Behind the Scenes with out Faculty: Immigrant Communities and the Humanities

Behind the Scenes with Our Faculty

For anyone thinking about graduate school, one of the primary considerations is the faculty. Who are they beyond the courses they teach? What are their research passions? How do they apply the principles of cultural sustainability in practice? How might they help me achieve my career goals?

This Summer we are offering a series of virtual chats to feature our faculty. Whether teaching English to refugees from Ukraine, leading truth and reconciliation hearings, navigating the world of UNESCO, or working with indigenous villages in Peru to battle climate change, they are scholars and practitioners who will mentor and inspire you. Join us to learn about their work beyond the classroom and how that influences their teaching. You can find bios of our speakers on the Faculty Page of the MA in Cultural Sustainability website. Below are brief descriptions of the topics they will share for this series.

Rita Moonsammy will talk about her work with a Ukrainian refugee family in New Jersey and her broader experiences teaching English to immigrants and migrants. Her talk illustrates her passion for cultural adaptation vis à vis cultural sustainability. The story of this family’s journey affords Rita the opportunity to reflect on cultural sustainability in practice, especially in the context of migration.

For years, Rob Forloney has worked as a consultant working with a number of clients to develop innovative programs, train interpreters and facilitate strategic planning. Now he is the Program Office for Partnerships with Maryland Humanities where he manages their Museums on Main Street and SPARK! Places of Innovation programs. He also runs the Regional Humanities Network, which supports local communities to collaborate and demonstrate the value of humanities work in their communities. He will share these experiences along with tips for building humanities-based partnerships.