A recent Mount Saint Mary College alumna and a current student recently presented their research at the New England Historical Association (NEHA) Virtual Fall 2021 Conference, forming a panel titled, "The Presence of the Past: The French Revolution's Ominous Historical Guidance for Our Current Crises."
The panel presented on aspects of the French Revolution relevant to the present. Michael McGuire, assistant professor of History at the Mount, served as chair/commenter. The Mount panel received one of the three capstone slots at the conference.
Stephen Vellecca (right), a senior History major from Kings Park, N.Y., presented "Building a Better World." He discussed the constructive power of civil dissent in Western Civilization.
Mia Zangl (left), of Middletown, N.Y., who earned a Master's degree in Education from the Mount in May 2021, presented "Repercussions of Rapid Revolution and Radicalization." She outlined Marie Antoinette's iconic and iconoclastic turns in the French Revolution.
"Both students...nicely tied their particular historical study to the concerns of the present, and showed how our more contemporary crises could validly inform how we view the human past and vice versa," noted McGuire.
The audience, composed of tenured college professors, praised Vellecca and Zangl for their academic insights and their excellent presentation skills.
"The professors' questions showed that they appreciated the arguments both Mount community members made, and that they wanted to hear more particular instances of how their historical theories pertained to other case studies," McGuire explained. "Both Mia and Stephen answered the audience's questions – and mine – in a completely insightful and pertinent manner."
McGuire and other professors encourage their students to engage with the broader academic community through events, such as the NEHA Conference. At the Mount, students can major in History, Social Sciences, Criminology, and more.
The New England Historical Association is a regional affiliate of the American Historical Association and includes more than 500 scholars working in all branches of history. Formed in 1965, its purpose is to promote scholarly interchange and to enhance teaching and scholarship in history. To learn more about NEHA, visit their website at www.newenglandhistorians.org.