Coe professor attends selective seminar on digital technology in liberal arts
Dr. Angela Ziskowski attends Liberal Education: Approaching the Digital seminar
Professors from thirteen nationally ranked liberal arts colleges attended a seminar in Lexington, KY to discuss the role of digital technology in a liberal arts education. The Transylvania Seminar focuses on how liberal arts institutions can prepare students for the challenges, pitfalls and opportunities of the digital era.
Dr. Angela Ziskowski, assistant professor of history at Coe, was selected to attend the 13th annual Transylvania Seminar through a highly competitive process. Attendees were nominated by both the president and academic dean of their institution and were required to submit a statement on liberal education. “This seminar was important to me because I believe that we all need to get out of our comfort zones and learn to talk about things we may not be an expert on.”
This year’s keynote speaker was Dr. Kathleen Fitzpatrick, author, director of digital humanities and professor of English at Michigan State University. “Dr. Fitzpatrick spoke about generous thinking, generous listening, the sharing of ideas, research and scholarship,” said Dr. Ziskowski. “I think we need to take these ideas seriously as we look at how a liberal education will fit into the changing political and digital landscape.”
In a digital society particularly focused on social, ethical, economic and political issues, it is especially important to educate students in critical thinking, analysis, and the spoken and written word — all core attributes of a liberal arts education. “I look forward to sharing some of the topics we discussed and the challenges other institutions are tackling as Coe looks to update its general education program,” said Dr. Ziskowski.
Coe College offers superb academics in a student-centered environment. Established in 1851, Coe has a national reputation for academic excellence enhanced by a highly supportive faculty and campus environment. Coe’s Cedar Rapids location in a thriving urban setting provides an abundance of internships for students and career opportunities for graduates.