Heads up, SEMA graduate students: there’s programming geared specifically for your needs and interests at this year’s conference!
1. Wednesday night: informal meeting at Cregreen’s Irish Pub (301 Main Street–a few blocks from the conference) 7:00 p.m. on–a chance to meet other grad students and early arrivals to the conference, hosted by David Johnson (Florida State University)
2. Friday, 9:45-11:00 a.m. in Arkansas Traveler: “The Heaven, the Hell, and the Rock-in-A-Hard Place of Teaching Medieval Subjects in the 21st Century University Classroom (A Roundtable)”: This year’s “advice and training for new members to the profession” panel features Drs. Larissa “Kat” Tracy (Longwood University), Maire Johnson (Emporia State University), Emily Leverett(Methodist University), Melanie Maddox (The Citadel), and Alison Gulley (Appalachian State University) speaking on and answering questions about the delights, challenges, and opportunities of teaching medieval subjects in a variety of academic environments including community colleges, SLACs, private/independent institutions, and comprehensive universities.
3. Friday, 11:15-12:30 p.m. “Teaching the Middle Ages” session; presider: Anne Latowsky (University of South Florida, Tampa): papers on teaching Chaucer, Dante, and medieval diversity
4. Friday, 2:00-3:15 p.m. A Roundtable on Publishing Journal Articles, hosted by Dan O’Sullivan (Editor, Medieval Perspectives; University of Mississippi) and featuring Gila Aloni (Associate Editor for MP), Carl Franks (Associate Editor for MP), and Tison Pugh (Editor of Exemplaria)
5. Friday, 3:30-4:45 p.m.: “Meeting Students Where They Are: Innovative Methods of Teaching Medieval Literature (A Roundtable): Chaired by Teresa Reed (Jacksonville State University)and featuring Susan Hagan (Birmingham-Southern College), Rick McDonald Utah Valley University), and Barbara Stevenson (Kennesaw State University)
6. Saturday night: Since I’m not leaving until Sunday morning, I’ll be going out for dinner somewhere, and am happy to have anyone along who is still around! Meet in the hotel lobby around 6:00 p.m. and we’ll go from there.
If you have any questions, concerns, or just want to chat about the conference or really, anything, please let me know, and definitely introduce yourselves to me at the reception on Thursday evening! I’m really looking forward to what promises to be another dynamic and energizing SEMA annual conference.
Melle Ridley Elmes, SEMA Graduate Student Prepresentative
Melissa Ridley Elmes 