Each year since the fall semester of 2009, Longwood University has held what has come to be known as the “Blackwell Talk Series.”
The series is a forum where faculty and graduate students may present research and blooming ideas to their colleagues for future further development, critique and discussion.
The goal of these meetings is to foster camaraderie among the faculty. To kick things off for this semester, faculty members gathered in the Dorrill Dining Hall (D-Hall) Annex for a coffee tasting and talk.
It was a social event to allow for bonding amongst members of the faculty before the academic talks begin later this year.
Leading the coffee discussion were Dr. Patricia Lust, professor of Music, and Dr. Kenneth B. Perkins, professor of sociology and vice president for Academic Affairs.
The faculty discussed coffees that came from places like Brazil and Ethiopia, how to brew and roast them and alternative uses for leftover coffee grounds.
Apparently, Longwood uses the grounds from the local Starbucks under the Longwood Landings in many of the flowerbeds around campus.
As the staff laughed and discussed whether or not they would become coffee snobs, the room became a hype of caffeine buzz —quite the tone to set for the talks to come.
The faculty left the room chatty and excited for the discussions that would follow later this semester.
This year, the talks will continue to be held in the D-Hall Annex. Previously, the talks took place in the Virginia Room of Blackwell Hall, which is connected to Ruffner Hall.
Dr. Kevin Doyle, assistant professor of counseling, will be holdingthe first talk entitled “Students in Recovery from Addiction: Whatare Colleges and Universities doing to Support Them?” on Sept. 16 from 12-1 p.m.
