey (homicide and career criminal units) and a Hartford, Connecticut law firm. Along the way, he married his G-burg sweetheart (Nancy Chamberlain '72), had two kids (both grown) and found time to make a hole in one and bowl a 300 game.
 

4:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
GC 216
On Being a Leader
Neil Bryant '82, National Director, Strategic Markets, Siemens Healthcare USA; Garthwait Leadership Center Advisory Council member

The field of Leadership is exploding in both academic and industry settings, and we feel its impact in our families, communities, work places, and social groups. But what is a leader? What competencies must they possess? Can these be identified and taught? This course will answer these questions by enabling you to analyze the leadership traits in others and yourself. After reviewing several leadership models, you'll apply them to a stirring scene in the award-winning movie "Gettysburg," to illuminate the leadership skill of a central character. Bring your popcorn and curiosity!

Neil Bryant is currently the National Director of Strategic Markets for Siemens Healthcare USA. Siemens employs 70,000 people in the US, and generates nearly $8b in healthcare sector revenue. He has spent the past 27 years assisting hospitals and healthcare systems in achieving their strategic, business and care objectives through effective use of technology and related services. In his current role, Neil works to understand select health systems' desired states, align the multi-company Siemens portfolio to achieve the provider's vision, and establish strategic alliances.

Neil has previously served Siemens and Shared Medical Systems (SMS) in roles including Senior Director of Professional and Managed Services; Mid-Atlantic Area Director of the Strategic Services Group (SMS' consulting arm); Manager of Marketing, Marketing Programs, and Sales Education; Partnership Executive; and Manager Customer Sales and Services, Philadelphia Region.

Neil has been invited to join several health systems' Executive Committees, is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives, and serves on two Boards outside the healthcare arena. He is the current Chair of the Orange & Blue Club Advisory Committee, and is a member of the new College's Garthwait Leadership Center Advisory Committee. Neil lives in Glenmoore, Pa. with his wife (also Class of '82), the author of 23 biographies and novels, their 21-year-old daughter who attends Bucknell University, and their English springer spaniel.

Neil earned his Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Business Administration from Gettysburg College, and his Masters in Leadership Development (MLD) from Penn State University.