GeneralSpace (Georgia Gwinnett College)

Rawls, Richard

Georgia Gwinnett College

Liberating Arts: GGC School of Liberal Arts 
Georgia Gwinne  College SLA Faculty 
“Make the News” by Commen ng Upon It: 
Simultaneously Serving GGC and the Wider Community 
News Released August 2024    # 43   SLA Contact Info: liberalarts@ggc.edu 
     Metro Atlantans watched a 
GGC professor give advice in two 
television interviews on July 22 
and 25, 2024. 
     Dr. David Ludden appeared on 
Good Day Atlanta, FOX 5 WAGA-
TV on July 22, at about 10 a.m. for 
a “live” interview. He then ap-
peared on WANF, Atlanta  News 
First, on July 25, around 6 in the 
evening. 
     Ludden explained that 
the interviews occurred 
because GGC’s public 
rela ons wrote a news release and sent it as 
a “media pitch.” 
     In his interviews, Ludden discussed vaca-
ons where people bring their work and laptops with 
them. “This isn’t a real vaca on,” Ludden argued. It 
isn’t restora ve. “Rather, what you really need is me 
completely away from your job so that you can come 
back to it refreshed.” The feedback to the interviews 
surprised Ludden. “It seemed to strike a chord with 
viewers, and many people who told me they saw ei-
ther interview said that it really hit home for them.” 
     Ludden responded affirma vely when asked if he 
thought public appearances like this might represent  
both service to the campus and the community. “These 
two interviews do cons tute service to GGC, since they 
were arranged to promote the college,” he said. “On 
the other hand, if I got people to think a li le about 
the importance of a work-life balance, then we can 
count this as service to the community as well.” In this 
spirit, Ludden also serves campus and community 
through his blog on the Psychology Today website.  
By Richard Rawls 
     Elec on seasons find electronic 
and print media seeking poli cal sci-
en sts, economists, historians and 
other scholars to explain current 
events. Enter Dr. David Felsen, a new 
poli cal science faculty member.   
     Felsen’s contribu on was an ex-
ci ng one for GGC. A er all, it’s not 
every day that the largest newspaper 
by print and electronic circula on in the USA comes tex ng 
for commentary. Yet, that was exactly what 
the Wall Street Journal did. It solicited 
Felsen’s opinion about the current presiden-
al campaign. 
     Felsen’s comment occurred within the 
context of a Wall Street Journal ar cle pub-
lished on July 1, 2024. Titled “Trump Rallies 
the Base A er Immunity Ruling and Debate,” 
the ar cle explored the immediate a ermath of two events 
that were favorable at the me for the presiden al cam-
paign of Donald Trump. The first was his debate perfor-
mance against (then) candidate and (current) president Joe 
Biden. The second was the Supreme Court’s decision re-
garding presiden al immunity. 
     The ar cle was wri en by Wall Street Journal reporter 
Vivian Salama. While Felsen noted that Biden could ill 
afford another similar debate performance, he also pointed 
out to the reporter that "Trump may also make gaffes of his 
own over the next few months that can shi  the momen-
tum.” Felsen’s comments were indeed prescient, because 
as recent events confirm, the presiden al campaign season 
is full of unforeseen twists and turns. 
    In addi on to teaching, Felsen serves as the Director of 
the Interna onal Diplomacy Program. When asked how the 
Wall Street Journal quote cons tuted service, he observed, 
“It raised the profile of GGC within media circles and the 
community.”                                             
Ludden in the TV 
studio at Fox 5  
Atlanta with host 
Joanne Feldman 
“The SLA is proud of our 
scholars who contribute to 
the educa on of students 
and to the discourse 
around important concerns 
in our society.” 
SLA Interim Dean, Marc 
Felsen: Dispenser of 
poli cal analysis 
TV Sta ons Seek Psychologist’s Views Na onal Newspaper Solicits Poli cal Insight 


Georgia GwinneƩ College SLA Faculty “Make the News” by CommenƟng Upon It: Simultaneously Serving GGC and the Wider Community

This is the release of a semesterly newsletter providing faculty and staff members with updates about the EXACT activities during the Fall 2024 semester.This is the release of a semesterly newsletter informing faculty and staff members about the EXACT activities performed during the Fall 2024 semester

Brianna Wilson

EXACT Snapshot Semesterly Newsletter: Faculty Edition (Fall 2024)

Student Affairs Faculty Committee

"The Power of We" Newsletter, Vol. 1, Issue 2

Liberating Arts: GGC School of Liberal Arts 
Ideas For Summer Reading: SLA Faculty on Latest Fic on They Read 
News Released April 2024    # 40   SLA Contact Info: liberalarts@ggc.edu 
Carey Shellman, History. The Bee 
S ng, by Paul Murray. Although it takes 
place in Ireland, it made me realize that 
ALL families have secrets. The narra ve is 
divided between voices of various family 
members, thereby revealing the complexi-
es of familial rela onships. I par cularly iden fied 
with Cass, the daughter. We all have secrets.  
Stephanie Denny, English. I've been read-
ing books that I know I should have read by 
now but haven't for whatever reason. One 
of those is Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. It's 
completely different from what I expected 
because of pop culture and the film—I 
highly recommend it! 
Michael Stoltzfus, Religion. I just fin-
ished Steig Larsson's The Girl Who Played 
With Fire, book two in a series. It's an 
engaging thriller that combines an un-
derdog heroine narra ve of resilience 
with social commentary, criminal in-
trigue, and interna onal espionage.  I'll 
read book three.  I haven't seen the movie. 
Gaynell M. Simpson (HUSECS): I'm in a 
book club with my best friends and we 
read Colleen Hoover’s Verity, an ero c 
sexy thriller! This book was two books 
within one book and reads very differ-
ently. It leaves you with an unexpected 
ending and readers will want to know 
more about what really happened.   
Kolton DeFoor, English/INTS, Piranesi, 
a beau fully wri en fantasy novel. 
Clarke masterfully balances references 
to history, philosophy, mythology, and 
mys cism in a labyrinthine narra ve, 
wri en in first-person journal entries 
by the charming, innocent tle charac-
ter. Piranesi was unputdownable, and 
it is a story that will s ck with me for a 
very long me. 
Laurel Holland, Sociology. Barbara Kingsolver, Demon Cop-
perhead, is a story about bea ng the odds even when life 
throws you curve balls. Demon delicately 
nego ates his young life in the midst of 
crushing poverty, a culture of substance 
abuse, foster care, and even his first love. A 
coming-of-age story, Demon is reminiscent 
of David Copperfield and it’s great fun to 
travel along with the red-haired protagonist 
un l the very last stop! 
A. Keith Kelly, English. I finished reading The 
Three-Body Problem by Liu Cixin, in advance 
of the new Ne lix series. It is a bit of a chal-
lenge to get into because of its nonlinear plot, 
and what I am certain is significant ar stry 
lost in transla on. It does, however, present a 
unique science fic on concept that is worth 
the effort for those who enjoy something different  
Stephanie Wright, Psychology: The Push by 
Ashley Audrain. I think I liked it. The narra-
ve was ght and tense from beginning to 
end, and this was really one of the best of 
gasligh ng stories I've ever read. However, I 
was le  emo onally stunned for days a er 
finishing. I definitely recommend but note 
that The Push includes frequent references to child death if 
that's past your boundaries. 
Richard Rawls, History, Religion. Penguin 
Book of Dutch Short Stories, ed. Joost 
Zwagerman. The Dutch are tolerant, direct, 
and expec ng an open dialogue without 
name calling. They are also introspec ve 
and not quick to “reveal their souls.” This 
book of excellently translated stories fortu-
nately gives us an inner window into the 
Dutch soul through literature. Their souls are some mes 
playful, but o en struggling to understand and make their 
way in the world. The stories are nged with irony and wit, 
and are slightly melancholic. They portray the types of is-
sues we humans face, but from a Dutch perspec ve. These 
stories will definitely reward you! 


Liberating Arts: GGC School of Liberal Arts

"The Power of We" Newsletter, Vol. 1, Issue 4

Biodiversity information of headwater stream fish community in Rock Springs Park in Gwinnett County and DNA sequence information for single sample of Lepomis macrochirus (bluegill)

McClain, Thai

Rock Springs_Lepomis macrochirus_McClain

Biodiversity information of headwater stream fish community in Rock Springs Park in Gwinnett County and DNA sequence information for single sample of Semotilus atromaculatus (Creek Chub

Kenney, Khiya

Rock Springs_Semotilus atromaculatus_Kenney

Katherine Pinzon

2024-2-29 Senate Meeting Minutes

GGC's School of Liberal Arts talks with different faculty members on why they like history

Ackerson, Wayne

GGC History and Geography News

Biodiversity information of headwater stream fish community in Little Mulberry Park in Gwinnett County and DNA sequence information for single sample of Lepomis microlophus (Redear Sunfish