Odyssey Series for talented youth held at Stevens March 25

Why are the liberal arts so important in a good college education today? A group of about 350 middle-school students and their parents explored the reasons at Stevens Institute of Technology during an exclusive, one-day conference Sunday, March 25. Invited participants heard presentations by faculty from Clemson and Drew universities as well as the City University of New York (CUNY) and Stevens.

Part of the Odyssey Series, this conference is designed for academically talented 7^th, 8^th and 9^th graders selected from around the country. Their parents are also invited to attend.

The Odyssey Conference at Stevens featured guest speakers, breakout sessions on a variety of topics, and a lunchtime concert of Beatles music by the Stevens Glee Club. The Odyssey Series is one of several programs organized by The Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth (CTY). Organizers at CTY select outstanding colleges and universities for these annual programs.

This year marks the third time Stevens has been asked to host such an event. The conference was co-sponsored by Stevens' Office of Admissions.

"Young people need to be exposed early to the intellectual life and challenges they will encounter at colleges and universities," said Dr. Deborah Sinnreich-Levi, the conference coordinator and a professor in Stevens' humanities department.

"This conference offered not only a glimpse at important and compelling issues in the liberal arts, but also valuable practical information about what to expect when applying to a college or university," she added.

Keynote speakers for the conference were: Dr. Barton Palmer, Calhoun Lemon Professor of Literature and Director of the South Carolina Film Institute, Clemson University, who spoke on "The Liberal Arts in the Perspective of the New Economy"; and Dr. William E. Coleman, Professor of Comparative Literature, English, and Medieval Studies; and Executive Officer, Comparative Literature, Graduate Center, CUNY, who spoke on "The Humanities: Companions for the White Nights and the Dark Nights."

Topics covered during breakout sessions included visual arts and communication, leadership, a fresh look at Homer's Odyssey, science and the liberal arts, foreign languages in the college curriculum, moral philosophy, intellectual struggles in astronomy and history, the study of folklore in college, and an overview of studies in psychology. A general workshop on financing a college education and a session on understanding the admissions process were also provided.

Stevens faculty and staff who made presentations as part of the event included:

• Edwina Fleming, Director of International Admissions and Honors Programs, "Navigating the College Admissions Process."
• Maureen Weatherall, Vice President for Enrollment Management, "Financing a College Education."
• Julie Harrison, Visiting Lecturer of the Humanities, "Introduction to Visual Literacy: Visual Arts and Communication."
• Dr. Silvio Laccetti, Professor of Urban Studies and History, "Being a Champion in Your Own Life." Note: This session on leadership also included a talk by Stevens alumnus Peter A. LaChance (BE '81), a former student of Laccetti's who today is the founder and CEO of The Quintessence Corporation, which helps organizations maximize their effectiveness.
• Dr. Susan Levin, Professor of English and Comparative Literature, "The Real Odyssey."
• Dr. James E. McClellan, Professor of History of Science and an Associate Dean at Stevens, "You Idiot, The Earth Stands Still at the Center of the Universe!" (an exploration of scientific struggles through the ages).
• Susan Schept, Visiting Lecturer of the Humanities, "Mind Matters: The Territory of Psychology."
• Dr. E.B. Brucker, Professor of Physics and Engineering Physics, "The Two Cultures: Science and the Liberal Arts."

Faculty presenters from other universities included:

• Dr. Giancarlo Lombardi, Assistant Professor of Italian, CUNY, "Buongiorno Italia: A Practical Demonstration of the Importance of Foreign Languages in the College Curriculum."
• Dr. Francesca Canadé Sautman, Professor of French and Medieval Studies, CUNY, "From the Forest of Tales to the Classroom: The Study of Folklore and the College Education."
• Dr. Thomas Magnell, Professor and Chair of Philosophy, Drew University, "Fundamental Matters of Value."

About Stevens Institute of Technology

Founded in 1870, Stevens Institute of Technology is one of the leading technological universities in the world dedicated to learning and research. Through its broad-based curricula, nurturing of creative inventiveness, and cross disciplinary research, the Institute is at the forefront of global challenges in engineering, science, and technology management. Partnerships and collaboration between, and among, business, industry, government and other universities contribute to the enriched environment of the Institute. A new model for technology commercialization in academe, known as Technogenesis®, involves external partners in launching business enterprises to create broad opportunities and shared value.

Stevens offers baccalaureates, master’s and doctoral degrees in engineering, science, computer science and management, in addition to a baccalaureate degree in the humanities and liberal arts, and in business and technology. The university has a total enrollment of 2,150 undergraduate and 3,500 graduate students, with about 250 full-time faculty. Stevens’ graduate programs have attracted international participation from China, India, Southeast Asia, Europe and Latin America. Additional information may be obtained from its web page at www.stevens.edu.  

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