All posts by Jill Craven

Congratulations to 2019 Millersville University Sustainability Champions

Mamie Covell Student Sustainability Champion
Mamie Covell Student Sustainability Champion

Millersville English proudly recognizes the contributions of Mamie Covell and Justin Mando for their efforts in promoting sustainable practices on campus and in the larger community.  Both Mamie and Justin were named Millersville sustainability champions this week by the Sustainability Committee.  Mamie was named the Student Sustainability Champion for her work on educating others about sustainability, and Justin was named the Faculty Sustainability Champion for exploring sustainability in his Science Writing classrooms.

Mamie currently chairs the sustainability committee within the Student Government Association, where she and her team create sustainable initiatives on campus and listen to concerns related to sustainability from students and the community. Mamie’s creativity & passion for sustainability shine through in her work with others. She has run a DIY Reusable Bag night with the SHARP Team to help them learn about upcycling and making sustainable choices. Her fellow students have nominated Mamie because of her passion to make the Millersville campus community more sustainable, as well as her dedication to educating and informing the student body on sustainability.

Justin Mando Faculty Sustainability ChampionDr. Mando’s focus at the university is Science Writing, and he uses this in interdisciplinary writing classrooms to help students understand and explore ideas of sustainability. He has developed a Kayaking on the Susquehanna assignment that helps students physically explore sustainability and has resulted in conference presentations and internships for undergraduate students. He has helped to organize local stream cleanups by Millersville University and annually conducts a Susquehanna Stories green reading event at Saxbys that gives students the chance to share their environmentally focused writings in an open mic setting.

You are Inspiring: Over 100 English Students present at Made in Millersville

Folks, this is a banner year for English at Made in Millersville.  We have over 96 separate events (poetry readings, panel sessions, poster sessions, etc.) that Millersville English students are engaged in.  What can I say–you all are rocking scholarship, creativity, and professionalism.

Check out Skyler Gibbon in the student spotlight analyzing Beyonce, Adele, and intersectional feminism!  Congratulate Daniel Dicker, Karen layman, Sara Lipski, and Shaakirah Tate on their publication of the Made in Millersville Journal next week. If you are thinking about studying abroad, go hear about the amazing journeys of Abigail Breckbill, Thomas Joyce, and Jason Leighty.  Or take in Poetry Out Loud with Dr. Corkery and his creative crew.  And check out all of the impressive posters and panels.  It will be a super busy day.

While the English faculty is always super proud of our students, we take it to the next level when we see all of your accomplishments together on one day.  It’s just so fabulous!  We hope you will come out and support each other and let your curiosity roam free!

You can find all the English events listed here: MiM English Events 2019

We’ll have a film crew on site that day to capture some of your accomplishments.  We’re making a video for the website.  Eric Griffin, an MU Art alum who took film classes, is doing the video, so if you see him and his crew, give them a little of you for the video.  He won’t be able to capture everything, but I’ve encouraged him to try to get as much as possible so we can represent our community well.

Thanks for all the positive energy, great scholarship, and creative ideas that you all put out into the world.  You are inspiring.

Political Wonk Alumna Danielle Floyd Prokopchak

Danielle Prokopchak

I am a (proud) Millersville University English Major grad turned political wonk both by trade and on the side. I currently serve as Creative Director for the PA Senate Democratic caucus so I get to oversee all visual communications for the 21 Democratic Senators in PA. I absolutely love my job because it’s the perfect blend of writing, creativity, strategy, emotion, politics and persuasion.

But before I landed this dream job, I started in the ad agency industry and side hustled in politics. I became interested in politics during the 2004 Bush-Kerry presidential election. I was a newly-registered voter who grew up in a mostly republican area and happened to be majoring in English and surrounded by smart, critically thinking and compassionate students and professors. I felt like my world was still being shaped and I was taking it all in. I was so fascinated by everyone’s passion as I hadn’t felt the direct impact of legislation and politics in my life (or hadn’t recognized it yet). So I started having uncomfortable conversations about things I wasn’t too familiar with and tried to soak it all in. I quickly learned which side the aisle I was on regarding many issues that were important to me – access to education and healthcare, women’s rights, voting access, preserving our environment and solving the world’s social injustices.

So as I finished school, I dove deeper into candidates, supporting people running for office and learning the issues. I then studied abroad in London where I fell in love with the protest and ‘resist’ culture. I felt so at home – even thousands of miles away. I was able to bring that energy back to the states and after college decided to volunteer for OFA (Obama For America) 2008. That experience changed me forever! I haven’t looked back since.

Once I got familiar with the political landscape, I quickly realized that I had an interest in running for office. The fact that a woman’s presence was lacking in many races and on many boards and committees bothered me. I knew I could do a job just as well as a man. And I knew I had the skills to run a good campaign so I ran for Township Commissioner in 2015, unsuccessfully. I have no regrets and learned so much from that experience. I then started working for the PA Senate where the desire to be a public servant is only ignited even more on a daily basis. I took some “political” time off when I had my second son and am now diving back in to the campaign world and taking another crack at the Township Commissioner position.

In addition, I serve as a Committeewoman for my township for the Dauphin County Democratic Committee. That’s a great way to get involved initially. I have also been very active with campaign volunteering and am emotionally gearing up for a Democratic Primary and ultimately the most important election of my lifetime – 2020 Presidential. I am so grateful for my time at Millersville – I can genuinely say that I often use the skills and tools from MU in my daily life. The confidence I have comes from public speaking classes. My writing experience helps me tremendously. My British Lit classes help me stay cool with the young kids (kidding!) and my study abroad experience is one of the greatest memories that I have and helped me become a fearless and independent person!

My advice to anyone interested in getting involved in politics is to begin with volunteering. Learn about candidates and issues and reach out to their campaign offices. No one will turn away a volunteer. You will meet people, learn and the opportunities will naturally come. If you have a desire to run for office, start with your County party. They will be able to walk you through the process start to finish and can also offer guidance and training.

“But I ask no favors for my sex. I surrender not our claim to equality. All I ask of our brethren is,
that they will take their feet from off our necks, and permit us to stand upright…”
-Sarah Grimké

–Danielle Floyd Prokopchak

MU English, Odyssey of the Mind, and Star Wars

This workshop of Leonardo feature scenery made of painted cans.
This workshop of Leonardo features scenery made of painted cans.

On March 8th, Millersville University hosted the East Central Regional Odyssey of the Mind tournament, bringing 613 K-12 students from 55 schools to Millersville to display their creativity in a day filled with ingenuity and teamwork. I got involved in Odyssey 10+ years ago, as a coach. When I saw that the tournament didn’t have a venue that supported its size well, I contacted the regional director to see what could be done, and asked Millersville if we could hold the tournament on our campus. The folks at Millersville were super supportive in bringing the tournament to campus.  However, they had no idea the first year that this would mean thousands of people!  By the second year everyone understood the scope, and the folks at MU Student Services and I started working with the Odyssey Regional Board and Director to plan how to best support the teams on their big day. We have now hosted the tournament for 10 years. The events take place primarily in the Student Memorial Center (SMC), Stayer Hall, and Pucillo Gym, with some other venues that vary by the year.

Odyssey participants are definitely students we’d like to have at Millersville one day.  Their creativity, their team spirit, their resourcefulness, and their work ethic all say that they would be amazing community members.  Specifically, students who prefer the Classics problem seem well suited for English and students who prefer Problem 4 for AEST.  But no matter what problem students choose, they all focus on creating a narrative, which is the heart of English.

Turns out the Marauder is an excellent UNO player. Beware!

Students in Odyssey work for 4+ months to create a short (less than 8 minutes) play to “solve a problem.”  There are 5 choices of problems for grades 3-12, each with a different slant (creating a vehicle, classics, balsa wood structure, etc.), and a special problem for K-2.  Participants must work together to put various required aspects into their narratives and scenes, and they have to construct their scenery with limited resources and so that they can move it by themselves quickly into the competition space.  Working under these restrictions makes students come up with unique approaches that help them understand more through hands-on application of their ideas.  They learn by doing–together.

Students also have to work together as a team to solve a spontaneous problem that they get the day of the competition. The problem can be verbal or hands-on, or a combination of the two. The team has to decide on the best players to address the task at hand and then those players work together to try to maximize points in the fast-moving event.

Garrison Carrida with Dr. Craven

Odyssey usually occurs the first Saturday of Spring Break.  We always appreciate volunteers to help with the day.  Over the past 3 years, volunteers from Garrison Carida Troop 501 have thrilled participants by bringing the Star Wars characters to life during the awards ceremony and on campus.  Darth Vader, Chewbacca, the Storm Troopers, the Royal Guard, and other characters have made brought the world of adult creativity into Pucillo as they interacted with participants. Let’s not forget that George Lucas studied the structure of myth to give the Star Wars stories a solid foundation!

While the Star Wars characters are very visible volunteers, the whole Odyssey of the Mind competition is run completely by volunteers who value creativity, teamwork, and the importance of fostering these qualities in the next generation.  I find this aligns both with the values of the English Department and with the values of Millersville University as a state public university committed to educating citizens who can contribute to their communities–both regional and global. If you value those ideas, please think about volunteering for next year’s competition by emailing regional director Lynn Fyfe.

All the work culminates is a fabulous day at Millersville, where teams get the space, the food, and the fun to make the day both memorable and special. Many thanks to all who volunteered to make East Central PA’s Regional Tournament the success it was. And particular thanks to Millersville University for giving us the space to make it happen. Create on!

Owen J. Roberts team with Garrison Carrida at the OM Awards
Owen J. Roberts team with Garrison Carrida at the OM Awards
Excitement on stage as a team realizes it is moving on to the State Competition.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

–Jill Craven

Interning with University Communications and Marketing

Matthew Reichard, recent graduate from Millersville University, completed an internship during his last semester in Millersville University’s Communication and Marketing Department. Read more about his experiences below! 

Matthew Reichard

Fall of 2018 was my final semester at Millersville, and it provided me with the best experience I could have imagined. This experience came by way of an internship through the University’s Communications and Marketing department. Initially, I was very hesitant when looking into the internship requirement for my degree. The classroom allowed for a safer environment. I had been doing journalistic writing with the classroom from my start here at MU. The work allowed me to learn, but in a more controlled environment. I was allowed to pick the topics of my paper while in most classes, allowing me to be an expert on what I was writing by choice. The writings went directly from me to the professor, and that was it. I got a grade in the gradebook and moved on.

With my internship. I got to step out of what was comfortable and learn from it. The writing wasn’t always what I was passionate about, so I had to do more research. I had to focus on who would be reading the articles I wrote, so I had to focus on the language or formalities behind the writing. The writings I did would go out the world, for more than just the professor to see. It meant I was more vigilant of things. I read more. I researched more. I edited more. This was a blessing. The hard work I put in at my internship allowed me to see I stepped into the right career path. I loved writing about the things I was passionate about, and I got to do that some at my internship, but I also loved writing about everything else. Doing the research was a blast. I learned about folks in the university I would have never known about prior. I covered topics I would have never touched if I was left to pick my writings. It was wonderful to experience a work-like environment before I graduated.

Stepping out of what you already know can be scary. It was for me, and I’m sure it will be for you.  You won’t truly know if you love what you’re doing until you do it out of your comfort zone. My dream is to cover the video game industry, but I know that’s a hard job to find. I learned through my internship that I will be happy no matter what I am covering because I love the process of it all. I was always a little worried. This internship took that worry away. If you have an opportunity to do an internship, take it. You won’t regret it. Stepping outside the classroom was one of the best decisions I made here at MU. I had great professors that taught me and prepared me for the situation, but actually getting to the situation taught me even more.

By: Matthew Reichard

DJ Spooky’s Rebirth of a Nation

On Friday, March 22nd, Millersville University will present Rebirth of a Nation, by Paul D. Miller aka DJ Spooky at Biemesderfer Hall in the Winter Center. Tickets for the 7pm show are on sale at the Millersville box office (tickets will be free for the first 100 Millersville students–these are available in person at the SMC box office).  Rebirth of a Nation will be presented as a film screening with musical score remixed live by DJ Spooky and an after-screening discussion. The film runs 1oo minutes.

Conceived as a reimagining of director D.W. Griffith’s infamously racist 1915 silent film The Birth of a Nation, DJ Spooky’s Rebirth of a Nation is a controversial and culturally significant project that examines how “exploitation and political corruption still haunt the world to this day, but in radically different forms.” Originally commissioned in 2004 by the Lincoln Center Festival, Spoleto Festival USA, Wiener Festwochen, and the Festival d’Automne à Paris, the project was Miller’s first large-scale multimedia performance piece, and has been performed around the world, from the Sydney Festival to the Museum of Modern Art and The Lincoln Center.

Rebirth of a Nation – Trailer

No Description

“In a certain sense what I’m doing is portraying the film as he intended it,” DJ Spooky says of his remix. “This is a film glorifying a horrible situation. And I think a modern sensibility is something where people will look at this and go like ‘Oh, I can’t believe this, I don’t relate to it, I don’t think this is right, what does he mean?’ So it’s not letting him off the hook so much as presenting the film and actually having it fall in on itself.”

Miller takes Griffith’s original work and applies a “DJ re-mix.” Using his skills as a DJ to mash music and film techniques, he recontextualizes and deconstructs Griffith’s film and places it in a moral framework, drawing striking parallels between socio-political conflicts in America during Griffith’s era, the time of the American Civil War (when Birth of a Nation is set), and today.  Using his artistry to comment on Griffith’s film’s portrayal of white supremacy and its positive portrayal of the Ku Klux Klan, Miller’s work engages audiences in themes of civil rights and freedom, seen through the lens of DJ Spooky’s unique art of remixing.

DJ Spooky’s “Rebirth of a Nation”

An excerpt from DJ Spooky’s Rebirth of a Nation

Probably most well-known under his constructed persona as DJ Spooky That Subliminal Kid, Paul D. Miller aka DJ Spooky has recorded music and collaborated with a wide variety of musicians and composers, among them Iannis Xenakis, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Kronos Quartet, Pierre Boulez, Steve Reich, Yoko Ono, Thurston Moore and many others.  Miller was the first Artist in Residence at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where he premiered his work “A Civil War Symphony” in 2013. In 2014, Miller was named a National Geographic Emerging Explorer, an honor recognizing visionaries at the forefront of global problem solving. Miller is the 2017-2018 recipient of The Hewlett 50 Arts Commission Award to support his new work “QUANTOPIA: The Evolution of the Internet,” a multimedia performance and an installation based on the history and evolution of the internet, which premiered at San Francisco’s YBCA in January 2019. Recent works include “Phantom Dancehall” with premier reggae label VP Records and his first blockchain album “The Invisible Hand” commissioned by SingularDTV.

Griffith’s original film features a character, Representative Stoneman (pictured above to the right of Lincoln), based on local US Representative Thaddeus Stevens, who lived and practiced law in Lancaster. Stevens was an advocate of the equality of men and the 14th Amendment, which had its 150th anniversary last year (also the 150th anniversary of Stevens’ death).  Stevens is buried downtown in the cemetery on Chestnut Street, the only place that would allow people of different skin colors to be buried together.  His epitaph reads:

I repose in this quiet and secluded spot,
Not from any natural preference for solitude
But, finding other Cemeteries limited as to Race
by Charter Rules,
I have chosen this that I might illustrate in my death
The Principles which I advocated through a long life:
EQUALITY OF MAN BEFORE HIS CREATOR.

If you are in downtown Lancaster, you should visit the cemetery to learn more about this leader in racial justice.

For more information, see https://www.sozoartists.com/djspooky

Free tickets for students are available at the box office in the Student Memorial Center.
Paid tickets are available at https://bit.ly/2H0bNeR through the MU Box Office.

This event is sponsored by the Frederick Douglass Black Culture Celebration, MIllersville University Department of English, The President’s Commission on Cultural Diversity and Inclusion, The School of Social Work’s Learning Institute, and the Robert S. & Sue Walker Center for Civic Responsibility and Leadership.

Dyslexia Conference Provides Resources for Region

Demystifying Dyslexia Organizer Dr. Jill Craven, Speaker Sara Page Stinchcomb, and Keynote Speaker Dr. Marilyn Bartlett
Demystifying Dyslexia Organizer Dr. Jill Craven, Inspirational Speaker Sara Page Stinchcomb, and Keynote Speaker Dr. Marilyn Bartlett

On Saturday, January 26th, Millersville University hosted a conference about dyslexia and strategies for making students with dyslexia successful.

Dr. Stacey Irwin introduces "Raising Faith"
Dr. Stacey Irwin introduces “Raising Faith”

The morning’s main sessions included a description of dyslexia and its subtypes by Dr. Peg Kay, an inspirational speech by advocate Sara Page Stinchcomb, and the premiere of a film about dyslexia by Dr. Stacey Irwin, Raising Faith.

Reviewing the types of dyslexia, Dr. Kay emphasized that recognizing dyslexia early can dramatically reduce the challenges people with dyslexia face. The window to address the issues runs up until 3rd grade. Several attendees recounted that local school districts tend to tell parents that students may “grow out of it” and that parents should wait until 3rd grade to request accommodations; this strategy hurts students.  Ms. Sara Page Stinchcomb then gave an inspirational speech about the need to change attitudes about dyslexia; she received a standing ovation from the audience.  To finish the morning sessions, Dr. Irwin’s film explored many different perspectives on dyslexia from students with dyslexia and their families. Families were particularly struck by hearing stories similar to their own.  Audience members then asked questions of the experts in attendance.

Dr. Marily Bartlett explains her struggle to get accommodations on the Bar exam
Dr. Marily Bartlett explains her struggle to get accommodations on the Bar exam

The morning sessions were followed by a rousing keynote address by Marilyn Bartlett of her decade-long struggle to receive accommodations for the NY Bar.  The keynote address was attended by 95 students, community members, and faculty members, many of whom resonated with the struggles to attain equity in educational endeavors either as people with dyslexia or as advocates for people with educational challenges.

The day continued with 15 different breakout sessions to help families, teachers, administrators, and people with dyslexia. The sessions were well attended by teachers, students, parents, administrators, advocates, and friends.

Dr. Janet Josephson explains how dyslexia presents.
Dr. Janet Josephson explains how dyslexia presents.

Dr. Janet Josephson held an extremely popular session on how dyslexia presents.  The crowded Stayer multipurpose room attested to the regional interest in understanding dyslexia.  Dr. Pamela Kastner, the statewide lead for Literacy (PaTTAN), provided two informative sessions on phonics, which were particularly popular with teachers.

Scotia mugs for the camera while Dr. Bartlett explains the need for "a bible" to fight for one's rights
Scotia mugs for the camera while Dr. Bartlett explains the need for “a bible” to fight for one’s rights

The breakout sessions  provided important and useful information for people with dyslexia, their families, and teachers.  For example, Dr. Bartlett recommended books like Wrightslaw: From Emotions to Advocacy.  Sessions on the differences between the IDEA, Section 504, and the ADA-AA were particularly appreciated by Millersville Education students, regional professionals, and parents.

Dr. Bartlett explains the differences between the IDEA, Section 504, and the ADA-AA
Dr. Bartlett explains the differences between the IDEA, Section 504, and the ADA-AA

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some regional resources for students with dyslexia were also discussed in the sessions.  These included the Children’s Dyslexia Center, the Delaware Valley Friends School (DVFS), and psychologists like Dr. Margaret Kay.  Parents, in particular, were grateful to have a game plan for addressing their children’s needs.

Helen Mannion and Kathy Halligan explaining the brain structure underlying dyslexia
Helen Mannion and Kathy Halligan of DVFS explain the brain structure underlying dyslexia

Overall, attendees were excited to talk about an issue that is particularly important to them, and were grateful for both the information and the resources presented.

Recordings of eight sessions are available on YouTube, including:

Helping with Homework Session
Helping with Homework Session
Understanding the difference between the IDEA, Section 504, and the ADA-AA
Understanding the difference between the IDEA, Section 504, and the ADA-AA

Demystifying Dyslexia Day January 26th at Millersville

On Saturday, January 26, Millersville University will share speakers on dyslexia with our community.  Depending on the definition used for dyslexia (which occurs at different levels), between 5-10% of the population is affected by this language-based learning disability. The day will feature different perspectives and discussions to further personal and professional knowledge about this disorder.

The event will commence in the morning at the Winter Center (60 West Cottage Ave) on Millersville campus, and move to Stayer Building for breakout sessions in the afternoon.  Admission is free and open to the public, excluding the lunch session with Marilyn Bartlett, which is $12.

REGISTRATION

Registration is required. A small fee ($5 per credit) will be charged for those desiring CEU or Act 48 credits.

MORNING SCHEDULE (WINTER CENTER)

  • 8:00 Coffee and Registration
  • 9:00 Welcome (Dr. Jill Craven)
  • 9:15 Dyslexia, Its Subtypes, and Testing (Dr. Margaret Kay)
  • 10:15 Break
  • 10:30 Dyslexia: A Strength, Not a Weakness (Ms. Sara Page Stinchcomb)
  • 10:45 Raising Faith (a film on dyslexia by Dr. Stacey Irwin)

LUNCH and KEYNOTE ($12, GORDINIER HALL–Free for MU Students with ID)

  • 12:00 Lunch: Gordinier Hall, Lehr room
  • 12:30 Telling Her Story: The Marilyn Bartlett Case (Dr. Marilyn Bartlett)
Marilyn J Bartlett, J.D., Ph.D._Apr12

Dr. Marilyn Bartlett, J.D., Ph.D. , former Dean and Professor at Texas A&M University, is a person who is dyslexic. She requested accommodations on the NY Bar Exam and was denied.  Dr. Bartlett argued in court that she should receive accommodations on the test based on her learning disability and slow reading speed due to dyslexia. After a ten year battle, she won the case for herself and all of those persons who are protected by the ADA-AA and need accommodations for their disabilities when studying in post-secondary institutions and taking professional exams. Her case is still good law in the Second Circuit

AFTERNOON BREAKOUT SESSIONS (STAYER HALL)

2:00 Breakout Session I (Stayer Hall)

  1.   Getting help in college (Audience: 1, 4)
    Julianne Browne
  2.    Helping with Homework (Audience: 1, 2)
    Kevin Ghaffari, Abby Rissinger, Sara Page Stinchcomb
  3.   “What is the difference among IDEA, the ADA-AA2008 and Sec 504” (Audience: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
    Dr. Marilyn J Bartlett
  4.   “How Dyslexia Presents” (Simulation Session) (Audience: 1, 2, 3, 6)
    Dr. Janet Josephson
  5.  “The International Dyslexia Association’s  (IDA) Knowledge and Practice Standards for teacher of reading”—(Audience: 3,5)
    Dr. Pamela M. Kastner

2:45 Breakout Session II (Stayer Hall)

  1. How to be a better self-advocate. (Audience: 1, 2, 4, 6)
    Kevin Ghaffari, Abby Rissinger, and Sara Page Stinchcomb
  2.  “The process of being tested”  (Audience: 1, 2, 4, 6)
    Dr. Margaret Kay
  3. “Transitioning:  Middle School to High School to College to Graduate School” (Audience: 1, 2, 4, 6)
    Dr. Marilyn J Bartlett
  4.  “Beyond Blending and Segmenting: Advanced Phonemic Awareness”
    (Audience: 6)
    Dr. Pamela M. Kastner
  5. “Psychological basis of Dyslexia and Co-morbid Conditions” (Audience: 2, 3, 4, 6)
    Kathy Halligan and Helen Mannion

3:30   Breakout Session III  (Stayer Hall)

  1.   “How to be Successful as a Student with Dyslexia” (Audience: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6)
    Kevin Ghaffari, Abigail Rissinger, Sara Page Stinchcomb
  2.    Offerings of the Childrens Dyslexia Center in Lancaster (Audience: 6)
    Heather Hinkel, Director of the Children’s Dyslexia Center
  3.  “Making a Game Plan for Raising a Child with Dyslexia” (Audience:  2)
    Dr. Marilyn Bartlett
  4.  “Beyond Blending and Segmenting: Advanced Phonemic Awareness”  PART 2
    (Audience: 6)
    Dr. Pamela M. Kastner
  5.   “Multi-Sensory Reading Programs” (Audience: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6)
    Kathy Halligan and Helen Mannion
Demystifying Dyslexia Poster

4:20-5pm Stayer Refreshments

Audience Key:

  1. Students
  2. Parents
  3. Teachers and Future Teachers
  4. Counselors
  5. Administrators, Advocates and Attorneys
  6. Everyone

INFORMATION ON PRESENTERS

Dr. Marilyn Bartlett, J.D., Ed. D.
Dr. Bartlett is a Retired Dean and Professor of Educational Administration, Law and Policy at Texas A&M University.  Currently Dr. Bartlett is an Advocate for students and parents who are requesting services from schools K-16.  As the plaintiff in Bartlett v New York Board of Law Examiners (2001), Dr. Bartlett won rights to accommodations under the ADA for dyslexics.

Ms. Julianne Browne, Learning Services, Millersville University
Retired English teacher, Cecil County Public Schools
Current Department Secretary, Office of Learning Services, Millersville University

 Dr. Jill Craven, Ph.D.
Chair, Department of English, Professor of Film Studies, Millersville University

Mr. Kevin Ghaffari, MPS
Special Education Teacher, Millersville University Education Foundations Part-time Faculty Member

Ms. Kathy Halligan
Language Arts Teacher, Delaware Valley Friends School.  Kathy trained at Teacher’s College with Judith Birsh in the Orton Gillingham Program. She is also trained in The Wilson Reading System, Just Words, Fundations, and the Read Naturally Fluency Program. 

Ms. Heather Hinkel
Center Director, Children’s Dyslexia Center of Lancaster

Dr. Stacey Irwin, Ph.D.
Professor of Communication and Theatre, Millersville University

Dr. Janet Josephson, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Early, Middle, and Exceptional Education, Millersville University

Dr. Pamela M. Kastner, Ed. D.
Literacy Statewide Lead, Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network [PaTTAN]

Dr. Margaret Kay, Ed.D. NCSP, FABPS
Licensed Psychologist, Nationally Certified School Psychologist, Fellow, American Board of Psychological Specialties with Forensic Specialization in Educational & School Psychology. Dr. Kay has been in private practice since 1980 and is often relied upon by parents and schools to perform Independent Educational Evaluations (IEE’s) for school-age children and college students. Dr. Kay has a doctorate in Educational & School Psychology with a specialization in child neuropsychology and has testified as an expert in a number of Dyslexia cases. The title of her doctoral dissertation was: Cognitive Predictors of the Dyslexia Syndrome and she is a lifetime member of the International Dyslexia Association.

Ms. Helen Mannion, M. Ed., CALT,
Director of Teacher Training, and Director of Language and Literacy Remediation, Delaware Valley Friends School

Ms. Abigail Rissinger
Millersville University Student, Dyslexic Student Advocate

Ms. Sara Page Stinchcomb
Lancaster Country Day Student, Dyslexic Student Advocate

THANKS

These events were generously supported by Millersville’s Center for Public Scholarship and Social Change, the Dean of the School of Art, Humanities and Social Sciences,  the Dean of the School of Education, the Department of English, and the Office of the Provost.

INFORMATION ON RESOURCE TABLES

Resources will be presented by

Kevin Willmott, Screenwriter of Blackkklansman, Visits MU

Kevin Willmott Discussion Panel

Thursday, Kevin Willmott, screenwriter of Blackkklansman, shared his expertise with Millersville University Students.  Willmott visited classes, lunched with students, dined with faculty and students, and participated in a panel discussion with Dr. Tracey Weis, Mr. Barry Kornhauser, and Dr. Theresa Russell-Loretz.

Professor Willmott gave students great advice about writing for the screen, including how to establish a controlling idea for a narrative. In the discussion, Willmott and the MU students discussed the concept of “twoness,” the controlling idea which grounds Blackkklansman.  For example, characters in the film identify as African American and a policeman, as Jewish and a policeman, as African American and American, etc.  As many people live with such double identities, the film reaches out to diverse audience members through its central concept.

The discussion also explored how this narrative set in the 1970s connected to the white supremacist actions in Charlottesville and elsewhere. When Willmott was questioned about the suggestions the film made for addressing racism, Film and American Society student Aliya Brown suggested that the final scene offered answers:  to work together to expose racist acts for what they are.

Willmott generously discussed narrative ideas with film students like Ismael Miranda, pictured above to the right of Willmott, Dr. Craven (to left of Willmott) and Dr. Theresa Russell-Loretz (on right).  Willmott encouraged students to set aside some time each day for writing, even just half an hour.  He noted in his own writing he often tried to make his hero’s life as difficult as possible.  To write realistic dialogue, Willmott advised students to always identify the point of a scene; then characters should be talking about that point.  Students who attended were grateful for the practical writing advice so generously offered by Willmott, who was written such films as C.S.A.: The Confederate States of America and Chi-Raq.

 

Taking TIFF in 2018

Millersville students traveled to the Toronto International Film Festival September 6-12 to explore the world of cinema at the Western Hemisphere’s most important film Festival.  Festival attendees enjoyed 12-15 films during their stay, including

  • Michael Moore’s new documentary Fahrenheit11/9
  • Teen Spirit (with a discussion by the director and cast)
  • The Homecoming, a new projThe Homecoming TIFF 2018ect by producer/actor Julia Roberts (with discussion by Roberts and cast after the film, pictured below right)
  • Neil Jordan’s Greta (with discussion by the director and cast)
  • George Tillman’sThe Hate U Give (with discussion by director and cast)
  • 3 Faces(by Iranian director Jafar Panafi)
  • The Image Book (a video essay directed by Jean-Luc Godard)
  • Cruz and Bardem in Farhadi’s Everybody Knows
  • Alfonso Cuaron’s semi-autobiographical film ROMA (with a discussion by Cuaron)
  • Emma Tammi’s horror-western The Wind (with a discussion by director and cast after the screening)
  • The Public (with a discussion by first-time director Emilio Estevez and cast, including Alec Baldwin and Christian Bale)
The TIFF 2018 Crew on King Street

As Industry Conference participants, the group also attended industry events, including a conversation with eclectic producer/mogul Nina Yang Bongiovi, who presented advice on working in the industry.

Students also were able to experience screenings in the last operating double theatre in the world, the Elgin/Winter Garden.  Students enjoyed the eclectic array of films from non-narrative cinema (Jean-Luc Godard’s The Image Book) to documentaries (Fahrenheit 11/9) to genre films (Greta) to foreign cinema (3 Faces) as well as the gracious hospitality of Toronto and its tasty food.  They even got to experience midnight screenings with the students on Ryerson University campus.

–Jill Craven