At the Mason Fall Premier on Nov. 14, 2009, three members of the college faculty spoke to prospective students and parents about their fields of interest and the empowerment that comes with being a college student.
African and African American Studies’ director Wendi Manuel-Scott moved students with her talk on civil rights and the role of college students, “More Than a Hamburger.” Manuel-Scott incorporated the story of the lunch counter sit-in at Woolworth’s in Greensboro, N.C., to explain that students at Mason can make a lasting impression on the world. The future Mason students left believing that young adults, both in the 1960s and today, can be more than just average—they can make a difference.
Psychology’s Todd Kashdan enamored prospective students with his witty teaching style and fascinating topic. Both parents and students nodded vigorously in agreement with Kashdan’s overarching idea: the greatest, overlooked personal resource is curiosity. It’s no wonder that Kashdan is one the highest rated professors on campus; his energy, spunk, and interesting field are able to keep everyone from grandparents to middle-schoolers engaged!
Folklore’s Debra Shutika offered her audience a sample of her introduction to folklore class. She transformed parents and students’ ideas of storytelling by explaining how Latin American cultural groups interpret folklore legends differently across generations and regions. The audience remarked that Shutika’s talk opened their eyes to fascinating Latin American ethnic traditions.
November 14, 2009
