“Greek Week is so important because it allows both fraternity and sorority life to have a week to compete and celebrate each other,” said Addie Greene, member of Pi Beta Phi.

Members of the Alpha Xi Delta and Sigma Phi Epsilon team, Talon Hunter, Kent Huth, Natalie Morrow, Kaytlynn Taylor, and Lorenzo Ramirez, competing in tug of war. Photo from MC Flickr.

The first event started a week early this year with a community service event at the Jamieson Center. Members from all chapters got together to help clean up and place mulch around the center. Points were awarded for having up to 5 members present.

Greek Week officially kicked off on Monday with a Just Dance event hosted by ASAP. Teams of 4 from each chapter danced their hearts out to not only win Just Dance but also win Greek Week points for their chapter.

On Tuesday, Chapters participated in Captain America’s Field Day Challenges. One fraternity and one sorority teamed up to compete in challenges such as Hulk’s Tug-of-War, Magneto’s Metal Spoon Race, Captain America’s Shield Toss, and the Batmobile Race. The

The highlight of the night was the Batmobile Race, where teams of 12 rolled a table on their backs across the field while a chapter member rode on top of the table. Points were awarded to each chapter duo based on their placement in the individual events. The winner of the night was “The Phi Duo,” consisting of Pi Beta Phi and Phi Delta Theta.

The week continued with the annual Family Feud competition on Wednesday night. 5 members from each chapter competed in a standard game of Family Feud. The two teams with the most rounds won moved on to Quicksilver’s Fast Money.

On Thursday, chapter members were encouraged to attend the Twilight Special Track Meet and cheer on the Monmouth Track and Field team. Points were awarded based on each chapter’s overall attendance.

The philanthropy chosen for this year’s Greek Week was the Recharge Teen Center. Throughout the week, chapters participated in the Penny Wars competition to collect donations for RTC and earn more points for their chapters. The organizations collected a total of $595.55 throughout the week.

An additional ongoing event was the finding of the Hidden Super-Greek Week Directors that were placed on bulletin boards around campus. Each chapter could find its missing Greek Week director for extra points.

Each chapter also painted a banner relating to the superhero theme. The board of judges consisted of Aramark staff members who chose Pi Beta Phi as the winner and secured extra points for their chapter.

Greek Week concluded on Friday night with the Fraternity and Sorority Life Awards Ceremony. Awards are handed out to students and staff who have made a significant impact on Greek Life. The Greek Week Committee also nominates students and chapters that went above and beyond during the week for spirit awards.

The overall Greek Week winner was Pi Beta Phi with a total of 1,720 points. Phi Delta Theta came in second place with 1,670 points, and Zeta Beta Tau came in third with 1,520 points.

Photo of Brownfield presenting on a career in criminal and forensic psychology. Photo from MC Flickr.

The event’s keynote speaker was Dr. Chad Brownfield, a clinical and forensic psychologist operating in Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin. Brownfield spoke on his time and career in criminal and forensic psychology, the importance of pursuing the field, and the steps to his career. He is currently an adjunct professor at St. Ambrose University and serves on the Human Rights Commission for Rock Island.

STEM ambassadors recording their podcast. Left to right, Alayna Earle, Nick Brown, Turner Plumer, and Kailey Cronin. Photo by Dawsyn Wilson.

One group of students from the STEM ambassador course created a podcast, Outside The Lab, this semester. During presentations, they interviewed various students at their table and went around with portable mics. Engineering students created an autonomous golf ball retriever after they surveyed the golf team and learned how long it takes to manually retrieve every loose ball.

In Petra Kuppinger’s Everyday Sustainability course had a table that showcased the various projects from the class. Over eight weeks, students worked on individual projects. “I personally decided to make my own paper using recycled paper that I received from classes. Majority of it coming from Petra’s class herself,” said Allie Glassburn. After a difficult process, Glassburn was able to use her recycled paper to write, draw, and paint.

Last fall, students Cole Pugh, Mathew Bright, and Izzy Seipold built a catapult in the Ancient Technology and Engineering class. The group had to refer to sources and pictures from class to replicate an onager, a Roman-style catapult. “We used two-by-fours, some plywood as a lever arm, and lots of paracord as our main mechanism for the launch of our projectiles,” said Seipold. Bright and Seipold launched ping-pong balls to showcase their catapult’s throwing distance.

Understanding U.S.–Latin American relations, he argued, requires seeing both the historical roots of U.S. involvement and the present-day challenges facing the hemisphere. “Twenty-five percent of the population lives on less than $6.25 a day,” Arrenius said.

The presentation traced the relationship back to the early 19th century and the origins of the James Monroe-era Monroe Doctrine, which declared the Western Hemisphere off limits to European colonization and interference. Arrenius walked the audience through major turning points, including the Mexican–American War, the Spanish–American War, and the Roosevelt Corollary, which justified U.S. intervention in Latin America and led to projects like the Panama Canal.

Still, U.S. involvement remained significant during the Cold War, with military interventions and political influence shaping the region from the 1950s through the 1990s. Arrenius concluded the historical overview with the creation of the North American Free Trade Agreement, emphasizing how economic ties have become a defining feature of modern relations.

Arrenius presenting at the lecture. Photo by Seamus O’Sullivan

Turning to the present, Arrenius discussed the rapidly changing political landscape in Venezuela and the dramatic capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro by the U.S. in early 2026. The unprecedented operation shocked the international community and has raised questions about democracy, sovereignty, and the future of the region.

Arrenius noted that while remnants of the previous regime remain influential, there are signs of cautious optimism. “Economists are now more free to express dissent towards the government. Civil liberties are being increased. Hard to say for sure, but I believe the next elections will be free and fair,” he said.

The conversation also touched on the volatility of U.S. relations with Cuba. Arrenius explained how policy has fluctuated depending on which party controls the White House, creating uncertainty in the region. He noted that Cuba has recently experienced massive blackouts after oil shipments from Venezuela were cut off, illustrating how interconnected Latin American economies remain.

Finally, Arrenius addressed the growing global competition shaping the hemisphere. China’s expanding presence in Latin America has become a major concern for U.S. policymakers. For example, China shifting its soybean imports to Argentina during the U.S.–China trade war shows how economic rivalries between major powers ripple across the region.

The presentation closed with a reminder that the story of U.S.–Latin American relations is far from finished. As Arrenius prepares to continue his academic career studying the region, students left the session with a deeper understanding of how history, economics, and geopolitics continue to shape the Americas today.

Arrenius recently studied abroad in Uruguay and plans to pursue a PhD in comparative politics and methods at the University of Maryland with a focus on Latin American politics.

MC Staff celebrating the 10th year of Scots Day of Giving. Photo from MC Flickr.

On April 15, five projects were highlighted: the Monmouth Fund, Fighting Scots Society, Senior Class gift, Loyalty scholarship, and new Marching Band uniforms. “The Draves Double” is a new initiative that encourages donors to support a pair of these causes. The goal was to reach 1,000 donors and at least one donation from every state.

“Scots Day of Giving is...a day when our campus community and alumni from all across the country come together to support students and the programs that shape their experience,” said Hannah Maher, the Vice President for Development and College Relations, “What I love most is the collective impact - how thousands of individual acts of generosity (giving, volunteering, promoting Monmouth) add up to something truly transformational.”

Monmouth Police responded to two different reports of thefts at the Huff Athletic Center over two days, April 8 and 9. Several individuals’ belongings were stolen from locker rooms during late evening practices. “This situation has been incredibly frustrating and upsetting. The items stolen—my volleyball shoes and team bag—were both expensive and recently purchased for the season,” said Zoe Nizzia.

Students soon went to Yik Yak. Anonymous posts questioning their presence and situation. One student posted: “Did the locker rooms get raided or something? Who tf is going into lockers stealing stuff?” Another post raised concerns about potential student IDs stolen to be used to enter residential halls.

After one student pinged their phone location, Knox County Sheriff’s Deputies were able locate a car owned by Smith with a bag containing six phones inside it. Monmouth Police contacted some of the other student victims, who were also able to ping their phones to the car’s location. Security cameras identified a car matching Smith’s vehicle parked on campus. Also, officers identified Smith walking downstairs in the Huff where the locker room is located and ten minutes later entering the parked car leaving campus two minutes after that.

Officers obtained a search warrant and found the stolen items in his car, home, and a safe located in his bedroom. “Inside the safe (were) ten cellphones that were wrapped in a black piece of clothing. The cellphone belonged to the victims of this case. Also, inside the safe (were) IDs, credit cards, SS cards that belonged to our victims,” Investigator J. Kramer wrote in his report.

After police the stolen property was identified, nine cell phones were returned. “I told all students that had credit cards and debit cards stolen to report their cards stolen to their banks and to report any fraudulent activity to Monmouth PD” Officer Boyer said in his written police report.

According to the police report, Smith admitted during an April 14 interview to taking the shoes, wallets, and phones but no cash during the two separate incidents. Upon his release from Knox County Jail, Monmouth police arrested and booked Smith for burglary.

The incident has raised concerns about security measures in the Huff. “This incident raises serious concerns about locker room security. Currently, there appears to be no effective measures in place to prevent unauthorized access. Anyone—whether a student, coach, or outsider—could potentially enter the volleyball and swim locker rooms at any time. This is not only a property issue but also a significant safety concern,” said Nizzia.

Auctioneers holding up paddles during auction. Photo by Ruby Poffinbarger.

One major fundraising event is the Quarter Auction, which recently took place on Friday, April 10th. Supported by Professor Lori Walters-Kramer and her Small Group Communication class, the event is their biggest fundraising event, establishing itself as an annual tradition, anticipated by the staff and the community collectively.

At 6 pm on Friday, more than 150 community members gathered to support RTC, including state representative Dan Swanson. Everyone was able to bid on the 99 donations, ranging from coupons for local businesses, t-shirts, and baskets full of candy and games. From Monmouth College, donations were received from Admissions, Tartan Threads, Aramark, and ASAP. Donations were not only from businesses in the Monmouth and Galesburg area. Multiple individuals put together baskets as well. Many of these individuals are repeat supporters of the fundraiser.

The event was incredibly successful, raising funds to further support the hard work done by Recharge staff and continue to give the teens of Monmouth a safe place to go and simply be kids.

Recharge Teen Center can be found on Facebook or Eagle View Community Health System’s website for more information.

Kuppinger began by tracing the region’s complex history, explaining that Ukraine has long existed at the crossroads of empires, cultures, and political systems. From centuries of imperial rule to the Soviet era, the country’s identity and sovereignty have been shaped by outside forces. This historical backdrop, she explained, is essential to understanding modern tensions with Russia.

Kuppinger presenting her lecture. Photo by Seamus O’Sullivan

Kuppinger described how the dissolution of the Soviet Union created new borders, new political identities, and lingering disputes about power and influence. Over time, these unresolved tensions helped set the stage for the current conflict. She emphasized that narratives about the region are often simplified in public discourse, even though the reality is far more complex.

A central theme of the lecture was her clear position that the invasion is unjustified. “This war did not have to happen,” Kuppinger said, stressing that diplomatic and political alternatives existed. She argued that the war represents a violation of sovereignty and international norms, rather than an inevitable clash of civilizations.

The lecture highlighted the human dimension of the war. Beyond military strategy and political rhetoric, Kuppinger urged students to consider the lives disrupted by violence, displacement, and economic hardship. She noted that conflicts of this scale reshape societies for generations, affecting migration patterns, economic stability, and cultural memory.

Another key takeaway from the lecture was the global impact of the war. Kuppinger discussed how the conflict has influenced energy markets, food supply chains, and international alliances. She explained that the war is not only a regional crisis but a global one, with ripple effects felt across Europe, Africa, and beyond.

“The stakes are much larger than territory,” she said. “This is about international order and how conflicts are resolved in the modern world.”

Kuppinger concluded by encouraging students to stay informed and engaged with global affairs. She stressed the importance of critical thinking when consuming news and political narratives, reminding the audience that understanding history and context is essential for evaluating present-day events.

Every year on the first day of March, people across Bulgaria celebrate Baba Marta Day, marking the shift from winter to spring. The celebration originates from the “Grandma Marta” legend about an erratic woman. Although the holiday also signifies the arrival of spring and the burst of color from nature.

People create martenitsas, red and white bracelets or dolls made from yarn, and share them with family and friends. Martenitsas represent health and happiness. When a sign of the beginning of spring is spotted, martenitsas are hung on tree branches, welcoming the upcoming season

Songkran Water Festival - Thailand

Songkran refers to the annual astrological movement of the sun into the Aries constellation, marking the traditional start of the new year. In Thailand, Songkran is a time to reunite with family, honor your elders, ancestors, and sacred Buddha images. It’s also a time to symbolically wash away misfortunes and pray for prosperity in the upcoming year.

Water plays a large role in the festival. Pouring water during Songkran represents cleansing, reverence, and good fortune. People bathe important Buddha images, and splash family and friends. The festival also includes folk plays, music, games, and a feast.

Canadian Tulip Festival - Canada

Celebrated eleven days in May, Canada hosts the largest tulip festival in the world. The festival honors the flower’s beauty and its long-standing history with the country’s capital, Ottawa. 300,000 tulips are planted in Commissioners Park, traveling along Dow Lake.

The festival originated from a gift from the royal family of the Netherlands, who sought refuge in Canada during World War II. Canadian troops played a crucial role in the liberation of the Netherlands. Since 1945, every year the Dutch government has sent tulip bulbs as thanks.

Officer Jacob Willis, a 2013 graduate, visited Jessica Vivian’s “Politics of Criminal Justice” course to share his journey from college student to member of a SWAT team. His talk focused on the day-to-day work of police officers, the emotional impact of the job, and the importance of maintaining a healthy work-life balance.

After graduating from Monmouth, Willis said his path to law enforcement was not immediate. He briefly worked at Texas Roadhouse before finding a position working with juveniles, an experience that helped set the foundation for his eventual career in policing. Over time, he worked his way through the department and into his current role on the SWAT team.

Willis said that despite the dangers and hardships of the profession, moments of compassion and community support make the work meaningful. One such incident involved helping return $8,000 to a man after someone found it along the side of the road and turned it in.“It’s moments like these that remind you that there is still humanity in people.”

Jacob Willis ‘13 presenting to Politics of Criminal Justice class. Photo by Gary Bonifer.

While sharing rewarding moments, Willis described situations that can become physically and emotionally taxing and how some cases stay with officers long after they are over.

One case that continues to affect him involved Navin Jones, an 8-year-old boy who died from severe abuse, starvation, and neglect. When officers found him, he weighed only 30 pounds. Willis said the emotional toll of the case required professional counseling.

“Seeing his body was difficult and has haunted me ever since,” Willis said. “I have an almost two-year-old, and we just went to the doctor, and she weighs 28 lbs. This kid was 8 years old, and he weighed 30 lbs. So, think about that.”

Beyond individual cases, Willis said national events can such as the 2020 death of George Floyd affect public perception of local law enforcement.

“It almost made me walk away from the career just because of how poorly we were being treated for something that happened in Minneapolis, Minnesota,” Willis said. “Somebody across the entire country can change the dynamic of how people treat us in this career. So that’s always changing.”

Despite the challenges, Willis encouraged students to consider the importance of mental health and taking the “cop hat” off at the end of the day being present with family.

This past weekend, fraternity members assisted Darrel and Anne Liniger with packing and moving belongings. Their son, Doug Liniger, a 1987 graduate of Monmouth College and ZBT alum, said this act of service means to a lot.

“It is being done as a promise kept,” said Liniger. “A little over a year ago, each member of the chapter signed a letter of support to me and said that if I needed anything, just ask.”

With the help of the ZBT members, the packing was complete in about an hour and a half.

“Honestly, it was really nice to help a brother,” said Jacee Goodrich, a ZBT member. “I feel good knowing that we’ll always have each other’s backs anywhere in life.”

The Delta Lambda chapter of ZBT has served the Monmouth community for over 50 years through philanthropy and volunteer work.

ZBT members, Jacee Goodrich and Ivan Iverson, helping move boxes. Photo by Barry McNamara.

At the local library, Simmons and Eiserman talked about the 20 years it took to get their book published. They brought rough drafts of the manuscript and illustrations. Simmons, who taught art for 35 years, did all the illustrations herself. While Eiserman read aloud, Simmons followed along with the original illustrations from her sketchbook.

Simmons (left) and Eiserman (right) showing book illustrations from sketches to final product. Photo by Dawsyn Wilson

Eiserman talked about what inspired her to write her story. “I loved my little golden books so much,” she said, “They’re so well-loved and were passed down for generations.” The book sits close to home, connected to Simmons and Eiserman’s family. “It was a labor of love,” said Eiserman. Through Simmons’s illustrations and Eiserman’s writing, they brought a familial memory back to life for young readers.

Simmons and Eiserman plan to visit local elementary schools for a read-aloud with copies of their book. “I Love You All The Time, So Much Love All The Time” is available for purchase on Amazon and Barnes and Noble’s online catalog.

The organization’s president, Lorenzo Ramirez, said he was drawn to a video game-centered event. “Over winter break, I thought of fundraisers and events we could have for the upcoming semester. I wanted to utilize our rehearsal space in Dahl for more events and use it in other ways other than just concerts and presentations.”

He said he pitched these fundraiser event ideas to the executive board, consisting of other wind ensemble student members and overseen by Professor Justin Swearinger. “Making sure to stay communicative was a big part of the process, especially informing the alumni and my exec that these are the times we need to be here and set up, and this is how the event will go,” Ramirez said.

Kailey Cronin is one of the students who attended the event. The wind ensemble bass player said that students largely played Mario Kart and Mortal Kombat, focusing on competitive games that allowed for more interaction between those attending. “It was really cool how we held Mario Kart on the big screen at Dahl,” she said.

Ramirez hoped that using the Dahl would show all it offers for more besides concerts and convocations. The event also received assistance from Colton Gray, an alumni who has been in the ensemble himself and brought his consoles and games for the group to play.

Portrait of Fansano from MC Website.

He said that he wanted to take on the role of school chair because of his belief that he “had things to offer to colleagues and to students…connecting to the world” to build relationships and prepare students for the future.

As every school chair has mentioned before, interdisciplinary interaction will be increased. This is no different for the School of Engineering, Sciences, and Innovation. “It’s already happening in our school, actually,” said Fasano. “All of the disciplines within our school are rather intellectually aligned…the fact that we all are kinda living under the same roof really advances that.”

Outside of science, there is also an interest in a science policy advocacy track. “There are lots of places where we fit together.” What does this mean for students? They can be more comfortable crossing boundaries and becoming more professionally active. “The schools can help us do that in ways a single department maybe couldn’t.”

Fasano repeated the importance of communication and connection, especially for students within his discipline. “Students need to become powerful problem solvers…they need to learn how to talk to people who know things they don’t know, and they need the confidence that you can do things that you don’t know.” So, what is his advice for his students hoping to get into the sciences? “Connect.”

Springer said her experience in educational leadership led to her wanting to be the school chair “…this previous experience will help me navigate changes while serving and working alongside a variety of stakeholders as the college moves forward. We want to develop outstanding opportunities for our current and future students, but we must work together in order to do so. It is my goal to support my colleagues, work collaboratively as a high-functioning team, and develop a shared vision for the future of our school and college.” Her previous experience as an educator and school district administrator gave her a perspective on the programs within her school through hands-on interaction with the various careers students are being prepared for.

Springer portrait. Photo from MC website

The varied disciplines within her school relate to our individual and collective understanding of human interaction, learning, relationships, sense of self, advocacy, and human impact within our various learning and professional communities. “Ultimately, our students are going to go into fields where they are in service of others within the community spaces, through educationally focused endeavors, graduate research, or social services,” said Springer.

She stressed the importance of making sure that the education program did not take precedence over the other programs within the school. Before the creation of the schools, the education and psychology departments had already been working to support each other, thanks to the initial efforts made by Dr. Tom Sargent; now, the interaction of faculty and programs has served to accelerate and expand these efforts further. “This is a brand new structure for the college… I think this has brought different people together that may not have naturally had the opportunity to do so,” Springer said

Her advice for students entering one of these fields? “Students need to explore their options through various courses and hands-on experience, and I think that the School of Education and Human Development allows students to explore all the programs housed within the school and the way in which they can play out in a future career or research pathway… our school will give you the skills to do just that and more.”

The Monmouth Classics department hosted Laurialan Reitzammer of the University of Colorado at Boulder who delivered the lecture titled “The Recently Discovered Ancient Texts of Euripides: The Myth of Ino, Human Sacrifice, and Greek Women’s Ritual.” Reitzammer told the story of how a couple of lines of a lost play of the ancient Greek tragedian Euripides were found in the sands of Egypt.

Reitzammer studied French while going for her undergrad because she had loved the idea of foreign language. She loved it so much she started learning Ancient Greek before sleeping every night. Reitzammer ended up not liking the job that she had after college and made the o decision to go back to college to go into the Classics. She graduated and is now an Associate Professor at the University of Colorado at Boulder.

Laurialan Reitzammer at the podium during her speech.

At first, Reitzammer started talking about the process of how these lines were found and excavated safely and legally from the ground in Egypt, along with all the people and the processes that went along with that work. Throughout the whole lecture, she would go on to talk about how in parts of the play, it discussed how a man would cheat on his wife, and in revenge would kill his children in ways that wouldn’t only impact him, but the entire town.

Since 1985, this lecture honors the late Bernice L Fox and highlights the continued importance of classics in the modern world. Fox taught classics at Monmouth from 1947 to 1981.

“We’re taking an outlandish step from the norms that you’ve seen from Chorale in recent years,” stated Colin Kreipe, Senior President of the Chorale. “We’re experimenting with different fundraisers, seeing what gets campus and the general community kind of riled up and helps us be able to fund our upcoming tours.”

Chorale organized the open mic coffeehouse on Thursday, February 19th in the Highlander room to raise money for their upcoming Spring Break concert tour to New Orleans.

“It’s good student leadership practice because they’re planning the events and making sure they go smoothly,” said Tim Pahel, Director of Choral Activities and Professor of Music.

Unlike the normal Chorale concert, others took to the mic. “We got a pretty decent amount of people coming to the event tonight, and not just people who are in Chorale or in the music department. We got some people that I’ve never seen before on campus, and I’m really thankful for that,” Kreipe said.

Beyond this event, Chorale is in the middle of preparing to multiple concerts during their tour, “It was a weird start to the semester with so many people being sick with the flu, strep, and all kinds of sickness, along with people having to miss rehearsal for pep band, people missing for IMEC in Peoria, and we’re learning some really hard music,” said Pahel. “As of this week, though, I feel like we are going to be okay and we’re going to sound amazing.”

Courier Staff from left to right. Billy Lopatto, Mikaela Avery, Elena Hernandez, Semaus O’Sullivan, Riley King, Dawsyn Wilson, Ryan Phillips. Photo by Chris Goble

Outside of awards, staff attended informational panels ranging from improving editorial skills or how to create engaging reels. “I thought the conference was a great way for me to learn from other journalists and hear feedback from advisors at different schools to learn how to better my game,” Lopatto said.

Unlike most others school at the convention, the Courier produces a weekly paper rather than monthly or quarterly. “I think the student body here would be glad to know that we are only one of the few colleges in Illinois that can produce a weekly magazine. It truly is a privilege, and I thank Monmouth for allowing us to continue to do this,” said Phillips.

“I’ve invested my whole life in the success of the business and economics program; I’d like to get it up and running and pass it off to the next guy.” He explained that out of the six schools, this one is experiencing the least amount of change. “I was in charge of Business, Economics, and Accounting, and now I am in charge of Business, Economics, and Accounting,” he joked.

Connell portrait from Monmouth College Website.

Still, there is hope for expansion for majors across disciplines, including a future possibility of a major in hospital management. “The world is always changing, but this seems like a greater time for change. Liberal Arts colleges are going through all sorts of things…The only constant in life is change, and we are in the middle of a big one,” He explained.

For the past 30 years, he has overseen the department, operating mostly independently from the other departments within the school. He explained his role as department chair and now, as school chair, as like that of a manager. He believes it is a necessary job, but his real passion is teaching. “It is a lot more fun and a lot more rewarding.” Many people outside of the business school know Connell as a friendly face around campus. Holding the flag at basketball games, offering his home to students for activities, enjoying performances at Dahl Chapel, his “greatest joy is his students’ success,” he said, “At Monmouth College, the relationships don’t end on the classroom door.”

His advice for students is “Have a big outlook on life and keep all the doors open. You never know where the business opportunities may come from…If the door doesn’t open, it wasn’t your door.”

Photo from Monmouth College website

His answer to why he works to keep classics around was simple: “It still speaks to so many people, students continue to be thoroughly passionate…it holds a mirror up to contemporary life, …People can learn a huge amount about themselves and the world around them by studying the classical world without becoming embroiled in the arguments of the particular day.” His work in the classical world at Monmouth College thus far has led to advancement for the students and many instances of interdisciplinary interactions. Students, under his guidance and collaboration, have won research awards, presented at national conferences, and had the opportunity to better themselves in the world of classics. He also assisted in a study about the development of place funded by the National Endowment for the Arts, along with the English, history, and philosophy programs.

Simmons’ role as a school chair meant expanding out of the humanities into the world of civic engagement as well. Simmons said, “There are different emphases and different skill sets that are developed in political science versus the humanities, but it is similarly idealistic and altruistic approaches that guide people in their studies of both humanities and political science.” Although the distribution of programs was a point of confusion for some students after the initial summer announcement, each school chair has expressed excitement over the layout and encouraged students to keep an open mind.

Finally, his advice for students in the school of Humanities and Civic Engagement? “Don’t lose sight of the profound value of the study you are doing...[students] are learning how to live well-considered, thoughtful, meaningful, purposeful lives where they can feel good about approaches they are taking to the world, and they can be thoughtful about how their actions are impacting other people.”