Nine ESU Students and One Alumna to Attend Presidential Inauguration Program

Nine students from East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania will take part in The Osgood Center for International Studies Presidential Inauguration Program, January 8 – 21, 2017. The ESU students will be among more than 70 students from New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Cuba to take part in the program.

The Osgood Center for International Studies, which specializes in customized academic seminars for colleges and universities in the U.S. and abroad, conducts this seminar every four years. Osgood Center President Dr. Shelton Williams describes the experience as “a unique opportunity for American citizens to experience the peaceful transition of power from a critical point of view. Understanding not only the symbolism but the true meaning of one administration taking over the reins of government from another is essential to understanding American democracy.”

“I am so excited for our students to participate in the Osgood Center’s two-week Presidential Inauguration program,” said Kimberly S. Adams, Ph.D., professor of political science at ESU.  “What they will experience certainly cannot be imparted in the traditional classroom setting. I believe that it is essential that students are exposed to hands-on politics and participate in such experiential programs, as it adds to their knowledge of the subject matter and allows for meaningful dialogue in class discussions.”

While many of the students followed the election closely, others in the group were casual observers since some were not from competitive states. This program gives them the chance to meet students from other institutions and other states and learn how the presidential race affected their perspectives, all within the context of the bipartisan inauguration events.

Students and faculty from the following institutions may be available for interviews: St. Bonaventure University (N.Y.), Elon University (N.C.), East Stroudsburg University (Pa.) and Fairmont State University (W.V.).

Participants from ESU include Christian Colon, a junior political science major from Bethlehem, Pa.; Mikhail Dacres, a junior criminal justice major from Philadelphia, Pa.; Eli Downie, a senior criminal justice major from Blakeslee, Pa.; Mauria Febbraro, a junior public health major from Allentown, Pa.; Nicholas Jauch, a junior political science major from Dingmans Ferry, Pa.; Johalys Marte, a sophomore political science major from Staten Island, N.Y.; Tania Moore, a junior political science major from Harrisburg, Pa.; Francina Phillips, a sophomore political science major from Easton, Pa.; Brian Russell, a junior political science major from Canadensis, Pa. and Margaret Barksdale, an ESU alumna who graduated with an M.A. in political science in 2015.

“Presidential inaugurations are historical events,” said Brian Russell. “It is great to be able to represent ESU and participate in a program as historic as this.”

Among the many speakers during the full two-week program include journalists and media observers Brian Lamb of C-SPAN, Clarence Page of the Chicago Tribune, Marvin Kalb of the Kalb Report and others. Also included will be experts on American politics, U.S. foreign and domestic policy, the history of presidential inaugurations, and the transition process.

For more information about ESU’s participation in the Inauguration Program contact Dr. Adams at 570-422-3924 or email ksadams@esu.edu. For more information about the Osgood Center for International studies visit www.osgoodcenter.org.

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