Thirty-nine years have passed since Professor Deborah Brown began working at the mills of UNH Manchester, but that illustrious era is approaching its climax in the upcoming term.

Spring 2015 will be Brown’s last semester, the coda to a career which began before there was a UNH Manchester. She began her work here in 1976, when the college was known as the Merrimack Valley Branch of the University of New Hampshire. “In those days, the school was on Hackett Hill,” says Deborah, “and though I’ve taught at Durham, I haven’t taught for any other university in thirty-nine years.”

Deborah grew up in Nashua before attending Wellesley College in Massachusetts. She came to UNH to complete her graduate work, earning her PhD in Literature before receiving her MFA from Warren Wilson College in North Carolina. Her discovery of the United States factors into her work, as an element of exploration seems to define college.

“When I first taught here, I saw a lot of older students, non-traditional students who were coming back to school after a hiatus. That mixed population helps everyone to become a better learner. The older students bring their work and life experience into the classroom, demonstrating vigor and intensity and responsibility. The younger students bring energy, humor, and more timely skills. I especially liked to see middle-aged women coming to college, returning to school after raising their children.”

When asked why she is preparing to leave the school, she explains that, after a long and successful career at the university, she is ready to focus on other endeavors. “I want to work on my poetry and my perennial beds, but I’m really eager to write. My poetry has been on the back-burner for awhile, and it’s time for me to put it on the front-burner again. I still enjoy teaching and I love the students, but it’s time for me to focus my energy elsewhere.”

When you enter Deborah’s office, you notice that the shelves are lined with books of poetry, hundreds upon hundreds of poetic volumes. “I’m thinning the collection so that I will have some room in the house,” she explains.

In addition to reading as much poetry as possible, Deborah has been writing her own poetry “...since forever. When you begin to take an interest in poetry, you have to learn how to read it, which requires skills different from the reading of prose. You have to learn that poetry is a different use of language. It takes an ability to read and understand images, and following them requires practice. It’s like listening to classical music: you might not love it the first time around.”

Deborah incorporates her love of poetry in her teaching; her favorite classes are poetry writing workshops, although she loves teaching almost anything. “I love to teach about American literature and women’s literature, especially Toni Morrison.”

I was fortunate enough to take Major Writer’s in English, Deborah’s specialty course on the works of Morrison. In that class, we learned about the life, career, and philosophy of Morrison, arguably the greatest living American writer. It was there that I discovered the wealth of knowledge Deborah has to offer her students, an intellect that is still rich after thirty-nine years of teaching.

Next semester, Deborah is teaching a creative writing course with sections on fiction, nonfiction, and, of course, poetry. She is also teaching Survey of American Literature, Part II, which begins with the work of Mark Twain and proceeds deep into the 20th century. Her final class will be Freshman Composition, an obligatory course for new students.

Those students are precisely the people Deborah is going to miss. “They are interesting, committed, and a lot of fun to be with. They’re much more serious than students in residential colleges because they are working, living with their families, etc.”

Professor Brown feels that UNH Manchester “has a vibe that is very different from most colleges. In residential colleges, there is often a high school relationship, but here, there is adult camaraderie. I enjoy the exchanges with students and the small class sizes. Here, you get to know the students, and people actively participate. In this school, there is so much opportunity to speak.”

Students looking to speak in Deborah’s classes will have their final chance next semester, and as a student fortunate enough to have taken three classes with one of the college’s greatest professors, I would very much encourage all students to seize that opportunity.

Request more information about UNH Manchester's English program.

Growing up in what felt like a small town with a big family, there weren’t many opportunities to see and travel the world.

Although my parents always tried their best to bring us to new places, there were always a few restrictions. Like we only ever took road trips, and never steered off of the East Coast.

With five kids ranging in age, this was quite the undertaking. Being stuffed in a car for 25 hours straight with a screaming sister wasn’t my ideal vacation. I always had an itch for something more, I just wanted to get on a plane and fly somewhere for once. It didn’t matter where, I just wanted to go.

I began traveling in high school with friends, around the states, finally via an airplane, but my wanderlust wasn’t satisfied. I didn’t have the budget to travel abroad, so I had to make do with what I had, while constantly dreaming of life outside the U.S.

During my junior year, I knew that it was the time and my opportunity to finally go abroad, any way that I could. 

When I discovered the Study Away program in Florence, Italy I instantly knew that this was my chance. This program was six weeks long in the middle of the summer so it wouldn’t force me to be away for too long. At the time I was studying Italian, based on interest and similarity to my background in Spanish, so I was immediately drawn to this program, although I knew very little about Italy.

I began planning to take this trip in my fall semester, in preparation for the following summer. I told my advisor, my family, and my significant other that I was going to study abroad and nothing would stop me. I would take out a student loan if I had to just to gain this once in a lifetime opportunity. They were all on board and wanted to see me go, so I did, but I did so more or less without a plan.

I made sure that I had enough money to get me through six weeks, and that I had enough clothes to do so. I was so excited that I did not think about much else and knew that I would figure it out when I got there. I arrived in Italy to find that in Mid May it is freezing and rainy, so I had to buy warmer clothes, I was off to a great start. My only plan was to travel as much as I could in the six-week period, and soak up as much of the Italian culture as I possibly could.

I began to list out all of the areas of Italy and neighboring countries that I wanted to see while I was there. So of course my list was almost as long as those receipts you get from Rite-Aid, the two-foot long receipt for the two items that you bought. But anyways, I had this incredibly long list of places and countries that I needed to visit and six weeks to work with, but no friends yet to travel with.

Luckily, when I landed, I found out that I was assigned to a seven-person flat in the center of Florence. Two of my roommates were actually UNH Manchester students, Two from Penn State and two from Uconn.  We all instantly hit it off and shared a passion for travel. I knew that my plan was going to come together with the help of my roommates. All seven of us got together and began to make a more reasonable list and came to the conclusion that we would travel inside Italy -- making this experience all about the Italian lifestyle and culture. Besides, Italy is in the center of Europe so our options to other countries were limitless, proving to be way too much for just six weeks.  

We began our travels with the wine valley of Chianti, then the leaning tower of Pisa in, of course Pisa, Lucca, Siena, Cinque Terre, Rome, Milan, Venice and The Amalfi Coast, which consisted of Sorrento, Naples and Positano. Doesn’t that sound a little ambitious for only spending six weeks in Italy? It was, but we made it work.

My roommates and I were all on the same page, and had a thirst for travel, so it made my experience in Italy all worthwhile and made it the time of my life. We spent the first week or so simply just learning our way around Florence and getting acclimated to Italian lifestyle. The hardest part was not having “American coffee” and ordering a panino from the local shop, but we made it fun and tried to immerse ourselves as much as possible.

When we weren’t traveling, we were spending time walking around, visiting museums, watching the sunset from the top of the Michelangelo hill, getting fresh produce from small shops, attempting to speak to locals, and drinking lots of wine. Hey, it was three bottles for 10 euros, who wouldn’t like that! And most importantly getting our Italian learn on at the Palazzo Rucellai.

Through this program, we were required to take Politics in Italy, taught by our very own Melinda Negron as well as a class of our choosing. For me, I chose History of Italian Architecture, and was able to look at the history of the Florence from an entirely different view and a deeper understanding of its roots.

There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t think about my abroad experience in Florence and the friends that I made while I was there. The traveling and experiences that we shared together are something that I will remember forever, and they have even made an impact on how I approach life back here in the states.

To start, I moved to downtown Manchester because I loved the Italian way of walking and biking to anywhere you wanted to go in the city, and appreciating small family owned shops. Since my time in Italy, I’ve tried to get to the farmers market here in town more often to get to know the farmers, and to build that sense of community that I saw in Italian culture. I also have a deeper understanding of cultural differences in everyday life. I even bought my own espresso maker, that I am shamelessly proud of, and drink nearly every day (Thanks Italy!).  It has opened my eyes to life in new ways, and has only heightened my desire for travel to see how other cultures operate in comparison.

If you have an itch to travel, consider studying abroad. It can be life-changing and can truly change the way that you think about things. And be sure to check out my next blog post where I go more in-depth on a few of the cities that I traveled to.

Request more information about UNH Manchester.

The University of New Hampshire at Manchester will host “A Night of Honoring our Veterans" when the UNH men's hockey team plays the University of Maine Friday, Dec. 12, 2014, at the Verizon Wireless Arena.

Tickets for the pre-game reception and the hockey game are available to purchase online.

The evening will include a pre-game reception at the Radisson Expo Center honoring veterans with tributes to Staff Sergeant Ryan Pitts (Ret.) and Staff Sergeant Travis Mills (Ret.). Pitts is a UNH Manchester alumnus as well as the July 2014 recipient of the Medal of Honor, the country's highest military honor. He is the ninth living recipient of the prestigious honor. Mills is a motivational speaker and a quadruple amputee. He was critically injured by an improvised explosive device (IED) during his third tour in Afghanistan in 2012.

During the first period intermission there will be a tribute to Staff Sergeant Ryan Pitts (Ret.) and Staff Sergeant Travis Mills (Ret.) along with a presentation of donations to the Travis Mills Foundation, Liberty House, and Veterans Count. Sponsors of the pre-game reception include UNH Manchester, Operation Hat Trick, Hilton Garden Inn, and the Radisson Hotel.

Travis Mills Foundation:
One of only five quadruple amputees from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to survive his injuries Travis Mills founded the nonprofit Travis Mills Foundation to benefit and assist wounded and injured veterans and their families. Travis continues to inspire wounded servicemen, women and their families by showing them they can overcome their physical obstacles and emotional challenges and find purpose by staying the course through their recovery.

Liberty House: Liberty House, Inc. is a substance free facility located in Manchester which offers 10 resident beds and a variety of services including case management, employment and housing assistance, food, clothing and outer agency referrals. Liberty House also serves the community through a food pantry and clothing program.

Veterans Count: Veteran’s Count provides critical and timely financial assistance and services when no other resource is available to veterans, service members and their families, to ensure their dignity, health and overall well-being.

Operation Hat Trick: Operation Hat Trick generates awareness, support, and funding for the recovery of America’s wounded warriors, both active service members and veterans. OHT pursues these goals through the sale of OHT branded merchandise, proceeds of which are distributed to selected organizations that provide direct services to our wounded warriors.

For more information contact Sarah Jacobs at 641-4191.

Visit the UNH Wildcats website for more information about tickets and promotional pricing.

After just one year on campus, the University of New Hampshire STEM Discovery Lab is heading to a new location, adding new staff and continuing to provide opportunities for students and educators interested in science, technology, engineering and math.

Formerly located on the second floor of 88 Commercial Street, the STEM Discovery Lab is moving to a new space on the third floor of the building, now under renovation. The three-classroom lab will serve as a home base for classes and programs, where students in grades K-12 can come to learn and work on projects. It’s also a place where their teachers, aspiring teachers, and other school staff can receive professional development in STEM curriculum and effective teaching practices.

“We hope it can be the center for K-12 STEM education in New Hampshire,” said Lauren Provost, research assistant professor at the STEM Discovery Lab. “Our plan is for it to become a national model for how to integrate afterschool academic enrichment with research-based curriculum and professional development opportunities.”

Provost has been working for the Lab since its launch in 2013 with UNH Manchester Associate Professor of Computer Science Mihaela Sabin, who splits her time between directing the Lab and teaching in the Computing Technology program. Also on the STEM Discovery lab team is Sarah Grosvenor, field specialist at UNH Cooperative Extension, who as the STEM Discovery Lab’s new Education Preparation Coordinator, will be directly involved in developing curriculum and preparing instructors for the Lab’s afterschool programs. This year, Melissa Gould was also brought on to serve as the Lab’s operations coordinator, charged with overseeing day-to-day operations and program coordination.

Despite the renovations now underway, the STEM Discovery Lab is still conducting a full schedule of youth and professional development programming. It recently completed its summer program, the Ecosystem Computing Challenge (ECC) Summer Camp. The camp introduced high-school students to computer science through the creation of their own mobile apps. High school teachers were also invited to participate in an eight-day professional development institute, jointly held with the ECC summer camp. Funded by the National Science Foundation, the program’s inquiry-based and equitable teaching practices help teachers learn how to engage students so that they feel less intimidated by technology and more interested in creating technological innovations.

“The vision of the STEM Discovery Lab is to connect New Hampshire teachers and learners in school districts around the state in a concerted effort to advance STEM education for all,” said Sabin. “On one hand, we are providing professional development to prepare and retain outstanding K-12 STEM teachers. On the other hand, we are engaging learners to overcome barriers along their K-12 educational pathways through college. The teacher-learner interplay is key to the Lab’s mission.”

David Ryan, assistant superintendent of the Manchester School District, said the Lab is a great complement to regular curriculum, especially for students who come to Manchester with little to no access to computers, science classes, or technology education. Putting STEM teaching tools in the hands of Manchester teachers is a valuable and lasting opportunity.

“The professional learning available to them and the engaging activities in which they will participate on behalf of students has such high value for the school district,” Ryan said.

The ECC students, like most in STEM Discovery Lab programs, come from a diverse range of backgrounds. Reaching students who are underrepresented in STEM fields is a goal of the Lab and its programs. Whether the barriers are lack of confidence and interest, financial disadvantage, or unconscious bias against who is successful in computing fields and careers, Sabin wants to see these barriers broken down.

“If you go to computer science classes, you will see the majority of students are white or Asian boys, but when you think of computing products and services, whether it’s Facebook or Etsy, many of the customers of those products and services are women,” said Sabin. “Developers of those products and services are deeply concerned they are not representing the customers and they are missing out on very important views in developing those products and services.”

Increasing participation of students traditionally underrepresented in STEM also means paving the way to increase access to rewarding and good-paying jobs, she said.

“It’s a social justice issue. Everyone should have access to such jobs,” Sabin said. “Equally important, we cannot meet the demand for these jobs if we don’t have our STEM classes look more like America in terms of representation of diverse groups.”

Set to open in the spring of 2015, the new STEM Discovery Lab is hardly the only place where the Lab’s programs will be held, said Provost. Part of the Lab’s mission is to take STEM skills out into the community and to encourage students in each program to do the same. These academically rigorous programs are already being conducted in schools across Manchester, with staff working directly with teachers to incorporate advanced math and science skills into the curriculum.

The STEM Ambassador’s Program is a year-long program aimed at building STEM skills in academically at-risk English language learners in grade 10. By increasing their knowledge and interest in math, science and technology, the program hopes to create a career path for these students and ultimately increase diversity in the STEM fields.

Math and science teachers are directly involved, overseeing student projects and applying a math-heavy curriculum in addition to the students’ regular classes. Students receive a computer and a year subscription to Comcast Internet service, since projects must be worked on at home. The computers also increase technology literacy for families who might not otherwise have access to a computer.

“It is part of closing the digital divide,” Provost said.

STEM Ambassadors are expected to do what is called “service learning,” in their community, which includes offering tech support to small businesses, churches and other families, as well as passing on information about programs that offer low-cost Internet.

Manchester students also have a unique opportunity to work in collaboration with NASA scientists through the STEM Lab. The Granite United Way and its B.R.I.N.G. I.T.!!! afterschool program offer students in grades 4-12 a chance to work with research data being relayed from the International Space Station. Students then send their own data back and NASA reviews and relays the data back to the station.

Students ages 12-18 interested in remote operated vehicles and robotics can also participate in the STEM Discovery Lab’s SeaPerch Challenge program, developed in collaboration with the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and 4-H. Building their problem solving and innovations skills, as well as their math and engineering skills, students must construct a functioning remotely operated underwater vessel that meets the challenge requirements.

Provost said that hosting the STEM Discovery Lab is a benefit not just for the Manchester community, but for UNH Manchester students as well. Students have access to many opportunities to become involved with Lab programs, especially those interested in teaching.

“In every project we do, there is opportunity for students to get involved,” said Provost.

Contact Melissa Gould for more information.

College tends to be all about the academics, right? Books, papers, and tests often never seem to stop. And to top it all off we need some spending money or a job that pays the bills. Well, what if there was a way to make money while in college, but it gave you experience as well? The blog team at UNH Manchester is just the thing.

The blog team began in January 2014. Only a couple members strong, the various students went out and wrote various articles about what was happening on campus. Now, it has grown to half a dozen members writing about events, upcoming classes, faculty and staff, and their own experiences as students.

The members that make up the blog team are more than just students that attend UNH Manchester -- we are story tellers. We want to share the community of UNH Manchester with other students, prospective students, and the Manchester community. We write for the blog because it is what we love doing. Not only are we getting to work directly with the Marketing department of UNH Manchester, but we are developing our skills as writers, colleagues, and employees.

Experience isn’t the only thing that bloggers get out of this position, right? No, on top of getting paid for your work you get to meet some great people and make connections. Personally, I have gotten to talk with multiple members of the faculty and staff at UNH Manchester through my position as a blogger than I would have anywhere else. 

This position also helps build you build up your resume! Having a robust resume after graduation is never a bad thing, so why not show some versatility? Writing articles that are seen by the public is a great skill to have for any field and shows you know how to communicate an idea in writing.

As blog team leader, I have gained so much experience not just as a writer, but as a leader too. The blog team members and I have a blast creating topics and discussing how the writing process is going. I also have gained experience working with analytics and have seen what story or topic is trending. If enough interest and dedication is shown, opportunities will open up, and my experiences as a blogger will help me get a leg-up on my future career goals.

You might say, well isn’t it just journalism? Yes, that is the main focus, but you can tailor this experience to fit what you want to do with your degree. Are you a biology major interested in research? Write about your experience doing a research project. Are you a business major interning at a great company? Write about that! The possibilities are endless.

Students join for different reasons -- some love writing while others want something extra to do while they are on campus. No matter what the reason is, the blog team has a vast amount of opportunities that can be tailored to compliment your career goals. Its flexible around whatever your schedule happens to be, too!

There are still spots open for the spring semester! This position is available through work study, too. Email Kim Wall for more information. 

And, while you're here, request more information about UNH Manchester.

Internships are rewarding experiences not only for their technical training, but also for the personal connections you can make. This summer I had the opportunity to intern at Arista Networks, a computer-networking company in Santa Clara, California. Here are some tips from my experience so you make the most out of your internship!

Ask for Help
It’s not a weakness to ask for help: in fact, it’s expected from interns. My mentors advised me to give myself an hour to try and find a solution before asking for help. Attempting to figure out a problem on your own is noble, but a waste of time for you and the company if you cannot make progress. Learning should always be more important than whatever services you are providing in an internship.

Learn the Company Culture
Most coworkers and mentors will be happy to teach you how to solve your issues. If you find that most are unwilling to help you, this might be a sign of the company’s culture. In this case, this is useful information to learn while you’re still interning and not working full-time. Ask yourself what you would like your future employer to be like. What kind of culture are you looking for in a company? How flexible does your schedule need to be?

Connect with Coworkers
It can be difficult to fully understand a company’s values in a short-term position. Ask people you work with what they think of the company. Their assessment will have more weight behind it because they have worked there longer. In addition to asking questions, use LinkedIn or other social networking services to stay in contact with coworkers. If you make a good impression, they may be able to point you in the direction of other jobs if there is nothing available at the current company.

Explore the Area
If, like me, you find yourself in a new part of the country (or the world), spend time experiencing your surroundings.  After all, you may never get a chance to be in the area again. Even though my employer was located in Santa Clara, major cities like San Francisco and San Jose were nearby to explore. If your location doesn’t have exciting landmarks like the Golden Gate Bridge, it’s sure to have other unique amenities. Use online resources like social media or tourist websites to find local hotspots.

My time at Arista Networks allowed me to experience a real-world working environment. My coworkers were always excited to help me and answer my questions. One of the best pieces of advice told to me was: “Find a job that makes you excited to come into work everyday.” That’s a difficult task, but internships allow you to preview jobs and companies so that you can try to find what makes you happy.

Click here to request more information or to schedule a meeting with a member of the Internship & Career Planning team.

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Dakota Heyman is a Computer Information Systems major who is also minoring in Communiation Arts.  

Professor John Resch was invited to give a paper at a workshop sponsored by the Hamburg Institute for Social Research in Hamburg, Germany in October. Resch was one of 16 scholars from the United States, United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Germany invited to present at a two-day conference on The Reintegration of Veterans in History: A Comparative Perspective.

The conference goal was to "..bring together a select group of international scholars who have specialized in the political, social, or economic aspects of post-war reintegration and veteran policies for various historical time periods – from antiquity to the age of total war. The goal is to develop a broader, comparative, and more comprehensive understanding of veterans’ reintegration in history, with an added emphasis on both its perils and its opportunities."

Resch's paper was entitled "Suffering Soldiers: Revolutionary War Veterans and the Transformation of American Political Culture".

Abstract
The United States may provide a unique illustration of the impact of veterans on a nation’s political culture. Jefferson’s America viewed military service as a civic duty that warranted no social privileges and no emoluments for citizen-soldiers except, following English tradition, pensions for soldiers’ widows and orphans, and veterans disabled in service. This view applied the principle that government must not use its power to create special classes; equality, excluding where individual merit and the market produced distinctions, ruled.

Within a decade of Jefferson’s departure from office, however, a new narrative of the Revolutionary War fractured this pillar of Jeffersonian political culture. Publicists and politicians transformed the war-time image of the Continental Army as necessary but dangerous because it mirrored European armies that historically had been instruments of tyrants and social corruption. By 1820 the Army was reconceived as a uniquely American institution that turned citizen-soldiers into an effective fighting force that embodied the Revolution’s radical ideals of democracy and republicanism. Rather than a glorious peoples’ war, the victory belonged to the professional soldiers in the Continental Army.

The narrative contrasted virtuous soldiers with corrupt civilians and their dimmed patriotism. Moreover, the emergence of aged, poor, and infirm veterans in ceremonies and in print touched the public conscience by spreading the stain of ingratitude over the republic’s self-esteem and revolutionary mission. The younger generation challenged Jeffersonian principles that justified government neglect of aged veterans. A national consensus emerged – implementing Adam Smith’s theory of democratically created communal moral values as a counterweight to capitalism’s self-interest – to reward and honor veterans of the Revolutionary War. When Congress passed the 1818 Pension Act for those who served in the Continental Army it overturned a key element of the Jeffersonian view of republicanism. The act embedded the new narrative in the political culture and changed public policy by elevating Revolutionary War veterans to an honorific class that deserved an emolument.

Pensioned veterans became recipients of the nation’s gratitude and expressions of the young republic’s redefinition of revolutionary ideals and governing principles. This departure from Jeffersonianism transformed the political culture and created a path that has led to substantial veterans benefits and especially to the honorific social status accorded the professional military. Were they alive today America’s Founders would be astounded and alarmed.

Jess Parr, adjunct professor of history, was invited to speak at Brock University's History Department Seminar in Cananda in February. The topic of the presentation is about research done for her newest book, Inventing George Whitefield: Race, Revivalism, and the Making of Religious Icon, (University Press of Mississippi) due out on March 1. 

In Inventing George Whitefield: Race, Revivalism, and the Making of Religious Icon, Parr argues that George Whitefield was a symbol shaped in the complexities of revivalism, the contest over religious toleration, and the conflicting role of Christianity for enslaved people.  

Pro-slavery Christians saw Christianity form of social control for slaves. Evangelical Christianity’s emphasis on “freedom in the eyes of God,” combined with the problems that the rhetoric of the Revolution posed for slavery also suggested a path to political freedom.

The book's analysis Whitefield’s evolving thoughts on slavery is among the book’s central contributions, as a topic that has received little scholarly attention since the 1970s.  

Parr also delves into the role memory politics played in shaping Whitefield's posthumous image, with the result that, as an icon, Whitefield was more powerful in death than during his life.

The holidays are sneaking up on us fast this year! And this means you probably haven’t thought about budgeting for holiday gifts yet. But that’s okay, now is as good a time to start! As a college student, you are probably already budgeting money for gas, food, books, and tuition. Managing money can be hard and limiting holiday spending can make for an even bigger challenge. Luckily for you, there are a lot of great ways to give gifts to those you love without breaking the bank!  Making holiday gifts allows you to personalize the gifts you give and also show off your creative skills. Are you good at baking? Or drawing? What about photography? Use your skills to save money and bring joy to your loved ones all at the same time.

The Financial Aid staff at UNH Manchester recently sat down with Kristin Boelzner of the Knit Witters. The Knit Witters is UNH Manchester’s knitting and crocheting club where you can learn to knit for the first time or enjoy knitting with others. Kristin patiently taught all of us how to knit; once we got the basics down, it was actually easy and really fun! As we were all knitting, Kristin also gave us some great holiday gifting ideas. Scarves, hats, mittens, and sweaters are all great warm and cozy gifts that you can make and they are relatively inexpensive, as long as you have the time to make them.

“I knitted everyone in my family scarves for Christmas last year,” Kristin said, “and once you have the basic tools, yarn is pretty cheap.”  Your can stop by the Library during Frazzle Free Finals on Wednesday, December 17^th to try your hand at knitting with the Knit Witters.

Pinterest is also a great tool to utilize for creative holiday gifts. There is an abundance of ideas for every person on your list.

They have DIY crafts and projects of all kinds, such as:

• Recipes in a jar- these are great gifts for family members who like baking, but also people who aren’t great at it. The recipe is all measured out for them so they just have to add the wet ingredients and mix it up!
• Baked goods- who doesn’t love baked goods? Holiday cookies, breads, and cakes are great gifts, and you can get creative with the packaging!
• Homemade candles or wax melter cubes- candles can be made in vintage looking teacups or wax melter cubes can be made in ice cube trays. Either way, whoever you give them to will have the house smelling wonderful with holiday scents!
• Homemade ornaments- handmade ornaments are perfect for anyone and will surely make their tree look beautiful.
• Personalized coasters- these are great gifts for anyone on your list this year. You can make them out of Scrabble tiles, chalkboard paint, or tiles with photos on them using Mod Podge. Get creative and personalize them for your loved ones!
• Personalized coffee mugs- these gifts are great for anyone and so easy to do! All you need is a mug, a Sharpie, and a microwave.
• Repurposed anything - Shop thrift stores for materials for other projects or repurpose furniture, picture frames, mirrors, etc. to customize gifts.

Taking the time to make gifts for the holidays not only saves you money in the long run, but also allows you to personalize the gift for each person! And who wouldn’t love that?  For ideas and how to get started, visit the UNH Financial Aid’s Pinterest page. 

Click here to request more information about UNH Manchester.

In my next few posts, I will explore potential career options for history majors. Today’s post will discuss the qualifications and responsibilities of archivists. 

Traditionally, archivists are specially trained to handle and preserve unique primary source documents. Some archivists primarily manage the collection development and processing of manuscript collections. They work with donors and then they go through the collections, taking steps to preserve, arrange, and describe them so that they are accessible researchers. Some archivists specialize in reference, meaning that they help researchers to find and access the collections they need, and also oversee the usage to make sure they are not handled in a way that is damaging by researchers. 

Archivists can also be records managers.  A records manager can work for a university, corporation, or other institution to help manage its institutional records.  One important function of a records manager is to make sure that the institution follows state and federal laws that govern how long an institution must hold on to certain records – financial (including tax), administrative, student, etc.  Records managers need to be well versed in the law, to insure that these records are retained and destroyed in accordance with applicable laws and institutional policy.

Archivists can work for universities, state or federal governments, corporations, public libraries, law firms, or special libraries.  A master’s in library science (MS, MILS, MLS) from a library school that is accredited by the American Library Association is the entry-level qualification for most professional jobs.  Many archivists also have a second graduate degree (Master’s or PhD) in a relevant subject area.  Prior experience is an advantage, so it’s important to pick a program that cultivates good relationships with local repositories that have internship opportunities.  Most reputable library schools offer quality online degree programs these days, but doing your degree remotely means that you may not be able to take advantage of networking and workshop opportunities.  

In the digital age, the archival profession has become increasingly technical.  Good computer skills are important.  Aspiring archivists would do well to learn some web skills (Ruby on Rails, XML, HTML, TEI, CSS), some rudimentary programming skills, and be comfortable with networking and database concepts. 

Request more information about the History and Humanities Programs at UNH Manchester.

Around this time most students begin to feel the pressure of the semester building up as finals week approaches. The papers and exams start to pile up and it seems that the work will never end. Yet there are some simple ways to help get rid of some of that stress.

1. Get Organized

Create a detailed outline of everything you need to study. Sit down with a calendar and make a list of what should get done each day. Be specific in what you write, for example don’t write ‘study psychology’ write the specifics of what you need to review like ‘study concepts in chapters 3-6’. This way you know exactly what to do, and to go further you could even write out an hour by hour schedule if it helps you to stay on track. This may take some more time but staying organized helps alleviate stress because now you don’t have to panic about all the things you need to get done; you may even find out that it’s not as much as you thought.

2. Separate from everything course related.

You need to take breaks, focusing on anything for too long is not actually helpful. So make sure to take breaks, even if you have to schedule them in. Watch your favorite sitcom or movie, bake a healthy treat, indulge in some youthful crafting, or go get coffee with a friend. Whatever you decide to do make sure that it doesn’t get prolonged too much; like scrolling through Facebook or Twitter for hours. You need to take some time for yourself, but also be able to switch back to study mode.

3. Keep around healthy snacks

This includes staying hydrated and not bingeing on junk food. Keep a water bottle nearby your study area and snacks like granola bars, apple slices and peanut butter, or even lightly buttered popcorn. Although it is better to keep your snacks on the healthy side, it is good to treat yourself once and in a while. After you finish a subject go get a sweet treat or have a slice of that cheesy pizza you’ve been craving.

4. Forget the all nighters

Sleep is vital during finals week, and in general.  So make sure to get the right amount of sleep for you; aim for 7 to 8 hours a night. Sometimes even a short twenty minute nap can help you focus better on your work.

5. Attend a campus event

UNH Manchester provides several activities before and during finals to help alleviate some stress. Check out what is going on in the library, years past they have brought in dogs to pet and play with for a while. In the Grotto on the first floor there are ‘mock tails’ and crafts like painting or scrapbooking when you need a study break. There are also volunteer events all year or the student lounge to hang out and watch movies or play board games with friends. 

Click here to view all events on campus. 

I don’t know about you but this semester is flying by! Here we are at Thanksgiving break with December right around the corner, finally with a small break from school to mentally prepare for finals in the coming weeks.  

Although it has been fast, it hasn’t been easy, especially for those seniors that are completing their coursework in December. Amongst these soon-to-be grads are a special bunch that we like to call members of the Business program’s, Senior Seminar Capstone class. I can say this because I am one of them, and we are, in fact, special. 

Now you might be thinking special might be another word for fun or unique or legendary, and while all of those hold to be true, we are special because we are unlike any other program here at UNH or for any other college out there. But how so? 

The capstone course prepares students for life after graduation meanwhile taking a time travel back throughout their college career to dig up the most useful knowledge and moments to truly complete their degree. Oh, so like that movie Hot Tub Time Machine? Well, sort of. Let me tell you what Senior Seminar is really about and what you can expect when your time comes. 

Let me start off by saying that many of us have spent college exploring and discovering ourselves (read my story) and contemplating the different careers that we could pursue afterwards. Just like a five-year old kid we all dream of being things like astronauts and the president, but in college you really have to focus on a career that is suited for you. 

Discovery 
In Senior Seminar you begin by making a timeline of your life up until this point. Listing jobs, interests, things you liked about certain jobs and things you didn’t as well as thoughts about different atmospheres and personal milestones. While this task is difficult at first, it helps you to begin analyzing your previous experiences, setting the tone for what is to come. During this time, Academic Counselor Marisa Forti comes to class for one night doing various activities to help you discover and understand your unique personalities that will help you begin to think about what type of environment you would work best in. 

Work Experience
A requirement of the Senior Seminar is that each student must get an internship where they will work 12 hours each week to total 144 hours by the end of the semester. For some students in full-time jobs already, there is an option to opt-out, but an internship is highly recommended.

During this time, most students get their first shot at the ‘real world’ in a professional atmosphere. Students are required to work on independent projects, have 1 on 1 meetings with internship mentors and to build professional experience while gaining insight before the permanent job hunt begins (read about my internship at SilverTech). 

Professional Development 
During Senior Seminar you will learn important concepts like crafting the perfect resume, how to dress for an interview, and how to network. Special guests are brought in, which are typically alumni from the program to perform ‘mock interviews’ and to share their success stories and provide insight to the job search.

Professor Bill Troy and Professor Kate Luzcko cover the A to Z’s on how to land your dream job. 

Reflection
Each week you are required to write a 2-3 page reflection paper to communicate your thoughts, feelings and ideas as you move through the semester.

Each week is an opportunity to develop a better understanding of yourself, your strengths and weaknesses as well as your achievements and goals.

Coursework
Apart from draft resumes, assigned readings and getting business cards for yourself, there are three exams that cover topics from classes previously taken in the business concentration. These exams cover subjects such as Accounting and Finance, Economics and Marketing as well as Organizational Behavior and Management. These assessments are designed to see which information you’ve collected throughout your college years, and which areas you may need to revisit.

You will also be assigned Case Studies where you will perform in-depth research on companies and industries to analyze and assess certain scenarios by applying business knowledge and models. 

If you ask any alumni that has graduated from this program they will all likely tell you one thing, and that is Senior Seminar will truly change you.

You will begin to pull everything together to fully understand yourself and your position in the job market. By doing personality exercises, reflection papers, knowledge assessments, hours at your internship, and many more, you will realize how well rounded your education has been and you will gain a sense of confidence for the job search. At the beginning of the semester you really aren’t sure of what is to come but by the end, you realize how far you’ve actually come in just one semester. 

With that being said I want to congratulate the December class of 2014 for all of their hard work and determination and wish you all the best of luck with your careers! 

Request more information about the Business Program.

Many students who do an internship find the experience leads to their first job. For UNH Manchester alumnus Sean Khan, he hopes his internship sets the groundwork for a successful business career.

Khan graduated in May with a business degree. That same month he was hired as a business development representative by Newforma, a Manchester-based software company. This wasn’t the first time Khan had worked at Newforma. That same spring he had completed an internship in sales operations.

“I got into a company that’s growing quickly. I’d love to stay here and work my way up in the company,” said Khan. “I’ve always been kind of a loyal person and I definitely want to be in New Hampshire. It’s a great state to be in.”

Khan grew up in Milford and started college at UNH Durham. After a few semesters, Khan decided to take some time off. His focus at that time was deciding what direction he wanted to take his studies, and ultimately his career. He began taking part-time classes at UNH Manchester and since he was living in Milford, he quickly realized the commute to UNH Manchester was much shorter than driving to Durham.

After taking a few classes, Khan became certain about his major.

“I decided a business degree was the way I wanted to go,” Khan said, and that included an internship within the business industry. After asking UNH Manchester’s Internship and Career Planning office about opportunities, he was referred to the UNH Job and Internship Fair held twice a year in Durham. There, he spoke with representatives at Newforma about interning with the growing company.

“What the internship did for me was it got me acclimated to every day formulas and programs we use at Newforma,” said Khan. That included using Excel and the company’s own sales software. “Having that under your belt really helps to give you a leg up on competition.”

What Khan enjoys most about his job, though, is the challenge.

“I’m not bored at work and I love the people I work with,” he said.

Andrea Kokolis, Vice President of Human Resources at Newforma, said students who are smart, resourceful and look for a challenge are the kind of candidates the company looks for.

“I always tell people that I can teach you about the industry and the software application, but I can’t teach you how to be smart,” she said. “I look for these characteristics in students who want to be interns or new hires, and it doesn’t matter what school they come out of.”

Khan’s advice to students who are looking to eventually work for a large company is to go out and get experience at one.

“My internship helped to get me acclimated to an organization in general,” said Khan. “Prior to this I had a job at a small business and I had no clue how a national organization was run until I was actually in it. It gives you a whole different perspective.”

Request more information about the Business Program at UNH Manchester.

Veterans honored at UNH hockey game

http://www.unionleader.com/article/20141210/SPORTS22/141219830/0/SEARCH

Published in the Union Leader on December 11, 2014

The semester comes to an end and most students start focusing on passing exams. In my case I have been reflecting about my research on human trafficking.

Human Trafficking is basically coercion of another person into some type of forced labor or sexual exploitation. It is not just foreign citizens that are at risk; men, women, children, US and internationally born can be victims. So you would think that, with that being the case, there would be more of an uproar at this injustice. I started off thinking that it would be easy to explain and expose, I was clearly wrong. It is much harder to spot than one would think. 

Most of the indications of trafficking are subtle and often go unnoticed. The victim is not allowed to talk to anyone without some kind of supervision, usually a trafficker. The victim often seems malnourished, anxious, avoids eye contact, and unable to give any definitive answers on home address or even city he/she is in. They also have no control over their own ID and documents, little to no pocket money, and works excessively long hours. Being aware of some of the signs can only help next time you go out. Many common instances of human trafficking happen at businesses like nail salons, massage parlors, large factories or farms, and many other small businesses. 

All fifty states in the US have reported some form of human trafficking. Based on UNICEF estimates there are an average of 1,167 people enslaved in New Hampshire. The reason that this problem continues is that there are high profits and low risk for traffickers. Not many people are aware of or notice cues of trafficking. People need to understand that slavery is still going on in the world and much closer to your home than you may think. Visit Polaris Project to learn more about resources and recent cases involving human trafficking. 

The most important thing that anyone can do if they suspect a case of human trafficking is to:
Call: The National Human Trafficking Resource Center Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 
Email: nhtrc@polarisproject.org
Text: BeFree (233733)

I urge anyone that has an interest in a lesser known topic to enroll in an independent study. This type of class gives you the opportunity to expand your knowledge and more importantly share it with people. I know that my passion for ending human trafficking will continue well beyond just the classroom. 

Learn more about UNH Manchester.

Jack Hoza, professor and director of Sign Language Interpretation, recently gave a presentation at the Conference of Interpreter Trainers (CIT) Conference in Portland, OR.  CIT is the national organization of educators of sign language interpreters.  His topic was “Interpreting in the Zone:  The Implications of Two Studies for Interpreter Education.”  

Professor Hoza has conducted a national survey of certified interpreters (with 223 respondents), and videotaped and interviewed 12 novice and experienced interpreters.  The results of these studies help clarify how interpreters manage the interpreting process, and how interpreters develop expertise in this discipline and how experts approach their work much differently from novices.  These findings have important implications for interpreter education.

Professor Hoza is working on publishing a book on this topic with Gallaudet University Press, which is to be published in 2016.  The title of the manuscript is Interpreting in the Zone: Understanding the Interpreter Brain.  He was granted a UNH Faculty Scholars Program award which will provide him with a paid leave of absence for Spring semester, 2015, so that he can focus on completing the manuscript for submission to Gallaudet University by summer of 2015.

Request more information about UNH Manchester Sign Language Interpretaion program. 

Facing graduation at the end of 2014 and a resume light on practical, professional experience, Zack Steck was worried.

"I knew I had to put something on there," Steck, 24, of Bow and a Business Major at UNH Manchester says. "Around the same time I was taking the Business Senior Seminar class. They talked to us about internships and then helped us find the ones that would be a good fit."

Steck was able to snag an internship with Advance Technology, an electronic systems integration company.  More than just a title he can put on his resume, Steck has hands-on learning with projects in nearly every aspect of the business from the finance department to accounts payable to sales. He also formed valuable mentorships with the company's director of finance and UNH Manchester alum Kristina Johnson who oversaw the internship program. All of which he says will prove invaluable to him once he graduates.

And it all started with the Business Senior Seminar.

"It actually turned out to be one of my favorite classes I've ever had," Stack says. "Everyone was so supportive, but they also really challenge you. They want you to be really prepared for the workplace when you leave here."

Steck says as part of the seminar, students were taught seemingly small details like how to dress for interviews and then given a chance to run mock interviews with UNH Manchester Business Alumni.  William Troy, Program and Internship Coordinator for Business, says he purposely tells his alums to ask questions that are harder than what his soon to be graduates will actually face in the business world.

"And they do it," he says of his alumni. "They take it really seriously because they understand the value of it."

In addition to professional skills, Troy is also teaching his students life skills. Students in the Seminar are required to make budgets based on salaries of the jobs they are hoping to get in both New Hampshire and another state. From there, they then have to figure out taxes, school debt, housing costs, insurance and daily expenses to see if that salary, career choice and place to live is feasible.

Students in the seminar class are also required to go to job fairs and at least one networking event, usually with the Manchester Young Professionals, in order to learn how to network.

"You don't realize that you have to know how to do that and how important it is until you do it," Steck says.

The internship is also mandatory portion of the course that Troy says is critical to a student's success after he or she leaves UNH Manchester.  The reason for that, he says, is in addition to getting an inside view of a potential career path and actual real world experience in the job they'd like to do, the internship teaches students to think and act professionally, Troy says. It also can mean a foot in the door at a local company for the student after he or she graduates.

Advance Technology President Rob Simopolous says he in fact has hired at least one former intern following their time in the program. He also says that students aren't the only ones benefitting from the experience.

"Our biggest challenge is recruiting highly skilled workers," says Simopolous. "The internship is a way to get really talented individuals to come in. And it allows us to groom them in the way we run our business. So that if there is a position at the end of the internship for them, they aren't coming to us with bad habits."

Steck actually ended up taking away even more than that from the experience, he says. When he first came to the internship, he was certain he wanted to pursue finance. But after doing the job and after the company's director of finance started having regular conversations with him about his future and career, Steck realized he didn't want to do finance at all. He wanted to be a financial planner. "But I didn't know I wanted to do that until I started talking to the director of finance," Steck says. "Being able to sit and talk with him and talk it through like that, was really helpful."

Steck says the experience not only contributed  to his learning but to his career and professional portfolio.

"It's hands on experience," Steck says. "And that’s really important. It's important to see how things happen in real time and to experience working on a team."

Simply put, the internship sets him apart from the competition by giving him real world experience he can bring with him to his post college career.

Johnson, who also took the Business Senior Seminar, says it's great to be helping out a student from her alma mater reach his career goals. "I can definitely sympathize with what he's going through," she says. "And I think Advance Technology is providing a meaningful experience for him. And even though he doesn't want to follow the path of small company finance, he's still learning a really valuable lesson about finance and about life. It will be a good experience no matter what."

Request more information about the Business Program.

Calm and collected, Melinda Negron-Gonzales strides into room 265 every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon prepared to teach a class about terrorism.

I happen to be one of the lucky students in her terrorism class, and one of twelve in her class about the US and World Affairs. Both classes are engaging, informative, and extremely motivating, not to mention fun and funny, if you consider talking about zombies and setting boats on fire during class to be funny.

Professor Negron-Gonzales has a great sense of humor, as I have witnessed every week since the beginning of the semester. Alongside her wit and understanding, she also has a vast knowledge of most things involving the Middle East, which is particularly helpful as the daily headlines include something about Iraq, Syria, Israel, or another state in the Middle East.

So why did she come to UNH Manchester? “I liked that this program is interdisciplinary because my own background is pretty interdisciplinary,” Professor Negron-Gonzales said in an interview. Her bachelor’s degree is in anthropology with a minor in religious studies. Her master’s degree is in international relations, and her PhD is in comparative politics. She laughed, “I’m kind of all over the place.”

While talking to her, Professor Negron-Gonzales mentioned her career ideas shifted as she continued her education. “I thought I was going to be a journalist. I wanted to be a Middle East correspondent,” But she realized that she wanted to do more than condense a complicated environment into sixty seconds. Hence academia, where she now has a full semester instead of a minute.

Melinda didn’t always want to study politics, though. “I wanted to be a marine biologist in high school but then I realized I wasn’t very good at science. I was good at science in middle school, and then chemistry killed me and it was over.” She loved biology. “I was happy dissecting frogs,” she said simply.

Going from dissecting living creatures to dissecting why people kill each other is quite a jump. Death and destruction are quite a bit heavier than frogs. It’s also not just in a classroom -- it’s everywhere, all the time, especially recently.

Professor Negron-Gonzales said in class one day that she takes a day every week to not look at the headlines and not watch the news. “You have to, because it’s depressing. It’s really frustrating. And I guess what’s more frustrating is knowing all this and not being able to really do anything to change the course of events on the ground,” she laments. “You kind of immerse yourself in all of this information and it’s depressing, and it kind of leaves you unsettled, and there’s no closure.”

That being said, she still loves being a professor. In her vision of what happens when she or any educator teaches, “students take that knowledge, they become informed citizens, and they perhaps do something that contributes to the national discussion about these things… [It’s] incredibly gratifying, just knowing that people know what’s going on.”

Speaking of educators, Professor Negron-Gonzales’s husband is a high school history teacher, and when they’re not inundated with grading and books, they discuss the issues within the educational system regarding civic education. Melinda has noticed in her years of teaching that students will come into an American foreign policy class with virtually no knowledge about the last century of American history. She remarked, “I don’t understand why this stuff isn’t covered more in high school.”

Comparing comprehensive knowledge of recent American history to that of knowledge of Greek history and mythology, Professor Negron-Gonzales noted, “It just seems a little bit bizarre that if I say ‘Zeus,’ everybody in the class always knows who you’re talking about. If I say ‘Henry Kissinger,’ I get blank stares. That bothers me.” Not that she is diminishing the importance of the humanities, she simply is observing the imbalance, “that students don’t receive enough information about stuff that is pertinent to today’s world.”

Oftentimes, the extent of public education in terms of foreign policy is limited to World War II. “It’s because,” Melinda said, “it’s the ‘good war.’ It’s the clear black-and-white war. We were doing the right thing there, and nobody says otherwise.” Talking about other conflicts in which the United States was involved in later in the 1900s, she reasoned, “It’s harder to talk about what the US did during the Cold War because we weren’t always the good guys doing the right thing.”

The general lack of civic education isn’t just in my generation; Melinda was also “clueless” when she began college. “I didn’t learn this stuff in high school,” she remarked.

To cure the lack of awareness in the general public, I asked what she, as a professor, would recommend to those ordinary citizens who wish to be more informed.

“If you want to learn about current events, Foreign Policy magazine, I would say, is probably the best thing for the lay person to read, if they’re interested in learning about foreign policy or just international affairs in general, not just American foreign policy. And it’s funny.”

“I haven’t told the class about this yet, but I will at some point because I’m obsessed with Putin, but they have this thing: Fourteen hairless cats that look like Putin. They’ve put pictures of Putin in various poses, real pictures of him. Sometimes he’s trying to spear a fish in the river. Sometimes he’s in the middle of the Antarctic on an expedition to find a polar bear, whatever, and then they’ve taken hairless cats, and sometimes they dress them like Putin in the picture; other times they’re not dressed, it’s just a close-up of his face and a close-up of a hairless cat, and they look a lot alike. It’s hilarious. And Foreign Policy magazine had that.”

Professor Negron-Gonzales’s knowledge and experiences are valuable assets, and we are lucky to have her here.

And for those who are interested, here are the Putin cats.

Click here to request more information about the Politics and Society Program at UNH Manchester.

Does a Work-Study position boost your GPA?

Michael Neveu thinks so.

While UNH Manchester’s Federal Work-Study Program provides students opportunities to market themselves more colorfully than your typical “cookie cutter” resume, the program also benefits students in ways that may surprise you.

Michael Neveu, a Senior in the Biological Science Program, is completing courses to gain admission into Dental School for the Fall of 2015.

He is currently employed part-time through the Federal Work-Study Program as a Peer Tutor at UNH Manchester Center for Academic Enrichment (or CAE).

“Because of this position, I have been trusted to help other students achieve their academic goals,” said Michael, who tutors individual students and study groups in Math (up to Calculus for Life Sciences), Statistics, Principles of Biology, and Organic Chemistry.

“What I like most about my position is that I can continue to work within the subjects that I most enjoy, all the while helping others to better understand the material.”

But what Michael considered to be the greatest advantage of his Work-Study role may be surprising.

“I benefit by helping others. By doing so, I gain a deeper understanding of the material.”

Michael believes that “working with many learning styles and personalities” has allowed him to “explore many ways to define and explain concepts or principles”.

So not only is Michael utilizing UNH Manchester’s Work-Study Program to gain experience, make money during the academic year, and help others… he is also reinforcing his education and fine-tuning his writing skills.

And who doesn’t like getting paid for their education?

Request more information about UNH Manchester.

Professor Michael Pugh has been teaching at UNH-Manchester for a long time, but he can’t think of another class that has piqued his interest as much as his upcoming Immigrant Literature course, one which will be offered in the Spring 2015 semester.

The course, which will include novels and memoirs written by African, Indian, Mexican, and Middle Eastern immigrants, among others, is about the experience of moving from one place to another; in this case, from another country to the United States, as portrayed in imaginative writing that is grounded in this experience.

“The course is about building worlds and inventing selves,” says Pugh, quoting a Chinese-American writer named Maxine Hong Kingston, “since this physical journey may form part of a longer complicated story of rebuilding and reinvention. We will be looking to see how relocation, whether by necessity or choice, calls upon individuals to face changes of place, language, occupation, and social organization. How are identities and relationships challenged and reshapes in new surroundings? What is lost and kept?”

Pugh is excited to teach this class because it offers an opportunity to explore much remarkable writing. “These are gifted storytellers who bring together a variety of viewpoints and voices. I look forward to lively discussions in a class community of thoughtful readers as we consider how these characters undergo their journeys and how their author-creators bring them to life.” He’s also excited to explore some assumptions about America from different perspectives: “We will consider the origins of metaphors for America, like ‘melting pot’ and ‘golden door’, and examine the idea of the American Dream. Our readings will explore what we mean by the word ‘home’ and what we are doing when we give names to ourselves and each other.”

The class gives students an opportunity to examine Manchester’s own vibrant immigrant community, but it is not exclusive to English majors. “I hope that students from different majors will bring their perspectives to the discussion,” says Pugh. “The course lets us read, talk, and write about interesting stories, and the enjoyment is not limited to particular academic interests or career paths. We can all gain from seeing how the events and issues of our times are grounded in stories of people trying to live their lives and be themselves, just as we are all trying to do.”

Immigrant Literature will be offered during the spring semester exclusively at UNH-Manchester.

Request more information about UNH Manchester's English Program. 

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Facebook post: Join the fun in Immigrant Literature, a new class being offered this spring semester at UNH-Manchester!

Twitter post: The melting pot is getting bigger. Immigrant Literature is offered next semester at UNH-Manchester.