Friday, May 18, 2007
Students, faculty involved in Michigan Academy
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| Eric Perich received the Kapp Award this year for the best undergraduate paper presented at the 2006 annual meeting, which was held at Oakland. |
By Rebecca Wyatt Thomas, OU Web Writer
Each year, a Michigan college or university hosts the Michigan Academy of Science, Arts and Letters, a forum for bringing together Michigan academics and students for two days to share research and pedagogy. A number of Oakland University faculty and students participated in this year’s conference held at Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Mich.
Melinda Booth, an English master’s program graduate and new media coordinator for Admissions and Orientation, participated in a panel with two other classmates on research they conducted about film adaptation theory and Charles Dickens’ novel “Great Expectations.”
“This is a conference for people without a master’s degree. It’s a great experience for students. Because it’s geared toward undergraduate and graduate students, you don’t feel out of place or overwhelmed,” Booth said.
Booth and her classmates conducted the research and wrote the papers as part of the spring 2006 class with Professor of English Natalie Cole.
“Professor Cole structures the final paper so that it can be presented in a conference,” Booth said. “All of the faculty members in English are really supportive and encourage students to present at conferences.”
Cole has been involved with the Michigan Academy for more than 15 years and had more than 20 students present papers at the annual conference.
“The Michigan Academy has been an overwhelmingly positive first conference experience for students interested in entering the academic profession,” Cole said. “The commitment to cordial discussion in which all presenters get questions and share research sources and teaching materials following the paper presentations distinguishes it as an especially valuable conference for first-time presenters.”
Cole is a member-at-large representative and, with the other board members, helps make decisions that govern the academy, the budget, plan the annual conference and some decisions concerning the publication of its journal, “The Michigan Academician.”
In addition, Kathleen Moore, associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences is the incoming president of the board for the Michigan Academy.
OU students have also enjoyed success at the conference. Recent graduate Eric Perich received the Kapp Award this year for the best undergraduate paper presented at the 2006 annual meeting, which was held at Oakland.
The 2008 Michigan Academy will be held at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo. For more information, visit the Michigan Academy Web site.