This page contains information about past presentations, information about future Faculty Forum Presentations can be found here.

​College of Letters and Science Faculty Forum

Faculty Forum presentations are open to the public free of charge. Refreshments will be served.

For more information, contact: Robert Sirabian , Department of English, x4333, Robert.Sirabian@uwsp.edu.

​2022 Presentations

Feb. 10, 2022

Philosophy-Chris-Diehm.jpgChris Diehm - Philosophy: "American Chestnut Restoration: Accommodating Others or Scaling Up?"

A genetically modified variant of the critically endangered American chestnut (Castanea dentata) has been developed for use in efforts to restore the species. This essay argues against such use, on the grounds that deploying the engineered tree has potential to set troubling industry and conservation precedents, operates on an ethical paradigm of increased intervention rather than increased accommodation of other forms of life, and presents significant justice challenges in relation to Indigenous groups. In light of these problems, it is recommended that conservationists follow the approach to chestnut restoration adopted by the Canadian Chestnut Council, which opposes the conservation application of genetically modified chestnut trees.

March 8, 2022

Chad Johnson - Computing and New Media Technologies: "Image Forgery and Deepfake Detection in Computer Investigations"                                                                Computing-Chad-Johnson.jpg

The ubiquity of image processing leads to ever more convincing image forgeries. This is a growing concern in cybersecurity in all industries. While the potential for automated detection remains, there is no doubt that a trained investigator is and shall remain a critical component in the identification of image and video forgeries. This session will present an investigative process model developed for the processing of digital image evidence particular to the discovery of image forgeries.

April 14, 2022

Eduardo Gregori Selles - World Languages & Literatures: "Translating Contemporary Spanish Poetry at UWSP"                                       Spanish-Eduardo-Gregori.jpg                             

A discussion on the experience of translating contemporary Spanish poet Alfonso Brezmes for the university's Cornerstone Press. Selles will present on the landscape of Spanish poetry and provide a reading of several poems both in Spanish and in translations. 

May 3, 2022

Justin Rueb - Psychology: "Revisiting the Educational and Psychological Benefits of Study-Abroad Programs"

Psychology-Justin-Rueb.jpgStudy-abroad programs exist throughout the world, and the United States is a major consumer of these popular programs. This presentation will look at the many psychological and educational benefits for studying in a foreign country to include improved cultural awareness and increased self-confidence. Furthermore, a student research project concerning gratitude, done partially while studying abroad in London, will highlight increased understanding of the differences between American and British cultures. Finally, the presentation will look at the successes of UWSP International Education program concerning a variety of programs as well as total student participation.

​************2021 Presentations

Alek Toumi - World Languages & Literatures: "AmericCamus 1959" Albert Camus in America under McCarthyism"

A newly published play on Albert Camus: In the 1950s, McCarthyism was rampant in the U.S. Senator Joseph McCarthy encouraged Americans to denounce imaginary "communist spies" that allegedly infiltrated the country. During this "red fear," tens of thousands of people were accused, declared guilty, then fired from work. An unhealthy climate of hatred and fear has swept over many cities, where young Fascists are demonstrating. The author of this play imagines Albert Camus in the fall of 1959, a few months before his death. He goes to the Midwest of the United States, to the Chicago, IL-Madison, WI area, still seriously affected by the McCarthy plague. 


Ross Tangedal - English: "The Preface: American Authorship in the Twentieth Century"

Though prefaces are usually seen as unimportant textual asides, Ross Tangedal repositions the space as one of conflict and compromise, with authors writing prefaces willingly to better position their books, their authority, and their legacy for life beyond the first edition. Authors under investigation include Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Willa Cather, Ring Lardner, Robert Penn Warren and Toni Morrison.