Faculty Focus-February 18, 2025
Faculty members put their knowledge into action so students and others are able to benefit from it. Recently, faculty published articles in prominent publications, were honored with prestigious scholarly positions, and presented at academic conferences.
Shelley McConnell
Charles D., Sarah A. and John D. Munsil Associate Professor of Political Science, Shelley McConnell, co-authored an article in Good Authority with Heather Sullivan, associate professor of government at Hamilton College, on the effects of Nicaragua’s latest constitutional reforms that revised more than 100 elements of the nation’s 1987 constitution – most notably by creating a co-presidency that, the authors argue, deepens the Ortega-Murillo family’s political control.
McConnell, who earned her Ph.D. in political science from Stanford University, focuses her research on democratic development in Latin American countries. Before coming to St. Lawrence, she worked for former US President Jimmy Carter through The Carter Center.
Jeff Frank
Professor of Education Jeff Frank was recently named a “Life Worth Living” fellow at Yale University. He will attend training this summer and bring a new Life Worth Living class to St. Lawrence students this fall.
Frank also recently spoke at a conference on Civil Discourse held at Harvard University to discuss his work with the Commission on Laurentian Values. The conference brought together scholars, practitioners, and policymakers to discuss how colleges and universities can promote civil engagement across lines of difference.
Performance and Communication Arts Faculty
Four Performance and Communication Arts faculty–associate professor Angela Sweigart-Gallagher, technical director and production manager Dan Gallagher, costume shop manager Tamara Cooper, and assistant professor Jennifer Baker–travelled to the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (KCACTF) Region 1 conference with 11 students.
Each faculty member presented workshops on a range of theatre-related topics, from dynamic blocking on stage to consent and respect in the costume fitting room. Students reported it was an enormously powerful experience to spend time with others interested in theatre and performing arts.
Howard Eissenstat
Laurentian Associate Professor and Chair of History Howard Eissenstat recently became a non-resident scholar at the Swedish Institute of Turkish Studies, an internationally-recognized center of excellence that helps contribute to a broad and well-informed understanding of Turkey and Turkish affairs.
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St. Lawrence’s Faculty Focus is a regular roundup of noteworthy faculty news.
