Students, faculty, and staff from Massachusetts Maritime Academy (MMA; www.maritime.edu), a top-ranked public university with undergraduate degree programs focusing on science, engineering, technology, math, and business that blend academics and experiential learning, recently came together to celebrate, explore, and discuss the importance of the written word.
Beginning on October 30 through November 2, a gallery display of writing-themed posters created by students were on view. The posters represented a variety of genres and explored various aspects of writing – from technical and career-focused to reflective and expressive.
The week-long celebration culminated with a panel discussion led by Dr. Caleb Pendygraft of the Humanities Department. Faculty author panelists Dr. Laurie Norman of the Science and Math Department, Drs. Morgan Banville and Nelson Ritschel of the Humanities Department, and Dr. Samantha Montano from the Emergency Management Department addressed a series of questions about their writing processes and publishing experiences.
The event concluded with a Q & A session, allowing students to respond to the panelists’ insights on how writing fuels their inspiration, scholarship, methodology, and advocacy.
Writing Celebration Week was sponsored by the Humanities and Library Services departments, under Library Director Carolyn Michaud and Dr. Pendygraft.
“While writing may seem a secondary proficiency to the Academy’s special mission-focused cadets, this panel discussion proved that it is one of the most essential and influential skills students can develop,” said Rear Admiral Francis X. McDonald, USMS, president of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy. “We applaud the organizers of this special project and thank all panelists for their participation.”
About Massachusetts Maritime Academy (MMA): MMA is a fully accredited, co-educational, state university offering Bachelor and Master of Science degrees that are highly regarded in the worldwide maritime industry and beyond. For more than 100 years, MMA has prepared students for exciting and rewarding careers on land and sea. As the nation’s finest maritime university, MMA challenges students to succeed by balancing a unique regimented lifestyle with a typical four-year college environment. Follow MMA on FB: @massmaritime, @MassMaritime.Advancement; IG: @massmaritime, @mmacademyalumni; Twitter: @MMAadmissions, @MMAcademyAlumni; YouTube: Massachusetts Maritime Academy.
