College of Liberal Arts Newsletter Spring 2025 : simplebooklet.com

2 3DATE: APRIL 30, 2025TIME: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PMSince its founding as a new college in 2021, the College of Liberal Arts has been building steady momentum with each annual Day of Giving at Purdue Fort Wayne. During the 2024 Day of Giving, COLA received 161 donations for a total of over $65,000, which set a new record for the college. Altogether, COLA won three of the bonus challenges, including most participants from faculty and sta during the noon hour. Most notable, the college increased its number of donor-participants by 22% between the 2023 Day of Giving and the 2024 Day of Giving. Purdue Fort Wayne’s Day of Giving is more than just a fundraiser, of course. It’s also a celebration of the opportunities we can create together. By supporting the College of Liberal Arts, our donors help fuel student success and expand support for the many initiatives that allow us to realize our mission more fully. Whether a contribution is small or large, we appreciate all the support we receive, both on the Day of Giving and throughout the year.And of course, the 2025 Day of Giving is just around the corner! We invite you to join us in our quest to set a new record. Mark your calendars for April 30, 2025 and support our mission with a gift to the College of Liberal Arts or any one of its many departments and programs. To give, please visit: dayofgiving.pfw.eduDAY OF GIVINGDear Friends of the College, As we wrap up our fourth year as the College of Liberal Arts at Purdue University Fort Wayne, I am grateful for our early successes and the many supporters who have helped us champion the liberal arts. With your help, we have been able to develop new opportunities for students while also easing their financial burdens through new merit and need-based scholarships. Whether we are sending our students on life-changing study abroad experiences, creating high-impact learning opportunities for them here on campus, or providing scholarship money, our top priority as a college has been student success. With each new accomplishment, our commitment to enhancing the learning experience for all of our students only deepens. At the same time as we work to enhance the educational experience our students have, we are aware of the myriad challenges before us. We inhabit a higher education landscape that often seems singularly preoccupied with technological training, vocational pipelines, and starting salaries. These foci are not incompatible with the liberal arts, of course, but historically, they are not measurements that appear, on the surface, to favor the liberal arts. Nor do they reflect the goals we most prize. At the risk of relying on a cliché, the educational journey, for us, is as important—if not more important—than the destination. And what is that journey? It is one that directs students toward a love of learning, above all. It is one that fosters critical thinking, creative problem-solving, curiosity, and a commitment to engaging the world in all of its complexity and richness. We believe the skills and knowledge gained through a liberal arts education best prepare students for an economy defined by constant and rapid change. We believe success is best judged, not by vocational metrics, but how well we have prepared students to be life-long learners who can adapt to change and meet the demands of a wide-range of careers. If we are in the business of training students, we are training them to think. I doubt there could be a more important goal for higher education at this particular moment. Every day, new evidence makes the case for the importance of the liberal arts. Indeed, the need for education that leads to information literacy, critical thinking, cultural understanding, global engagement, and ethical behavior is clear. We are lucky in the College of Liberal Arts to have a faculty dedicated to ensuring our students leave, not just with degrees, but with a skill-set and body of knowledge that enables them to understand the complexities of our world and to communicate eectively with those who might not share their worldview. This dedication extends beyond the classroom and beyond a student’s time at Purdue University Fort Wayne. Our graduates can count on our support no matter where their post-commencement journey takes them. As we look toward the future, we will continue to look for ways to strengthen our degree programs and provide the support students need to succeed. Together, our community will continue to demonstrate the importance of the liberal arts to the advancement of a just and humane world. Best wishes, Janet Badia Dean of the College of Liberal ArtsLETTER FROM THE DEANLETTER FROM THE DEAN

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54 New program provides COLA faculty and students with an opportunity to work collaboratively on research-based projectsCO-LAB PROGRAMLast fall, the College of Liberal Arts launched its Co-Lab Program, an exciting new initiative that provides our students with an opportunity to work closely with a small cohort of their peers on a research-based project under the guidance of a faculty director. The program is competitive, both for the faculty who design the projects and for the students who are selected to participate. Three COLA faculty led Co-Labs this past fall: Dr. Heliosa Wilkerson, assistant professor of communication, Dr. Ann Livschiz, associate professor of history, and Dr. Damian Fleming, professor of medieval studies.Exploring the Impact of Social Media on ElectionsWilkerson’s Co-Lab tackled a timely and relevant topic: the role of social media in the 2024 election. Through the project, “Social Media, Elections & You,” students analyzed how journalists frame political campaigns, how that framing influences audience engagement, and the eects of misinformation and polarization on elections. Students collaboratively conducted three original research projects using discourse analysis and interviews. A highlight of the semester was a roundtable discussion held by the students just one week before the election that was featured as a civics literacy event. Examining Russian and Soviet Imperialism Through Digital HumanitiesLivschiz’s Co-Lab explored Russian and Soviet imperialism and its ongoing impact. A key component of the project was the use of digital humanities tools, such as Scalar and StoryMaps, to create a digital exhibition. One featured project, “Soviet Monuments in Kyiv: Political Memory as a Weapon in Identity Politics,” showcased how political memory is shaped through historical narratives.Through the experience, students developed a deeper appreciation for how the digital humanities can aid in publishing valuable historical narratives to a public audience. For Livschiz, the Co-Lab was a “transformative experience . . . that made it possible for [her] to experiment with digital humanities in a small group setting with a remarkable group of students.” “The students created absolutely brilliant projects—I could not be more proud of what they accomplished both in terms of the research they did and the skills they learned from Erika Mann and applied to their projects,” added Livschiz. Investigating Medieval Manuscripts and Hebrew AlphabetsFleming’s Co-Lab focused on his decade-long research into bad Hebrew in medieval Christian manuscripts. Contributing to the work Fleming has already undertaken, students analyzed 8th and 9th-century manuscripts through online digitization, working to categorize alphabets by date, library, and letter forms.In October, Fleming’s cohort visited Ohio State University’s Rare Books and Manuscripts Library, where they had the opportunity to study medieval books of hours and liturgical manuscripts firsthand. After returning to PFW, students presented their findings to the university community. Stella Grable, a junior English and history major with a minor in medieval studies, was part of the cohort. “Co-Lab allowed me to explore in-depth topics related to my discipline that are otherwise not oered at PFW, as well as share moments, laughs, and breakthroughs with like-minded people. Our Co-Lab became a community, where each of us were able to bring unique experiences and perspectives to a collective research project. [It] taught me how to navigate digital and physical research in an academic setting, present foreign concepts to wide audiences, and most importantly, build meaningful relationships with students, professors, and other professionals in my prospective field of study.”CO-LAB PROGRAMCO-LAB PROGRAM

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98 You could hear the sound of democracy in action coming from the Liberal Arts Building last semester, where passersby received a sneak preview inside the Democratic National Convention of 1968. Complete with the roar of loud protests echoing into the hallways and surrounding classrooms, Dr. Deborah Bauer’s HIST 12500 course took a historical approach to public speaking.Bauer, associate professor of modern European history, received an award for her approach to teaching history, which often includes asking students to transform themselves, through role-playing, into actual people from actual historical situations.Importantly, while playing “real people,” the students are not limited by what actually happened. They are allowed to make their own decisions, so long as their decisions accurately reflect the belief systems of their characters and what was possible for the time. “The games are great for public speaking because students are encouraged to passionately argue historical viewpoints that may dier from contemporary mindsets. Since those views might not align with their personal opinions, they can speak openly without judgment, understanding a diversity of approaches to the past,” Bauer says.Now in her fourth year of teaching HIST 12500, Historically Speaking: Introduction to History Communication, Bauer utilizes “Reacting to the Past,” a set of role-playing games designed specifically for higher education that aim to improve intellectual and academic skills through active learning pedagogy. For her fall 2024 course, Bauer chose, Chicago 1968: Policy and Protest at the Democratic National Convention, because she felt there were some parallels to the 2024 election that would heighten students’ engagement with the activity. “As history professors, our goal is to help students empathize with dierent people and groups throughout history,” Bauer says, noting in particular the contrast between learning through a game and more traditional activities like lectures, or reading an article or book about a topic. “Until they actually take on the character of that person and learn via primary sources and interaction with other characters to learn what really motivates them, they may not develop that empathy,” added Bauer.The game encourages student interactions outside of class as well, which is an added bonus as many of the students are early in their college careers and benefit from the opportunity to bond with other history majors. Jaythen Haywood, a senior history major, echoes Bauer’s assessment. “The game made me want to be more social in class and talk to people outside of class much more than I usually would,” explained Haywood. Overall, the feedback Bauer receives from students is positive. They seem to genuinely love the game and find it a fun and interesting way to learn history. Haywood describes the experience of playing Bobby Seale during the game as “probably the most enjoyable in class experiences I’ve had here at PFW.” He identified the game format as one of its best features, noting how it encouraged the students “to dig deeper into the period we were studying and learn more about the characters and events” involved in the DNC of 1968. “Being able to put yourself in the shoes of historical figures and act as if you were that said person helps give an insider perspective as to why a certain decision was made or why an event played out the way it did,” says senior history major Katy Gilbert. For her, the game presented a unique opportunity “to play around with the ‘what ifs’ of history and to see how every decision, action, piece of writing, etc. can make a monumental impact on history and the world as we know it today.” CORNERCLASSROOMStudents in HIST 12500 recreate the Democratic Convention of 1968STAY CONNECTED AND INSPIRED: EXPLORE THE NEW COLA ALUMNI WEBPAGE This past winter, the College of Liberal Arts (COLA) announced the launch of a new alumni page on its website (pfw.edu/liberal-arts/alumni). It’s designed to serve as a hub for networking, connecting alumni to the college better, and celebrating the diverse achievements of liberal arts graduates. One of its standout features is the “Alumni Spotlights” section, which showcases success stories that aim to inspire current and prospective students and highlight the career and life pathways of our liberal arts graduates.The page has been a project Dean Janet Badia has wanted to bring to fruition since the college’s founding, and she is delighted to see it finally materialize. “One of my frustrations as dean has been the diiculty of reaching our alumni. We have historically lacked good contact information for them, which has hampered our outreach eorts,” explains Badia. “We know our alumni are doing incredible work, but we’ve lacked the ability to tell their story in large part because it’s been hard to keep track of where they go and what they do post-commencement. Having a portal for collecting that information is going to be an enormous help.”Collecting those stories is only the first step, of course. The larger goal is to celebrate the unique paths forged by liberal arts graduates and the milestones reached along those paths. Towards this goal, alumni are invited to share as much or as little information about themselves as they wish. Submitting information is as easy as visiting the COLA website, navigating to the “Alumni” tab, and clicking the “Share Your Story” button. As the Dean’s Oice receives new stories, the website will feature new inspiring alumni spotlights. By fostering connections between alumni and students, this platform goes beyond a traditional website; it’s designed to build community. Visit pfw.edu/liberal-arts/alumni to see alumni spotlights and submit your information.Women’s Studies (WOST) prepared me for my position by giving me a foundational knowledge of the many (and ever-changing) ways discrimination and inequity manifest, a willingness to examine and dismantle my own biases, and the research skills to comb through personnel files and other documents in investigations. WOST opportunities like hosting the Gender and Justice Institute with my peers and participating in state and national women’s studies symposiums equipped me with the education and public speaking skills to provide trainings in the Fort Wayne area.Ann Brake, B.A., class of 2019WOMEN’S STUDIES & FRENCHInvestigator for Fort Wayne MetroMy double major in Political Science and Communication has been instrumental in preparing me for my current work. Through my studies, I developed strong critical thinking and relationship skills and learned to approach issues, projects, and situations comprehensively through multiple lenses. Beyond the classroom, I took what I learned and actively engaged with our community on campus and worked on political campaigns throughout my time at Purdue University Fort Wayne.Brandon Blumenherst, B.A., class of 2020COMMUNICATION & POLITICAL SCIENCEContent Marketing Specialist for NGP VANCLASSROOM CORNERALUMNI NEWS

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10 11Nurgul Aitalieva, associate professor of public administration was invited by SAGE Publications to contribute to the SAGE Knowledge Video series with a video titled, “The ‘Defund the Police’ Movement.” Suzanne LaVere, associate professor of history, delivered the George R. Mather Lecturer in March 2025 at the Fort Wayne History Center. Her lecture was entitled “Spectacles, Politics, and Patriotism: Cultural Uses of Joan of Arc in Fort Wayne and Beyond.” Erik Ohlander, professor of religious studies, delivered theTwenty-First Annual Victor Danner Memorial Lecture at Indiana University. His lecture was entitled “Pilgrims, Metics, and Passers-Through: Mecca in the World of Early Sufis.” FACULTY & STUDENT SPOTLIGHTChair and professor of history, Richard Weiner, and associate professor of interpersonal communication, Sarah LeBlanc were named 2025 Purdue Fort Wayne Featured Faculty, Recipients are identified for their outstanding contributions to scholarly activity, research, teaching, creative endeavors, or engagement. Weiner was recognized for his five-year run as editor-in-chief of “Terrae Incognitae,” a peer-reviewed academic journal that has been published for more than 50 years by the Society for the History of Discoveries, covering topics such as history cartographic, geography, and exploration. LeBlanc’s research was recognized for addressing and combating period poverty, which is a lack of access to menstrual products, education, hygiene facilities, and waste management. Indiana Poet Laureate: Prof. Curtis Crisler As many readers may already know, Curtis Crisler, professor of creative writing in the Department of English, was named Indiana Poet Laureate in 2024. Now there is important update to share: Crisler’s term as Poet Laureate has been extended for another two years. As Poet Laureate, Crisler is responsible for promoting the art of poetry and poetry education in Indiana. We sat down with Crisler and learned more about how the first year has gone:Q: What’s has your experience serving as Indiana Poet Laureate (IPL) been like?Crisler: My experience as IPL, overall, has been amazing. I have met so many creative Hoosiers around the state. Q: Can you speak a little about your school appearances and how those have gone?Crisler: There have been many school appearances, from K-12 to colleges/universities. Every school presents its own unique way of receiving me. None have been bad. They are all nuanced because elementary school students want to know different things than high schoolers or college students. The biggest thing I’ve noticed is what some students perceive poetry is to them. Some believe poetry must rhyme. It can. A lot does. Poetry doesn’t have to rhyme. So, we discuss figurative language, poetic mechanics, and methods of what poetry does on a variety of levels. I try to get them to see the variations and tones and rhythms of poetry.Q: Did you start off with vision on how you would execute your engagements that may have been different from what past Poet Laureates have done?With my Pop-up Indiana Chitlin Circuit (ICC) I meet renown, known, and up-and-coming poets where they live, who represent the arts/cultures of their counties. In full-on Pop-up ICCs, artists, musicians, and local cuisine are represented, as done at The Art Farm and The House of Jane. The Pop-up ICC creates a new collaborative community through my artistic vision by paying artists, and having a variety of artists, who probably would not perform or share the stage together outside of the Pop-up ICC. I represent the IPL in other capacities too—workshops, master-classes, keynotes, readings, features, judging, interviews, K-12, colleges/universities, bookstores, cafes, bars/ lounges, house shows, barns, museums, nursing homes, community centers, libraries, festivals, churches, ZOOMS, etc. I am one of the judges to choose the first Gary Youth Poet Laureate, Paij Rhymes, due to the Gary Youth Poet Laureate Society CEO, Akilia McCain. I am one of the judges who helps two of our Indiana high school poets attend Washington DC for Poetry Out Loud finals. My team, Erica Anderson-Senter, Detrick Hughes, and I are constantly creating ways to create community through my vision. More beautiful to come.COLA Professors Named 2025 PFW Featured FacultySPOTLIGHT ON ACCOMPLISHMENTSSPOTLIGHT ON ACCOMPLISHMENTSStella Grable, junior English and history major, and Key Wireman, both received Undergraduate Summer Research Grants, to work with Dr. Damian Fleming on a study of medieval Christian manuscripts from the 9th-15th centuries– that contain “bad Hebrew.” This “bad Hebrew” is full or partial alphabets labeled as Hebrew that have letter forms that evoke the sense of medieval Hebrew but are truly wrong in various ways. Brian Wolfel, Postdoc Teaching Fellow in political science, published a book entitled Thomas Carlyle and the Political Universe: from American Transcendentalism to an Elusive Post-Liberalism with Lexington Books. Michael Wolf, chair and professor of political science delivered the George R. Mather Lecturer in October 2024 at the Fort Wayne History Center. Her lecture was entitled “The 2024 Election in Context.” Suin Roberts, professor of German, was awarded the 2025 Friends of the University Outstanding Teacher Award. This annual award is given to faculty who have a profound and positive impact on student learning. Joseph Mbuba, chair and professor of criminal justice, received a prestigious Fulbright Scholars Program Fellowship in 2023 and returned from his six-month stay in Zimbabwe at Africa University in spring 2024. There he developed the nation’s first undergraduate and master’s programs in criminal justice, marking a milestone in higher education for the country. Mbuba now hopes to establish a partnership between Africa University and PFW to foster collaboration and create opportunities for students from both institutions, continuing the cultural exchange and educational growth he championed during his Fulbright tenure.Fulbright Recipient Shares His Expertise

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12 NewsletterSpring 20252101 East Coliseum BoulevardFort Wayne, IN 46805260-481-6160cola@pfw.eduSTUDENT TESTIMONIALS & NOTES OF GRATITUDEI’d like to thank the donors of the Badia-Virtue Social Justice Endowed Scholarship, the Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Outstanding Research Essay, and the Joan Daley Uebelhoer Outstanding Women’s Studies Major Award! Some of my greatest passions include learning about the issues surrounding reproductive, LGBTQ+, and education rights and your support, alongside the support from COLA, means the world to me. With your generosity, I am able to continue learning more, pursuing my passions, and supporting others, even after I have graduated! Thank you and I look forward to seeing who is supported in the future.Victoria Homan, SOCIOLOGY & WOMEN’S STUDIES I am very honored to have received the Ulmschneider Prize in Political Science, the Sally A. Merrill Outstanding Political Science Senior Award, and the Outstanding History Senior this year. These awards have truly changed the trajectory of my college experience, career, and life. I am so thankful for your generosity and willingness to invest in students such as myself so that we can pursue our passions without having to carry a financial burden. My life will be forever impacted by your benevolence. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for believing in the power of education and in me!Ben Burkle, HISTORY & POLITICAL SCIENCE I am grateful to have received the Thomas A. Herr College Year in Athens Study Abroad Scholarship. I would say that the whole experience was memorable and beneficial for me. This was the first time I had ever been outside of the United States. It was eye-opening in terms of the world as well as myself. I learned a lot during my time away and have a newfound confidence in myself and the choices I make. I will say that my favorite part about the program was getting to volunteer at a donkey sanctuary. I loved getting to spend time in the countryside of Greece and exchange memories with the people who worked there. Madison Boesch, WOMEN’S STUDIES & GENERAL STUDIESI’d like to thank the donors for the Dettmer COLA Endowed Scholarship. Because of your generosity, I have been able to dedicate my time to widening my studies. This scholarship has allowed me to focus on my academics without fear of financial burdens. I have been able to participate in things like the CO-LAB program and the student research symposium, complete a semester-long internship, attend two academic conferences, and even begin studying a second foreign language this summer. I can’t say enough thank yous for how many opportunities this scholarship has provided me.Stella Grable, ENGLISH & HISTORY

College of Liberal Arts Newsletter Spring 2025

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