Faculty Development

The University Chair in Critical Thinking has sponsored two week-long field seminars in Bosnia and the neighboring nations of the former Yugoslavia.

The first seminar (May 42 - June 5, 2003) visited sites of the war in Bosnia in Sarajevo, Tuzla, Srebrenica, and Banja Luka and also attended background briefings in Zagreb and Belgrade.  Designed as interdisciplinary experiences, the field seminar enables faculty to incorporate this on location study in the former Yugoslavia into their teaching.

What is more, the field seminars served as the first in a series of projected faculty seminars abroad that probe the issues of ethical thinking in a global context.

Sponsored by a gift from the Whalen Foundation and the University Chair in Critical Thinking, the Bosnia 2004 Field Seminar focused on three integral goals--an exploration of prospects for longer term inter-institutional relationships between organizations in Bosnia and the Saint John's community; opportunities for student service learning; and connections to projects sponsored by the Peace Trails and the work of the Whalen Foundation.  Our thematic emphasis, moreover, fell on the issues of religious conflict and reconciliation among the three major confessions of Bosnia. The participants represented a broader range of faculty and staff from the CSB/SJU community: 

Kathleen Cahalan, Theology
Noreen Herzfeld, Computer Science and Theology
Scott Johnson, Political Science
David Paul Lange OSB, Art
Don Ottenhof, Director of the Ecumenical Institute

Nick Hayes, Professor of History and University Chair in Critical Thinking served for the second year as the director of the seminar. On location in Bosnia, Croatia, and Serbia/Kosovo May 22 through June 4, the seminar's program included: meetings in Zagreb with the Open Society of the Soros Foundation, a two day conference and site visit with the International Forum Bosnia, meetings with Peace Trails and Whalen Foundation representatives, interview with Fr. Sava Janjic in Kosovo, site visits to Bratunac, Potocari and Srebrenica, and site visits with UNDP programs in micro-lending for women.

For more background, Bosnia Field Seminar or Bosnia Feature Story. For media reports on the 2003 Field Seminar, turn to Faculty Group Seeks Understanding, Gains Insights from Bosnia, Balkans, or download a special report for "The Newshour with Jim Lehrer" at After the War.

 

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Nick Hayes
University Chair in Critical Thinking
Quad 451B, SJU
(320) 363-2623

Patrick T. Brennan
Research Assistant
ptbrennan@csbsju.edu

Norma Koetter
Administrative Assistant, University Chair in Critical Thinking
(320) 363-2770
nkoetter@csbsju.edu