Department News

Faculty News - Spring 2008

Dr. Keith Bates was in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on January 3-5, 2008, for the Phi Alpha Theta Biennial Convention, where he served as chair/commentator for a session entitled “Religion in the 20th Century U.S.” He also attended the Eighth Annual Civil Rights Conference at the University of Tennessee at Martin on February 28 and the Tennessee Phi Alpha Theta Regional Conference at the University of Tennessee at Martin April 5.

Dr. Stephen Carls attended the Phi Alpha Theta Biennial Convention in Albuquerque, New Mexico on January 3-5, 2008, where he participated in the meeting of the PAT national council, chaired and made a presentation at a session called “Improving Your Chapter,” and served as chair/commentator on panels entitled “Post-World War II Europe” and “The United States in World War II.” On February 28, he attended the Eighth Annual Civil Rights Conference at the University of Tennessee at Martin. He participated in the Tennessee Phi Alpha Theta Regional Conference at the University of Tennessee at Martin April 5, where he acted as a chair/commentator for a panel called “The Role of Religion Around the World” and represented the Phi Alpha Theta national office at the conference luncheon. On April 24, he was the representative of the national office of Phi Alpha Theta at the chartering of a new chapter at Freed-Hardeman University. Dr. Carls was also the faculty representative from Union University on a Holocaust travel/study experience that involved visits to Berlin (Germany), Prague (Czech Republic), Cracow and Warsaw (Poland) from May 18 to June 1, 2008. Finally, Dr. Carls finished his twenty-fifth year as the faculty advisor to Union’s Delta-Psi Chapter of Phi Alpha Theta.

Dr. Judy LeForge attended the Tennessee Phi Alpha Theta Regional Conference at the University of Tennessee at Martin on April 5, 2008, where she was a chair/commentator for a panel called “Race and Education in America.” She received a 2008 PEW Summer Research Grant from Union University, and she worked on a book-length manuscript about the 19th century civil rights movement in America. Dr. LeForge also continued in her role as the department’s history education representative for students planning to teach at the middle or high school level.

Dr. Terry Lindley attended the Christianity in the Academy Conference at the Olford Center in Memphis on April 4, 2008 and the Tennessee Phi Alpha Theta Regional Conference at the University of Tennessee at Martin on April 5. He had a book review of David E. Settje’s Lutherans and the Longest War: Adrift on a Sea of Doubt About the Cold and Vietnam Wars, 1964-1975 published in Choice in December, 2007, and a book review of The War That Never Ends: New Perspectives on the Vietnam War edited by David Anderson and John Ernest published in Choice in March, 2008. He also submitted a book review of John G. Turner’s Bill Bright and Campus Crusade for Christ: The Renewal of Evangelicalism in Postwar America to Choice in April and had an article on “The Jesus Movement” accepted for publication in The Encyclopedia of Christian Civilization. In addition, Dr. Lindley completed his sixteenth year as the faculty advisor to the Rutledge Honorary History Club.

Dr. David Thomas had his book Stories We Tell Our Children: How Our Past Is Made Present in Children’s Literature published by Royal Fireworks Press in April, 2008. He sent several stories of historical fiction for children to presses and agents for possible publication. Dr. Thomas was also the featured speaker at the history department’s Annual Awards Banquet on May 1.