Geneva Marks Fiftieth Anniversary of Humanities Program - Geneva College
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Geneva Marks Fiftieth Anniversary of Humanities Program

Picture of Geneva Marks Fiftieth Anniversary of Humanities Program

(BEAVER FALLS, Pa.) — Geneva College marks 50 years of its Humanities program with an evening of celebration on Wednesday, April 4 at 8 p.m. in John White Chapel.  Hosted by the Humanities faculty and moderated by Dr. Eric Miller, the evening will be a time for stories and questions with Professors Betty Douglas, Ann Paton, and Dave Wollman, who developed the program in 1968.

The Humanities program at Geneva College seeks to nurture within students a deepening understanding of their identity first as humans and, then, more particularly, as members of a civilization whose reach extends well beyond its geographical boundaries. By offering courses that range throughout the history of western civilization as well as the world beyond the west, the program enables students to gain a deeper understanding of human experience through the study of ideas, the arts, events, and the movement of history itself. We seek to pursue this educational encounter within a communal setting, one in which teachers and students together reflect upon and respond to the materials under consideration. It is our hope and aim that students finish the program with a sharpened sense of who they are and how they in this age should live.

Professor Emeritus Dr. David H. Wollman started his career at Geneva in 1971 as assistant history professor, and he was named chair of the History, Political Science and Sociology Department in 1974. He played a key role in teaching and overseeing the Humanities Program, part of Geneva’s core curriculum. He retired in 2002, but continued as a part-time faculty member until 2008. He earned an M.A. and a Ph.D. at the University of Wisconsin, Madison and served as a Fulbright Scholar at the University of London.

Professor Emerita Dr. F. Ann Paton graduated summa cum laude and as valedictorian of her Geneva College class in 1950 with a degree in Mathematics. After teaching English at Mount Jackson High School in New Castle, Pa., she served as professor of English at Geneva College for 40 years. She earned degrees from Pitt (M. Litt.) and the University of Colorado (Ph.D., Middle English Literature). She developed the original Humanities syllabi, the program introduction, the introductions to the literary selections and the essays on music.

Professor Emerita Elizabeth (Betty) Asche Douglas taught Humanities at Geneva College for 30 years. She earned her M.A. in Fine Arts History at Pitt and her B.F.A. in Painting & Design at Carnegie Mellon University.  Since her retirement in 1996, she has served as the owner/director of the Douglas Art Gallery in Rochester, Pa. Her works of art have been exhibited in permanent collections and temporary exhibits at numerous galleries. She is an archived artist at the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington, D.C.

Geneva College is a Christ-centered academic community that provides a comprehensive education to equip students for faithful and fruitful service to God and neighbor. Offering over 80 traditional undergraduate majors and programs, fully online Adult Degree Programs, and high-demand graduate degrees, Geneva's programs are recognized for their high quality. U.S. News & World Report ranks Geneva as a Top Three Best Value Regional University with one of the Top 100 engineering programs in the nation. Adhering to the truth of Scripture, a Geneva education is grounded in God’s Word as well as in a core curriculum designed to prepare students vocationally to think, write and communicate well in today’s world.
Apr 4, 2018