University of Scranton

09/26/2025 | Press release | Archived content

Friday, Oct. 3 Faculty Research Seminar Series Continues 20 Years of Scholarship

Designed to provide a place for sharing scholarship, the first faculty research presentation was held Feb. 4, 2005.

"In its essence, the series is intended to build community and collegiality by setting the venue for you to communicate to others just what you do. It's casual and fun: a great way to relax, meet faculty from various disciplines and get a good feel for the University community at its best. Please join us," said Amelia Randich, faculty seminar coordinator.

Upcoming presentations will be held on select Fridays from 3:10 to 4:30 p.m., in Loyola Science Center 233. Refreshments will be served.

On Sept. 19, Dr. Chris Haw, Theology Department, presented "God is No-Thing: What is the Difference Between Atheism and Apophatic Theology? (or, Concerning the Unintelligibility of Scapegoating and the Holy)"

The schedule for the semester is as follows:
  • Oct 3: Dr. Adam Pratt, History Department, "The Militia: An American Institution"

  • Oct. 24: Dr. Cyrus Olsen, Theology Department, "Living Networks: How Community, Ecology, and Spirituality Shape Help-Seeking Behavior in Uganda"

  • Oct. 31: Kate Cummings, Library Department, "Try Being a Librarian! Commitment in the Face of Obsolescence in Turbulent Times"

  • Nov. 7: Dr. Chris Howey, Biology Department, "Snake on Fire: Disturbing Rattlesnake Ecology and Physiology"

  • Nov. 21: Sylvia Orner, Library Department, "Assessing a Library Collection Using Faculty Citation Data"

  • Dec. 5: Dr. Christie Pugh Karpiak, Psychology Department: TBA

For more information contact [email protected].

Have scholarship you want to share? We're now looking for seminar speakers for next semester. Please contact the coordinator if interested.

Friday, Oct. 3

"The Militia: An American Institution," presented by: Dr. Adam Pratt, associate professor in history.


"Codified by the Constitution, the American militia system was designed to be the United States's primary mode of national defense. Between 1792 and 1903 Americans participated in, trained for, argued over, and made fun of the militia system. What makes the militia uniquely American, then, is its contested nature and how it was a stand-in for political, social, and economic debates over its century-long existence." - Adam Pratt, Ph.D.

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