Faculty Focus

Photographic Memories

BBENSON@bridgew.edu — Thu, 19 Sep 2024 12:44:28 +0000

Photographic Memories BBENSON@bridgew.edu Thu, 09/19/2024 - 08:44

Instructor uses art to help youngsters deal with loss

September 19, 2024

Brian Benson, G'23

As a summer camp photographer, Doug Breault, ’12, captures the pure joy of kids at play. But for the children he typically photographs, joy can be an emotion that too often feels distant.

Breault volunteers for a program that serves children who are grieving the death of a loved one – a feeling he knows all too well.

“When I was a Bridgewater student and I lost my dad, I realized the only thing that made me feel better was helping other people,” said Breault, who earned a degree in studio art from Bridgewater State and now teaches part-time at his alma mater.

That’s exactly what he has done for the past two summers at a Maine camp for boys who have lost a parent, sibling or primary caregiver. The program is part of Experience Camps, a nonprofit that operates across the country.

Breault documented traditional camp activities and poignant moments where campers reflected on their experiences. Just as important, he became an empathetic mentor ready to listen to the campers and help them grow.

“It’s really challenging to be in an environment where every kid has had this impactful loss,” he said. “They’re trying to regain some social confidence, try new skills, and even just talk about it at first.”

Breault faced similar challenges after his father died by suicide. Instead of summer camp, he found comfort in Bridgewater State art classes, where his artistic endeavors became an outlet for his grief.

“I never took an art class before coming to Bridgewater,” said Breault, who initially explored writing and psychology as potential majors. “I took photography as an elective and I realized I was spending more time on that class than the others. I haven’t looked back since.”

Breault earned a master’s degree in fine arts from Tufts University and returned to Bridgewater in 2018 to teach. He’s a professional interdisciplinary artist whose work is rooted in photography but includes other media. Breault is also exhibitions director for the Cambridge nonprofit Gallery 263.

He models his teaching after his experience in Professor Mary Dondero’s BSU classes. Like Dondero, he helps students become self-guided learners who are not dependent on someone else to tell them the answer.

“My goal is for students to be independent problem solvers navigating their ideas and experiments,” he said. “Failure is part of the learning curve. It’s okay to make something that’s not your favorite piece of artwork, but you can learn from that.”

As a Bridgewater student, Breault also found solace through community service activities as part of the alternative break program.

“Just by helping other people ... you’re more proactive in your grief,” Breault said. “That was a major outlet to feel like I’m doing something.”

Do you have a BSU story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu.

(At BSU,) I took photography as an elective and I realized I was spending more time on that class than the others. I haven’t looked back since.

Doug Breault, ’12

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Arts

Photo by Kristen Mallen

Lessons Beyond Class

HHARRIS@bridgew.edu — Fri, 19 Apr 2024 18:32:36 +0000

Lessons Beyond Class HHARRIS@bridgew.edu Fri, 04/19/2024 - 14:32

Professor Misti Neutzling’s devotion to students recognized with state award

April 23, 2024

Heather Harris Michonski

Since arriving at 51�Թ��, Professor Dr. Misti Neutzling has made it her mission to support students beyond the classroom.

“I really love helping students beyond the (academic) content,” she said. “It boils down to the fact that I deeply, genuinely care about the presence of each student and their future. I get in early and leave late so I can help them. I love that part. It makes me excited to drive to campus each day.”

Neutzling’s above-and-beyond attitude was recently recognized when she was selected as the Massachusetts Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance Honor (MAHPERD)Award recipient. The Honor Award is given to someone who has made significant strides in the association’s areas of focus.

Dr. Karen Richardson, professor and chairperson of the College of Education and Health Sciences, will accompany and introduce Neutzling at the annual MAHPERD awards banquet on April 28. As a colleague of the honoree, Richardson said the recognition is deserved.

“Misti is caring, she has high expectations for herself and her students,” Richardson said. “She has dedicated her time to helping students learn within our program and has established herself as a leader at BSU and in our health kinesiology department.”

Originally from Florida, Neutzling played volleyball at Florida Southern College where she earned her undergraduate degree. She also holds a PhD from the University of Northern Colorado.

She started her career in education as a high school teacher and coach before transitioning to higher education.

In every role, her goal has been the same, to help her students reach their full potential.

“One thing I really dedicate a lot of my time to and attention to, is to be thoughtful and try to understand who my learners are,” she said.

For example, Neutzling said this generation is very tech savvy. They want information expedited and expect answers to be delivered immediately.

“Sometimes I lean on them to better understand certain things, to get to know them in a way so I can create experiences for them that maximize their strengths,” she said.

Relationship building is also key when it comes to better understanding her students.

“I truly work to get to know each student on a level beyond their name, to develop meaningful relationships with them,” she said. “Students appreciate that. They are more excited to come to class when you care about them.”

To be acknowledged for her work has been humbling and to receive the MAHPERD award serves as motivation.

“We don’t do our jobs to receive praise, but it does feel good. It encourages and inspires me to work even harder and do more,” Neutzling said.

Do you have a BSU story idea you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu

We don't do our jobs to receive praise, but it does feel good. It encourages and inspires me to work even harder and do more.

Dr. Misti Neutzling

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Overseeing Success

BBENSON@bridgew.edu — Wed, 17 Jan 2024 15:49:38 +0000

Overseeing Success BBENSON@bridgew.edu Wed, 01/17/2024 - 10:49

Award-winning professor mentors future teachers in classroom

January 18, 2024

Brian Benson, G'23

Dr. Adam Brieske-Ulenski’s undergraduate students don’t have to travel far to practice their literacy education skills. That’s because Brieske-Ulenski teaches the Bridgewater State class inside a local elementary school.

“They get to immediately apply (what they study) with elementary students and they have me by their side to provide suggestions and feedback and even to model what it looks like,” said Brieske-Ulenski, a BSU associate professor of literacy education in the Elementary and Early Childhood Education Department, who recently received a national academic award. “I don’t just leave my students to be out in the field. I want to be there with them.”

The American Reading Forum presented Brieske-Ulenski with its Early Career Literacy Scholar Award. The accolade recognizes the impact of Brieske-Ulenski’s research on literacy coaches, who serve as in-house trainers and professional development experts for school districts. But his students know he shines just as much in the classroom.

“I will never forget his friendly support and hearing his calm validation of what I did well and what I could try next in just a matter of a few minutes,” said Elizabeth Cheesman, ’23, adding: “He creates opportunities for students to step outside of a textbook and take control of their own learning experiences.”

Brieske-Ulenski has published 17 academic pieces since he came to BSU in 2017 and presented in front of an international audience of hundreds. School districts use tools he developed, and he discusses his research with Bridgewater graduate students aiming to become reading specialists or literacy coaches.

“My research addresses why literacy coaches do what they do and how we can best support them in their role and also support classroom teachers in delivering high-quality education,” he said.

Attracted to BSU partly because of its close partnerships with K-12 schools, Brieske-Ulenski teaches BSU’s undergraduate reading course at Gilmore Elementary School in Brockton, Ames Elementary in Easton and Wilkins Elementary in Stoughton.

The benefits of these partnerships extend beyond the course. Brieske-Ulenski acts as a professor-in-residence for partner schools as he observes what is happening in classrooms and offers professional development workshops for school staff.

Some of his students even stay in the school district to student-teach or work after graduation.

“My students get to understand the culture. They get to meet teachers and get to meet the administration,” he said. “They’re already starting to develop that professional network and connections because they’re there twice a week.”

The class helped Cheesman find her passion for teaching reading. Cheesman and her peers grew confident in their ability to meet their future students’ individual needs, she recalled.

Now teaching third grade at Lakeville’s Assawompset Elementary School, Cheesman often thinks back to Brieske-Ulenski’s lessons about teaching vocabulary, reading comprehension and writing. She strives to build a safe learning environment just as Brieske-Ulenski does for BSU students.

“He taught me many things as a developing educator,” she said, “but what I remember most today is that he always believed in me no matter what.”

Do you have a BSU story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu.

(Brieske-Ulenski) creates opportunities for students to step outside of a textbook and take control of their own learning experiences.

Elizabeth Cheesman, ’23

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Story of a ‘Journey’

HHARRIS@bridgew.edu — Wed, 03 Jan 2024 14:53:35 +0000

Story of a ‘Journey’ HHARRIS@bridgew.edu Wed, 01/03/2024 - 09:53

Adjunct faculty member shares his story of overcoming obstacles

January 4, 2024

Heather Harris Michonski

Writing a book is the last thing Wayne Magee wanted to do. However, after losing his mother and brother within the span of two years, he knew he had to tell his story to honor their memory.

“My mom and brother were my biggest cheerleaders,” Magee said. “I had to share my story because of their involvement in my life, their encouragement and support.”

His book, Tough Blows: A Lifelong Journey of Defying the Odds shares how he’s applied his motto, “Take heart, take charge and get T.O.U.G.H.” in order to come out on the other side of some extremely difficult challenges.

Magee, who teaches management and organizational courses at 51�Թ��, was diagnosed at birth with cleidocranial dysplasia (CCD), a rare genetic skeletal disorder, and suffered from reoccurring respiratory conditions. Because of these limitations, doctors told Magee’s family he would not live past the age of two.

He was placed in foster care and grew up within the system and was often bullied by peers because of his circumstances.

“I had to wear a helmet to participate in any type of physical activity to protect my head. Outside that I had learning challenges and was enrolled in learning disability classes,” Magee said.

When he eventually landed in the foster home of a woman named Ida, and things took a significant turn. At age 14, Ida officially adopted Magee and helped him build a foundation to grow from.

“She had a strong faith and shared it with me. She encouraged me to keep striving, despite the challenges I faced…my faith and her encouragement gave me the strength to keep moving forward,” Magee said.

He initially wanted to pursue a career in the military but was denied because of his physical limitations. Instead, he opted to explore a career in music, a passion of his.

He graduated with a degree in music from Youngstown State University but wanted to do more, to serve in a leadership role.

So, he went on to earn a master’s degree in leadership from Northeastern University and took his skills to Massachusetts Maritime Academy, where he works as director of bands and assistant director of student residential life.

When the chance to teach as an adjunct faculty member in BSU’s Ricciardi College of Business’ management program presented itself, Magee knew he had to take it.

“I saw an opportunity at BSU. I wanted to get into a classroom formally and feel my background, overcoming obstacles, it’s relatable to some of the students,” Magee said. “I try to teach and coach them…I share my story and encourage them that they can do it, they can overcome similar challenges.”

Since arriving at BSU in 2019, he’s shared his story and knowledge with many Bridgewater students and encourages them to tell their own stories, to use their personal backgrounds as guidance.

“A lot of them don’t know what it is they want to do,” Magee said. “I ask a lot of questions; Bridgewater students are very diverse. I ask them to bring their own experiences to the classroom and speak about how that relates to their current situations.”

As someone who has continually been met with challenges, he tells his students with confidence that they, too, can find their own level of success.

“My goal in sharing my story is to help others. That’s what my book is about, that’s why I teach…If I can help and encourage one other person, if I can do that, then it’s all worth it,” Magee said.

Do you have a BSU story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu

I saw an opportunity at BSU. I wanted to get into a classroom formally and feel my background, overcoming obstacles, it’s relatable to some of the students.

Wayne Magee

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Photo by Ben Van Der Voet, '25

Home Run

HHARRIS@bridgew.edu — Wed, 20 Dec 2023 19:18:55 +0000

Home Run HHARRIS@bridgew.edu Wed, 12/20/2023 - 14:18

Alumna, coach and adjunct instructor finds meaning beyond the field

February 1, 2024

Heather Harris Michonski

Now a proud 51�Թ�� Double Bear and faculty member, Christine Semler, ’06, G’11, felt lost when she first arrived at BSU.

“I was supposed to play softball at another school,” she said. “I got injured and transferred to Bridgewater. I was a lost athlete but found my way because of my mentors, it’s part of the reason why I came back to (coach) and teach.”

As a student-athlete, Semler found herself more often in the training room than on the playing field. She would soon learn why.

“I was diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, it’s a rare condition that kept causing my tendons to tear, I couldn’t function,” Semler said.

When it became clear that her career as a student-athlete was over, Semler struggled in terms of her mental health.

“My entire identity was student-athlete,” she said.

As she worked through a myriad of emotions, a new path revealed itself, one where she could apply her knowledge as an athlete and leader to help others.

She earned a degree in psychology in 2006 then followed it up with a master’s in clinical psychology in 2011.

In between she also began a coaching and teaching career. Semler spent two years as the head softball coach at Massasoit Community College before taking over the reins as BSU’s head softball coach in 2013.

During her tenure, the team went 92-64 over four years, with a trip to the NCAA Div 3 Super Regionals where the Bears lost to Tufts University.

Semler also started teaching at Bridgewater within the Counselor Education Program, helping mentor students just as former BSU faculty helped her.

“Being assessable to students is important to me,” Semler said. "So many students are hanging on by a thread, they have such unique lives...there is so much going on outside of the classroom, it’s critical that we supply them with resources.”

That can be as simple as helping a student locate the Wellness Center, where there are counselors available or even just taking five minutes after class to ask them what’s going on in their lives.

“These things make a world of difference,” she said. “I know it did for me as a student when my professors showed me that they cared. Not only does it help with retention, but ultimately benefits our students and they will come out better than they started.”

As another way to reach students, Semler recently collaborated with Lululemon’s Global Ambassador program to bring a day of “Movement for Mental Health” to BSU.

Throughout the day, mental skill building sessions and events were offered, including a trail-running workshop that exposed students to the Great Hill Trails, located behind the Adrian Tinsley Center.

“Events like this create more awareness and show that supports for mental health are more accessible and approachable than what students might think,” Semler said. “We have resources here at BSU and can help you seek out those resources because we want you to be the best version of yourself.”

Making connections, being part of a community, it all helps.

“It’s an honor and privilege to serve our students and make those connections,” Semler said. “Sometimes all you need is to be heard, that you matter and belong.”

Do you have a BSU story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu

So many students are hanging on by a thread, they have such unique lives...there is so much going on outside of the classroom, it’s critical that we supply them with resources.

Christine Semler, '06, G'11

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Photos by Zachary Allen, '24

Well-Earned Recognition

BBENSON@bridgew.edu — Mon, 04 Dec 2023 18:35:19 +0000

Well-Earned Recognition BBENSON@bridgew.edu Mon, 12/04/2023 - 13:35

State award serves as capstone to a ‘genuine and kind’ professor’s career

December 5, 2023

Brian Benson, G'23

Dr. Christy Lyons Graham never thought she would be named Massachusetts’ Counselor Educator of the Year. But her graduate students have long known her as a top professor.

And they can’t think of anyone more deserving of the award from the Massachusetts Mental Health Counselors Association.

“She is so empathetic and compassionate and wants to see her students do well,” said Kerry Gallagher-Rebolo, who credits Lyons with helping her view clients as humans rather than people with symptoms. “She has such a nice gentle approach.”

The award recognizes Lyons’ longstanding commitment to teaching. During two decades at Bridgewater, her many roles have included department chair, fieldwork director and founding chapter faculty advisor for Chi Sigma Iota, an international counseling honor society.

“It’s quite an honor particularly because I’ve been at Bridgewater since 2004 as a counselor educator and have striven to provide a wonderful top-notch education for our students,” said Lyons, who is also a licensed mental health counselor. “To be acknowledged and recognized after all that time is a special honor I wasn’t expecting.”

Lyons credited her “spectacular” students for keeping her motivated and excited for every new semester. She sought to help them grow as counselors and people and understand personal biases that affect their work.

“We want to make sure the people we’re sending out are equipped emotionally and academically to provide services,” Lyons said.

Kristen Gloss appreciates the confidence she gained through a class with Lyons in which students conducted mock-counseling sessions.

“The biggest thing that stands out about her is how genuine and kind and supportive she is,” said Kristen, who is making a career change from journalism to counseling. “She has this way of reassuring that we do have the skills and knowledge (to be successful).”

When Swati Dehariya experienced a crisis that could have affected her academic progress, Lyons was the supportive mentor who emphasized that her mental health came first.

“BSU mental health program faculty really practice what they preach and what they teach us,” said Swati, who expects to complete her degree this month. “She exemplified that.”

As she retires at the end of the month, Lyons leaves behind an impact on the university stretching beyond her department. She organized weeklong teach-ins about the Black Lives Matter movement and 2016 presidential election where professors from across BSU infused lessons on those topics into their classes.

And Lyons and Dr. Sarah Thomas, an associate professor of secondary education and educational leadership, led a study tour to Jordan that changed participants’ perspectives about the Middle East.

“Bridgewater has been a place where I’ve grown a lot as a person and counselor educator,” she said. “I’ve felt very, very supported in all of my efforts here. I look back with pride and gratitude.”

Do you have a BSU story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu.

Bridgewater has been a place where I’ve grown a lot as a person and counselor educator. I’ve felt very, very supported in all of my efforts here. I look back with pride and gratitude.

Dr. Christy Lyons Graham

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Honoring a Pioneer

BBENSON@bridgew.edu — Mon, 25 Sep 2023 19:04:15 +0000

Honoring a Pioneer BBENSON@bridgew.edu Mon, 09/25/2023 - 15:04

Professor, librarian research trailblazing social services work of 1889 alumna

September 26, 2023

Brian Benson, G'23

The name Alice Pettee Adams may not be recognizable in America. But in Japan the 1889 graduate was even honored by the country’s emperor.

The Asian nation remembers Adams for her pioneering social services work. And, as a Bridgewater State librarian and professor discovered on a research trip to Japan, her memory and impact lives on.

"She’s really an unknown person here on our campus,” said Dr. Minae Savas, a Japanese studies professor. “When we got to Okayama (a Japanese city of more than 700,000), we realized how significant she was.”

Adams’ work was profound indeed. A few years after graduating from Bridgewater, she traveled as a Christian missionary to Japan, beginning what

A bust of Adams.

would become 45 years of service to the country. Committed to helping the poor, Adams turned her home into the country’s first settlement house, a place where staff lived within the community they served and partnered with residents to address social issues.

Despite financial challenges, she steadfastly supported the poor. The house, which became known as Hakuaikai, eventually included a kindergarten, hospital and day nursery.

The original Hakuaikai facility was destroyed in World War II. However, Adams’ organization lives on in name and spirit. Today’s Hakuaikai includes modern hospital facilities, a nursing school, a nursing home, and a day care center.

“The location is different, the function is different, and the needs of society are different,” said Savas, who traveled with Dr. Orson Kingsley, senior librarian and head of Maxwell Library’s Archives and Special Collections. “But it’s true she is the one who really built the foundation.”

Savas and Kingsley toured Hakuaikai, where they saw a bust and oil painting of Adams and met with staff including the son and daughter of Dr. Yoshio Sarai. Sarai worked with and took over running Hakuaikai from Adams.

“That was one of the most incredible connections,” Kingsley said. “That direct link was amazing to find out about.”

Kingsley and Savas decided to research Adams’ historical significance after her great-niece donated a collection of letters and other materials to BSU.

Savas and Kingsley visit Adams' grave.

During the trip, funded by grants from BSU’s Center for the Advancement of Research and Scholarship, they collaborated with Professor Munehisa Yoshitoshi of Okayama University and scholars from Doshisha Women’s University who are interested in continuing to study Adams. The Okayama newspaper Sanyo Shimbun even wrote an article about their research.

Now back on campus, Kingsley and Savas look forward to sharing their work highlighting an alumna who truly embodies Bridgewater’s motto, “Not to be ministered unto, but to minister.”

“It’s our responsibility to accurately tell people what she has done and all the contributions in Japan,” said Savas, who sees an opportunity to discuss Adams in her Japanese culture classes. “I think it’s very important for our university identity.”

Do you have a BSU story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu.

It’s our responsibility to accurately tell people what she has done and all the contributions in Japan. I think it’s very important for our university identity.

Dr. Minae Savas, a Japanese studies professor

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Maxwell Library

Salamander Studies

BBENSON@bridgew.edu — Fri, 18 Aug 2023 14:34:46 +0000

Salamander Studies BBENSON@bridgew.edu Fri, 08/18/2023 - 10:34

NSF grant funds new research experience for college graduates

August 24, 2023

Brian Benson, G'23

Undergraduate research is highly successful at preparing students for careers and graduate school. But Dr. Caitlin Fisher-Reid worries about those who miss out on such a transformative opportunity.

“There’s this huge group of early career scientists who just need a little bit more attention,” said Fisher-Reid, an associate professor of biological sciences at 51�Թ��. “They’re not getting the research experience but competing with students who have that experience.”

With funding from a $3 million National Science Foundation grant, Fisher-Reid is leading a new program that will serve 30 people with undergraduate STEM degrees and limited time in the lab.

Beginning in fall 2024, the first group of participants will work for a year as full-time research fellows studying salamanders at sites in the eastern United States. The program, run by faculty and staff at Bridgewater State, Pennsylvania State, Michigan State, Monmouth and Susquehanna universities, isn’t just about nurturing the fellows. It will also train mentors in ways to guide the fellows.

Funding comes from the NSF’s Research and Mentoring for Postbaccalaureates in Biological Sciences initiative, which also seeks to increase the racial, gender and socioeconomic diversity of workers in STEM fields.

“A lot of the problems are big problems that benefit from having diverse perspectives,” Fisher-Reid said. “Being able to reach different communities is really important.”

That’s especially key with issues such as climate change where scientists must convince the public that the problem is worth their time and tax dollars, she said.

Climate change is also a component of the fellows’ research. They will work as part of the Salamander Population and Adaptation Research Collaboration Network, through which Fisher-Reid and other scientists study how salamanders respond to changing environmental conditions.

The amphibians make for good research subjects because they are abundant. Additionally, scientists can easily study their place in the food chain and how they respond to changes in temperature, moisture and the tree canopy.

“This species is really, really intertwined with a lot of other things going on in the forest ecosystem,” she said.

Do you have a BSU story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu.

There’s this huge group of early career scientists who just need a little bit more attention. They’re not getting the research experience but competing with students who have that experience.

Dr. Caitlin Fisher-Reid

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After The Floods

BBENSON@bridgew.edu — Wed, 02 Aug 2023 17:00:30 +0000

After The Floods BBENSON@bridgew.edu Wed, 08/02/2023 - 13:00

Veteran history professor does her part in Vermont as Red Cross volunteer

August 3, 2023

Brian Benson, G'23

Vermont’s recent deluge of heavy rains inundated stores and homes with water and washed away roads. But it also brought a flood of volunteers to the region - including a Bridgewater State history professor.

Dr. Maggie Lowe completed a 10-day deployment as a spiritual care volunteer with the American Red Cross. She was among more than 200 of the nonprofit’s disaster workers who served in the Green Mountain State.

“I’m really interested in using my skills, especially in thinking a lot about climate change and the suffering it brings to the world,” Lowe said of being a Red Cross volunteer. “It’s a way to offer some support.”

Lowe, who earned a graduate degree from Harvard Divinity School, provided comfort and an open ear to flood victims who came to pop-up service centers in Ludlow, Londonderry and Wardsboro. At the centers, state, federal and Red Cross personnel worked collaboratively to provide supplies and other assistance in the wake of flooding that decimated hundreds of businesses and affected thousands of residents.

Lowe connected victims to resources and cared for their overall wellbeing. She helped them come to grips with the long road to recovery.

“It’s just really being with them and letting them know they’re not alone,” she said.

The victims included grocery workers suddenly without a job when their store flooded, and an 82-year-old man who was still recovering from the death of his wife the prior year.

“I felt privileged that people were willing to trust me with their stories,” Lowe said. “I feel like I received even more than I gave.”

With her first deployment behind her, Lowe aims to train for additional roles as a Red Cross volunteer. She also plans to share her experience with students as a part of discussions about the history of volunteerism and disasters.

And the skills she learns and practices as a Red Cross volunteer help her serve BSU students, who – like the Vermonters she met – may be hesitant to ask for help.

“I was already trying to be fairly attuned to the life circumstances students face,” she said. “This gives me a lot more compassion. … It’s important to have great expectations for our students, but life is complicated. We have to really respect that.”

Do you have a BSU story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu.

I’m really interested in using my skills, especially in thinking a lot about climate change and the suffering it brings to the world. It’s a way to offer some support.

Dr. Maggie Lowe

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Cinematic Approach

BBENSON@bridgew.edu — Mon, 05 Jun 2023 17:18:50 +0000

Cinematic Approach BBENSON@bridgew.edu Mon, 06/05/2023 - 13:18

In new book, faculty member looks at issues of sexuality and consent

June 6, 2023

Brian Benson, G'23

Dr. Michele Meek sees movies as much more than a leisure-time activity. To her, they represent a lens through which to explore and analyze societal norms. That’s what Meek does in her latest book, Consent Culture and Teen Films: Adolescent Sexuality in U.S. Movies.

“I have long been interested in the concepts of sexuality and agency and in particular how that pertains to youth,” said Meek, a 51�Թ�� assistant professor of communication studies. “My looking at teen films is a way of following a thread throughout cinema’s history to see how ideas around youth and sexuality have changed.”

Meek began researching topics related to consent a decade ago. For this book, she watched dozens and dozens of films, oftentimes more than once to gather notes on the characters and plots. While the book is grounded in scholarly research and theories, Meek said it is accessible to those outside of academia.

Meek also brings these discussions into the Bridgewater classroom through courses such as the seminar Sexual Consent and Violence in Film, which attracts students from a variety of majors. She aims to foster an environment where students are comfortable sharing their individual views.

“It enriches the experience for the whole class,” she said. “It’s not just a media studies class. It’s about more than that.”

In her new book, Meek chronicles the evolution of teen films from 1980s movies that treated consent as irrelevant to modern productions that prioritize consent. The movies, which are produced by and star adults, offer a window into adults’ views, Meek said.

“I’m also looking at how these films expose problems with oversimplifying consent,” she said. “We like to emphasize how yes means yes and no means no. It’s often more complex than that.”

One chapter focuses on queer teens who may question their sexuality and participate in encounters they do not actually want. Many movies portray consent in a gendered fashion with women as gatekeepers who must say yes or no. But consent is equally important when the roles are reversed, Meek said.

“If we value consent, then it should be for everyone,” she said.

Meek encourages parents to watch films with their teenagers as a way of sparking conversations about relationships and other coming-of-age topics. Well-produced films (such as Amy Poehler’s Moxie, which follows a teenager who calls out sexism at her school) and problematic ones (such as The Kissing Booth, which critics described as misogynistic) can spark discussions about otherwise uncomfortable topics.

“Movies and television can be an opportunity to have those conversations in a lower-stakes way,” Meek said. “It’s not about you or them. It’s about these characters.”

Do you have a BSU story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu.

I have long been interested in the concepts of sexuality and agency and in particular how that pertains to youth. My looking at teen films is a way of following a thread throughout cinema’s history to see how ideas around youth and sexuality have changed.

Dr. Michele Meek

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Photo by Kaitlyn Chabot