Washington College Fall 2020 Goose Nation Newsletter by Washington College

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washington college admissions newsletter | volume iv. number iii, fall 2020 | USPS 667260 washcoll.edu/admissions | 410-778-7700 | @wcadmissions

FRESH PERSPECTIVES: HOW ONE PROFESSOR USED VIRTUAL REALITY TO DEEPEN THE LEARNING EXPERIENCE

Pictured: Love on the Streets, a VR experience following Tim and Daisy, and their experience living life in public.

Using the college library’s new VARDIS (Virtual/ Augmented Reality Digital Imaging Studio), Steinmetz and Instructional Technologist Raven Bishop worked together to design a virtual reality (VR) experience around homelessness that transcended the typical observer perspective, allowing students to examine the subject from a more intimate and intense perspective.

“The VR activity actually put me in the shoes of a homeless person and showed me what it feels like,” said Shirokova. “It put me inside the topic and made it feel real. It was memorable and thought-provoking.” Steinmetz plans to repeat the VR activity around homelessness this fall, and to further build upon this innovative approach with at least two additional lessons. And because the activity requires just a smartphone and a simple cardboard VR viewer, it can easily be adapted as part of the online instruction.

Nancy Cross, Director of Educational Technology, also collaborated by providing instruction on media literacy and storytelling across multiple mediums.

What she learned through this process is that it’s important to let go of any expectations and ride the experience with the students. One group may find it life-changing while another group exposed to the same activity may need more support to work through it.

Core to the lesson were three VR experiences that immersed students in the daily lives of four unhoused people in Los Angeles. Through the 360-degree VR perspective offered by the four narrators, the students gained a real sense of “being there.”

“The real point here is to be responsive to what the students are feeling,” Steinmetz said. “Act as a guide through the activity and help students process the experience. How they respond is how they respond; it’s our job to be there to catch them.”

“When I was ‘in VR,’ I actually forgot that I was in college and in the middle of a class,” said Dasha Shirokova, a sophomore who participated in this activity. “I could not only see the videos, I could feel them.” As part of the lesson, Steinmetz prompted students to first unpack their assumptions around homelessness by acknowledging what they already believed. Most surprising to Steinmetz was how this brief 10-minute intervention resulted in an abrupt shift in that understanding, and the rapid unraveling of those

While it was just a one-week activity, it had a big impact on many levels.

“This was just one little thing that we implemented by asking ‘How can I deepen the learning around this point?’ There’s great value in these small interventions and innovations,” Steinmetz said. “They can lead to really big things.”

IN THIS ISSUE FRESH PERSPECTIVES: HOW ONE PROFESSOR USED VIRTUAL REALITY TO DEEPEN THE LEARNING EXPERIENCE BY KELLEY WALLACE PAGE 1

HE'S “FEELEY” GOOD! BY DAVID GANSELL PAGE 2

A PASSION FOR TEACHING BY WENDY MITMAN CLARKE M'16 PAGE 2

OUT OF THE BOX BY MARCIA LANDSKROENER M'02 PAGE 2

BECOMING SINOPHONE BY MEREDITH KENTON '19 PAGE 3

TEACHING AND LEARNING IN A PANDEMIC BY MARCIA LANDSKROENER M'02 PAGE 3

WASHINGTON COLLEGE IS THE FIRST COLLEGE IN MARYLAND TO OFFER A PATH TO TEACHER CERTIFICATION IN COMPUTER SCIENCE BY ABBEY WARK '18 PAGE 3

WASHINGTON COLLEGE CAMPUS COMMUNITY UNITES TO MASTER VIRTUAL TEACHING BY DAVID GANSELL

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office of admissions

One of the goals of Emily Steinmetz’s Introduction to Anthropology course is to guide students to new ways of seeing the world. Another is to make visible the structural factors that profoundly shape people’s lives. And thanks to her collaboration with two Washington College colleagues, she was recently able to engage with students in an innovative way that supported those goals.

ingrained stereotypes. “Credit goes to the students for that,” she said. “They came into the activity with open hearts and minds. Because they were willing to let go of those preconceived notions, they were open to a new way of thinking.”

washington college 300 washington avenue chestertown, maryland 21620

by Kelley Wallace

But swimming is certainly how Feeley has made a name for himself in Chestertown. On February 23, 2020, Andrew became just the second Shoreman (John Evans '04) to win three Centennial Conference Championships in the same event, striking gold in the 200 backstroke at Gettysburg College. He is the first to accomplish the feat in three consecutive years and has a chance to rewrite history in 2021. "It's unbelievable," Feeley admitted. "Becoming a champion was always kind of a dream before I started my career here. I really only thought about winning a medal, however, the drive inside of me has been building. Once you get one you want more and I'm so close to winning a fourth that I can almost feel it."

HE'S “FEELEY” GOOD! by David Gansell Baltimore County, Maryland native Andrew Feeley has been swimming since he was a baby. Like many parents, Nancy and Michael Feeley believed that acquiring this life skill was critical for young Andrew, his older brother Michael, and his twin brother Daniel. Little did the Washington College senior know that a certain graduate of Towson High School, Feeley's alma mater, would soon be turning the world of sports on its head. That famous graduate, Michael Phelps, would become an enormous inspiration for Andrew during his childhood. Phelps, the most decorated Olympic athlete of all time, became a household name during the 2008 Beijing

A PASSION FOR TEACHING by Wendy Mitman Clarke M'16 Ellie Byers came to Washington College with a solid plan — to earn her undergraduate degree in just three years, complete a master's program in education, and then get certified to teach to chemistry. “I’ve wanted to teach since even before I went to school, which doesn’t make sense, but just, like, forever,” says Ellie. “But I didn’t know what I wanted to teach until I took chemistry in high school.” Ellie was drawn to the small, tight-knit community of Washington College in general, but specifically to the Department of Chemistry, where she has flourished. The president of the chemical honor society and a tutor and course mentor for chemistry in the Office of Academic Skills, Ellie also

Summer Olympics, breaking Mark Spitz's single Olympic Games mark by taking eight gold medals. An 8-year-old Feeley was suddenly captivated, not only by Phelps, but by competitive swimming in general. "That's what got me started in terms of my love for the sport," Feeley stated. "He [Phelps} was literally from my own neighborhood and it was the first time I had paid any attention to the Olympics." Soon after, Feeley joined the Merritt Athletic Swim Club in Towson, where he trained for ten years. Despite Phelps' rise to superstardom, Towson High did not offer the sport of swimming. Conceding to hitting a plateau in the water during his high school days, Feeley went on to be recruited by several schools, including Division I UMBC, an America East Conference power in the sport. "I just loved everything about Washington College each time I visited the campus," Feeley explained when discussing his college decision. "Swimming was secondary for me as my emphasis was on school first and foremost."

Feeley, who broke the school record in the 200 back with a time of 1:49.06 during the preliminary race at the 2020 conference championships, also holds Washington's top mark in the 100 backstroke and earned a bronze medal in last February's Centennial Championships. "I have always been more of a middle-distance swimmer," Feeley stated. "You have to swim a little smarter and focus on your strokes in the 200 back versus the 100 back." The business management major with a 3.20 GPA is very appreciative of all of the support that he's received, particularly from the alumni of the College. "There is a strong connection here which is so nice," he said. I have received many text messages of encouragement from former swimmers." Feeley, who coaches the Hampton Hammerheads of the Hampton Pool Association, believes it’s important to be a mentor for others, particularly because he was discovered to be hard of hearing at the age of 2. "It has taught me about who I am and what I can overcome in life. I try to let the kids that I coach know that they can accomplish their goals no matter what challenges life might present them.”

shared her enthusiasm for chemistry with students in the local middle and high schools. Last fall, she secured an internship at The Gunston School through the chemistry department. You might call her single-minded. Ellie decided to use her Senior Capstone Experience to conduct a green chemistry experiment that she could then turn into a lab for high school students. Working with Prof. Anne Marteel-Parrish, Ellie devised a bio-mimicry experiment using waste cooking oil from the College’s Dining Services and blue cheese to mimic the anti-bacterial compound found in preen oil—the oil that birds use on their feathers. “The mold in blue cheese has the chemistry necessary to make anti-bacterial compounds,” Ellie explains. “And its waterproof, because it’s oil. So, the students can test those properties and see how they can turn something like waste cooking oil—something that might otherwise end up in landfills and contaminate our waterways—into something that’s going to have beneficial properties.” Ellie is especially grateful to the chemistry department faculty members. “They are the heart and soul of the department, and they are the best part of having to go to class,” she says. “They really make sure that you know it’s not just about memorization and

OUT OF THE BOX by Marcia Landskroener M'02

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With the status of the 2020-2021 season still up in the air due to COVID-19, Feeley has been training on his own and completes individual workouts designed by the coaching staff. “I can’t control what is going to happen this season so I’m just trying to stay mentally focused and physically ready for a possible season.”

learning things for tests. It’s about how you can apply these things and understand how these are going to be helpful in your future career, whatever that is. That’s something I’m super thankful for, because they really know their students can target specific topics to what you might be interested in.”

women can’t defend themselves against a bigger, stronger attacker.” Julia’s experiences in the workplace illustrate similar juxtapositions. She has worked as an Instructional Design intern for a healthcare audit company, an English teacher for an online Chinese-based company called QKids, a dental assistant, and a janitor. She now has a part-time gig running social media marketing for Raw Combat Mid-Atlantic in Easton, and she was recently certified as an eyelash technician. Her academic experiences are just as varied.

Don’t make any assumptions about Julia Manaraze. The humanities major can take you down in unarmed combat just as easily as she applies eyelash extensions. She chose Washington College because she wanted to explore lots of different subjects at a college close to home; a healthy tuition aid package and the Mixed Martial Arts Club clinched the deal.

“I wasn’t interested in only one thing,” Julia says, “and I don’t like doing things that people automatically make assumptions about. I like economics and art. I like English and philosophy. And I found through an internship I completed one summer that I really like business. After graduation I plan to work for a couple of years and then enroll in an MBA program.”

“My dad told me he wanted me to ‘be lethal,’ ” says Julia, who was homeschooled in a conservative Christian household. “He started me in mixed martial arts—boxing, wrestling, Jiu Jitsu—in my second year of high school. It’s nice to be strong and feel safe, and it’s nice to challenge the common misperception that

Until then, Julia will focus on her Senior Capstone thesis, for which she will use Annie Dillard’s “Pilgrim at Tinker Creek” to explore present-day interpretations of Biblical concepts such as environmental stewardship, virtue ethics, and the fecundity of reproduction. “That text has everything I need for a thesis.”

BECOMING SINOPHONE

by Meredith Kenton ’19 Longing to become fluent in Chinese, economics major Charles Snyder ‘21 headed to China to spend a semester studying abroad. After enduring the almost 20-hour flight, he knew he was ready for the challenge, but had no idea how rewarding the experience would end up being. As a study abroad student, seeing the sights, learning the area, and making new friends are all to be expected. But, after visiting a local elementary school, Charles recognized that this trip was much more profound. Holding perfectly natural conversations with the children, he realized that his Chinese had significantly improved. “It was incredibly rewarding to see that I was at a point where natives could understand me, without the need for ridiculous hand motions or roundabout explanations,” he described. Figuring he would study abroad while at Washington College, Charles didn’t anticipate how much this decision would anticipate his future plans. Now, he is confident he would be comfortable with a career based in Asia, rather than simply working for a company in the United States that regularly deals with the Asian economy.

TEACHING AND LEARNING IN A PANDEMIC by Marcia Landskroener M'02 Colin Levi '20 thought he would spend his final semester, this fall, student-teaching in a high school classroom. The pandemic changed all that. When Queen Anne’s County High School moved its coursework online this fall, Colin and his teacher-mentor, Erica Schauber, quickly pivoted to adapt their Spanish language curriculum to the virtual environment of Schoology and Google Drive. The experience has been an interesting case study, informing his Senior Capstone project for his major in Communication & Media Studies. Colin set out to examine how English language learners use technology in the classroom, and the impact of technology on language acquisition and sense of identity. “I thought I would see students become really dependent on technology, with teachers using it as a replacement, not a supplement, to classroom learning,” Colin says. “But

In late June, the Washington College Department of Education was approved by the Maryland State Department of Education to offer a path to teacher certification in computer science. This is the first and only path available at the undergraduate level in Maryland. This certification joins 14 other secondary teacher certification programs, including the environmental science teacher certification program, which is the only one in the state of Maryland—undergraduate or graduate. The computer science certification started with a conversation between Coordinator of Secondary Education, Erin Counihan, and Associate Professor and Chair of Math & Computer Science, Shaun Ramsey, about the possibility of a partnership; along the way, the College received a grant for almost $20,000 for collaborative experiences for students between the two departments, college staff, and Kent County Public Schools teachers and staff. The pair designed and were approved for the certification pathway.

Back on the Eastern Shore, head down to the Chester River to find Snyder hanging out and working hard with his closest friends and teammates on the men’s rowing team. “They have pushed me to achieve what I never thought possible before coming to college,” he reflects. Not only has this team formed his core group of friends, but it has helped him flourish as a student, athlete, and most importantly, as a young adult. Beyond rowing, he continues to make the most out of his college experience - attending on-campus events and starting traditions of his own. From Dumpling Night with the Asian Studies Department to a Friendsgiving celebration at a friend’s apartment, Charles’s experience is unique, but not uncommon for a student here. At Washington College, you can truly do it all.

“Professor Counihan told me: ‘Here’s what the State of Maryland requires. This is what we require. We know this is weird and unexpected, but we will do everything we can to make sure you get certified.’”

now I’m seeing unequal distribution of power because of the unequal distribution of technology. We as educators need to use technology to enhance the language experience, but when the classroom is all virtual and there is a language barrier, the dependence on technology becomes a deterrent.” School administrators are now considering how to accommodate those students with limited access to the internet, and to help non-native English language learners overcome what could be a year’s loss of learning. “When this started happening, the response from my professors [Erin Counihan and Bridget Bunten in the Department of Education] was to see it as an opportunity to approach equity and equality through a virtual lens. ‘Here’s how to teach virtually as best as you can.’” Colin is also grateful for the clear guidance he received. “I always knew what the expectations were,” he says.

WASHINGTON COLLEGE IS THE FIRST COLLEGE IN MARYLAND TO OFFER A PATH TO TEACHER CERTIFICATION IN COMPUTER SCIENCE by Abbey Wark ’18

For his economics Senior Capstone Experience, Charles plans to look at the role that language plays for English and Chinese speakers in the global marketplace. Combining an extensive knowledge of economic principles with advanced translating skills and an understanding of Chinese culture and government, this truly culminating project will incorporate the best of both his economics degree with his Asian studies minor.

REMINDERS Applications for the 2021-2022 academic year are live! Learn more at washcoll. edu/apply The FAFSA is open, Washington College’s school code is 002108.

VISIT VIRTUALLY November Open House Join us November 10th for an in-depth look at WC, from the comfort of your couch. Learn about all aspects of life at Washington College with both our student panel and faculty panel. You can personalize your visit with additional opportunities, too! Learn about our upcoming events at washcoll.edu/fall20events

ASK A STUDENT Our students know it all. Visit washcoll.edu/askastudent to chat with the students who do it all.

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WASHINGTON COLLEGE CAMPUS COMMUNITY UNITES TO MASTER VIRTUAL TEACHING by David Gansell The world has changed. Nevertheless, the pledge for a strong campus community, perhaps the backbone of Washington College, has remained entirely intact. Hard-pressed to deal with our existing condition of social distancing and the need for conveying empathy in support of students, many factions on campus have rallied to ensure the success of virtual instruction. Dedicated faculty, who have embraced a new method of training, believe that their connections with students have never been stronger. As countless teachers and students across the globe struggle with our new reality of remote learning, Washington College’s traditional liberal arts discipline continues to thrive in Chestertown. “It hasn’t been just one group leading the charge,” said Staff Council Chair, Raven Bishop. “We have invested in new equipment and programming, but that’s not what makes us special. There are so many campus leaders and faculty members that have gone above and beyond to make sure that we continue to flourish. Our first priority is to make sure our students are healthy, both physically and mentally. I consistently hear from our professors that it’s extremely important that their students understand that they can reach out to them for support. Next, they strive to build a great classroom community despite the obvious challenges they are facing. A staple of our College will always be about the connections with students,” Bishop concluded. At the pandemic’s outset, Assistant Mathematics Professor Emerald Stacy’s instinct was to pull back when she realized that her stretch calculus students were extremely stressed at the end of a two-semester course. Stacy substituted projects and took away tests, bringing the group together for moral support while sprinkling in some math to help keep them distracted. “I feel that a lot of the professors here really embody that sense of compassion,” Stacy expressed. “We have to recognize that many of our students are being pulled in so many different directions and are living in trauma.” Support for faculty has been a robust effort from many heroes. Director of the Cromwell Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL), Kitty Maynard, launched four major programming initiatives this past summer. The first was to create a hy-flex/hybrid course design working group, which met every two weeks to discuss issues about how to prepare for all eventualities this fall. Next, she enlisted CTL advisory board member Meghan Gross to create a series of short video demonstrations of tech tools and created a small teaching online book club that was headed by faculty member Kim Andrews. Lastly, she curated a resources page on Canvas to help faculty on various topics.

department. All of this evolved so rapidly but I’m continuously learning how to use technology, combining both audio and video. It’s been both challenging and interesting, and I’m actually excited to learn more from others on campus.” “I have found many positive aspects of this type of teaching, such as communicating with introverted students who feel more comfortable with the online discussion boards,” Song added. “I think there is a legitimate reason to combine the strengths of both remote and traditional teaching in the future. Washington College is unique in that the person-to-person instruction can still be accomplished in this environment.” Assistant Professor of Communications, Alicia Kozma, has also taken advantage of campus collaboration. “I’ve had a number of conversations with other faculty on campus on how to successfully integrate media in new ways to take advantage of some of the opportunities that virtual learning affords us. We have additional tools that have been left in our pockets which we can now use. This is a great opportunity, not to revise how we teach, rather update what we teach with. “There is something to be said about the energy of a classroom,” Kozma added. “That being said, the liveliness of those classrooms come from students. Students aren’t different, we are just engaging them in a new space. In a global marketplace, students need to know how to work online and engage as a member of a team virtually. They also need to know how to publicly speak or conduct an interview over Zoom. There are a lot of benefits to being able to test that out and learn those skills in the safe space of a classroom.” Nancy Cross, the College’s Director of Education Technology, has also played a big role in preparing professors over the recent months. “It’s been so interesting to watch our faculty adjust and put all of their energy into doing what’s necessary to make sure that our students get the best education they can possibly have. That willingness to learn and look for the right tools to use is a big part of our success story.” If there is a silver lining to the pandemic, Maynard is quick to mention the pillar of Washington College, sustaining a strong community. “I’m so proud to be a member of this institution. I’m astounded by the thoughtfulness of my colleagues and how many of them have stepped up in finding ways to help our students and their fellow co-workers. We have identified many students who have encountered financial hardships and are working odd hours to support themselves and their family. Others have learning space limitations and need a quiet place to study and concentrate in class.” It is clear that the entire Washington College community has united during one of the most difficult times in the history of our country.

CONNECT WITH YOUR ADMISSIONS COUNSELOR – We want to get to know the person behind the application — the real you. Send us an email, text, or even DM on instagram, we'd love to hear from you.

Kelsey Miller '10 / Director of Admission (410) 394-5355 • kmiller8@washcoll.edu @wc_kelseymiller

Cassandra Hynson / Associate Director for Transfer Admission (410) 421-7405 • chynson2@washcoll.edu Transfer Students @wc_cassandrahynson

Raeann Rolston / Associate Director for International Admission (410) 810-5811 • rrolston2@washcoll.edu International Students, Northern Delaware @wc_raeannrolston

Lisa Nicole Smith / Associate Director for Multicultural Admission (410) 397-7596 • lsmith6@washcoll.edu Maryland (Baltimore City Select Schools, Montgomery County Select Schools, and Prince Georges County), Washington DC Select Schools, and Philadelphia, PA @wc_lisanicolesmith

Jack Despeaux '18 / Admissions Counselor

(410) 390-0757 • jdespeaux2@washcoll.edu Maryland (Montgomery County), Washington, D.C. Private Schools, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont @wc_jackdespeaux

Skylar Kuhn / Assistant Director (410) 390-0305 • skuhn2@washcoll.edu Maryland (Baltimore City Private Schools, Anne Arundel & Baltimore Counties), Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Puerto Rico @wc_skylarkuhn

Annmarie Magnus / Admissions Counselor (410) 927-1710 • amagnus2@washcoll.edu Pennsylvania, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Wisconsin @wc_annmariemagnus

Kelly Valette '18 / Assistant Director of Admissions (707) 931-4395 • kvalette2@washcoll.edu Maryland (Allegany, Calvert, Caroline, Charles, Dorchester, Garrett, Howard, Kent, Queen Anne's, Somerset, St. Mary's, Talbot, Washington, Wicomico, and Worchester Counties), Southern Delaware, Virginia, West Virginia, and West Coast States @wc_kellyvalette

Shannon Whitaker / Admissions Counselor (410) 449-7177 • swhitaker2@washcoll.edu New Jersey, New York, Harford Co (MD), Cecil Co (MD) @wc_shannonwhitaker

“I have learned so much since last March,” stated Bin Song, an Assistant Professor in the Philosophy

UPCOMING EVENTS Do your day, your way.

Want to learn more about our beautiful college along Maryland’s Eastern Shore? Join us in person or virtually! Participate in a student-led tour, have all your questions answered during an info session, or sign up for a special topics session with our campus resources or signature centers. We can’t wait to help you do your day, your way.

WASHINGTON COLLEGE ADMISSIONS NEWSLETTER volume 1v. number iii, fall 2020 USPS 667260 | ISSN 2577-3658 EDITOR Abbey Wark '18 CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Marcia Landskroener M’02 David Gansell Kelley Wallace Wendy Mitman Clarke M'16 Abbey Wark '18 Meredith Kenton '19

ART DIRECTOR John Lucas PRINTING RTC Direct Mailing, Inc.

On-campus and virtual visits are offered Monday-Friday.

Goose Nation, Publication No. (USPS 667260) is published quarterly by Washington College, 300 Washington Avenue, Chestertown, Maryland 21620, in April, July, October, and January. Periodical postage paid at Chestertown, Maryland, and at other offices.

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