CAHSS HILL Speaker Series:
October 30, 2025: Ghosts! A Hauntingly Good Time, CAHSS colleagues came together for a spirited discussion into some of our key research and creative activities related to the topic of Ghosts!
Speakers: Alexis Elder, Department of Philosophy, Maureen Tobin Stanley, Department of World Languages & Cultures, Betsy Hunt, Department of Art & Design and Edward Downs, Department of Communication
CAHSS HILL Selected Books for 2025-2026:
Faculty & Staff book groups are underway for the academic year. Happy reading!
Faculty Fellowships
CAHSS/SCSE Collaborative Faculty Fellowships
Dr. Joseph Lane, Department of Environment, Sustainability & Geography + Minnesota Sea Grant
The purpose of this project is to better understand individual and community perceptions regarding the beneficial use of dredged material from the federal navigation channel in western Lake Superior’s commercial ports. This research will inform the Minnesota Sea Grant Great Lakes Transport extension program’s future education and outreach efforts to improve public awareness and understanding of dredged material management. Results will also be used to improve the Dredged Material Decision Tool (DMDT; U.S. Environmental Protection Agency), which considers the environmental, social, and economic aspects of dredged material management options to support holistic and science-based decision making. Through in-depth interviews, and focus groups, the research will target local stakeholders in port-adjacent communities. This work deepens understanding of the intersection between environmental issues and public opinion, a key area in developing sustainable policies.
Dr. Kathryn Haglin, Department of Political Science + Swenson Active and Innovative Learning (SAIL) Program
Recent years have seen increasing politicization and misinformation surrounding science, highlighting the need for effective ways to strengthen public understanding and trust. Dr. Haglin’s project, “Teaching the Scientific Method: An Approach to Improving Science Communication,” explores how teaching the scientific method can help students resist misinformation and politicized scientific claims. Drawing on inoculation and prebunking theories, I hypothesize that a deeper understanding of the scientific process builds psychological resistance to misinformation. Using survey methods, I aim to measure how instructional approaches affect students’ critical engagement with scientific information. Collaboration with SCSE will not only inform innovative teaching practices and produce scholarly publications but also foster lasting interdisciplinary partnerships in science communication and education research.
High Impact Practices Faculty Fellowship Summer 2025
Kristina Moline, Department of English, Linguistics & Writing Studies + CAHSS Strategic Budget & Planning Committee
Many colleges and universities are assessing and expanding High Impact Practices (HIPs)—active learning strategies that deepen student engagement and improve learning and graduation outcomes. At the University of Minnesota Duluth, the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences (CAHSS) has prioritized HIP development in its Strategic Plan to enhance student success. During the 2024–2025 academic year, CAHSS’s Strategic Budget and Planning Committee focused on this goal by creating a summer faculty fellowship dedicated to researching and advancing HIPs. HIPs are a well-established strength within CAHSS. By using the inventory methods and resources in this report, the college can better track and expand HIP implementation. Continued faculty development through workshops and shared materials will further strengthen CAHSS’s role in advancing campus-wide engagement with HIPs.
Questions?
Please contact Dr. Mitra Emad ([email protected]), Director of the Hub for Integrated Learning and Leadership