Kallen Martin is a strong believer in the diversity in education that St. Lawrence University offers.  Having graduated from St. Lawrence in 1977, Kallen was thrilled at the opportunity to return as a Jeffrey Campbell Fellow in order to continue her research on the Akwesasne Mohawk Reservation near Massena, NY. Coming from a First Nations background, she teaches courses in the global studies department that focus on human geography and in her words, “a sense of place.”

Kallen’s research is focused on how the Mohawks of the St. Lawrence River formed a cultural relationship with the river before the installation of the Seaway project in the 1950s. By tailoring her courses to the nature of her research, Kallen integrates a subject that she is deeply passionate about and can share with students in the classroom.

The emphasis on diversity both in the classroom and elsewhere at St. Lawrence has greatly inspired Kallen; she says “it’s rewarding to see students mature and progress through their four years here and watch them develop a sense of a broader responsibility to issues of concern to First Nations people and to their communities.”

Kallen believes that a diverse education challenges students to participate in activities that they otherwise might not be able to. Programs at St. Lawrence such as the International House residence and the many international programs supplement the diverse education that the liberal arts provide, she notes.

Sharing this kind of experience is imperative to her because as she sees it, “the incorporation of ethnic diversity in a liberal arts education is very important,” as reflected in the globalized culture that students will face as they begin working in an ethnically diverse workforce. As Kallen puts it, “such learning experiences allow one to move beyond an ethnocentric view of the world and embrace cultural differences.”