William T. Sawyer
Reporter
Two professors took trips last week and are hoping that their experiences away
from Milligan will be of benefit to their students.
Charlene Kiser, associate professor of humanities, went to Lafayette, Ind.,
where she attended the Biblical Counseling Training Conference. Kiser attended
classes for 12 hours a day for six days, learning how to use Scripture in
everyday situations.
“It was definitely one of the best things I’ve ever done in my life,” Kiser
said.
Kiser said counselors mostly attended the conference. She wanted to attend
because she is routinely approached my Milligan students who seek her advice and
often feels inadequate because she does not feel like she can properly answer
their questions.
Kiser learned about the conference in October through a friend that is a
counselor and planned on going.
“She told me she thought it would be a great idea for me,” Kiser said.
Kiser said she was worried about the trip because it was going to be expensive,
but she was surprised when a letter came in the mail saying that her friend had
paid for all the expenses.
She didn’t have any problems in planning the trip as Academic Dean Mark Matson
allowed her to take the trip, even though she had teaching responsibilities.
Matson said he believed it would be beneficial for her to attend the conference.
Kiser also said the Dean was confident she could make arrangements so that her
students could still have classes. Her humanities sections attended other
sections during her absence, and her writing classes were left with instructions
on what to do. She said they worked on research projects and had a library day.
Kiser also said she was pleased with how much the students had accomplished in
her absence.
Another professor, Ruth McDowell Cook, associate professor of English and
humanities, went to Paris for a workshop with EF tours, the group that handles
the humanities tour. She flew from Atlanta to Germany on Thursday and arrived in
Paris on Friday.
Cook said she was in meetings on Saturday until 4 p.m. and then enjoyed some
free time. She stayed Sunday as well, taking the time to visit two world famous
art museums, the Notre Dame Cathedral and walk through the heart of Paris. She
also attended church with friends Sunday morning, ate at Parisian restaurants
and went shopping. Cook said she even rode on the back of a motorcycle with a
friend who lives directly across the Seine River from Notre Dame.
Cook believes she got the best of both worlds. She said that she not only
prepared for this year’s humanities tour, but she also got to spend time with
friends and enjoy herself.