One of the MSU Alumni Association’s long-standing featured offerings, the Coffee with the Profs series highlights research and work done by some of the university’s finest faculty and staff.
The cost is $75 for 5 sessions and includes coffee and parking. Please note that this is a series, so registration is for the series only, not individual presentations.
Registration for the Spring 2018 series is full. Each presentation from the series is livestreamed and then placed in our livestreamed archive so you can watch them at any time after the original presentation.
Monday, March 12
Drawing Ideas in Science: A Story of Art and Science, of Technology and Teaching
Stephen Thomas, digital curriculum coordinator, College of Natural Science
Visuals can be found everywhere in science education, from textbook illustrations of microscopic structures, to data charts released by government agencies, to even crude stick figures students draw on exams. But how well do these images communicate the intended message? We will explore this question and more as we look at effective communication and the use of drawings to improve science education.
Monday, March 19
MSU Police: Connecting to Our Diverse Communities
Florene McGlothian-Taylor, Sergeant, Inclusion and Anti-Bias Unit, MSU Police
An overview of the Michigan State University Police department and its Inclusion and Anti-Bias Unit, which is the first of its kind at any university police agency. The mission of the MSU Police is to enhance the quality of life on campus, by building relationships, strengthening stewardship, and working collaboratively within our diverse community to reduce crime, enforce laws, preserve peace, and provide for a safe environment.
Monday, March 26
The Importance of the Arts in Academia
Christopher Long, dean, College of Arts and Letters
The arts are an animated force at Michigan State University and in the lives of our students, faculty, alumni, and community. They challenge us to think and act in new, more imaginative ways. They enrich the quality of life in our community, and prepare students to be creative citizen leaders. In a complicated and beautiful world, the arts deepen our understanding of what it means to be human.
Monday, April 2
The Harder Part of the War: Michigan Women and the Civil War
Roger Rosentreter, assistant professor, Department of History
Following the attack on Fort Sumter, Michigan women sent their men off to save the Union and end slavery. Some women served as “angels of mercy,” nursing the sick and wounded soldiers. Others challenged all social norms and headed to the front lines. Many recorded their experiences in letters and diaries, even newspaper columns. Most women stayed home, managing the increased responsibilities of running the farm and raising a family.
Monday, April 9
Truth, Lies and the Future of Journalism
Rachel Mourao, assistant professor, School of Journalism
Journalists no longer have the monopoly on journalistic acts. The digital revolution is having a profound impact on the way news is reported and distributed. News consumption is also confounded by misinformation and opinion disguised as credible journalism, while trust in the mainstream press has sharply declined in the last decade. This presentation focuses on the challenges surrounding this information overload, media literacy efforts and how journalists can rebuild relationships with the communities they serve.
Each presentation from the series is placed in our livestreamed archive so you can watch them at any time.