School of Humanities & Behavioral Sciences Newsletter | Spring 2024

GREETINGS from the DEAN

How can we not recognize the good in our shared future when we see our students modeling the integrity, curiosity, and resiliency they find in the classroom?

Our students are seizing opportunities to be challenged and proving that they are connected with the world in meaningful ways. The caring people in the Douglas S. Witcher School of Humanities and Behavioral Sciences are fueling interest, growth, problem-solving and creativity, and the resulting trajectories are inspiring.

Along our path, we are in High Point University’s centennial year. During this moment, as the (newly named) Douglas S. Witcher School of Humanities and Behavioral Sciences considers our collective journey, I am delighted to share my sincere pride in the many ways our faculty and staff are providing our students with the tools and support they need to thrive. Consider this newsletter a reflection of a few of the waypoints, by which we navigate our course, that demonstrate our commitment to learning. Here, we chart some highlights of this year’s adventures in cultivating a love of scholarship.

Please enjoy our perspective on the ways in which our environment helps students grow more confident in their ability to express themselves, learn important life skills, gain vital knowledge, and connect with the people around them. As ever, we are on our way to great things, and we celebrate and enjoy the wayfinding along the route toward the next hundred years.

Stay up to date with our latest research and happenings by joining our weekly newsletter, HBS Highlighter (email tmedford@highpoint.edu to sign-up), or follow us on Instragram (@hpu_hbs) and LinkedIn (HPU Douglas S. Witcher School of Humanities & Behavioral Sciences: Student and Alumni Network).

Dean Ken Elston, MFA

https://www.highpoint.edu/humanities-behavioral-sciences/

Douglas S. Witcher School of Humanities & Behavioral Sciences Spring 2024 Newsletter

DEAN

Ken Elston, MFA

ASSOCIATE DEAN

Dr. Matthew Schneider

DEPARTMENT CHAIRS

Criminal Justice

Dr. Bobby Little

English

Dr. Bryan Vescio

History

Dr. Joey Fink

Political Science

Dr. Martin Kifer

Psychology

Dr. Kirsten Li-Barber

Religion & Philosophy

Dr. Chris Franks

Sociology & Anthropology

Dr. Matthew Sayre

World Languages, Literatures, & Cultures

Dr. Daliang Wang

OFFICE OF THE DEAN

251 Norcross Graduate School

High Point University

One University Parkway

High Point, NC 27268

Newsletter Questions or Comments?

Send to: Tiffany Medford, HBS Admin Asst. tmedford@highpoint.edu

HBS Named After Alumnus Doug Witcher

On March 13, HPU’s Board of Trustees voted to name the School of Humanities and Behavioral Sciences after alumnus Doug Witcher. Having recently contributed $20 million to support HPU, Witcher is a longstanding supporter of his alma mater.

Witcher graduated from what was then High Point College in 1977 with a degree in education. While on campus, he worked in the library and as a dorm director. He attributes both experiences to building key skills that he later used when founding his own business. Witcher is currently founder and CEO of Smart Choice, a Triad-based insurance network with more than 10,000 independent agencies and 100 carrier partners. In addition to giving back to HPU, he is an active philanthropist for the larger High Point community with his non-profit organization.

During the naming ceremony, Dean Ken Elston, Dr. Martin Kifer, Dr. Joey Fink, and Dr. Bryan Vescio spoke about the importance of the humanities and behavioral sciences in a liberal arts education. With 11 majors, 21 minors, and alumni serving in the government, attending law school, medical school, and prestigious graduate schools, we are proud to move forward as the Douglas S. Witcher School of Humanities and Behavioral Sciences.

Exploring an Ancient World

Students conduct research in Chavín de Huántar, Peru

Psychology

Zyncli Ramirez conducts research in Chavín de Huántar, Peru. Read her story on page 2.

EXPLORING AN ANCIENT WORLD

Students conduct research in Chavín de Huántar, Peru.

Dr. Silvana Rosenfeld, center, with HPU students Corey Palubinski (right) and Zyncli Ramirez (bottom) at Lake Paron in Caraz.

High in the Andes Mountains of Peru is an ancient civilization known for its spiritual mystery and cultural significance. As one of the earliest temples in South America, Chavín de Huántar dates to 1200 BC, making it one of the best-known archaeological sites of pre-Columbian culture. It attracts researchers from all over the world. When HPU students Zyncli Ramirez and Corey Palubinski were presented with a chance to research at Chavín, they eagerly accepted the opportunity.

Two Paths, One Destination

As a high school senior, Ramirez knew she wanted to pursue degrees in French and global studies. When she began touring schools, HPU’s life skills motto and campus environment were the perfect combination for her future success. There was just one minor dissappointment: HPU didn’t offer a global studies major at the time.

Ramirez didn’t let that hinder her decision though. During Freshman Orientation, she connected with Dr. Silvana Rosenfeld, associate professor of sociology & anthropology, and learned how a BA in Sociology and Anthropology focused on strong quantitative and qualitative data analyst skills through a global lens. It sounded like the perfect fit for Ramirez.

In the fall semester of her freshman year, Ramirez was placed in the first year seminar course, Who Owns the Past?, taught by Dr. Matthew Sayre, Chair and associate professor of anthropology. One of her fellow classmates was Corey Palubinski, a native of Heathsville, VA pursuing a major in finance.

Palubinski brought a unique experience to the class. During high school, he owned a drone photography business that completed government contracts for aerial photography and mapping. His portfolio caught Dr. Sayre’s

attention immediately as a service that archaeologists could benefit from.

By October, Ramirez and Palubinski were selected for their individual strengths and offered the opportunity to accompany Drs. Sayre and Rosenfeld on their next archaeological dig to Chavín de Huántar.

Ramirez, who has a love for languages and is fluent in both English and Spanish, would interview the people of Chavín to gain a better understanding of their culture and lifestyle. Palubinski, being highly skilled in drone photography and mapping, would work to create orthomosaic maps and 3D renders of the excavation sites for archaeologists to use in future research.

Arriving in Peru - Take One

Throughout the spring semester of 2022, Ramirez and Palubinski worked with Drs. Sayre and Rosenfeld to complete the application for grant funding through the National Science Foundation (NSF). Once they received funding approval, Ramirez began training through the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI Program), which was required before she could

Zyncli Ramirez takes in the scenic view of the Andes Mountains.

spend any time in the field. With the help of Dr. Rosenfeld, Ramirez created a questionnaire for the locals of Chavín to answer, collecting data on heritage and local attitudes towards the Unesco archaeological site and museum of Chavín de Huántar.

Everything seemed to be lining up for a successful journey to Peru in July 2022.

A Set Back

Ramirez and Palubinski left for Peru on June 30, 2022. The trip would take a few days and consisted of a 10 hour flight time, an 8-hour bus ride, and a 2-hour taxi ride through the mountains before arriving at their destination. On June 30, Ramirez and Palubinski had just arrived to Lima, Peru, when a landslide occurred in Chavín that demolished 150 homes.

After waiting for two days in Hauraz, a town 2 hours west of Chavín, it was confirmed that the area was deemed unsafe for further research that summer. Ramirez and Palubinski would have to return to the United States without reaching their destination.

A Return to Peru

Ramirez and Palubinski were granted a second chance happily and, in the summer of 2023, they successfully arrived at Chavín to carry out their research. “The experience as a whole was absolutely amazing,” says Palubinski, who completed orthomosaic maps and 3D renderings of the sites.

Ramirez interviewed 26 people, aged 18-65 years old, who were natives and non-natives of the community. She and Dr. Rosenfeld worked to compile the data into research papers and posters that Ramirez later presented at the North Carolina Sociological Association in Greensboro, High-PURCs, and at the Society for American Archaeologist in New Orleans.

“The experience was definitely worth the hard travel days,” said Ramirez. “Getting to know an entirely different culture was the most rewarding experience of my college years thus far. I’m incredibly grateful to have experienced it.”

Top: Dr. Sayre, Dr. Rosenfeld, and the excavation team at La Banda sector, Chavín de Huántar.

Middle: A final orthomosaic map of Chavín produced by Palubinski.

Bottom: Palubinski, Dr. Rosenfeld, and Ramirez overlooking the site of Chavín de Huántar.

GLIMPSES OF GREATNESS

Savannah Graver, an International Relations major with minors in Chinese and Environmental Science, was awarded a Boren Scholarship to study Mandarin at National Taiwan Normal University in Taiwan in the summer and fall of 2024.

Mac Mollins, an Honors Scholar majoring in History and Political Science, was awarded a Boren Scholarship to study Turkish at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the summer and in Baku, Azerbaijan in the fall of 2024. Read more about his research on page 10.

Liv Gardner, a Class of 2024 Spanish and journalism double major and legal studies minor, received the Fulbright U.S. Student Program Award for an English Teaching Assistantship in Ecuador for the 2024 - 2025 academic year. Read more about Liv’s drive to become fluent in Spanish on the next page.

2024 Extraordinary Leaders in the Witcher School of HBS

Hannah Parson Political Science & English major

Dynasty Rui Philosophy & Media Production major

Angelena Antenuci Philosophy major

Mary Sosebee Political Science & Journalism major

Alexandra Bennett International Relations & Political Science major

Trailblazers Navigating the Journey to Law School

Aspiring lawyers are afforded academic freedom when pursuing their undergraduate degrees. Disciplines such as history, English, philosophy, and political science are longstanding cornerstones for law school applications because they offer rich research opportunities that develop critical thinking and writing skills necessary for the profession. This freedom to choose a challenging path that explores personal interests creates an array of opportunities for students looking to enter the legal profession.

Liv Gardner, a senior majoring in Spanish and Journalism and minoring in Legal Studies, knew she wanted to attend law school after graduating from HPU. Taking a gap year to teach English in a foreign country wasn’t in her original plans. But after a life-changing experience while studying abroad in Spain, she began to consider the possibility.

Working with Dr. James Cotton and Dr. Adam Winkel, Gardner applied for the Fulbright U.S. Student Program and the North American Language and Culture Assistants Program (NALCAP) in hopes of receiving an opportunity to live and work in a foreign country before attending law school.

“My overall goal is to become fluent in Spanish,” said Gardner. “I want to be able to go to law school knowing that I have the full ability to speak another language and that I can communicate with an entirely new community of clients.”

In April, Gardner was awarded the Fulbright U.S. Student Program award for an English Teaching Assistantship in Ecuador for the 20242025 academic year. Once she returns from Ecuador, she plans to attend law school to study immigration law.

Courtney Collar, an Honors Scholar and English major with minors in French and Legal Studies, also knew she wanted to attend law school after graduation. Coming to HPU with a genuine interest in writing and reading, she met Dr. Matt Carlson, associate professor of English, and was sold on being an English major.

As an English major, Collar took advantage of every opportunity presented to her. She became a writing tutor for the Honors Scholars Program and The Writing Center, offering grammar workshops and creating social media posts that promote basic writing skills. She worked alongside her advisor, Dr. Michael Flatt, as a Marketing Assistant Editor for Threadsuns, HPU’s in-house publisher and teaching press, and assisted Dr. Scott Ingram in researching legal briefs for scholarly publications. And to further build her resume, she completed an internship with a criminal defense firm in her hometown of Grand Rapids, Michigan during the summer of 2022.

As her confidence and skills grew, Collar began earning recognition for her hard work. In the spring of 2023, she was awarded the Edward J. Piacentino Award for Outstanding Scholarship, which is an annual prize presented to a senior English major with the strongest scholarly writing portfolio. In the spring of 2024, Collar was recognized by Dr. Scott Ingram on behalf of the Legal Studies Program and received the Outstanding Senior Award for her work within the minor. As graduation approached, she received multiple acceptance letters from law schools. She plans to attend William & Mary in the fall.

“Law is very closely related to language,” said Collar. “I like looking at law and how specific words can build into precedents and how it can make certain impressions and assumptions,”

Gardner and Collar, like many successful HBS graduates, join a cohort that is well-prepared for law school admissions. We are proud of the fact that with academic rigor tailored for post-HPU endeavors, HBS majors consistently outpace other disciplines in law school preparation.

Alumni Spotlight: Jessica Vedrani

Jessica Vedrani, ‘20, graduated summa cum laude with degrees in criminal justice and political science with the goal of attending law school. HPU and Dr. Martin Kifer were instrumental in helping her achieve this aim.

As a freshman, Vedrani took the ‘Power and Politics Inside the Beltway’ Maymester with Dr. Kifer and Dr. Brandon Lenoir. While in Washington D.C., she met individuals from all walks of life and connected with HPU alumni. Through these networking opportunities, she met Ameer Patel of Climate Action Campaign, which eventually led to an internship in 2019.

The support from HPU and Dr. Kifer did not end there. Through Dr. Kifer’s job listing emails, she obtained a second internship in the Public Protection Section of the North Carolina Attorney General’s Office. There, she worked on the

Above: Courtney Collar with Dr. Ingram on Honors Day 2024. Opposite Page: Liv Gardner received the Ann Fleming Whitesell Award, which is a scholarship award given to an outstanding language student every year.

Vedrani’s Story Continued: Congratulations

Address Confidentiality Program as well as the Animal Welfare Division.

Dr. Kifer also connected Vedrani with Petra Bender, an HPU family member who works for the United Nations. This networking opportunity led to her post-graduate internship at the United Nations Secretariat prior to attending Suffolk University Law School.

At Suffolk, Vedrani has served as Editor-in-Chief of the Moot Court Honor Board Journal of Trial & Appellate Advocacy, publishing two issues of the Journal, training staffers, and managing a board of 49 other law students. While in this role, she also published articles on constitutional law and criminal procedure.

Vedrani has also worked as a Summer Associate at the firm of Jones Day and is a Student Attorney in Suffolk Law’s Intellectual Property and Entrepreneurship Clinic. Upon graduation from Suffolk, Vedrani will begin her career as an Associate in the New Lawyer’s Group at Jones Day next October.

Hannah Tameling Outstanding Servant Leader Award

Tameling, a senior majoring in psychology and Spanish, was recognized for exemplifying service to others through her leadership, empathy, stewardship, and commitment to holistic growth of the entire HPU community.

Embodying the qualities of a servant leader, Tameling served as SGA vice president and speaker of the senate in her senior year. Her leadership extended to the Honors Scholar Program, Psi Chi psychology honor society, and Petal Points acapella group. After graduation, she plans to pursue a Ph.D. in clinical psychology with a specialization in trauma.

Bridging Theory and Practice

Our psychology majors thrive in internship and research opportunities.

Meet Jillian Wells, a senior majoring in psychology and minoring in criminal justice, who has a passion for building a healthier community.

Wells grew up in West Hartford, Connecticut with parents who own an alternative education facility. She’s seen first hand how necessary and important

accessibility to mental health care can be for families and communities. That’s what drove her to study psychology. Wells comments, “Studying psychology helps you understand what’s going on behind the scenes with a person. It allows you to understand why people are the way they are and how they work in order to help them. When a person acts out, it may not be what is really going on.”

Eager to apply classroom theory on humans and how their brains work, she sought out internships and volunteer opportunities throughout Guilford County. In her first internship, she served as a Substance Abuse Counselor to opioid users. This experience led to her second internship as a Jail Diversion Intern with the Guilford County Sheriff’s Office. In this role, Wells worked with low-level offenders who suffer from severe mental illness or substance use disorders to create personcentered treatment plans to address their behavioral health needs, therefore reducing their recidivism. Additionally, she volunteered at the Guilford County Animal Shelter and with Big Brothers, Big Sisters of High Point where she’s had the same “Little” all four years.

“Studying psychology developed my compassion for populations that may be quickly judged and excluded from mainstream society,” said Wells, who aspires to be a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist. In August, she will attend UNC- Chapel Hill to obtain a Master’s in Social Work.

From Inquiry to Insight

Bel Teixeira, a senior majoring in psychology, was drawn to the psychology department for its research program. As a freshman, she came to HPU with the intention of becoming a mental health therapist. She knew that conducting research as an undergraduate student would prepare her for the professional field.

As a freshman Teixeira was paired with Dr. Kirsten Li-Barber, chair and associate professor of psychology, to discuss research opportunities. Soon afterwards, she joined Dr. Li-Barber’s learning lab and began conducting research on the impact of family dinners on mental health.

From that research, Teixeira developed another inquiry to explore. “I thought about my family dinner experience and the conversations about valued foods as part of a larger picture to healthy eating,” she said, “I wondered when healthy eating became unhealthy so I did more research on it.”

Through that research, Teixeira, along with fellow psychology majors Ariana Gabriel and Mahoney Cyr, learned the term orthorexia, an obsession with eating healthy foods. They were most interested in who was most likely to develop orthorexia.

On March 14, Teixeira, along with Gabriel, Cyr, Catherine Waldeck, Hannah Tameling, Ethan Muckerheide, Kelly Polk, and Kate Gallagher presented their research posters at the Southeastern Psychological Association (SEPA) annual conference in Orlando, FL. Research topics included rumination, family dinners, and, of course, the preliminary research on orthorexia.

Although Teixeira graduates in May, she plans to continue collaboration with Dr. Li-Barber as she attends NYU-Steinhardt in the fall for mental health counseling and wellness.

Above: Ariana Gabriel, Dr. Kirsten Li-Barber, Bel Teixeira, Mahoney Cyr, and Catherine Waldeck at the 2024 SEPA conference. Opposite Page: Jillian Wells shows off her Sheriff’s Medal which she earned for her work as a Jail Diversion Intern.

History in Motion Using the Past to Chart the Future

Tracing different paths, three history majors create their own stories.

Collaborating Research in London

For Kayla Wylie, a junior double-majoring in history and religion, researching the historical roots of her faith led to one of her greatest adventures yet.

The opportunity came in spring 2023 when she signed up for Dr. Amanda Allen’s Maymester course, History in London: The Infamous Tudor Dynasty. As a practicing Methodist and budding historian, Wylie recognized that the Maymester course would lead her to sites where John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist church, had once lived and worked. The experience promised more than a tour of historic landmarks; it offered an immersive encounter with artifacts

and primary sources dating back to the beginning of the Methodist tradition. Eager to seize the opportunity, she approached Dr. Allen about the possibility of collaborative research on John Wesley while in London.

Dr. Allen agreed, and during their free time in London, they visited The Museum of Methodism & John Wesley’s House. Here, they collected information from artifacts and primary documents of Wesley’s writings. These sources were later used in Wylie’s presentation, In Pursuit of Perfection: Examining John Wesley’s Doctrine of Holiness, at the NC Historian’s Association conference and High-PURCs.

“The most rewarding moment has been the ability to perfect my research skills and develop new styles of writing like citations,” said Wylie. This summer, Wylie won a spot in HPU’s Summer Research Institution (SuRI) and will broaden her research project under the mentorship of Dr. Andrew Tzavaras.

Growing in Couch Greenhouse

Mac Mollins is another student taking full advantage of research opportunities in the History Department.

In the spring semester, he became part of an innovative initiative led by Drs. Amanda Allen and Shannon Lalor, who received a North Carolina Humanities’ Community Engagement Grant to revitalize Couch Greenhouse. Their vision was to transform the greenhouse into a dynamic learning lab where research on plants, specifically historically significant medicinal ones, could be conducted. Mollins, along with five other students, agreed to be among the first to participate.

For Mollins,this meant learning about and working with exotic plants like Rue, Pennyroyal, Yarrow, and Birthwort from the Mediterranean, the Middle East, and Europe. With over 40 different species of plants in the greenhouse,

Kayla Wylie overlooks London while at the top of St. Paul’s Cathedral.

Mac Mollins presents his research on opening night for the Medieval and Early Modern Physics Garden in Couch Greenhouse.

Mollins chose to cultivate these to further his research on Anne of Bohemia, who struggled to bear an heir to the throne while she was Queen of England from 1382 - 1394. In her lifetime, these plants were used by apothecaries to help remedy women’s health concerns such as infertility and pain during childbirth.

“For one, it gives me a firsthand account of the medieval period and exactly what medicine was like at the time,” said Mollins, “Contrary to popular belief, people wanted to care for their sick and injured and went out to find remedies. While it may have been flawed with balancing out the four humors, in many instances, the balance of the herbs was meant with good intentions.”

Documenting HPU’s Past

Mara Cooper, a junior from Savannah, GA, also grew plants in Couch Greenhouse. It’s just one of the many research opportunities that she’s been exposed to as a history major.

In April, Cooper, along with fellow history major and senior, Emma Scrivo, presented their documentary, No Easy Task: The Desegregation of High Point College, at the National Conference for Public History in Salt Lake City, Utah.

The documentary was a culmination of two years’ worth of research conducted by Cooper and Scrivo. Beginning in her sophomore year, Cooper enrolled in Dr. Joey Fink’s seminar (HST 3904) and learned oral history methodology and theory. In this class, she conducted oral history interviews with black alumni to capture campus life in the 1990s. Building upon this foundation, Cooper went on to utilize her oral history training in Dr. Paul Ringel’s History Detectives course, where she investigated the integration of High Point College through additional interviews with black alumni. She and Scrivo joined forces to create their documentary, which featured insights from 12 alumni who graduated between 1962 and 1978, spanning 16 years of HPU’s history.

“What I appreciate the most is the abundance of opportunity offered to me,” said Cooper, “There are so many facets to the major and having the faculty there to mentor and guide me has meant a lot. They have exposed me to a variety of opportunities and helped me grow personally and professionally.”

In the fall, Cooper’s interviews will be housed in an oral history archive, created by Dr. Fink, that seeks to discover, preserve, and promote HPU’s 100 year history. More details to come Fall 2024!

Mara Cooper stands with the poster she created with Emma Scrivo, which they presented at the National Conference for Public History.

VALUES-BASED LEARNING

WITH HPU’S ETHICS BOWL TEAM

HPU’s Religion and Philosophy Department is a space where philosophical dialogue and ethical reasoning are prized.

In Hayworth Hall, philosophy professors Amy MacArthur and Thaddeus Ostrowski are training the next generation of ethically conscious leaders. As co-chairs of HPU’s Ethics Bowl team, MacArthur and Ostrowski work with students to research case studies and develop ethical dialogue that is used during the annual Ethics Bowl Competition held in Raleigh.

Hosted by the NC Independent Colleges and Universities (NCICU), teams are judged on how persuasive and effective their point of view is presented with clear ethical principles. This year, eighteen teams from across NC came together to discuss the theme, Ethics in Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity.

The competition features four rounds, and in each round, teams are paired off to deliberate specific questions. When HPU advanced to the

“Our team’s camaraderie makes our practices enjoyable and allows for great discussions. Our relationships with Professors MacArthur and Ostrowski have grown, and they do a fantastic job guiding us. ”

-Sofie Smith

semi-final round against reigning champions, Queens University of Charlotte, they were undefeated. Despite asking excellent questions that exposed vulnerabilities and inconsistencies in their opponent’s position, Queens University ultimately won the round and went on to become the champions for a second year in a row.

Although the team did not progress to the final round, MacArthur and Ostrowski were justifiably proud of all that they accomplished. “The students exhibited teamwork and collegiality,” said Ostrowski, “They empowered one another to do their best and encouraged each other to speak confidently and explain their positions.”

Students on HPU’s Ethics Bowl team do not receive course credit for their time invested in the program. That’s what makes it even more rewarding for MacArthur; “The students are intrinsically interested in thinking about complex ethical issues and using their analytical abilities to construct positions that can be justified to others. It’s so rewarding to work with students who participate for the experience itself.”

HPU Ethics Bowl team before competition in Raleigh.

Back row: Dr. Amy MacArthur, Wes Singer, Mr. Thaddeus Ostrowski

Front row: Jordan Via, Will Tepper, Sofia Statuto, Sofie Smith, Autumn Bryan

DEVELOPING LIFE SKILLS AND LEADERSHIP THROUGH MOCK TRIAL

On March 10, High Point University’s Mock Trial team completed its most successful season ever by competing in the second round of the American Mock Trial Association’s (AMTA) national tournament. This was the team’s fourth competition of the season, also an all-time high. They were led by seniors Jacob Dillman and Macy Peele and juniors Alyssa Patterson and Brady Rotello.

Mock Trial requires students to present either a criminal or a civil case to judges who then score the performance. This year, a record-high number of participants meant the university could fill two complete teams, known as the A and B teams. Both teams traveled to Columbia, South Carolina, for the Regional round of the national AMTA tournament. At that tournament, the A team went 5-3, including 2-0 in the final round, to earn the first Honorable Mention place. Earning this place allowed the team to receive only its second ever at-large bid to the Opening Round Championship Series (ORCS), which is the second round of the AMTA national tournament. With an at-large bid in hand, members learned they would go to St. Paul, Minnesota for the next round of competition.

At ORCS, the team competed against the University of California-Berkely, ranked 20th in the nation, the University of Iowa, Wake Forest, and Carleton College. The team ended 2-6 at the tournament but lost by only 4 points to Iowa who earned a bid to the National Championship tournament. Overall, it was the most successful season for HPU’s Mock Trial team. With the 2023-2024 season completed, the team looks forward to the next season. Interested students should contact team coach, Scott Ingram, at ringram@highpoint.edu.

CONGRATULATIONS TO DR. BOBBY LITTLE

After 26 years of service, Dr. Bobby Little, chair and professor of criminal justice, is retiring. Dr. Little earned a B.A. and M.A. from East Carolina University and his Ph.D. from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. He began his career at HPU in 1998.

Always a champion for excellence in academics, he grew the criminal justice major into the second largest major offered within our school and was an integral part to the development of the Criminal Justice Learning Lab, which offers experiential learning opportunities to criminal justice majors and minors. Best of luck on your next chapter, Dr. Little.

Dr. Little, center, is recognized on Honors Day 2024 for his service by President Nido Qubein, left, and Provost Dr. Daniel Erb, right.

Members of HPU’s 2024 Mock Trial A Team. Back row: Alyssa Patterson, Brady Rotello, Jacob Dillman, Matt Gray Front row: Macy Peele, Courtney Young, Liberty Macia, Riley Bandel

He who is not everyday conquering some fear has not learned the secret of life.”

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Samantha Warren, a Class of 2022 graduate and 22 - 23 Fulbright Recipient, in Mexico. While attending HPU, Warren majored in international relations with minors in Spanish and economics.

The Witcher School of Humanities and Behavioral Sciences unites 8 academic disciplines.

We work to bring practicality, imagination, and depth to how we think, feel, and act. We unite diverse disciplines that generate new research, scholarship, and creative expression concerned with how and why shared human experiences matter.

highpoint.edu/humanities-behavioral-sciences/

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HPU Douglas S. Witcher School of Humanities & Behavioral Sciences: Student and Alumni Network

Sociology & Anthropology Criminal Justice Psychology

English

History

Religion & Philosophy World Languages, Literatures, & Cultures Political Science