Life of the Mind
Faculty present research as an integral part of Pamplin’s growth
I
n a college of arts, humanities, and
social sciences, research is more
important and far more exciting
than many people imagine.
Forget the stock images of lab coats
and microscopes. We write poems. We
perform arias. We carve, paint, and
print. You will find us reading dusty
documents in an archive, tracking
down rare pamphlets and manuscripts
in special collections, sorting through
massive government datasets, or even
digging artifacts out of the soil beneath
our feet. We call it “RSCA” (research,
scholarship, and creative activity) – and
we love it!
Each year, in a competitive grants
process, the College provides funds to
faculty who are conducting research and
creative activity. Twice a semester, we
put together a showcase to highlight the
work produced with this funding, in a
series called “The Life of the Mind.” All
faculty and students are welcomed to
attend.
Associate Dean Martha Ginn
coordinates the program.
“This series celebrates the impressive
array of research, scholarship, and
creative activities we have within
Pamplin,” Ginn explained. “Faculty
and students learn about the projects
the college is supporting and are able
to appreciate the depth and breadth
of these activities. The presentations
are designed to lead to increased
collaborations across disciplines as we
learn more about each other’s work.”
Faculty from disciplines across
the College presented their research
last year. Associate Professor of
Communication Matthew Buzzell
discussed his project writing a
screenplay titled Occupied. Based
partially on his parents’ lives, the story
is about the relationship between a
26 | #WeArePamplin · Fall 2018
Political Science Associate Professor Dr. Mary-Kate Lizotte presents her research. (Photos by Steven Fichtel)
Dr. Giada Biasetti, an Associate Professor with the Department of English and Foreign Languages, discusses her
research.