A Gettysburg College podcast hosted by President Bob Iuliano
Conversations Beneath the Cupola is a podcast where we underscore the great work of students, faculty, and alumni today and since our founding in 1832, while bringing attention to the importance and value of a liberal arts education in the 21st century.
This podcast is recorded beneath the Cupola of historic Pennsylvania Hall, which served as a vantage point for Union soldiers during the Civil War. Today, the Cupola serves as a significant reminder of how this institution, with this distinct vantage point, affords us the responsibility and opportunity to shape future generations for living lives of meaning and service.
Host: Robert W. Iuliano, President of Gettysburg College
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Episode 24: Being your authentic self with Carson Kressley ’91
In Episode 24, President Bob Iuliano is joined by one of Gettysburg College’s most notable alumni, Carson Kressley ’91. Kressley shares highlights from his time at the College, how his distinguished career as a designer, actor, and American television personality has given others the courage to be their authentic selves, and more.
June 8, 2021
Episode 23: Reflections from our newest Gettysburg College alumni
In Episode 23, President Bob Iuliano is joined by three remarkable members of the class of 2021, Gyasu Bajracharya, Megan Keene, and Shanzae Sarwar. Our newest alumni reflect on their time at Gettysburg College, sharing the lessons they learned, the people and the moments that shaped them, how they plan to leverage their Gettysburg education to make a difference in the world, and more.
May 19, 2021
Episode 22: Engaging on environmental issues with Profs. Salma Monani and Sarah Principato
In Episode 22, President Bob Iuliano is joined by Environmental Studies Profs. Salma Monani and Sarah Principato for an Earth Day exclusive discussion. They explore the progression of climate change, the ways in which the media shapes and is shaped by environmental issues, how we all can play a part in combating climate change, and more.
April 22, 2021
Episode 21: Empowering women on and off the field with Coach Carol Cantele ’83
In Episode 21, President Bob Iuliano is joined by Women’s Lacrosse Coach Carol Cantele ’83, who was recently selected into the Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association Hall of Fame. They discuss the progress made in women’s athletics from the ’80s to today, what inspired Cantele to return to the Gettysburg field as a coach, her keys to coaching a nationally-acclaimed team, the legacy she hopes to leave behind, and more.
March 8, 2021
Episode 20: ‘Abraham Lincoln in his Times’ with Lincoln Prize recipient David S. Reynolds
In Episode 20, President Bob Iuliano is joined by 2021 Lincoln Prize Recipient David S. Reynolds. Through the prism of Reynolds’ award-winning book Abe: Abraham Lincoln in His Times, they discuss the character of President Lincoln, the ways in which he was molded by society and his experiences, how some of the issues he faced in his time mirror those we are grappling with today, and what we can learn from the legacy that he has left behind.
February 26, 2021
Episode 19: The power of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s words with Profs. Jennifer Bloomquist and McKinley Melton
In Episode 19, President Bob Iuliano is joined by two members of the Gettysburg College community: Associate English Prof. McKinley Melton and Linguistics and Africana Studies Prof. Jennifer Bloomquist, who also serves as associate provost for faculty development and dean of social sciences and interdisciplinary programs. They discuss the lasting impact of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s words, what made his use of language so powerful and effective, and how we can apply the lessons learned from his life and legacy to our ongoing conversations on issues of race and identity today.
January 18, 2021
Episode 18: Reflecting on 2020 with President Bob Iuliano and guest Interviewer Joe Lynch ’85
In Episode 18, President Bob Iuliano is joined by Joe Lynch ’85, executive director of alumni relations at the College, who takes on the role of the interviewer and accompanies Iuliano on a 2020 year in review. Iuliano discusses some of the most pivotal moments of 2020, including the spread of COVID-19, the killing of George Floyd, a polarizing election year, and how these moments affected the world and the College. Pivoting from reflection to foresight, Iuliano shares his goals for the world and the College in 2021.
December 22, 2020
Episode 17: The spirit of gratitude and giving with Sahana Mukherjee and Gretchen Natter P’15
In Episode 17, President Bob Iuliano is joined by two members of the Gettysburg College community: Psychology Prof. Sahana Mukherjee and Gretchen Natter P’15, assistant dean of College Life and executive director of the Center for Public Service. They discuss the impact of gratitude on our health, the variability in how people express gratitude, and how we at Gettysburg College foster a culture that recognizes the significance of giving back to the community and working toward the greater good.
November 19, 2020
Episode 16: Preparing for the 2020 election with Johanna Persing ’11 and Kat Atwater ’07
In Episode 16, President Bob Iuliano is joined by two Gettysburg College alumnae: Johanna Persing ’11, deputy communications director for the Republican National Committee, and Kat Atwater ’07, deputy chief technology officer for the Democratic National Committee. They discuss the nature of their work, the upcoming 2020 election, and how their Gettysburg education prepared them for their careers in politics.
October 30, 2020
Episode 15: The Confederate monument controversy with Chris Gwinn ’06 and Prof. Scott Hancock
In Episode 15, President Iuliano is joined by two members of the Gettysburg College community: Chris Gwinn ’06, a supervisory park ranger for interpretation and education at Gettysburg National Military Park, and Professor of Africana studies and history Scott Hancock. Together, they unpack the Confederate monument controversy, particularly in the context of the Gettysburg battlefield.
September 30, 2020
Episode 14: Building a racially just society with Bruce Gordon ’68
In episode 14, President Bob Iuliano and Bruce Gordon ’68, former President and CEO of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, discuss the work that remains before us, both within higher education and beyond, to build a racially just society.
August 5, 2020
Episode 13: What being a “Gettysburgian” means to members of the Class of 2020
In episode 13, President Bob Iuliano and three members of the Class of 2020—Darby Nisbett, Jason Sinsheimer, and Jazmin Reynoso Ortiz—define what it means to be a “Gettysburgian” by reflecting on their time at Gettysburg College, sharing the lessons they learned, memories of the people and moments that shaped them, and more.
May 15, 2020
Episode 12: The biology and genetics of COVID-19 with Prof. Steve James ’80
In episode 12, President Bob Iuliano and Biology Prof. Steve James ’80 discuss the biology and genetics of COVID-19, its origins, how properties of the virus are affecting the development of a vaccine, and other related topics.
May 11, 2020
Episode 11: Working on the frontlines of COVID-19 with Melissa Zook ’94
In episode 11, President Bob Iuliano and family practice physician Melissa Zook ’94 discuss the strain that COVID-19 has put on essential workers and the healthcare system, particularly in rural Kentucky, where Zook works and lives.
May 4, 2020
Episode 10: The ethical dilemmas presented by COVID-19 with Prof. Steve Gimbel
In episode 10, President Bob Iuliano and Philosophy Prof. Steve Gimbel discuss the many ethical dilemmas presented by COVID-19, particularly for physicians who are facing difficult decisions under conditions of great uncertainty.
April 24, 2020
Episode 9: The liberal arts: a foundation for purpose and success with Troy Datcher ’90
In Episode 9, President Bob Iuliano and Troy Datcher ’90, senior vice president and chief customer officer at Clorox, discuss how the liberal arts prepares students to find purpose and success, while making a difference in the world. Datcher reflects on the key skills and lessons he learned at Gettysburg College and how what he learned has helped guide him on his personal and professional journeys.
April 17, 2020
Episode 8: COVID-19’s effects on local and national elections with Bruce Larson
In Episode 8, President Iuliano and Bruce Larson, chair and professor of political science at the College, make sense of how the COVID-19 outbreak has and will continue to impact ongoing primary elections across the country, how the current administration’s response to the health crisis today may affect the presidential election in November, and more.
April 10, 2020
Episode 7: COVID-19’s effects on the economy with macroeconomist Char Weise
In Episode 7, President Iuliano and Char Weise, a macroeconomist and Prof. of Economics, discuss the effects the COVID-19 outbreak has had on the economy, what the U.S. government could have done differently, and how long the reverberations may last.
April 3, 2020
Episode 6: COVID-19’s effects on vulnerable populations with social epidemiologist Amy Dailey
In Episode 6, President Iuliano and Dailey, a social epidemiologist and Health Sciences Prof., discuss the short-term and long-term effects of the COVID-19 outbreak on vulnerable populations.
March 27, 2020
Episode 5: The College’s transition to remote learning amid COVID-19 with Jocelyn Swigger, Ryan Kerney, and Rod Tosten.
In Episode 5, President Robert Iuliano explores how the College is making the transition to a remote learning platform for the remainder of the spring semester amid the global health crisis. He is joined by Sunderman Conservatory of Music Prof. and Chair of the Faculty Council Jocelyn Swigger, Prof. of Biology Ryan Kerney, and VP of Information Technology and Prof. of Computer Science Rod Tosten.
March 20, 2020
Episode 4: The lasting impact of First-Year Seminars with Professors Darren Glass and Kathy Cain
In Episode 4, Glass, Cain, and two first-year students—Katherine Schmitz ’23 and Demaro Ricketts ’23—highlight the innovative nature, purpose, and lasting impact of the College’s First-Year Seminar program.
March 14, 2020
Episode 3: The breadth and depth of student involvement with Ben Pontz ’20
In Episode 3, President Bob Iuliano and guest Ben Pontz ’20 discuss the breadth and depth of opportunities and experiences that students can pursue at Gettysburg College. Specifically, they unpack Pontz’s immersive Gettysburg College experience as Pontz reflects on his most memorable moments thus far.
January 13, 2020
Episode 2: The legacy of Dwight Eisenhower with Susan Eisenhower
In this episode, President Bob Iuliano and guest Susan Eisenhower discuss the legacy of Dwight Eisenhower at Gettysburg College through the lens of the Eisenhower Institute, the state of the current political climate, and Eisenhower’s new book.
December 5, 2019
Episode 1: The future of liberal arts education with Lawrence Bacow
In this debut episode, President Robert Iuliano discusses higher education, the liberal arts, and the future with Harvard University President Lawrence Bacow.
October 30, 2019