Education (Colleges & Universities)
Here's a look at documents from public, private and community colleges in the U.S.
Featured Stories
University of Virginia: 'The World Just Stopped' - One Woman's Response to a Life-altering Diagnosis
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Virginia, March 20 -- The University of Virginia issued the following research news:
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'The world just stopped': One woman's response to a life-altering diagnosis
By Jane Kelly, jak4g@virginia.edu
It was the middle of December, and Rita Lam's genetic counselor, Katelyn Bohanan, told her, "I'm almost certain it's going to be positive."
"The world just kind of stopped," Lam recalled.
Bohanan was right. Lam tested positive for a mutated gene that significantly increases the likelihood of breast and ovarian cancer. The National Cancer Institute says more than 60% of women
... Show Full Article
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Virginia, March 20 -- The University of Virginia issued the following research news:
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'The world just stopped': One woman's response to a life-altering diagnosis
By Jane Kelly, jak4g@virginia.edu
It was the middle of December, and Rita Lam's genetic counselor, Katelyn Bohanan, told her, "I'm almost certain it's going to be positive."
"The world just kind of stopped," Lam recalled.
Bohanan was right. Lam tested positive for a mutated gene that significantly increases the likelihood of breast and ovarian cancer. The National Cancer Institute says more than 60% of womenwho inherit a harmful change in BRCA1 or BRCA2 will develop breast cancer during their lifetime.
Worry set in a few years earlier when, one after another, two aunts and two cousins were diagnosed with breast cancer. "Boom. Back-to-back," Lam said. "Fast forward, they had the mastectomies. All of a sudden, we're like, 'Well, hold on, is this all of us?" Lam wondered incredulously.
Her aunts and cousins had all been tested for a gene called BRCA1, so that's what she did. When giving her family history at UVA Cancer Center in late 2023, "mine lit up like a Christmas tree," she said.
"I had a kid in high school, and I already saw what my family went through. And then it turned out ... my mom tested positive, my one sister tested positive. I tested positive. My baby sister did not. So out of four girls, three of us did," Lam said.
Her decision
In early 2024, Lam was in denial and told herself, "I'm just going to live this out."
Then, after a lifetime of clean mammograms, her next was irregular. "And I was like, 'You know what? That's never happened.'" She said it was the "wake-up call" she needed.
Lam's doctors gave her two options: have more scrutinized mammograms and pap smears, or a double mastectomy and full hysterectomy. Lam, 53, was done having children, and she'd seen the aggressive cancers her family had weathered. "I just want it all out. I'm done. I want to be here for my son," she decided.
'Hurry up. But take your time'
Lam has worked at UVA for 15 years, starting in human resources in the School of Medicine. Today, she oversees operations and staff training in UVA's Office of Sponsored Programs.
She was facing three surgeries. A double mastectomy, a full hysterectomy and breast reconstruction. One of her favorite sayings is "Hurry up. But take your time," a turn of phrase often used in the military. "Meaning, just do your research, understand what's at stake," she said. But always remember, "We don't have forever to decide on things."
So, Lam opted to do all three surgeries at once. It was a seven-hour procedure, and she had it the week before Thanksgiving. Three surgeries meant three surgeons, Drs. Shayna Showalter, Luke Poveromo and Kari Ring.
"I cannot say enough about them. They've blown me away. They're amazing," she enthused. "And the fact that I've been with UVA for so long, I know what our research is, and I just have this enormous amount of trust and ... I just went with that.
Part of that trust lay with her sister's experience. Ring had done her hysterectomy. "You just don't feel rushed when you are with them," Lam said.
"We have definitely seen an increase in knowledge about genetic testing and hereditary cancer risk in the public over the last five to 10 years, which has been not only due to patient advocacy like Ms. Lam's, but also as a result of national campaigns for education around hereditary cancer risk," Ring said.
Before her surgery, Lam focused on why she was doing it: to have more time with her son, Trey. And she found strength for another reason. "I'm really into fitness and really into wellness, so I just really relied on that and faith," she added.
One and a half years post-surgery, Lam feels "amazing." She's a longtime Pilates devotee. Her successful surgeries gave her a rush of confidence, and she decided to go from class taker to class leader at UVA Rec, teaching students, faculty, and staff.
Lam's classes took off quickly, drawing some of the highest attendance and prompting requests for even more sessions. She's asked to increase her class size.
Many of Lam's students are women. While she doesn't always share her story, she hopes her presence demonstrates what's possible through strength, wellness and grit. Their curiosity - about posture, strength and overall health - has become one of the most rewarding parts of teaching. And it reminds her why she chose to harness her newfound confidence.
"You can overcome anything if you just really want to, and your body may change radically in different ways, but you can still be healthy," Lam reflected. "You can still have a new chapter."
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Original text here: https://news.virginia.edu/content/world-just-stopped-one-womans-response-life-altering-diagnosis
USC Schaeffer Center for Health Policy: New Financing Models May Expand Access to Life-Changing Cell and Gene Therapies
LOS ANGELES, California, March 20 -- The University of Southern California's Schaeffer Center for Health Policy and Economics issued the following news on March 19, 2026:
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New Financing Models May Expand Access to Life-Changing Cell and Gene Therapies
Schaeffer white paper outlines stepwise approach for improving uptake of the advanced, high-cost treatments
New cell and gene therapies (CGTs) offer hope to patients with life-threatening and debilitating diseases once thought untreatable, including certain cancers and rare diseases. But despite their promise, most patients who may benefit
... Show Full Article
LOS ANGELES, California, March 20 -- The University of Southern California's Schaeffer Center for Health Policy and Economics issued the following news on March 19, 2026:
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New Financing Models May Expand Access to Life-Changing Cell and Gene Therapies
Schaeffer white paper outlines stepwise approach for improving uptake of the advanced, high-cost treatments
New cell and gene therapies (CGTs) offer hope to patients with life-threatening and debilitating diseases once thought untreatable, including certain cancers and rare diseases. But despite their promise, most patients who may benefitfrom these treatments lack timely access.
The U.S. healthcare system is structured to manage chronic conditions over a lifetime, rather than to deliver one-time or short-term, potentially curative therapies with long-lasting benefits. This mismatch creates economic and structural barriers across the system that existing efforts to expand access are unable to overcome:
* Insurers are reluctant to cover treatments that often carry million-dollar price tags and have limited long-term evidence.
* Providers must invest in specialized infrastructure to deliver the treatments and may be reimbursed below costs.
* Manufacturers need a sustained CGT market to continue investing in research and development.
A new white paper (https://schaeffer.usc.edu/research/cell-gene-therapy-policies/) from the USC Schaeffer Center for Health Policy & Economics proposes a stepwise approach to expanding CGT access. The authors first outline a new private-sector financing model aimed at realigning incentives and spreading risk across key stakeholders. Should that approach fail, the authors suggest policymakers consider progressively stronger government interventions.
"Cell and gene therapies can transform the lives of patients with devastating diseases, but their extremely high costs and uncertainty about long-term outcomes pose unique challenges," said author and Schaeffer Scholar Alison Sexton Ward. "We need new and innovative solutions to achieve broad access."
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A market-based approach
The treatments are "perfectly engineered" to exploit cracks in how the U.S. pays for drugs, the authors write. Because patients frequently switch insurance coverage (an issue known as "churn"), health plans that pay for treatment today may not capture savings from long-term health improvements. At the same time, provider reimbursement often fails to account for the initial investments needed to deliver CGTs, and some providers may be reimbursed at rates below the cost of these therapies.
Most private-sector efforts to improve CGT access have focused on isolated issues, rather than broader systemic challenges. For instance, while value-based agreements that pay for treatment performance or drug mortgages can help manage costs, neither addresses the major hurdle of insufficient provider reimbursement or other issues like patient churn.
The white paper proposes an integrated model managed by a third-party financial mediator--either a for-profit company or an insurer-funded cooperative--that would:
* Negotiate manufacturer reimbursements, including upfront payments and bonuses or rebates over time tied to how well the treatment works
* Structure performance-based payment with insurers
* Ensure sufficient provider reimbursement and help providers secure capital for upfront infrastructure investments. This may include facilitating manufacturer support in compliance with anti-kickback rules.
There is emerging precedent for this approach. Some companies already provide certain services to insurers, such as designing value-based contracts and tracking treatment outcomes.
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A stepwise path forward
A private-market model would likely be the easiest to implement. However, policymakers may consider two government-led approaches if the mediator model fails.
Public-private financing: The first option would be subsidizing private insurance coverage for CGTs, modeled on Medicare Part D. This would require creation of an accurate, predictable and objective health technology assessment process (HTA) to set value-based prices, along with reforms ensuring sufficient provider reimbursement.
Direct coverage: A more intensive approach would be universal direct public coverage of the treatments. In addition to a new HTA process and provider reimbursement reform, it would require the U.S. government to determine prices and eligibility--a role that is largely unprecedented for new drugs.
The paper examines the anticipated advantages and challenges of each approach. In all cases, CGT outcomes should be consistently tracked over time through privacy-protected registries to understand how the treatments are working, help align prices with value and inform coverage decisions.
"Realizing the full potential of cell and gene therapies will require bold, sustainable approaches that expand access and support innovation," said co-author Darius Lakdawalla, Schaeffer's chief scientific officer and the Quintiles Chair in Pharmaceutical Development and Regulatory Innovation at the USC Mann School. "We must be willing to try new solutions, closely monitor performance and build on what works.
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About this Study
Other authors are Elizabeth Fowler and Jeremy Shane. This white paper was supported by the Schaeffer Center. A complete list of supporters of the Schaeffer Center can be found in our annual report.
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Original text here: https://schaeffer.usc.edu/research/cell-gene-therapy-financing-models-improve-access/
UNC Pembroke Expands Civil Discourse Through College Debates & Discourse Alliance
PEMBROKE, North Carolina, March 20 -- The University of North Carolina-Pembroke issued the following news:
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UNC Pembroke Expands Civil Discourse Through College Debates & Discourse Alliance
At a time when national conversations often grow louder and more divided, UNC Pembroke is creating space for something different -- structured, student-led debates where listening matters as much as speaking.
Recently, approximately 40 students gathered in Upchurch Auditorium for a Braver Angels-style debate on the timely topic: " Does federal enforcement lead to safer communities? " The discussion
... Show Full Article
PEMBROKE, North Carolina, March 20 -- The University of North Carolina-Pembroke issued the following news:
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UNC Pembroke Expands Civil Discourse Through College Debates & Discourse Alliance
At a time when national conversations often grow louder and more divided, UNC Pembroke is creating space for something different -- structured, student-led debates where listening matters as much as speaking.
Recently, approximately 40 students gathered in Upchurch Auditorium for a Braver Angels-style debate on the timely topic: " Does federal enforcement lead to safer communities? " The discussioncomes amid national debate over federal law enforcement practices following fatal shootings involving federal immigration agents in Minneapolis and the widespread protests that followed.
But this isn't the first time UNCP students have tackled a hot topic of debate. Since launching in fall 2024, UNCP's College Debates & Discourse Alliance (CD&D) initiative has transformed campus conversations by creating structured, respectful spaces for students, faculty and staff to engage in meaningful dialogue on today's most complex issues.
Unlike traditional debates, CD&D Alliance events are not about winning arguments. Instead, they focus on understanding opposing viewpoints, clarifying differences, identifying shared concerns and modeling civil disagreement.
"Our civil debates are open to faculty, staff and students in a flattened-hierarchy style where all voices are invited, respected and heard," said Dr. Melanie Escue, assistant professor of sociology and faculty fellow for UNCP's CD&D Alliance team. "The primary goal is to teach students how to engage respectfully with viewpoints they may disagree with. Those skills make them more marketable in the workplace and help them build stronger relationships throughout life."
The CD&D Alliance is a national, nonpartisan organization that promotes healthy dialogue on college campuses. Now in its second year at UNCP, the program has hosted six campus-wide debates and launched more than a dozen faculty professional development workshops, classroom debates and dialogues. This semester alone, nine classroom debates are scheduled across disciplines, enriching discussions in sociology, political science, business and computer science classrooms.
Students drive the experience by selecting the debate topics, which have ranged from artificial intelligence in higher education and abortion rights to gender-affirming care for minors, DEI policies and whether government assistance sustains intergenerational poverty. A previous DEI debate drew more than 60 attendees.
"The greatest part of the program is that we don't pick the topic -- the students do," Escue said. "Students are thinking about these issues because they are impacting them. Providing a structured space allows them to discuss these topics productively instead of letting conversations devolve into chaos."
The initiative also offers paid student fellowships, giving participants leadership experience and professional development. Student fellows Ronnie Williams and Blossom Okorie help organize and market events and are training to moderate debates themselves.
Senior Quintez Shipman, a double major in psychology and criminal justice, has participated twice.
"It improves critical thinking and public speaking skills," Shipman said. "I like hearing both sides of an argument, staying neutral and seeing how it plays out. The battle of ideas intrigues me. We need more opportunities like this. The way these debates are set up keeps everything calm, even when topics could get out of control."
For junior criminal justice major Synia Evans, the experience meant speaking publicly in a debate for the first time.
"These debates teach you to have empathy and an open mind," Evans said. "It allows you to put yourself out there and convey your ideas without fear of being attacked. It gives me something to think about when I get home -- especially my beliefs about the government and current events. It makes me feel that my voice matters."
Evans plans to pursue a career as a forensic psychologist after graduation and says the experience has strengthened both her confidence and communication skills.
Faculty and administrators also participate. Dr. Ben Kehrwald, director of Online Learning, joined the recent discussion, reflecting the program's campus-wide engagement model.
Looking ahead, CD&D Alliance leaders hope to expand both campus-wide debates -- currently held twice per semester -- and classroom-based discussions across additional departments, creating what Escue calls a civil discourse "community of practice."
"Our mission is to depolarize college campuses by bringing everyone together in a collective search for truth on topics selected by and for our campus community," Escue said. "We are setting that foundation here at UNCP."
For more information about upcoming debates or how to get involved, you are encouraged to email Dr. Melanie Escue at melanie.escue@uncp.edu .
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Original text here: https://www.uncp.edu/news/2026/unc-pembroke-expands-civil-discourse-through-college-debates-and-discourse-alliance.html
S.D. State University: 'Free' Master's Degree in Rehabilitation Counseling Seeks to Fulfill Dire Need
BROOKINGS, South Dakota, March 20 -- South Dakota State University issued the following news:
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'Free' master's degree in rehabilitation counseling seeks to fulfill dire need
By Ellen Koester
The people who were among the first to be able to call themselves "counselors" were members of what's now a little-known specialization. The first counselors worked in schools, but the second were vocational rehabilitation counselors.
The profession started in the early 1900s. These counselors worked with those who were seriously injured by industrial machines, in a world war or by another cause and
... Show Full Article
BROOKINGS, South Dakota, March 20 -- South Dakota State University issued the following news:
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'Free' master's degree in rehabilitation counseling seeks to fulfill dire need
By Ellen Koester
The people who were among the first to be able to call themselves "counselors" were members of what's now a little-known specialization. The first counselors worked in schools, but the second were vocational rehabilitation counselors.
The profession started in the early 1900s. These counselors worked with those who were seriously injured by industrial machines, in a world war or by another cause andhelped them find and get employment.
Today, the U.S., including the Northern Plains, is seeing a critical shortage of rehabilitation counselors.
Thanks to a series of grants, South Dakota State University offers a master's degree in rehabilitation counseling with tuition, fees and books all covered -- meaning these counselors could get a graduate degree debt-free.
University wins fourth consecutive grant
The rehabilitation counseling program at State prepares students to help people with disabilities achieve their personal, employment and independent living goals. After graduation, students can work in vocational rehabilitation or pursue a license as a professional counselor.
It is a relatively young academic program. Alan Davis, now Professor Emeritus of Counseling and Human Development, started the program 20 years ago. Now, South Dakota State's program is the only accredited program of its kind in the Dakotas, Minnesota and Wyoming.
Davis was also the first to apply for and win a five-year South Dakota Long-term Rehabilitation Program grant from the U.S. Department of Education. He won three of these five-year grants in a row.
This fall, South Dakota State University will start its fourth consecutive grant, meaning students receiving funds from the previous grant will roll over into the new one. Their tuition, fees and books will be covered.
The only requirement for the grant money is that students commit to working two years in the field in a federal or state organization in a Plains state for every one year in the program.
No debts; great employment prospects
Gene Dockery is an assistant professor of counseling and the specialty track coordinator for rehabilitation counseling at South Dakota State.
"Education is expensive, and this is essentially a free degree. Not a lot of scholarships also cover fees and books," Dockery said. "And when they get out, they're almost guaranteed a job because of the shortage."
Most graduates of this program will work with the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation or as a counselor for a state agency. Several work at Veterans Affairs.
In South Dakota specifically, one of the largest employers is South Dakota's Division of Rehabilitation Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired.
Fulfilling SDSU's land-grant mission
Jay Trenhaile is a psychologist with the South Dakota Division of Developmental Disabilities, an adjunct professor at South Dakota State University and former head of the counseling program. He is also the grant author of the new award.
"For a land-grant university, this is exactly the kind of program and grant success I would expect to see. As such a university, we're supposed to be training our citizens to help serve and support each other. Rehabilitation fits really well into that," Trenhaile said.
The grant opens up the program to more students.
"The fact that students can attend and have tuition and fees paid makes this an incredible opportunity for both our future students and the consumers they will serve in South Dakota," he said.
Emphasis on rural students
South Dakota State offers a Master of Science in rehabilitation counseling and is one of the only such programs in the region.
Trenhaile says the program is looking for a specific kind of student.
"We need somebody passionate about working in the helping profession who wants to help individuals with disabilities," he said.
One of the goals listed on the university's grant application is to recruit and enroll eight students per year and up to 40 over the course of the grant.
That may be an easier target to hit thanks to a new digital delivery program, which the South Dakota Board of Regents just approved and will begin in fall 2026. These new online classes will target rural learners who can't make it to Brookings.
"In a state like ours, we need to embrace rural. We need to embrace the fact that we have people out there who are at a distance," Trenhaile said.
In addition to Trenhaile, the program owes its grant success to Alan Davis, who provided a grant-winning template to follow, Kristina Stulken, who is a college grant program specialist for the College of Education and Human Sciences, and Jill Thorngren, interim coordinator of the counseling and human resource development program.
In taking over the program, Dockery will also take over the future grant application process.
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Original text here: https://www.sdstate.edu/news/2026/03/free-masters-degree-rehabilitation-counseling-seeks-fulfill-dire-need
Misericordia Students Recognized at National Conference on Video Games and Communication
DALLAS, Pennsylvania, March 20 -- Misericordia University issued the following news on March 19, 2026:
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Misericordia Students Recognized at National Conference on Video Games and Communication
Misericordia University Speech-Language Pathology students recently showcased their research at the Valid Gains Through Video Games (VGTVG) Conference, hosted by the Meaningful Digital Experiences Research Lab at Monmouth University.
The conference--founded and hosted by Misericordia alum Erik X. Raj--brings together educators, clinicians, and game developers to explore how video games can support
... Show Full Article
DALLAS, Pennsylvania, March 20 -- Misericordia University issued the following news on March 19, 2026:
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Misericordia Students Recognized at National Conference on Video Games and Communication
Misericordia University Speech-Language Pathology students recently showcased their research at the Valid Gains Through Video Games (VGTVG) Conference, hosted by the Meaningful Digital Experiences Research Lab at Monmouth University.
The conference--founded and hosted by Misericordia alum Erik X. Raj--brings together educators, clinicians, and game developers to explore how video games can supportspeech, language, and communication development through interactive, engaging experiences.
Approximately 25-30 research posters were presented during the event, highlighting innovative approaches to integrating video games into educational and therapeutic settings. Of those, only three projects were selected for a 15-minute oral presentation. Notably, two of the selected presentations were led by Misericordia University student research groups.
The selection of multiple Misericordia groups for oral presentation reflects the strength of the university's academic programs and its emphasis on hands-on, student-driven research. The presentations demonstrated both subject expertise and the ability to communicate complex ideas effectively to a professional audience.
The conference highlights the growing intersection of technology, education, and healthcare, and underscores the role of video games as a meaningful tool for developing communication skills and enhancing learning outcomes.
Participation in VGTVG reflects Misericordia University's continued commitment to experiential learning and innovation. By engaging with national conversations in emerging fields, students gain valuable experience that prepares them to make an impact in their future careers.
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Original text here: https://www.misericordia.edu/news/news-post-page/~board/news/post/misericordia-students-recognized-at-national-conference-on-video-games-and-communication
Microbes Make Microplastics More Likely to Form Ice in Clouds
BLACKSBURG, Virginia, March 20 -- Virginia Tech issued the following news:
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Microbes make microplastics more likely to form ice in clouds
By Courtney Sakry
Tiny pieces of plastic, called microplastics, are showing up everywhere, even in the water in clouds, rain, and snow - and they may be affecting our weather and temperatures.
A new study published in Environmental Science & Technology and led by Hosein Foroutan, associate professor of civil and environmental engineering, found that microbes living on microplastics dramatically boost their ability to trigger ice formation in clouds.
... Show Full Article
BLACKSBURG, Virginia, March 20 -- Virginia Tech issued the following news:
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Microbes make microplastics more likely to form ice in clouds
By Courtney Sakry
Tiny pieces of plastic, called microplastics, are showing up everywhere, even in the water in clouds, rain, and snow - and they may be affecting our weather and temperatures.
A new study published in Environmental Science & Technology and led by Hosein Foroutan, associate professor of civil and environmental engineering, found that microbes living on microplastics dramatically boost their ability to trigger ice formation in clouds.In laboratory experiments, the microbial coating increased the temperature at which ice formed by about 6.5 degrees Celsius - a major shift in cloud physics.
"Microplastics are often thought of as a passive pollution," said Carrie Carpenter, a doctoral student in plant and environmental sciences and lead author on the paper. "But our research shows they can actually change how natural processes in the atmosphere work."
Researchers with the multidisciplinary project include:
* Carrie Carpenter, Ph.D. candidate in plant and environmental sciences
* Hosein Foroutan, associate professor of civil and environmental engineering
* David Schmale, professor of plant and environmental sciences
* Boris Vinatzer, professor of plant and environmental sciences
About the research
To understand this effect, the researchers recreated what happens in nature. They placed microscopic plastic particles in controlled laboratory conditions and allowed naturally occurring bacteria to attach and grow on their surfaces. Over several days, the microbes formed a thin layer called a biofilm - a sticky coating that helps microbes anchor themselves and survive.
Team members then tested how easily these particles could trigger freezing using a specialized setup that slowly cooled tiny droplets of water containing microplastics. By monitoring when each droplet froze, they could measure how effective the particles were at initiating ice formation.
The results revealed something especially surprising. Microbes attached to microplastics were even more effective at forming ice than the same microbes floating freely in water. In other words, the plastic surface enhanced the microbes' ice-making ability.
This suggests that microplastics don't just carry microbes through the atmosphere - they help amplify their environmental effects, highlighting a surprising link between human pollution and natural systems.
Plastic pollution's effect on precipitation
Why does this matter? Ice formation is a crucial step in how clouds develop and produce rain or snow. Anything that changes how ice forms can influence weather, precipitation patterns, and the ways clouds interact with sunlight and heat in the climate system.
"This means that plastic pollution could indirectly influence when and where rain or snow forms," said Carpenter. "And because clouds also regulate how much sunlight the Earth reflects back to space and how much heat the atmosphere retains, changes in ice formation can also affect climate."
The researchers tested different types of microplastics, including polystyrene and polyethylene, in various sizes and under different conditions. Sunlight, heat, and aging alone did not significantly change how well the microplastics could form ice. But once microbes started growing on them, the particles became much better at making ice.
The size of the particles didn't affect their ice-making ability overall, but smaller microplastics had more "active sites" where ice could begin forming, according to the study. This means that the tiny living communities on microplastics - their "plastisphere" - play a key role in determining how these particles behave in the atmosphere, the study found.
In some cases, this particle behavior could make clouds release rain or snow sooner. "Because clouds control both precipitation and how much sunlight the Earth's atmosphere absorbs or reflects, even small changes in cloud ice formation could influence regional weather patterns," said Foroutan.
That does not necessarily mean it will snow more everywhere, but rather that particles could alter cloud processes as more microplastics enter the atmosphere. By including this increase in microplastics in cloud formation and climate models, scientists will better understand its potential impact in the future.
"This study shows that microplastics are not just passive debris in the atmosphere," said Foroutan. "They serve as tiny platforms for microbial life, and together they can influence how clouds form and when precipitation occurs. This reveals a new and unexpected pathway by which human-generated pollution can interact with Earth's climate system."
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Original text here: https://news.vt.edu/articles/2026/03/eng-cee-microplastics-ice.html
Faculty Friday: Miriam Ragland
CLINTON, South Carolina, March 20 -- Presbyterian College posted the following news:
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Faculty Friday: Miriam Ragland
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Presbyterian College theatre professor shares excitement about strengthening the performing arts program to better support students
The performing arts have been a lifelong passion for professor of theatre Miriam Ragland, who grew up dancing until a broken ankle put an end to her ballet career.
Ragland wasn't stopped by her injury, though. Still feeling called to perform, she auditioned for a play in her senior year of high school, where she fell in love with theatre
... Show Full Article
CLINTON, South Carolina, March 20 -- Presbyterian College posted the following news:
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Faculty Friday: Miriam Ragland
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Presbyterian College theatre professor shares excitement about strengthening the performing arts program to better support students
The performing arts have been a lifelong passion for professor of theatre Miriam Ragland, who grew up dancing until a broken ankle put an end to her ballet career.
Ragland wasn't stopped by her injury, though. Still feeling called to perform, she auditioned for a play in her senior year of high school, where she fell in love with theatreand everything it had to offer.
Following her heart
Ragland's first introduction to being an educator was her master's program in directing, which heavily revolved around teaching and instructing.
"I have an MFA in directing, and it was very focused on teaching. I had a teaching assistantship as part of it as well," she said. "That's when I realized that my place was in the classroom."
On the tail end of a year-long stint in Seattle as a freelance artist, Ragland came to the realization that freelancing wasn't what her heart desired - teaching was.
From that moment forward, she began applying to positions all over the country, including at Presbyterian College, which she came to visit after being extended an offer.
Despite being on the other side of the country, the campus immediately felt like home.
"I came and visited campus, and I just fell in love," she said.
Since then, Ragland has been at the college for 24 years, teaching classes such as Introduction to Theatre, Theatre for Social Change, and African American Theatre.
It's exciting for all of us to come together as one artistic unit, and to work together to make the performing arts at PC stronger than it's ever been."
Miriam Ragland, Professor of Theatre
Looking into the future
Recently, Ragland's passion project has been refurbishing the black box theatre that's been sitting unused in Harper Arts Center for several years, a stepping stone to rebuilding the theatre program as a whole.
Another stepping stone has been PC's partnership with Laurens County Community Theatre, who will be performing a show every spring, with PC performing a show every fall.
Ragland and her colleagues couldn't be more excited about building the arts program at Presbyterian College, having combined art, music, and theatre to become the Department of Visual and Performing Arts.
"It's exciting for all of us to come together as one artistic unit, and to work together to make the performing arts at PC stronger than it's ever been," she said.
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Original text here: https://www.presby.edu/faculty-friday-miriam-ragland/
