Faculty present at world history conference in Pittsburgh

Two Pennsylvania College of Technology faculty members presented at the 32nd Annual Meeting of the World History Association, held recently in Pittsburgh in partnership with the University of Pittsburgh’s World History Center. Recognized as a major conference in the world history field, the gathering hosts scholars from across the globe.

Craig A. Miller, professor of history/political science and department head for social sciences and humanities, and Jennifer R. Wahl, instructor of social sciences, were two of five educators tasked with discussing “Democratizing, Diversifying and Decolonizing the World History Survey” in a roundtable session.

“We discussed our approach to teaching a world history survey course using specific voices, narratives or perspectives that are underrepresented and marginalized,” Wahl explained. “We discussed pedagogical approaches that have been successfully executed and community engagement projects to incorporate local knowledge and voices into our history courses.”

Miller, who serves as the chief reader for the World History: Modern Advanced Placement exam, also co-presented two workshops – “Teaching Strategies and Resources” and “Historical Thinking Skills in the AP World History Modern Exam” – along with colleagues who teach history at the high school level.

Each year, the World History Association selects a different historic city for its conference. With this year’s theme, “Energies,” attendees presented new and innovative research on an array of energy-related topics, and Pittsburgh was deemed an ideal locale due to its past and current connections to energy.

In addition to a weekend of stimulating intellectual pursuits, conference participants were treated to a private tour of the Heinz History Center, access to the Nationality Rooms at the University of Pittsburgh’s Cathedral of Learning, and a reception at the historic Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens.

A faculty member at Penn College since 2011, Miller teaches world history, constitutional history, Native American history and international relations courses. He holds a doctorate in American Indian history, history of the Atlantic world, constitutional and legal history from the University of Buffalo, where he also earned a master’s degree in colonial history. He earned his bachelor’s degree in history from SUNY Geneseo.

Wahl joined the Penn College faculty full time in Fall 2020 and teaches world history, psychology and sociology courses. She previously taught at the college as an adjunct faculty member while serving as a teacher in the Loyalsock Township School District. In 2018, she was named Pennsylvania State Teacher of the Year. She earned a master’s degree in educational leadership from Penn State and a bachelor’s degree in history from Cabrini University.

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