Conversations Beneath the Cupola podcast

In Episode 24, President Bob Iuliano is joined by one of Gettysburg College's most notable alumni, Carson Kressley '91. Kressley shares highlights from his time at the College, how his distinguished career as a designer, actor, and American television personality has given others the courage to be their authentic selves, and more.

In Episode 23, President Bob Iuliano is joined by three remarkable members of the class of 2021, Gyasu Bajracharya, Megan Keene, and Shanzae Sarwar. Our newest alumni reflect on their time at Gettysburg College, sharing the lessons they learned, the people and the moments that shaped them, how they plan to leverage their Gettysburg education to make a difference in the world, and more.

In Episode 22, President Bob Iuliano is joined by Environmental Studies Profs. Salma Monani and Sarah Principato for an Earth Day exclusive discussion. They explore the progression of climate change, the ways in which the media shapes and is shaped by environmental issues, how we all can play a part in combating climate change, and more.

In Episode 21, President Bob Iuliano is joined by Women’s Lacrosse Coach Carol Canetele ’83, who was recently selected into the Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association Hall of Fame. They discuss the progress made in women’s athletics from the ’80s to today, what inspired Cantele to return to the Gettysburg field as a coach, her keys to coaching a nationally-acclaimed team, the legacy she hopes to leave behind, and more.

In Episode 20, President Bob Iuliano is joined by 2021 Lincoln Prize recipient David S. Reynolds. Through the prism of Reynolds’ award-winning book "Abe: Abraham Lincoln in His Times," they discuss the character of President Lincoln, the ways in which he was molded by society and his experiences, how some of the issues he faced in his time mirror those we are grappling with today, and what we can learn from the legacy that he has left behind.

In Episode 19, President Bob Iuliano is joined by two members of the Gettysburg College community: Associate English Prof. McKinley Melton and Linguistics and Africana Studies Prof. Jennifer Bloomquist, who also serves as associate provost for faculty development and dean of social sciences and interdisciplinary programs. They discuss the lasting impact of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s words, what made his use of language so powerful and effective, and how we can apply the lessons learned from his life and legacy to our ongoing conversations on issues of race and identity today.

In Episode 18, President Bob Iuliano is joined by Joe Lynch ’85, executive director of alumni relations at the College, who takes on the role of the interviewer and accompanies Iuliano on a 2020 year in review. Iuliano discusses some of the most pivotal moments of 2020, including the spread of COVID-19, the killing of George Floyd, a polarizing election year, and how these moments affected the world and the College. Pivoting from reflection to foresight, Iuliano shares his goals for the world and the College in 2021.

In Episode 17, President Bob Iuliano is joined by two members of the Gettysburg College community: Psychology Prof. Sahana Mukherjee and Gretchen Natter P’15, assistant dean of College Life and executive director of the Center for Public Service. They discuss the impact of gratitude on our health, the variability in how people express gratitude, and how we at Gettysburg College foster a culture that recognizes the significance of giving back to the community and working toward the greater good.

In Episode 16, President Bob Iuliano is joined by two Gettysburg College alumnae: Johanna Persing ’11, deputy communications director for the Republican National Committee, and Kat Atwater ’07, deputy chief technology officer for the Democratic National Committee. They discuss the nature of their work, the upcoming 2020 election, and how their Gettysburg education prepared them for their careers in politics.

In Episode 15, President Iuliano is joined by two members of the Gettysburg College community: Chris Gwinn ’06, a supervisory park ranger for interpretation and education at Gettysburg National Military Park, and Professor of Africana studies and history Scott Hancock. Together, they unpack the Confederate monument controversy, particularly in the context of the Gettysburg battlefield.

In episode 14, President Bob Iuliano and Bruce Gordon ’68, former President and CEO of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, discuss the work that remains before us, both within higher education and beyond, to build a racially just society.

In episode 13, President Bob Iuliano and three members of the Class of 2020—Darby Nisbett, Jason Sinsheimer, and Jazmin Reynoso Ortiz—define what it means to be a “Gettysburgian” by reflecting on their time at Gettysburg College, sharing the lessons they learned, memories of the people and moments that shaped them, and more.

In episode 12, President Bob Iuliano and Biology Prof. Steve James ’80 discuss the biology and genetics of COVID-19, its origins, how properties of the virus are affecting the development of a vaccine, and other related topics.

In episode 11, President Bob Iuliano and family practice physician Melissa Zook ’94 discuss the strain that COVID-19 has put on essential workers and the healthcare system, particularly in rural Kentucky, where Zook works and lives.

In episode 10, President Bob Iuliano and Philosophy Prof. Steve Gimbel discuss the many ethical dilemmas presented by COVID-19, particularly for physicians who are facing difficult decisions under conditions of great uncertainty.

In Episode 9, President Bob Iuliano and Troy Datcher ’90, senior vice president and chief customer officer at Clorox, discuss how the liberal arts prepares students to find purpose and success, while making a difference in the world. Datcher reflects on the key skills and lessons he learned at Gettysburg College and how what he learned has helped guide him on his personal and professional journey.

In Episode 8, President Iuliano and Bruce Larson, chair and professor of political science at the College, make sense of how the COVID-19 outbreak has and will continue to impact ongoing primary elections across the country, how the current administration's response to the health crisis today may affect the presidential election in November, and more.

In Episode 7, President Iuliano and Char Weise, a macroeconomist and Prof. of Economics, discuss the effect the COVID-19 outbreak has had on the economy, what the U.S. government could have done differently, and how long the reverberations may last.

In Episode 6, President Iuliano and Amy Dailey, a social epidemiologist and Health Sciences Prof., discuss the short-term and long-term effects of the COVID-19 outbreak on vulnerable populations.

In Episode 5, President Robert Iuliano explores how the College is making the transition to a remote learning platform for the remainder of the spring semester amid the global health crisis. He is joined by Sunderman Conservatory of Music Prof. and Chair of the Faculty Council Jocelyn Swigger, Prof. of Biology Ryan Kerney, and VP of Information Technology and Prof. of Computer Science Rod Tosten.

In Episode 4 of Conversations Beneath the Cupola, podcast host, Gettysburg College President Robert W. Iuliano, is joined by four members of the Gettysburg College community—Director of First-Year Seminars and Alumni Prof. of Mathematics Darren Glass, Psychology Prof. Kathy Cain, and first-year students Katherine Schmitz ’23 and Demaro Ricketts ’23. Each guest highlights the innovative nature, purpose, and lasting impact of the College’s First-Year Seminar program through their unique lens.

In this episode, President Bob Iuliano and guest Ben Pontz ’20 discuss the breadth and depth of opportunities and experiences that students can pursue at Gettysburg College. Specifically, they unpack Pontz’s immersive Gettysburg College experience as Pontz reflects on his most memorable moments thus far. Pontz is a political science and public policy double major, music minor, and a very involved student across campus. He serves as a drum major of the marching band, an Eisenhower Institute Fielding Fellow, and the Editor-in-Chief of the Gettysburgian, among many other pursuits.

In this episode of Conversations Beneath the Cupola, podcast host, Gettysburg College President Robert W. Iuliano, is joined by guest Susan Eisenhower. Eisenhower is the Chairman Emerita of the Eisenhower Institute at Gettysburg College and granddaughter of Dwight Eisenhower. She is also an author, an international policy consultant, an expert on international security, space policy, energy, and relations between the Russian Federation and the United States of America. Iuliano and Eisenhower begin the episode by discussing Dwight Eisenhower’s legacy on Gettysburg College through the lens of the Eisenhower Institute. At first, the Eisenhower Institute was a foundation created to give out scholarships, but it has grown to take on a more dynamic nature with roots in educating rising generations about important issues, which ultimately led to its affiliation with Gettysburg College in the early 1990s. Beyond her involvements with the Eisenhower Institute, teaching a class called Strategy and Leadership in Transformational Times and taking several students on a trip to the beaches of Normandy, both of which have led to lasting connections between her and students, Eisenhower shares the broader connections that she has with Gettysburg, and reflects on what about this place was special and significant to her grandfather. In reflecting on Dwight’s time, Eisenhower also offers advice on how we can bridge political divides today and advice to students generally. This advice includes uniting the country around central ideas, redefining leadership, and remaining optimistic. Eisenhower stands behind this advice, as this is the same advice she would offer people too. At the end of this episode, Eisenhower talks briefly about her new book, How Ike Led: The Principles Behind His Biggest Decision, which will be released in 2020. To hear the full conversation, tune in and subscribe. Links Subscribe to our podcast and visit Gettysburg College’s website here: www.gettysburg.edu/ Find out more about President Robert Iuliano here: www.gettysburg.edu/offices/preside…iano-biography/ Find out more about Susan Eisenhower here: http://www.eisenhowerinstitute.org/about/staff/susan-eisenhower Follow Gettysburg College on Twitter (@gettysburg), Facebook, Instagram (@gettysburgcollege), and LinkedIn

Welcome to the first episode of Conversations Beneath the Cupola with host Gettysburg College President Robert Iuliano. With an extensive career in higher education, Iuliano has been in positions of administrative leadership and has been a professor at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. In this episode of Conversations Beneath the Cupola podcast, Iuliano has invited Lawrence Bacow, Harvard University’s 29th president. Bacow has extensive experience in higher education and has held his current position since 2018. Aside from this, Bacow’s career experience with teaching and educational leaders spans three decades. As Iuliano and Bacow get into the interview, Bacow notes that the view of higher education has changed, where it is more common to consider higher education as an investment and less as education. Skepticism of higher education has risen and public support for higher education has fallen due to unreasonable costs, left-leaning bias, and self-aggrandizing focus. However, regardless of naysayers, Bacow underscores the role of a liberal arts education in teaching students to master critical reasoning skills, an invaluable skillset for all aspects of life. Bacow shares his insights into the cost of higher education. He mentions that it is important to address this issue. In addition, there is pressure to make sure that stakeholders’ desires are seen to. These desires include curriculum design, setting a right price, transferring the right skill sets, enabling services for students, and the like. One important aspect that needs to be maintained is making sure to represent the different opinions across the societal and political spectrum. At the end of this episode, Bacow shares final advice and his impressions from Inauguration weekend at Gettysburg College. Subscribe to our podcast and listen to the full episode to hear the entirety of these thoughts and insights into the future of liberal arts education. Links Subscribe to our podcast and visit Gettysburg College’s website here: https://www.gettysburg.edu/ Find out more about President Robert Iuliano here: https://www.gettysburg.edu/offices/president/robert-iuliano-biography/ Find out more about President Lawrence Bacow here: https://www.hks.harvard.edu/faculty/lawrence-bacow Follow Gettysburg College on Twitter (@gettysburg), Facebook, Instagram (@gettysburgcollege), and LinkedIn