Tagged: english

25 Jan

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Summer research isn’t just for science majors

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Mount Saint Mary College students in the Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) program worked with Professors Lee Fothergill and Michael Daven to come up with math problems which will be used for education purposes. Here they stand within a sculpture by Richard Serra at the Dia:Beacon museum.

Every summer session, Mount Saint Mary College students have the opportunity to investigate a plethora of stimulating subjects through the Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE).

Brittni Troy conducts an observational study of the forest understory at Mohonk Preserve in Ulster County, N.Y.

The earthen smell of the Mohonk Preserve forest set the backdrop for Brittni Troy’s recent observational study. Using a small iPad-like device, she recorded the species, density, and height of the understory vegetation. She then created a map to be used in land management decisions, such as where and when to set controlled burns.

For English major Amanda Wright, SURE was all about the sweet sound of classic Jazz. Wright and her mentor, English professor Nancy Von Rosk, delved into an iconic period of American history through editing the upcoming book, “New Approaches to the Jazz Age.” Wright assisted with researching and gathering materials such as photographs, primary sources, and scholarly articles, as well as with editing essays.

Science professors James Moran and Suparna Bhalla supervised biology/pre-med major Hannah Mulhall, who researched immune responses of lab mice to the cutting-edge blood substitute, OxyVita. Developed by the OXYVITA Corporation in New Windsor, N.Y., OxyVita could be manufactured as both a liquid and a powder, and is the first working blood substitute in powder form in the world.

Mathematics professors Lee Fothergill and Mike Daven, and students Jennifer Kurtz and Toni Navarro, visited local landmarks such as Dia:Beacon and the Franklin D. Roosevelt House in Hyde Park, N.Y. to create “Hudson Valley Math Trails.” The project mixed mathematics with art, history, and more.

Allister Collins and chemistry professor Lynn Maelia test the efficiency of Collins’ rocket stove.

Learn more about the Mount’s science and research programs on the web at www.msmc.edu.

Questions? Email admissions@msmc.edu or call 1-888-YES-MSMC (1-888-937-6762).

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22 Jan

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From New York to South Africa: Lending a loving hand overseas

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Mary Bocskocsky tutors a child in Cape Town, South Africa.

Fusing hands-on education with a passion for philanthropy, Mount Saint Mary College student Mary Bocskocsky recently taught basic math and English skills to underprivileged children in South Africa.

Bocskocsky wanted to put her teaching techniques to the test before graduating, and decided to make a humanitarian journey to Gordon’s Bay in Cape Town, South Africa.

At the Ikhaya le Themba (Home of Hope) shelter, Bocskocsky spent weeks teaching basic literacy and mathematic skills to a classroom of three- to five-year-olds. She increased her students’ skills by reading to them, introducing them to math problems, and having them write the alphabet on a small blackboard.

Literacy skills were a major focus for Mary Bocskocsky during her recent humanitarian trip.

“While I was teaching in South Africa, I saw how much I had gained from the Mount’s education program,” she explained. “Without my Mount classes, I wouldn’t have been able to do this.”

Upon her return from Africa, Bocskocsky student taught at Glenham Elementary School in Beacon, N.Y. under the tutelage of cooperating teacher Danielle Yeaple, a Mount graduate.

“I told my students that there are kids in South Africa, just like them, learning how to read,” she explained.

Mary Bocskocsky reads to children in South Africa.

Learn more about the Mount’s education program on the web at www.msmc.edu.

Questions? Email admissions@msmc.edu or call 1-888-YES-MSMC (1-888-937-6762).

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04 May

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Advice for the Class of 2019

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In exactly twelve days, Jade Hanley and Emily DiBiase will become graduating members of the Class of 2015. As the students who have brought you Knight Life for the past few semesters, Jade and Emily wanted to share some of their advice with the Class of 2019 before they become official alumnae of the College.

On Opening Day

Jade: Don’t stress out on moving in with “strangers” because these people quickly become your Mount family. I’m still friends with my first roommates! Opening Day is a good time to get to know each other. This is also a crucial time to set up schedules. You should always know your roommate’s schedule (like when they wake up in the morning). Also, don’t be afraid to set up a cleaning schedule right away! It’s better now in a definitive format than later when dust bunnies are taking over.

Emily: Opening Day will be one of the most stressful and yet absolutely wonderful days of your life. The people who you meet today will be your classmates, co-workers, and best friends for the next four years and beyond. Make this a day to reinvent yourself and be whoever you want to be in a brand-new place! Also, go to the Club Fair on Opening night; getting involved on campus will make the Mount seem like your home in no time. Continue Reading

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20 Apr

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Fulfilling My Dreams at the New Critics Conference

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Emily DiBiase (far right) presented her paper “Enlightened or Undeceived: Paths to Uncovering the Truth in Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey” at SUNY Oneonta’s New Critics Conference on April 11, 2015.

Ever since I was a freshman, I have wanted to participate in the New Critics Conference. Held at SUNY Oneonta every April, the conference features undergraduate student presenters who read critical papers that they have written about either literature or composition. As a shiny-eyed freshman, presenting at this conference seemed to be the most unattainable, but elite, honor. I wondered if I would ever be confidant enough to present at such a conference.

Last Saturday, I fulfilled my freshman dream by presenting at the New Critics Conference.

This year’s encounter with the conference began as all of my others have ﹘ one of my professors gave out the flyer in class and I thought, “I would love to do that someday.” I even taped the flyer to my desk, hoping that would inspire me. Still, I just didn’t have the nerve to apply. Continue Reading

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16 Feb

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Professor Profile: Dr. Daniel Shea

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Dr. Daniel Shea, professor of English at the Mount, is also the chair of the Division of Arts and Letters.

Recently, Knight Life got the chance to have an exclusive interview with beloved Mount professor Dr. Daniel Shea.

Knight Life: How long have you been teaching at the Mount?

Dr. Shea: I have been teaching at the Mount for ten years.

Knight Life: What was it about the Mount that drew you to the College and made you want to become a professor here?

Dr. Shea: The perfect combination of location and identity. A small liberal arts college on the banks of the Hudson River: it’s the kind of place one reads about in novels or sees in films. It’s also the kind of place that’s small enough that every student matters, so I grew to really appreciate the intellectual rigor and close connections that shape outstanding individuals. Continue Reading

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