Assistant Professor of English Christopher Bakken has two new books forthcoming in Fall 2006. His new book of poems, Goat Funeral, will be published by Sheep Meadow Press, and The Lion's Gate: Selected Poems of Titos Patrikios (which he co-translated from Greek) will be published by Truman State University Press. Several of Bakken's essays are about to be published as well. Excerpts from “The Ironic Structure” (from a new creative writing textbook, Structure and Surprise) will appear in the March issue of Teachers and Writers Magazine, and an essay on the American poet B.H. Fairchild will appear in the March issue of Contemporary Poetry Review (online at www.cprw.com).
Melissa Comber, visiting assistant professor in political science and research fellow at the Center for Political Participation, presented two invited papers in January at the International Conference on Civic Education in Orlando, Florida: “Equalizing Political Participation Abilities: Civic Education and Cognitive Civic Skills” and “Group Discussion Skills and Civic Education Content.” In October 2005, Comber had a fact sheet, “The Effects of Civic Education on Civic Skills,” published by the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE).
Mike Richwalsky, of the Office of Public Affairs, has been named chair of the Web and Technology Track of HigherEd BlogCon, an online conference being presented by Thomson Peterson's, PRNewsWire, ProfNet, and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE). This brand-new all-online event aims to bring together in a single Web space many of the leading players who are transforming academe with their use of the new tools of the Social Web. Richwalsky has also been featured in recent articles in the Christian Science Monitor and University Business magazine.
People & Places, published monthly during the academic year by the Office of Public Affairs, reports on the professional activities of members of the College community and highlights student achievements. Please submit items to people@allegheny.edu. We reserve the right to edit copy for length.
