Autism Forensic Science Immigration Trends Teaching Recipe for ...

“We feed off of each other’s
thoughts and ideas. Since we
all live together, it is easier
to ask for help or just bounce
ideas off of each other.”
Schyler Turrin
Freshmen are challenged to look for real-life
applications of the theories they study. For
example, after examining collective action,
students noted that an interest group could
overcome the organizational hurdles by
breaking a big issue down into smaller,
manageable actions. The students pointed to
the civil rights movement, explaining that
individual acts of civil disobedience set the
stage for overall change. More recently, the
“cash for clunkers” car program prompted
individual buyers to act in a way that stimulated
the auto industry and the overall economy.
Students credit the enthusiasm and energy of
Kelts, a Bender Teaching Award recipient and
one of four Faculty in Residence at GW, for the
program’s success. Many regard him as not
only a mentor, but also an ally and friend. “He
prepared us for the next level,” said student
Jenny Soderbergh, “for grad school, law school,
whatever we choose to go on and do.”
Steven Kelts, left, encourages lively
discussion in and out of the classroom.
Francesca Greggs
interviews Irish journalist
Kevin Myers.
luther rice Undergraduate research fellow
Forges Her own “visual” Path
Recent graduate Francesca Greggs creates opportunities. During her years at
GW, the luther Rice Undergraduate Research Fellow studied, traveled and
researched abroad, launched a graphic and website design company, and
completed a photo-documentary on Muslim immigration in Ireland.
When she first arrived at Columbian College, Greggs searched for a major that
suited her interests in graphic arts and electronic communication. When she
couldn’t find the perfect match, Greggs worked with advisers to create a Special
Independent Major in Visual Communications, a cross-discipline program that
included courses in communications, photography, arts, and design.
Greggs studied in Paris in the spring of her junior year and stayed abroad through
the research fellowship, which encourages and supports independent research
projects initiated by Columbian College undergraduates and mentored by faculty.
For Greggs, the fellowship opened the way for her work in Ireland on a photodocumentary
about Muslim immigration.
“The fellowship allowed me to extend my European experience and to understand
European life not just from the perspective of a student, but also from the eye of a
researcher,” said Greggs, who went on to interview journalists, sheiks, students,
professors, and other people in and around Dublin for her multimedia project.
Her resulting photo-documentary thesis, “The Crescent Meets the Cross: Modern
Trends of Muslim Immigration in Ireland,” chronicles the first generation of Muslim
immigrants in Ireland. The documentary vividly portrays the social patterns of
Muslim migration and the political, national, and cultural implications for Ireland.
“The luther Rice project opened my eyes to the opportunities that are available
to young and inquisitive students,” said Greggs. “There are so many resources out
there to support curiosity and the will to explore.”
columbian college of arts and sciences learning page 13