The Crocker Center for Civic Engagement hosted a roundtable discussion for faculty and administrators with Dr. John Reiff, Director of Civic Learning and Engagement for the state Department of Higher Education. 

This semester, Music Professor Justin Casinghino is teaching Art of Music, Introduction to Music Technology, Basic Music Theory, and Harmony I. Learn more about our Music Programs here.

Members of the faculty looked at the historical factors that have led to what has been called the Second October War in Israel and Gaza, while exploring how the crisis fits into other contexts, in Ellis White Lecture Hall yesterday afternoon. Professor Joshua Spero moderated a panel discussion, which also included Michael Hoberman (English Studies),Eric Budd (Economics, History and Political Science), Yasser Derwiche Djazaerly (Humanities), Benjamin Lieberman (Economics, History and Political Science), R. Brad Bannon (Humanities) and Wafa Unus (English Studies)

University music faculty members Jane Fiske, Jonathan Harvey, Amy McGlothlin and Justin Casinghino were joined by special guests Kris Layton, Alanna Rantala and Cynthia Schilling for this performance highlighting Fitchburg State's new, nine-foot Steinway Model D concert grand piano. 

The Center for Faculty Scholarship featured Professor Teresa Fava Thomas of the Economics, History and Political Science Department for a conversation about her new book, The Allied Bombing of Central Italy: The Restoration of the Nile Mosaic and Sanctuary of Fortuna at Palestrina. Dr. Thomas's book "explores the pressure by the Mussolini regime to control the Barberini family's art collection, the uses of cultural materials for propaganda purposes, the Allied use of airpower in the Italian theater of war, the postwar decision-making and recovery process. The book is one of the very few long-range studies of the war's impact on a single Italian town."

Today, President Lapidus hosted a Welcome Back & Recognition Day for our returning faculty.  The day began with colleagues gathering outside the Antonucci Science Complex, where they had the opportunity to reconnect after the summer, and before the start of the fall semester tomorrow.

After a luncheon with Deans and Department Chairs, our newest faculty members were welcomed by President Dr. Richard Lapidus before Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Patricia Marshall, began Day 1 of a two day New Faculty & Librarian Orientation - Promoting Faculty Success program.

Communications Media's Assistant Professor, Film and Video, Rachelle A. Dermer, and her crew of Communications Media, and other majors, are in production of the second season of the web series Balls of Tin. Balls of Tin season one tells the story of a film crew attempting to film a series about extreme mountain biking, but are stuck with a star who cannot ride very well. Professor  Dermer owns the production company postHysteria Productions, that produced season one, and now season two. It's an outstanding opportunity for our students to see what it's like to create a film project from the start to beginning, bottom to top. Watch Balls of Tin Season One here.

Recently, the Center for Faculty Scholarship hosted a celebration of recent faculty-authored publications in Miller Oval. The event celebrated six faculty members who recently published books, and one who released an album. Each faculty member  briefly discussed their work, with time for Q+A and discussion before the reception to honor them and their accomplishments

It's been a busy two days, so far, for our Young Falcons Academy week, where students from Fitchburg and Leominster public middle schools partake in a week full of activities on campus. Yesterday and today, the Young Falcons met with current students to find out what college life was really like, make shadow puppets in Conlon Fine Arts with Professors Sally Moore and Andrea Olmstead, learn about therapy dogs meeting a Fitchburg State favorite Daisy the Therapy Dog, just to name a few.