Many of you undoubtedly already follow Dr. John Fea’s blog at the Messiah College History Department. His latest “virtual office hours” ask some FAQs about his blog, including the one I really wanted to know about how he manages his time with it. I found his answer to be quite interesting. The other questions are intriguing as well. Give him a listen:
http://www.philipvickersfithian.com/2013/04/virtual-office-hours-episode-15.html
I’ve got some notes to reflect on and some posts coming this week, but I wondered if anyone would be willing to volunteer to write on one of the following suggested (or your own) topics:
-President Robert Tracey Mackenzie’s address
-A panel that you attended that was particularly helpful
-Presenting at the conference
-A book (or books) that the conference encouraged you to read
-An observation on the relationship between faith and history
-A random allegorical story that expresses your deep feelings about the Academy
If you’d like to write a report on one aspect of the conference, please contact me: grjones83@gmail.com
Please check out this link to Point Loma’s Professor Rick Kennedy’s (Former CFH President) latest work. It’s of particular interest to folks interested in science, Darwinism, and how that intersects with faith. The historian/philosopher’s take is engaging if also re-orienting. 
As historians, this is an important read. It shows that not only do we not have to check our faith at the door of secular universities, but also that it is a worthwhile (perhaps even necessary) conversation.
http://biologos.org/blog/jesus-history-and-mount-darwin-an-academic-excursion-part-1
Many graduate students are a part of a largely digital generation and are used to “status updates.” For the sake of developing community here at the CFH Grad Student blog, it would be great if we could share a quick “status update.” Just give us a sentence or two in the comments section about where you are (physically and progressively) in your program.
It only takes a minute! You can post as “anonymous,” but tell us who you really are in your comment.
I’ll get us started.
I’m Greg Jones, fifth year PhD student at Kent State, and I’m currently editing my dissertation on Civil War soldiers in southeastern Ohio. I am an adjunct history professor at Kent State and Geneva College, teaching a mix of intro and upper division courses.
Alright everyone… let’s hear the update!
Cali Pitchel McCullough is a Ph.D student in American history at Arizona State University. For earlier posts in this series click here. –JF
[Reposted by permission of *The Way of Improvement Leads Home*]
Last week I made my first (of many, I hope) public lectures for History to the People. When I first had the idea for the website, I connected with a local marketing agency for some direction on developing a brand. The agency’s managing director makes himself available for mentoring hours each week at their office, which happens to be a really cool collaborative workspace in Chandler, Arizona, called Gangplank. Gangplank helps to create a “new economic vision comprised of collaboration and community” through sharing workspace, resources, and most importantly ideas.
Fourteen small businesses occupy the space at Gangplank and co-work on a daily basis free of charge. In exchange for space, each anchor business (the marketing agency included) must commit to reinvest into the Gangplank community by planning events such as a weekly brownbag discussion.
After my mentor-session with the agency’s managing director, he suggested that I share my idea with the Gangplank community at a brownbag discussion. The next day I received an email from Gangplank’s Director of Community Outreach, and she put History to the People on the calendar for September 21st. I asked my classmate and co-founder to join me for the discussion. The thought of debuting the idea to the public by myself seemed a bit daunting. She agreed, and together we shared our vision with a group of individuals who work in entirely different industries. Most of our audience were “creative types”—web developers, graphic artists, and social media specialists. The marketing agency team and our graphic designer showed their support, as did my dad (I thought he might be the only one) and a friend who has close ties at Gangplank. Brianna and I were the only “academics” in the building.
Despite our fear of that we might put the crowd to sleep, everyone responded enthusiastically to History to the People. We received great feedback and people raised questions that are important to address as we continue to move forward with our vision. (One attendee even posted a response to the brownbag on her blog!) We learned a lot from the discussion, and most importantly, we discovered that there are people outside of academia who believe thinking historically is crucial to contemporary life.
Our time at Gangplank provided us with that extra impetus to press on. Last week we met with our web designer, and this week I complete our registration with the Arizona Corporation Commission. By the end of next week I will officially be the Director of History to the People. Once the designer finishes the logo I can finalize our executive summary and begin the laborious fundraising process. In the meantime my benefactors (i.e., my mom and dad) generously give of their resources to help me realize this goal.
I believe in the success of History to the People. Most Americans agree that history matters, but not all Americans understand the implications of ahistorical thinking. Through the website we will provide our audience with both the tools necessary to think historically and a plethora of accessibly written and rigorously researched historical material. One day HTTP will encourage thousands of people to think historically, and as a bonus, we might even be able to pay back my parents.
Allow this post to be an open invitation for submissions from CFH grad members to post thoughts/reflections/ideas that you’re learning.
Sure it’s a busy time of the semester… sure you have a million things to do… but really, how much time would it take to write up 250-500 words on something that’s tugging at your heart?
If there’s anything I’m learning from *Confessing History* it’s that I need to spend more time reflecting on my own learning. Let’s hear what you are observing.
Submit ideas or entries to grjones83@gmail.com care of the graduate student representative, Greg Jones.
If you are interested in matters of faith as they intersect with politics and history, check out the few recent articles over at US Religion.
No matter which side of the political aisle we fall on, this situation appears to be of theological and financial importance for all of us as graduate students hoping to, one day, get full time teaching and/or research positions.
Here’s a simple question: Why are you in the Conference on Faith and History?
I promised a series of questions to get us thinking a bit more deeply about calling, faith, and vocation. This is, admittedly, not the deepest of topics, but it might get the ball rolling.
If anyone has any blog content ready for posting, please contact me at grjones83@gmail.com. Blog content may include book reviews, personal reflections, reaction papers, anecdotes, and other writing mildly connected to the purpose of the CFH, which is the integration of faith and the work of historians.
For the “next generation” of scholars, social media is part of our lives in significant ways. This very blog is part of a trend of being digitally connected while also occupationally and spiritually aware.
This article from the Chronicle of Higher Ed provides a timely reminder about caution with social media.
http://chronicle.com/blogs/profhacker/think-before-you-tweet-or-blog-or-update-a-status/30949
Cali Pitchel McCullough is a Ph.D student in American history at Arizona State University. For earlier posts in this series click here. –JF [This is directly copied from John Fea’s *Way of Improvement Leads Home* blog.]
Sometimes you’ve read too many fat books in one week. Sometimes one of those books is Alfred D. Chandler, Jr.’s The Visible Hand. Sometimes you are so overwhelmed your husband buys you sunflowers. Sometimes it takes you three full days to recover from a tome on business history. Sometimes you are preparing to lecture in two upper division undergraduate courses on Tuesday. Sometimes your house is a mess. Sometimes there are Super Bowl commercials to be watched while you’re writing about the Southwest Borderlands. Sometimes you have three more fat books to read this week including The Fall of the House of Labor by David Montgomery. Sometimes life interrupts great intentions to write thoughtful blog posts.
CFH Grad Students Weblog 