At Gettysburg College, our faculty members ignite the spark of creativity and curiosity in their students. Their desire to help students acquire a breadth and depth of knowledge about the world around them and learn sustainable skills for their future, making it an integral part of providing work A substantial education to every Gettysburg student.
As we begin the 2023-2024 academic year, we recognize the accomplishments of four faculty members who have received the honor of being named tenured. Read below for more information about our talented tenured faculty members.
Professor of Biology Michael S. Caldwell
Professor of Biology Michael S. Caldwell engages students in the study of the animal kingdom through experiential learning. At Gettysburg, he said, biology students engage in the scientific process, guiding them through testing hypotheses, applying analysis and experimentation to answer their questions and presenting their results.
Students also get out into the field and immerse themselves in hands-on work that allows them to apply their theoretical knowledge to personal experiences with the natural world, such as vibrational communication in animal sensory physiology. Through the Interdisciplinary Scientific Institute (X-SIG)Caldwell takes students to tropical forests where he conducts research, connecting them with an international community of tropical field biologists and witnessing their growth as scientists.
“When students return to campus, they meet many other students who have had equally impactful experiences with other professors,” Caldwell said. “Ultimately, Gettysburg students graduate not only with a degree and an idea of what biology is, but also as experienced and confident biologists.”
“I love teaching at Gettysburg because the College supports me as an educator and researcher, and understands that the synergy between these two roles provides students with invaluable learning opportunities,” he added. “Small class sizes allow me to get to know my students as individuals and give each student individual attention. It is difficult to overstate how important this is to effective teaching.
Classics Prof. Rachel Lesser
Since joining Gettysburg College in 2016, Classics Prof. Rachel Lesser engaged its students in the study of Greek and Latin language and literature, Greek history, and gender and sexuality in ancient Greece. Applying modern critical theories and approaches to his research, Lesser examines the treatment of desire and gender, as well as narrative strategies, in ancient Greek poetry.
In 2022, Lesser published his first book “Desire in the Iliad: The Force That Moves the Epic and Its Audience” (Oxford University Press). Her current research focuses on topics such as queer and straight time in the Homeric epic and the slave woman Briseis in Ovid’s “Iliad,” “Heroids 3,” and Pat Barker’s novel “The Silence of the Girls.” .
At Gettysburg College, Lesser said, the study of classics offers students an unusual interdisciplinary experience. They are interested in the language, literature, history, archaeology, art and philosophy of the ancient Mediterranean world and “bring the past into dialogue with the present, while acquiring academic skills fundamental and sophisticated habits of mind that will be useful to them in any field.” activity or profession. »
“I help my students develop their abilities as careful, critical readers and fluent, compelling speakers and writers, while sharing my knowledge and passion for ancient Greek and Roman cultures,” Lesser said. “I enjoy working at Gettysburg College because of the campus community that has warmly welcomed me and my family, the combination of autonomy and institutional support that has been afforded to me in my teaching and my research, as well as the thoughtfulness and creativity of my students.”
Sunderman Conservatory of Music, Professor William O’Hara
Since joining the Sunderman music faculty in 2017, Sunderman Conservatory of Music Professor William O’Hara sought opportunities to make music meaningful for her students, including teaching an innovative course on video game music. Introductory courses and First year seminars At core courses for music majors and advanced seminars, O’Hara enjoys watching students develop their knowledge and connecting with them at Gettysburg and as alumni.
“The Sunderman Conservatory of Music offers students a unique opportunity to combine their musical practice with other aspects of their studies,” he said. “Students who study here are free to pursue all aspects of their interests. Some of the most exciting career paths our graduates pursue are born out of their being able to combine music with one of their other interests, such as business, leadership, or technology.
“I really enjoy teaching at an institution with such thoughtful, engaged and curious students,” he continued. “Every time I teach a class, I feel like I’m learning as much from them as they are from me. They offer new perspectives on my discipline, notice things others take for granted, and draw exciting conclusions between the old and the new. I am also grateful for all the support from the Office of the Provost in continuing my interdisciplinary research program, which has allowed me to conduct archival research, present my work, receive feedback, and forge new collaborations with colleagues in the whole world.
O’Hara has presented his research at the Society for Music Theory, the American Musicological Society, the North American Conference on Video Game Music, and the International Association for the Study of Popular Music. He has been invited to lecture internationally at the University of Liverpool, Royal Holloway University of London, the University of Oxford and the Interationale Stiftung Mozaretum in Salzburg, Austria. In 2020, the Society for Music Theory Popular Music Interest Group awarded him the Prize Adam Krims Prize for Outstanding Scientific Work for his article detailing the cultural politics of online music analysis.
Sociology Prof. Alecea Standlee
Sociology Prof. Alecea Standlee’s the work explores gender, social theory, the sociology of technology and social inequality. In addition to teaching introductory sociology courses, Standlee also teaches courses on social theory and gender.
His academic work examines contemporary interpersonal communication technologies from cultural and social perspectives. Standlee’s research examines the role of socioeconomic status, gender, and geographic location as they relate to the development of interpersonal relationships and social networks. His published work offers insights into technology studies, socialization and inequality, and online research methods.
“Teaching at Gettysburg College continues to give me the opportunity to engage with talented students and help them become innovative sociologists and social thinkers,” Standlee said. “The opportunity for student-teacher collaboration Research projects and the opportunity to experience engaged learning provide students with a rare education in my field, and I hope it helps create alumni who will be leaders in the future.
“The ability to mentor gifted students and introduce them to a discipline that I am passionate about is one of my favorite things about teaching at Gettysburg,” she added.
By Michael Vyskocil
Photos by Miranda Harple and Jason Minick
Published: 09/14/23
