Arminta Baldwin has taught English for 45 years, completing her 38th year at West Virginia Wesleyan College this past spring. Having taught for almost a third of the college’s history, she has a unique perspective on how Wesleyan has grown. “I’ve been witness to several changes at Wesleyan,” she recalls. “Facilities, faculty, curriculum – I’ve seen and played a part in it all.”

The professor of English has held many leadership roles, including chair of the English department (15 years) and yearbook editor (16 years). She has also worked significantly with community council and served on numerous committees to appoint new deans. “Currently I like to focus on my teaching,” she says. “It’s the most rewarding part for me.”

Baldwin began her studies at Glenville State College in elementary education, but switched to English after an inspiring class during her undergraduate career. She then pursued her masters and completed doctoral work at West Virginia University. “English brings humanity,” she says. “It shows a depth and breadth of human nature.”

Teaching classes such as Short Fiction, Romantic Literature and Autobiography & Journal Writing, Baldwin lists her favorite course as Images of Women in Literature, a course she designed after surviving her own experience with domestic violence. “I really enjoy exploring social issues through literature,” she explains of the class. “I have students keep a journal of the images of women they see in the movies, on television and in other classes. We read texts that deal specifically with women’s issues such as domestic violence and rape, which are often difficult to talk about. I’ve been really pleased with how the class has grown.”

When asked for advice that she might give to an incoming professor, Baldwin replied, “A good professor really listens to his or her students. Learning needs to be interactive. Ideas need to be discussed and not just lectured.” Observing students for over four decades, Baldwin believes that they, like society, are becoming more individually oriented with each passing year. “Students are thinking more for themselves and not just accepting of ideas that are presented to them,” she observes. “They need to be involved in their own education.”
In her free time, Baldwin enjoys reading detective novels and writing essays. She is grateful for email, which has increased her contact with past students. “I really have enjoyed the students over the years,” she says. “Those interactions have been invaluable.”

You can reach Professor Baldwin at baldwin@wvwc.edu

Getting Your Library Skills Up-to-date
The OrangeLine Online continues its series on assisting alumni with its educational initiative Greetings from the Annie Merner Pfeiffer Library.

Lifelong Learning from Your Library: Google Scholar

Do you Google? Of course you do, if you are like the majority of internet users. It may surprise you to know that librarians also use this tool. It is important, however, to be able to separate the great sites from those that aren’t worth your time. One way to do this is to try the Google Scholar, which debuted in December of 2004. You can get to Google Scholar by going directly to http://scholar.google.com/ or you can find it on our Library Website under Find Articles.

The difference between Google and Google Scholar is that with the latter the results will not be websites, but scholarly articles, professional literature, and even books.

Many articles are available full-text online. If not, you can get the information and head to your nearest library to find it or request it through Interlibrary Loan.

In the case of books, you can click on Library Search and enter your zip code. You will get a list of libraries in your area which have the book.

To find out more about Google Scholar, go to http://scholar.google.com/scholar/about.html.

Destination: Washington D.C.

In the last edition of the OrangeLine Online, we shared the excitement and experiences of students and faculty during their May Term trips. This month, we present one more May Term trip, a visit to Washington D. C. with Wesleyan’s education students.

Faculty Travel Leader: Sharon Smith (associate professor of education)
Shared by Sharon Smith and Nina Mendicino ‘07

In order to engage future teachers in a culturally diverse experience, a group of 15 West Virginia Wesleyan College education candidates and three chaperones left Buckhannon for a five-day trip to Washington D.C. Shortly after arriving in our nation’s capitol, the group visited the Washington Monument and the Smithsonian Museum, where they specifically visited the Brown vs. the Board of Education display. Early the next morning, the students departed for two culturally diverse schools where they spent the next two days. Secondary education majors went to SEED, a public charter school for grades 7-12, while elementary majors attended Maret, a private K-12 school. The students learned about the schools and sat in on classes throughout the day, gaining a truly multicultural perspective they would not find in Buckhannon during their clinical field experiences or student teaching. On the second day in the schools, both groups attended Maret and viewed a much-anticipated “Publishing Party,” a well-attended ceremony where each child in the lower (elementary) school “publishes” a book and then shows it to their peers, teachers, and family members.

In addition to their time in the schools, Wesleyan students were given free time to explore the city, visiting the National Zoo, touring other monuments, getting a glimpse of the White House, shopping in Georgetown, and discovering the cultural diversity in Chinatown. They were also given the opportunity to try different ethnic restaurants. The Metro provided transportation to all activities, which for some was a new experience. On Sunday morning the group attended services at the National Cathedral where Ryan Dearman ‘08 and Corey Langley ’06 were asked to process the Eucharist.

Overall, the trip was an excellent experience. Everyone gained a better understanding of cultural diversity as well as the difference in urban versus rural living. Both students and chaperones came home with a little more insight and with many great stories to tell.