College of Arts and Sciences Archives - 91福利社 /news_tag/college-of-arts-and-sciences/ Knowledge for your Journey Thu, 30 Apr 2026 13:21:14 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 /wp-content/uploads/2022/05/aufavicon.png College of Arts and Sciences Archives - 91福利社 /news_tag/college-of-arts-and-sciences/ 32 32 History Professor鈥檚 Book Exploring Civil War Medicine Gaining Attention /news/history-professors-book-exploring-civil-war-medicine-gaining-attention/ Mon, 27 Apr 2026 14:35:43 +0000 /?post_type=news&p=46711 Since Dr. Lindsay Privette鈥檚 book The Surgeon鈥檚 Battle: How Medicine Won the Vicksburg Campaign and Changed the Civil War was released this past September, it has been gaining attention in […]

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Since Dr. Lindsay Privette鈥檚 book The Surgeon鈥檚 Battle: How Medicine Won the Vicksburg Campaign and Changed the Civil War was released this past September, it has been gaining attention in history circles. New Books Network about her book April 4.

Dr. Privette is a professor in the Department of History and Political Science of the 91福利社 College of Arts and Sciences. Her book takes a unique look at the Civil War through the lens of healthcare.鈥疪ather than focusing on鈥疻ashington and battles in the east, Dr. Privette鈥檚 book pulls things farther west.听

Dr. Privette鈥檚 fascination for the Civil War came at an early age when she grew up in Vicksburg, Mississippi, site of the historic Siege of Vicksburg, a crucial campaign. She recalls many family trips to the historic battlefield and even worked briefly as a ranger at the Vicksburg National Military Park.

At Vicksburg, in addition to battle-sustained injuries, there were illnesses related to Union soldiers being in an environment they weren鈥檛 accustomed to, as they dealt with southern heat and humidity as well as mosquito-borne illnesses like malaria. Despite it all, Union forces prevailed over the Confederate Army in the end.

In Dr. Privette’s book is an exploration of the interrelationship and tensions that often arose between medical professionals and Union Army leadership. Lessons learned early in the war and their impact on the effectiveness of rendering medical aid in the field and at military hospitals are examined in the book.听

鈥淚 think medicine in the Civil War is something that really intrigues people when they stop to think about it, and one of the things I’m noticing is that a lot of people haven’t听 stopped to think about it quite yet,” Dr. Privette said. 鈥淲hat my book is really doing is creating some of these conversations.鈥

While Dr. Privette points out that the germ theory hadn鈥檛 yet been established, medical officials were starting collect information to help practitioners understand how different surgical techniques affect their patients and codify prognoses to make more informed decisions at the operating table. William Hammond, a career medical officer who became surgeon general during the war years, helped spur on improvements in the medical care of soldiers.

鈥淭his particular book intersects at a lot of different places that people would find interesting,” she said. 鈥淓ven though I talk to other scholars, it’s written for a general person who just enjoys Civil War history or enjoys reading history.鈥

Dr. Privette adds, 鈥淥ne of the things I think so interesting about studying Civil War history is that no matter how bleak some current day things may be, we’ve seen some pretty dark times in our nation’s history in the past and we’ve recovered and were听 unified on the back end of that.鈥

The Surgeon鈥檚 Battle: How Medicine Won the Vicksburg Campaign and Changed the Civil War has been reviewed by Library Journal (American Library Association) and other reviewers specializing in Civil War history.

鈥淏ased on a wide range of military correspondence, surgeons鈥 reports, and other records, this concise book will fascinate and educate readers interested in the U.S. Civil War and medical history,鈥 said an online review in the Library Journal.

A review in Emerging Civil War (emergingcivilwar.com) concludes, 鈥Privette offers readers interested in Civil War medicine and Vicksburg a valuable work that medical adaptability was central to Union success in compelling the Confederates to surrender on that Independence Day morning.鈥

Civil War Books and Authors, an independent, non-fiction American Civil War book review journal, calls Dr. Privette鈥檚 book 鈥a noteworthy addition鈥 to the history of Civil War medicine.

鈥淜eeping in mind the environmental extremes within which the Vicksburg Campaign was fought as well as period limitations in the scientific knowledge of disease processes and transmission,” the review states, 鈥淧rivette’s study nevertheless successfully argues that Grant’s Army of the Tennessee incorporated improvements in medical department organization and practices that were numerous and significant enough to mitigate the effects those unavoidable factors had on soldier health and fighting efficiency.鈥

Dr. Privette hopes in the future to look further at medical providers in terms of how they emotionally dealt with things they saw and did during the war; also how those experiencesimpacted them, both professionally and personally as they transitioned into their postwar lives.

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The Surgeon鈥檚 Battle: How Medicine Won the Vicksburg Campaign and Changed the Civil War is published by and can be found online at , and other major retailers in printed and eBook versions. It鈥檚 also available at many retail bookstores.

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English Class Engages in Historical European Martial Arts /news/english-class-engages-in-historical-european-martial-arts/ Mon, 20 Apr 2026 20:31:15 +0000 /?post_type=news&p=46678 Great academics in action was on display as students engaged in a unique hands-on activity in front of the G. Ross Anderson Jr. Student Center.听 Students in the class, titled […]

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Great academics in action was on display as students engaged in a unique hands-on activity in front of the G. Ross Anderson Jr. Student Center.

Students in the class, titled 鈥淒ragons, Knights and Wardrobes: The Medieval Imagination in J.R.R. Tolkein and C.S. Lewis,鈥 tried their hand at Historical European Martial Arts (HEMA). The class is offered by the English Department of the 91福利社 College of Arts and Sciences and is taught by Dr. Katherine Wyma.

Swordplay

The swords weren鈥檛 real, but the techniques were true to swordplay in the historical sense. Adjunct faculty member Amy Bright led in the activity, which contained elements of choreography in the form of defensive postures and some fancy footwork.

Of course,听nobody was hurt.

Students can explore this and other topics through an interdisciplinary minor in Medieval and Early Modern Studies offered by the 91福利社 College of Arts and Sciences.

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AnMed and 91福利社 Receive Grant Funding for Pre-Med Bootcamp /news/anmed-and-anderson-university-receive-grant-funding-for-pre-med-bootcamp/ Tue, 10 Mar 2026 14:39:39 +0000 /?post_type=news&p=46395 The听AnMed Foundation听has been awarded a $50,000 grant from听Power:Ed,听the philanthropy of听SC Student Loan听Corporation, to support the Pre-Med Bootcamp听at 91福利社. Twenty-four college upper classmen from across South Carolina will experience medical […]

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The听has been awarded a $50,000 grant from听,听the philanthropy of听听Corporation, to support the Pre-Med Bootcamp听at 91福利社. Twenty-four college upper classmen from across South Carolina will experience medical school for two weeks this May at the bootcamp, offered jointly by the MUSC AnMed Clinical Campus, 91福利社, AnMed and Upstate AHEC.

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Pictured at the presentation of a $50,000 grant from听Power:Ed听to support the Upstate Pre-Med Bootcamp program at 91福利社, from left to right: Ray Jones, Thornton Kirby, Neil Grayson, Ann Skinner, Trey Simon, Dr. Renee听Mognahan, Dr. Stoney Abercrombie, Tim Self,听GautumGhatnekar, Claire Gibbons, and Willie Jeffries.

This is the second grant award from听Power:Ed听in support of this听program.

Camp co-founder and Associate Dean of Natural Sciences at 91福利社, Dr. Carrie Koenigstein,听said, 鈥淭he goal is to keep talented students from falling through the cracks. Some might realize they do not want to be physicians, so the partners can connect those students to alternate paths such as dental, physician assistant,听pharmacy听or physical therapy schools.鈥澨

Dr. Koenigstein is proud of the project because of the connections students make.

鈥淢entorship is vital to all students, but especially those who are the first in their family to strive to become a physician,鈥 she said.

The experience helps confirm career choices before students invest in another eight years in training,听possibly incurring听debt. Funding increases access for low-income students by providing stipends to cover out-of-pocket expenses such as travel and make up for lost wages. Students who complete the program receive ongoing career guidance and听assistance听paying for application costs, such as the MCAT.

Participants will engage with 91福利社 faculty at the Center for Medical Simulations and access the University鈥檚 cadaver lab to听observe听and learn.

A unique feature of the annual event is the participation of veteran physicians, current medical听students听and a dozen bootcamp alumni who encourage pre-med majors to explore opportunities.听

Nationally only 16听percent听of听freshmen听pre-med students go on to apply to medical school;听fewer听than half of those are selected. First-generation students, underrepresented听populations听and students from rural high schools are less likely to become physicians. The听AnMed and 91福利社 Pre-Med听bootcamp gives students exposure to a teaching hospital and networking introductions.听

鈥淲e appreciate this generous grant through听Power:Ed听as it helps talented students gain insight into the application process leading up to medical school, the journey to licensure and what it means to be a doctor,鈥 said Renee Monaghan, MD,听 associate dean for the MUSC AnMed Clinical Campus. 鈥淥ur alumni, many now currently in medical school or in other health-related post-graduate training, are proof that this camp is making a positive impact to the state.鈥澨

South Carolina is expected to have a deficit of 3,000听doctors by 2030 with the greatest need: primary care physicians. Since its听inception听in 2022, the bootcamp has served attendees from 24 colleges and universities across the state.听

The grant spurred 91福利社 to听identify听nearby college pre-med advisors and invite them to form a group. Upstate AHEC will ensure advisors have up-to-date information on scholarships, fee听waivers听and resources. All four of the state鈥檚 medical schools take part in the Upstate camp.

鈥淧ower:Ed and SC Student Loan are proud once again to support this innovative program to help diversify and strengthen the Upstate鈥檚 medical talent pipeline. It鈥檚 crucial for students to find the right career pathways for them before incurring debt,鈥 said Power:Ed Executive Director Claire Gibbons.

In FY 2025-26听Power:Ed听will award $1,300,000 in grants to South Carolina education and career readiness organizations. In听this its听third quarter,听Power:Ed听has awarded seven grants (including this grant to AnMed)听totaling $270,000.听Grants are administered quarterly, and the next grant funding deadline is April 1, 2026.听

About听Power:Ed

Founded in 2019,听,听the philanthropy of听,听is dedicated to creating opportunities for South Carolina鈥檚 youth and adults by supporting low-income,听underrepresented听and first-generation students; improving access to college and degree completion; and creating pathways to quality workforce opportunities. Organizations serving middle school through post-college talent who are interested in applying for a grant or partnering with听Power:Ed, should visit听.听

About AnMed Foundation

AnMed Foundation helps ensure that the people served by AnMed have access to quality health and medical services. Its mission is to inspire generous charitable giving that strengthens and sustains exceptional health care throughout the area. Guided by core values of compassion, innovation, integrity,听accountability听and collaboration, AnMed was named one of the nation鈥檚 鈥淕reat Community Hospitals鈥 by Becker鈥檚 Hospital Review. Learn more at听.

About 91福利社

91福利社 is a 鈥渕ore selective,鈥 comprehensive Christian university offering bachelor鈥檚,听master鈥檚听and doctoral degrees on campus and online. It is South Carolina鈥檚 largest private university. 91福利社 is the #2 private university in South Carolina, according to Niche.com, is among U.S. News and World Report鈥檚 鈥淏est Regional Universities South,鈥 and is on the publication鈥檚 鈥淏est Value,鈥 鈥淏est Schools for Veterans,听鈥淏est听First-Year Experience鈥 and 鈥淏est Online Programs鈥 lists. Anderson is a five-time Apple Distinguished School and on the honor听roll听of the prestigious Great Colleges to Work For庐 program.听

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Booker T. Washington and the Bible: Noble鈥檚 Book Explores Race and Religion /news/booker-t-washington-and-the-bible-nobles-book-explores-race-and-religion/ Fri, 13 Feb 2026 14:14:33 +0000 /?post_type=news&p=46281 A new book by听Dr.听Redunda听Noble, visiting assistant professor of history in the 91福利社 College of Arts and Sciences,听explores the faith of noted African American scholar and leader Booker T. Washington […]

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A new book by听Dr.听Redunda听Noble, visiting assistant professor of history in the 91福利社 College of Arts and Sciences,听explores the faith of noted African American scholar and leader Booker T. Washington and听the influence his life continues to have today.

Dr. Noble鈥檚听new book,鈥Booker T.听Washington听and鈥痶he Bible: How the Tuskegee Leader Shared His Faith and Envisioned a Better鈥疉merica,听was听released in January 2026 by Kendall Hunt Publishing Company. The work examines the religious rhetoric of Washington through his influential leadership at Tuskegee Institute in the latter period of Reconstruction and into the Progressive Era along with its impact on his audiences and followers.

Drawing on select speeches and writings of Washington,听Dr. Noble鈥檚听book explores the religious nature of Washington鈥檚 rhetoric previously neglected by scholars and aims to contribute to ongoing scholarly conversations surrounding the comingling of race and religion in the message of racial uplift for African Americans. It employs an ideological, interdisciplinary approach centering on historical and religious themes, and is written for historians, scholars of religion and history, and general readers with an interest in the role Christian faith played in Washington鈥檚 life and work.

Booker T. Washington and the Bible鈥痠s currently available for purchase through Kendall Hunt Publishing Company and Amazon.听

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AU Community Important Part of Student鈥檚 Healing /news/au-community-important-part-of-students-healing/ Thu, 16 Oct 2025 15:01:46 +0000 /?post_type=news&p=45546 When Ada Dooley was a high school student seeking out a Christian college, she was drawn to 91福利社.听 鈥淚 came in my freshman year as a worship leadership major […]

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When Ada Dooley was a high school student seeking out a Christian college, she was drawn to 91福利社.

鈥淚 came in my freshman year as a worship leadership major because I鈥檓 super passionate about singing and leading worship and still am,鈥 Ada said, adding that she investigated several degree programs before 91福利社 caught her attention.

When Ada auditioned with 91福利社 and was offered a place on the worship band with a scholarship, she immediately accepted. She knew without question that Anderson was where she wanted to be.

Although she later switched from being a Worship Leadership major to Human Development and Family Studies, Ada continued leading worship at Baptist Collegiate Ministries (BCM) and at Upstate Church, where she attends.

At the start of her junior year, Ada started noticing bumps on her head, so she went to a dermatologist who told her they were pilar cysts and not cancerous. When Ada began experiencing pain around her stomach accompanied by fever and night sweats, she went to Thrive, 91福利社鈥檚 student health service. After checking Ada out, the Thrive staff advised her to go to an ER immediately.

Arriving at a Greenville emergency room, Ada recalls, 鈥淭hey took me back for some tests finally and did a CT scan and saw that my appendix was fine. It was my ovaries and my kidneys that were super swollen and inflamed.鈥

Ada鈥檚 parents, Nick and Heather Dooley, brought her home to Charlotte for more tests, which included multiple CT scans, ultrasounds, blood work, biopsies and a PET scan. All signs pointed to cancer, but getting treatment had to wait until a specific type of cancer could be identified.

After enduring long, painful days of waiting in uncertainty, Ada received a preliminary diagnosis of T-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia/Lymphoma. She began receiving treatments at Atrium Health鈥檚 Levine Children鈥檚 Hospital.听听

Looking back on her hospital stay, Ada said, 鈥淲hen I first went in the hospital, I didn’t realize how serious it was. I was confused on what is happening, thinking 鈥榃hy am I feeling this way? I’ll be back at school in no time,鈥 when in reality, I didn’t realize it was going to be an eight-month-long journey, that I was going to be in and out of the hospital, that I was going to be getting treatments twice a week for months, that I wouldn’t be going back to school. I didn’t know what I was in store for, and, honestly, I’m thankful for that because I would’ve been too overwhelmed if I knew.鈥

At the same time, Nick and Heather were trying to get their heads around what was happening with their daughter, while trying to understand cancer treatment terminology. While hospital staff administered meds to ease Ada鈥檚 pain, Nick and Heather were enduring a pain of their own.

鈥淎da was relying on Nick and me to try to understand what was happening because she just felt so overwhelmed. She was on pain meds and was kind of out of it. She probably doesn’t remember a lot of her hospital stay because she was sedated,鈥 Heather said. 鈥淚 feel she has a very different perspective because we saw her hurting.鈥

During the darkest days of Ada鈥檚 illness, the Dooleys were encouraged when they saw their neighbors showing up in loving and supportive ways.

“God has shown up for us over and over, when we’re like, 鈥楪od, why?鈥 We have a dinner club Bible study in our neighborhood,鈥 Heather said. 鈥淥ne of Ada’s hardest days was when she was in her room and couldn’t get out of bed. She was crying and Nick and I were praying over her. We stood up, and saw one of our neighbors taking a walk and just had her hand stretched out and was praying over our house… She didn’t know we could see her out of the bedroom window. The Christian community, they鈥檝e taken care of us, whether it’s helping with medical bills or bringing a meal train. They redecorated Ada’s room when she was in the hospital for a couple of weeks. They redid Ada’s bathroom when we were in the hospital.鈥澨

Now in remission, Ada explains, 鈥淚 have a year and a half of maintenance, which is monthly visits and chemo pills that I鈥檓 taking,鈥 Ada said. 鈥淭hat started in July, so from July until March 2027 I鈥檒l be taking chemo pills and going in for monthly treatments.鈥

From day one, Ada an her parents have experienced an outpouring of support from the 91福利社 community consistent with all of the institution鈥檚 pillars鈥擥reat Academics, Great Faith, Great Hospitality and Great Purpose. They are grateful to the 91福利社 Center for Student Success and her professors who stepped up and helped her complete her assignments that fall and stay on track to graduate this May.听

Center for Student Success Assistant Director Molly Bray describes Ada as a wonderful student and a strong, resilient person. Bray and the center staff worked with Ada鈥檚 professors to make sure she stayed on track academically, while at the same time encouraging her to focus on getting well and not be burdened over keeping up with her studies.

鈥淲hen all of this happened,鈥 Molly said, 鈥渟he had so much going on and so many things to worry about and think about, and still is a perfect straight 鈥楢鈥 student who really cares deeply about her academics… We would contact a lot of the faculty on her behalf, but also Ada did a really great job of staying on top of the assignments that she could do, in the coursework that she could do, in contacting her professors as well.鈥

Molly and the center staff were able to help Ada obtain credit even for some of her high school coursework, helping her stay on track, even during the spring semester when she couldn鈥檛 yet carry a full courseload.听

鈥淚t鈥檚 great to see how the Lord has provided for her,鈥 Molly said.

I’m so grateful for how my professors really cared for me during that time,鈥 Ada said. 鈥淚 was able to finish all five of my classes that semester and get credit for all of them, which is a huge blessing, because now I’m able to stay on track and graduate on time.鈥

When Ada was lying in a hospital bed, she received a call from President Evans P. Whitaker expressing he and Diane鈥檚 support and prayers for her recovery.

Because a healthy diet is essential to Ada鈥檚 recovery, Diane saw to it that the house she lives in was equipped with a stove to help in meal preparation.听

Heather said she saw Ada鈥檚 roommates and friends come alongside her in amazing ways.听

鈥淲hen she couldn’t shave her legs, one of them shaved her legs, and her friends threw a wig party for her. They all wore wigs… so she wouldn’t stand out. They came up with the most creative ways to love and care for her. They have a depth at age 21 to their relationships that a lot of us adults don’t,鈥 Heather said. She is in remission, but she’s still in treatment for another year and a half. She’s on chemo calls every day and comes home once a month. Her journey’s not over and we’re praying and believing she’s not going to relapse.鈥

Looking back on Ada鈥檚 college choice, Heather couldn鈥檛 be happier.听

Ada chose Anderson and now, looking back, God knew that’s where she needed to be. And the teachers were so caring for her,鈥 Heather said. 鈥Watching your kids struggle鈥攊t’s the hardest thing to see, but she loves Jesus and has a super close relationship with Him… She was strong and steady when I was in the waiting room and hallway, crying and a mess. She has a strong, steady faith.

Ada hopes to become a counselor like her mom, but specifically working to help children and their families overcome the fear and anxiety of hospital stays.

I’m starting to look into maybe being a child life specialist, which works with children in hospitals just helping them navigate their diagnosis and helping the parents navigate the medical side of things,” Ada said.鈥 I feel like I can use what I’ve gone through to help kids who are scared and don’t know what’s going on… Or maybe even social work, because my social worker in the hospital has been really just a huge support to me.鈥

Reflecting on her experiences over the past months, Ada made note of several things the Lord has revealed to her.

鈥淥ne of them is 鈥業 may not always be happy with my situation, but I can be joyful if I seek the Lord daily.鈥 Happiness is so fleeting; it’s an emotion that comes and goes, but joy is a choice. I had to choose to be joyful despite what I was going through,鈥 Ada said, adding, 鈥淚 also learned to not be afraid to ask for help. I felt like I was a burden to the people who were trying to help me… I lost all my independence. I needed someone to help me walking up and down the stairs. I needed someone to feed me. I did feel like a burden, but my parents truly love me and truly want to help me, so I shouldn’t be afraid to ask for help.鈥澨

Ada is grateful to those who have come alongside her.

鈥淚 feel like the Lord has just provided so many people to come around me and support me, and just seeing the church come together and love my family and love me,鈥 Ada said. 鈥淚t was definitely an adjustment coming back and learning how to be independent again, without my parents taking care of me, and living on my own again, but trusting the Lord and trusting that I can do this and that I have a great year ahead of me and I have friends who are going to support me and my fianc茅 is going to be there for me.鈥

Homecoming Queen

By the way, Ada was crowned 2025 Homecoming Queen October 4.

Ada and her family appreciate your prayers and support. A Caring Bridge has been set up for Ada. Here is a for more details.

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History Professor鈥檚 Book Explores Civil War Soldiers鈥 Health Issues /news/history-professors-book-explores-civil-war-soldiers-health-issues/ Mon, 15 Sep 2025 12:28:58 +0000 /?post_type=news&p=45178 91福利社 Associate Professor of History Lindsay Rae Smith Privette published her first book, The Surgeon’s Battle: How Medicine Won the Vicksburg Campaign and Changed the Civil War.听 By centering […]

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91福利社 Associate Professor of History Lindsay Rae Smith Privette published her first book, The Surgeon’s Battle: How Medicine Won the Vicksburg Campaign and Changed the Civil War.

By centering soldiers’ health and medical care in the Union army鈥檚 fight to take Vicksburg, Lindsay Rae Smith Privette offers a fresh perspective on the environmental threats, logistical challenges, and interpersonal conflicts that shaped the campaign and siege. In doing so, Privette shines new light on the development of the army鈥檚 medical systems as officers learned to adapt to their circumstances and prove themselves responsible stewards of soldiers’ bodies.听

Dr. Privette is a faculty member in the Department of History and Political Science of the College of Arts and Sciences.

The book was published by UNC Press. More information and ordering information can be found online .

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Southeast Regional Meeting of the Conference on Christianity and Literature /news/southeast-regional-meeting-of-the-conference-on-christianity-and-literature/ Mon, 08 Sep 2025 14:16:09 +0000 /?post_type=news&p=45138 91福利社 is hosting the Southeast Regional Meeting of the Conference on Christianity and Literature, which will take place October 23-25.听听 The conference theme is 鈥淚maginative Reading: Walking into the […]

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91福利社 is hosting the Southeast Regional Meeting of the Conference on Christianity and Literature, which will take place October 23-25.听

The conference theme is 鈥淚maginative Reading: Walking into the Wardrobe.鈥

According to Dr. Katherine Wyma, conference director and associate professor of English in the 91福利社 College of Arts and Sciences, the conference theme is a nod to the 75th anniversary of the printing of the C.S. Lewis children鈥檚 classic The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.

Featured conference speakers include New York Times, USA Today and Globe and Mail Bestselling author Patti Callahan Henry, presenting 鈥淭hrough the Wardrobe: The Alchemy of Grief, Imagination and Story. She has published historical fiction works that include Becoming Mrs. Lewis and Once Upon a Wardrobe. The public is invited to hear Henry, who will speak Friday, October 24 at 7 p.m. Details on this ticketed event can be found .

SE Reg Conf Christianity Lit Roberts Carty

Conference speakers also include Dr. Rachel Roberts, chair of the English Department at North Greenville University; and Rev. Austin Carty, pastor of Boulevard Baptist Church in Anderson.

Dr. Roberts, whose academic specialty is early British literature, coauthored the book Deep Reading: Practices to Subvert the Vices of our Distracted, Hostile, and Consumeristic Age. Rev. Carty is the author of High Points and Lows: Life, Faith and Figuring it All Out. He also wrote The Pastor鈥檚 Bookshelf: Why Reading Matters for Ministry, which received the 2023 Christianity Today Award of Merit and was named Book of the Year by Preaching Magazine.听

Dr. Wyma commented that regional meetings take place every October at a different location in the Southeast鈥攗sually CCCU institutions.

College professors and other scholars have submitted paper proposals to be included among the meeting鈥檚 scholarly presentations.

Details, including a schedule are available online.

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Updegraff Publishes Novel /news/updegraff-publishes-novel/ Tue, 02 Sep 2025 14:23:48 +0000 /?post_type=news&p=45050 91福利社 Associate Professor of English Dr. Derek Updegraff has three poetry collections and two short story collections to his credit, and he recently ventured into a longer form of […]

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91福利社 Associate Professor of English Dr. Derek Updegraff has three poetry collections and two short story collections to his credit, and he recently ventured into a longer form of literature. As a result, he published his first novel鈥攁n exploration of relationships, one of which began quite by accident鈥攎ore on that farther down in this article.

A creative writing class Updegraff took in high school sparked his interest initially. When he entered college, Updegraff set his sights on a writing career.

This fall, Dr. Updegraff is entering his fifth year at Anderson, leading the creative writing program in the English Department of the College of Arts and Sciences.听

I’ve been publishing poetry and short stories for many years now and it’s my sixth book, but my first novel,鈥 he said. 鈥淎s a fiction writer, I always kind of saw myself as a short story writer and didn’t really have any aspirations to write a novel. I just loved working in the short story form.鈥

The origin of his novel, titled Whole, started out as a short story he planned to include in his second short story collection. As he gave more thought to the story, he felt it needed more space to play out. But in what form? He thought about possibly expanding the story into a Novela at one point.

Dr. Updegraff continued, 鈥淚 didn’t feel like it was quite done and so I pulled it out of that book and just kept it on the back burner. It’s the only short story I’ve ever worked on where I felt like I couldn’t get to an ending. I needed to spend more time with the characters, so I spent a few more years on it here and there… It just never went away.鈥

Described as a complex novel dealing with fable, romance, theology, life, death, love and heartbreak, Whole follows the life of Joe, a young man in his late 20s who lives in the Inland Empire of Southern California and works at a local 肠补蹿茅. Joe is an aimless, somewhat introspective poet who provides a first-person narrative in the story. He is dating Ashley, a writer and a poetry professor at a small Christian College. Distracted by a text from Ashley, Joe inadvertently runs his car into Ronnie, a homeless man on a bicycle. The bike is crushed and the aluminum cans he collected were scattered, but fortunately Ronnie鈥檚 injuries were minor. In the pages of the novel unfolds an unlikely relationship between Joe and Ronnie.听

Throughout Whole, short vignettes pop up that are written in the third person鈥攎ini short stories within the story鈥攚hat Updegraff refers to as flash fiction pieces.听

Updegraff explains, 鈥As the reader keeps reading the book, they’ll figure out that those short pieces were actually written by the narrator, so they give insight into his upbringing, past his psychology. It was really experimental鈥攕hort, bizarre, almost fairytale like little mini stories that pop up throughout the book鈥攖hat was really fun to do.鈥

For the novel鈥檚 setting, Updegraff, a native Californian, chose the San Bernadino-Riverside areas.听

As for Joe and Ashley, Updegraff said, 鈥淧arts of me came out in these characters in the very beginning, but then I want to make it very clear that I allowed them to develop their own identities, and they become people very different from myself.鈥

What happens next? Updegraff said there鈥檚 one clear resolution at the ending, but some things are left open at the end.

鈥淚 think that’s what literary fiction wants to do鈥攊n a sense leave some stuff open for the reader to contribute meaning and predict things without closing every avenue off completely.鈥

Since the publication of Whole, Updegraff has started work on another novel. He also plans to publish his third collection of short stories.

Whole, published in 2024 by , is available at and other major book outlets.

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Wyma Presents in UK at CS Lewis Institute /news/wyma-presents-in-uk-at-cs-lewis-institute/ Fri, 15 Aug 2025 14:37:53 +0000 /?post_type=news&p=44858 Renowned British author and scholar C.S. Lewis came out of a dark life chapter of atheism to become one of the world鈥檚 foremost defenders of the Christian faith in the […]

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Renowned British author and scholar C.S. Lewis came out of a dark life chapter of atheism to become one of the world鈥檚 foremost defenders of the Christian faith in the twentieth century. His books included Mere Christianity, The Screwtape Letters, Surprised by Joy and the captivating Chronicles of Narnia, a group of children鈥檚 stories that mirror biblical truths.

The 2025 C.S. Lewis Summer Institute, organized by the C.S. Lewis Foundation, looked at faith through the metaphor of a journey, paying special attention to our contemporary world, to C.S. Lewis鈥 own journey and to biblical models.

Dr. Katherine Cooper Wyma, associate professor of English in the 91福利社 College of Arts and Sciences, was among a group of leading scholars, artists and others presenting at the C.S. Lewis Summer Institute.

This past July, Dr. Wyma traveled to Belfast, Northern Ireland鈥攖he city of Lewis鈥 birth where he often returned to seek inspiration and spiritual refreshment鈥攖o present her paper titled The Gift of Finitude: How C.S. Lewis Presents the End of Our Journey as a Warning Against Digital Disembodiment.

鈥淚 presented on my work about how C.S. Lewis encountered knowledge and the way we can use those ideas and how we encounter knowledge on digital devices鈥攊t’s part of the book that I’m writing. The book looks at theological anthropology鈥攈ow has God designed us to be human? What are the limits that He is placed upon us as human beings?鈥 Dr. Wyma said. 鈥淎nd then what kind of theological framework did the Inklings have and how do we apply that to digital spaces now? I’m arguing that even though our digital devices make us feel like we can know everything, we really can’t, and we have to set听limits and recognize the limits that God has given us.鈥

CS Lewis St Marks DundelaDr. Wyma also visited sites that would be familiar to Lewis, including St. Mark鈥檚 Church of Ireland Dundela (pictured above), where his grandfather served as rector; also, C.S. Lewis Square.

At Anderson, Dr. Wyma teaches classes devoted to C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien in both the English Department and the Honors College.

Dr. Wyma is the Conference Director bringing the Southeastern regional meeting of the Conference on Christianity and Literature to 91福利社 October 23-25.

Conference details are available online.

 

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Renberg Receives Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award for 2025-2026 /news/renberg-receives-fulbright-u-s-scholar-award-for-2025-2026/ Thu, 05 Jun 2025 13:42:29 +0000 /?post_type=news&p=44335   Associate Professor of History Dr. Lynneth Miller Renberg has received a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program award in history to Norway for the 2025-2026 academic year from the U.S. Department […]

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Associate Professor of History Dr. Lynneth Miller Renberg has received a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program award in history to Norway for the 2025-2026 academic year from the U.S. Department of State and the Fulbright Foreign鈥
Scholarship Board.鈥

Dr. Renberg, who is on the faculty of the 91福利社 College of Arts and Sciences, will be working as a researcher at the University of Troms, partnering with one of their research centers, Creating the New North, and working with a couple of other academic departments and faculties on campus as she works on her book project.

The book I am going to be working on is using methods from dance studies from history and theology to help us learn more about the construction of community, identity and belief and medieval Finnish Scandia,” Dr. Renberg said. 鈥淲e’ll be looking at encounters between the 厂谩尘颈, the indigenous people who live in the far north of Europe, and medieval European travelers.鈥

Dr. Renberg noted that a challenge in studying relations between these two groups is that the 厂谩尘颈 left few written texts.

鈥淭here is a significant language barrier, and in a lot of the texts that European travelers left, they didn’t record anything from the 厂谩尘颈 and in the 厂谩尘颈‘s own words or perspective, but they described a lot of things, like dances and processions and songs,鈥 Dr. Renberg said. 鈥淚’ll be using methods from dance studies to analyze these texts as well as to analyze material culture like drums and artifacts from 厂谩尘颈 culture and working with 厂谩尘颈 scholars鈥攂oth people who study 厂谩尘颈 and individuals who are 厂谩尘颈 to understand in these first encounters what Europeans thought about the 厂谩尘颈, what they believed, how did the 厂谩尘颈 understand Europeans and what Europeans believed, and how can reading history more expansively using performance as a way to understand what happened in the past help us better understand these past encounters when we don’t have written sources.鈥

Fulbright U.S. Scholars are faculty, researchers, administrators and established professionals teaching or conducting research in affiliation with institutes abroad. Fulbright Scholars engage in cutting-edge research and expand their professional networks, often continuing research collaborations started abroad and laying the groundwork for forging future partnerships between institutions. Upon returning to their home countries, institutions, labs and classrooms, they share their stories and often become active supporters of international exchange, inviting foreign scholars to鈥
campus and encouraging colleagues and students to go abroad.鈥

Since 1946, the Fulbright Program has provided more than 400,000 talented and accomplished students, scholars, teachers, artists and professionals with the opportunity to study, teach, and conduct research abroad. Fulbrighters exchange鈥
ideas, build people-to-people connections and work to address complex global challenges.鈥

Notable Fulbrighters include 62 Nobel Laureates, 93 Pulitzer Prize winners, 82 MacArthur Fellows, 44 heads of state or government, and thousands of leaders across the private, public, and non-profit sectors. More than 800 individuals teach or conduct research abroad through the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program annually. In addition,鈥
more than 2,000 Fulbright U.S. Student Program participants鈥攔ecent college graduates, graduate students, and early career professionals鈥攑articipate in study/research exchanges or as English teaching assistants in local schools abroad each year.鈥

Fulbright is a program of the U.S. Department of State, with funding provided by the U.S. Government. Participating governments and host institutions, corporations and foundations around the world also provide direct and indirect support to the Program, which operates in over 160 countries worldwide. In the United States, the Institute of International Education implements the Fulbright U.S. Student and U.S. Scholar鈥
Programs on behalf of the U.S. Department of State.鈥

For more information about the Fulbright Program, visit

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