The third talk of the 2022-2023 Robert I. Strozier Faculty Lecture Series is on Friday, March 3, with Ariel Cornett, Kathryn Haughney, Cynthia Massey, Delandrea Hall, Amanda Wall, Elizabeth DuBose and Kania Greer. Their lecture is entitled, "Revealing the Voices and Mystery of Ossabaw Island"  and will take place at noon in the Ogeechee Theater on the Armstrong campus in Savannah.

Abstract and speaker bios:

ABSTRACT: How can an oyster reveal the told and untold stories of a place? As Georgia’s third largest barrier island, Ossabaw holds 5,000 years of coastal historical, cultural, and natural artifacts—like oyster shells—that reveal stories of tabby houses, shell middens, indigo, and yaupon tea. The island’s descendents left their mark on this heritage preserve, now designated for education, study, and research. This unspoiled island is 30 miles from Georgia Southern’s Armstrong campus. Our work explores how stakeholders can utilize unique local resources like Ossabaw Island to develop place-based learning opportunities for Georgia’s students, K-12 and higher education.

BIOS:

• Dr. Ariel Cornett is an Assistant Professor of Elementary Social Studies Education at Georgia Southern University. She received her doctorate from the University of Virginia in Curriculum and Instruction with a focus on Social Studies Education in 2020. Her research interests focus on the teaching and learning of social studies in elementary classrooms and communities. She has presented her work at several conferences and has co-authored publications in journals, including Social Studies and the Young Learner (SSYL), Journal of Social Studies Research (JSSR), and the American Journal of Education (AJE).
• Dr. Kathryn L. Haughney is a professor of Special Education in the Elementary and Special Education Department of Georgia Southern University where she teaches and published works involving academic instruction strategies for students who rely on augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). She teaches graduate courses on methods for instruction, has advanced applied behavior analysis and research design training, coordinates the GS Assistive Technology Lab (ATL3), and teaches freshman educators in the Eagle Educators Living-Learning Community (LLC). Kathryn also focuses on the needs of culturally and linguistically diverse learners, literacy for learners with the most severe disabilities, broader assistive technology applications, and supports for transition to post-school life.
• Dr. Cynthia Massey is an Assistant Professor of Special Education in the College of Education at Georgia Southern University. Prior to GS, she has taught for 22 years in the public-school setting. Cynthia's focus has been on the use of instructional technology to support students and teachers in their classroom, with a recent focus on best practices of educator preparation students.
• Elizabeth DuBose has served as Executive Director for the Ossabaw Island Foundation since 1998. Previously, she was a Neighborhood Coordinator with the City of Savannah for five years. Elizabeth holds a BA from Hollins University and an MFA in Historica Preservation from SCAD. Her civic duties include serving as Assistant Treasurer of Georgia's National Society of Colonial Dames of America chapter and just completed terms on both the Georgia Trust for Historica Preservation and Historica Savannah Foundation.
• Dr. Amanda Wall is an Associate Professor in the Department of Middle Grades & Secondary Education at Georgia Southern University.
• Dr. Kania Greer is a coordinator for the Center for STEM Education at Georgia Southern University. Her duties include developing grant collaborations around K-20 STEM Education working with post-secondary faculty, school systems, business partners, and research institution across Georgia and the country; and assisting with the administration of funded proposals and promotes STEM Outreach.
• Dr. Delandrea Hall is Assistant Professor of Middle Grades and Secondary Education at Georgia Southern University.