Danielle Wagner awarded Elizabeth George Ivers Scholarship for Women

 

Danielle Wagner is this year's recipient of the Elizabeth George Ivers Scholarship for Women. This scholarship, which was endowed by Elizabeth George Ivers, a graduate of our department and a Distinguished Alumna of Daemen, provides a $2,000 award to a student who excels at academics and has a strong record of community service. Danielle is a History & Political Science: Adolescent Education major who is very involved in volunteer work on and off campus. Her community involvement includes assisting with free breakfast and lunch programs, working with young people with autism and severe medical disabilities, and volunteering to help with events at Daemen. 

After graduation, Danielle plans to become a social studies teacher and pursue advanced study in history. Congratulations, Danielle!

Dr. Joseph Sahr Sankoh travels to India as Fulbright scholar

Dr. Joseph Sahr Sankoh, Associate Professor of Political Science, served as U.S. Senior Fulbright Guest Professor at O.P. Jindal Global University in India during a three-week trip in March, 2015. In 2014, Dr. Sankoh was approved for the the Senior Specialist Fulbright Award Roster for overseas exchange from the U.S. Council for International Exchange of Scholars (CIES). This designation confers five years of eligibility for short-term Fulbright faculty exchanges with institutions throughout the world. (More information about Dr. Sankoh's Fulbright award is available in this story from February 2014.)

  

During his service as a Fulbright scholar at the O.P. Jindal Global University, Dr. Sankoh taught a graduate class in Global Migration & Refugees; evaluated dissertation proposals; participated in workshops, seminars, and speaking engagements; met international students; and visited a Tibetan refugee camp in New Dehli, India. The O.P. Jindal Global University is a private university with a strong focus on foreign relations, diplomacy, political leadership, and public service. The university has a strong presence of international students, many of them from the developing world. 

Upon his return from India, Dr. Sankoh emphasized his interest in building a relationship between Daemen and O.P Jindal Global University in such areas as International Studies, Migration & Refugee Studies, and Service Learning. He expressed appreciation to the Fulbright program and the U.S. Institute for International Education for the opportunity to travel to India. "I like India, its people, and its culture, and look forward to continuous positive relations between US and India," Sankoh wrote. 

During his time as a Fulbright scholar, Dr. Sankoh also plans to travel to Botswana, Poland, Ukraine, and Sierra Leone, and will draw upon these experiences for his current research on comparative global genocide since World War II. Among other case studies, he is focusing on Jewish, African, Burmese, and Syrian people.

Dr. Joseph Sahr Sankoh displays a medal 
awarded by O.P. Jindal Global University
after returning to Daemen

Community Conversation -- W.E.B. DuBois & Service

 Members of the Daemen community discuss service on Jan. 31, 2014

On January 31, 2014, Dr. Angela Diaz, Assistant Professor of History, facilitated a discussion on "The Legacy of Civil Rights: A Conversation about Service from DuBois to King" among members of the Daemen College community. Over 50 students, faculty members, and administrative staff members took part in the discussion, which began with the reading of excerpts from a Commencement address by W.E.B. DuBois to graduates of Fisk University in 1898. The event was co-sponsored by Daemen's History & Political Science Department and the Diversity Action Committee along with the New York State Council for the Humanities as part of the "Community Conversation for Martin Luther King, Jr., Day of Community Service" series. 

Dr. Diaz (standing) and participants at the beginning of the discussion

Malcolm Hicks, Braxton Stinson, & Emmanuel Regis

Dr. William Edward Burghardt (W.E.B) DuBois (1868-1963) was an historian, sociologist, Pan-Africanist, and civil rights activist who helped to found the NAACP and influenced generations of African American civil rights leaders to continue fighting for the betterment of their communities. DuBois was 30 years old when he delivered the address at Fisk, at the cusp of a long and significant career as an academic and activist.

Briana Reid

In his address, DuBois asked his audience of newly-minted college graduates to contemplate the question: "What careers can you follow to realize the ideals and hopes of this day?" He urged them to direct their talents toward work that helped make "a life worth living," that is, to use their education to benefit members of their communities and society at large. 

"And with the life work chosen, remember that it can become, as you will it, drudgery or heroism, prosaic or romantic, brutal or divine," DuBois said. "If you make the object of your life calling food and drink, food and drink, food and drink it will yield you grudgingly--but if above and beyond mere existence you seek to play well your part because it is worth playing--to do your duty because the world thirsts for your service, to perform clean, honest, thorough work, not for cheap applause, but because the work needs to be done, then is all your toil and drudgery transfigured into divine service and joins the mighty lives that have swept beyond time into the everlasting world."  

"I was excited for the Community Conversation and glad to see so many students, faculty, and staff come together to talk openly and honestly about the value of community service," Dr. Diaz said. "Aside from the thoughtful comments and questions what I thought was most revealing was that so many of us from so many different backgrounds could relate to one another despite the fact that we all came from such different communities. Afterward, Dr. Lisa Parshall and I talked about how important it is to understand people from different backgrounds. Understanding the commonalities that you have with another person so seemingly unlike you is a crucial step on the long road toward becoming a global citizen and serving the global community." 

In discussing DuBois' speech and ideas, many students focused upon the needs of their home communities as well as on their experiences with Service Learning while at Daemen, emphasizing individual action and leadership. Francois Acosta, a sophomore Political Science major, said, "I certainly feel that there is a need for open-ended discussions like that on campus. It was interesting to hear other peoples' perspectives on the ever-growing issues within our communities. I was able to gain insight into the meaning of public service, which then reaffirmed my moral duty to give back to others." 

Tyler Vanice, junior History major, took inspiration from the address: "Our generation needs to strive for more community involvement and not wait for the opportunity to arise. People commonly say that 'the world is changing,' but I find that statement not true. We, the people, make the world and make it worth living in. If we don't make the changes and raise awareness of what is happening around us, then no one will." 


By Penny Messinger


**Special thanks to Dr. Serife Tekin, Adriane Williams, & Tyler Vanice for sharing their photos for this story.
 

Alumni Updates

Updates on some of our Past History & Political Science Graduates:


Alexander Marks (2008, History & Government) graduated from Massachusetts School of Law in 2011.  He is currently serving as In-House Counsel & Government Affairs Director for the Arizona Student's Association in Phoenix, Arizona.

In his time at Daemen, Alex was president of the Pre-Law Student Association (PLSA) and Vice-President of the History & Government Club.  Alex says that participating in the Pre Law Student Association's (PLSA) Annual Moot Court Experience was one of his favorite experiences for his time at Daemen.  

Saladi Shebule (2013, Political Science) is a Power Organizer for the Coalition of Economic Justice in Buffalo, New York.  

Saladi wrote his senior thesis on the Acculturation Challenges of the Somali Bantu Refugees in Buffalo, New York, which he presented at a "Seminar on Engagement with Refugee Students and Communities in Buffalo" (A conference held on Daemen College Campus, October 18, 2012 and co-hosted by the History & Political Science Department and Center for Sustainable Communities and Civic Engagement).  Saladi was also a presenter at World Refugee Day (A conference held on Daemen College Campus, June 20, 2013 and co-hosted by the History & Political Science Department's Refugee Studies Program and the Center for Sustainable Communities and Civic Engagement).  

In his time at Daemen, Saladi was an active member of the History & Government Club and a frequent participant in the Pre Law Student Association's (PLSA) Annual Moot Court Experience. 

Tyler Threehouse (2011, Political Science) is in his final year at the University at Buffalo School of Law and is currently serving as Head Law Clerk at Lipsitz Green Scime Cambria, in Buffalo, New York.  While at Daemen, Tyler was active in the Pre Law Student Association (PLSA) and a regular participant in the Annual Moot Court Experience.  

Congratulations to all of our graduates and best wishes on your continued success!