Dr. Mélanie Walton’s manuscript, “Expressing the Inexpressible: Bearing Witness in Jean-François Lyotard and Pseudo-Dionysius,” is under contract for publication with Lexington Books, the scholarly division of the Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group. This work brings together the contemporary French “father of postmodernism” and the late antique, presumably Syrian “father of mysticism” on the inexpressible, to which each are provoked by witnesses (the Holocaust survivor and faithful) silenced by the limits of grammatical possibility, even while called to testify. The latter’s radical conjunction of apopthatic and cataphatic theologies affords an unconsidered model for Lyotard’s search for new idioms by which to speak the impossible and the projects of both are revealed to be pedagogic pursuits and spiritual exercises. Walton is an assistant professor in the philosophy department.

Dr. Steve Robinson, assistant professor of physics, recently had an article published in the current issue of Chance. Chance magazine is designed for anyone who has an interest in the analysis of data, informally highlighting sound statistical practice. Robinson’s article is titled “How to Beat Kindergartners at Battleship”. Click here to view the article.

The Middle Tennessee Chapter of the Jane Austen Society of North America recently celebrated the 200th anniversary of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice by hosting a Netherfield Ball in the grand salon of the Belmont Mansion on Feb. 8.  Some 40 students enrolled in Austen-related courses taught by Belmont University professor Doug Murray and Vanderbilt professor Andrea Hearn danced traditional English country dances alongside local JASNA members.

Department of Media Studies Chairman and Professor of Journalism Thom Storey headed a workshop titled Making Ethical Decisions at the Tennessee Press Association Winter Conference held Feb. 6-8 in Nashville. Storey led a group of about 20 reporters and editors through real case scenarios and moderated a discussion on refocusing ethical thinking in a time of changing media landscapes.

Dr. Sybril Bennett, associate professor of media studies, is participating in the Bringing Theory to Practice in partnership with the American Association of Colleges and Universities Civic Engagement Project.  She is contributing a piece on civic engagement and social media as they pertain to teaching and learning.  The group including College Presidents, Deans and Faculty met in Washington, D.C. in early February to begin work on the monograph.

Dr. Annette Sisson, professor in the English department, was a co-presenter at the Lilly Conference along with Dr. Steve Simpler and Dr. Kristine LaLonde.  The presentation “Learning by Doing: Assessing the Relationship between Liberal Learning and Experiential Education” was presented on Nov. 16, 2012 at the Lilly Conference on College Teaching, Miami of Ohio, Oxford, Ohio.

Dr. Noel Boyle, professor of Philosophy, will have an essay “In Spite of: Theological Reflections on My Son’s Suffering” published later this year by Palgrave Macmillan as a chapter of a book to be titled “Chronic Illness, Spirituality and Healing.” In it Boyle explains that accepting hard truths about the depths and meaninglessness of his son, Ciaran’s suffering make it possible to find a deeper understanding of joy, purpose and the nature of God. It is largely based on the writings of Protestant theologian Paul Tillich.