Consortium for Innovative Environments in Learning (CIEL)

(L to R) Springsong Cooper, Kebokile Dengu-Zvobgo, Pitzer College coordinator for CIEL, Deborah Lieberman, Brooke Jordan, and Amy M. Parker at Johnson C Smith University, NC after they presented papers and participated in CIEL's Student Research Symposium.

Papers Presented

• Springsong Cooper: A Deeper Look into Hurricane Katrina
• Debbie Lieberman: Women and Nutrition in Mali
• Brooke Jordan: Discovering our voice: Youth-to-youth partnership in the pearl of Africa
• Amy Parker: Women of The Household: Three Women in the Himalayan Hills

What did you get out of the CIEL conference/experience?

Springsong Cooper

Participating in the CIEL conference at JCS was fascinating in many ways. It was such a pleasure to engage, share ideas, and collaborate with students from schools all over the country. Also, exploring JCS and interacting with the students there was an incredible experience. The school was beautiful and the students and administration were all so hospitable, as well as interested in what had brought us to Charlotte, North Carolina. The exchange of passion in different interest areas from social action to psychology was inspiring and telling of the quality of the students of the 21st century. Listening to research my fellow students had invested their time in rejuvenated me and I left the conference with a much more positive attitude towards the benefit of a liberal arts education! Pitzer's participation in CIEL is beneficial to our goals as an institution and it is my hope that CIEL will become much more integrated into our curriculum and student resources!

Amy Parker

Going to JCSU allowed me the opportunity to hear from other inspired undergrads who are creating their own research. We were given the chance to learn from each other, which is invaluable. It is important that we are all in dialogue with each other, so that we know what people are finding all over the country. In the few days we spent there I also got to know four other women from Pitzer—three inspirational students and the fabulous Kebokile. Even after we left the wonderful Southern Hospitality at JCSU, these women are here for me at Pitzer as friends and as smart influential members of society.

Deborah Lieberman

I was very impressed by the organization and hospitality which made the weekend run so smoothly. I was really pleased to have chance to see how another school works.

Within the conference itself, student presentations were mixed in quality. I felt pretty positive and empowered by the opportunity to present my own research. Being given an open, receptive and dynamic space to share my research helped me to organize and push the ideas further. I was also very enlightened and inspired by some of the other presentations. I learned tactics and motivating ideas which I plan to bring back to my campus and communities I work in now and in the future. The format and spirit of the conference emphasized dialogue. I really appreciated the chances for question and answer and discussion; if anything, I would’ve made more time for this. It is rare that a group of self-motivated and experienced students are collected in a space to exchange and critically discuss the pressing issues of our time (classes often fall short). We need more of this. I was also so impressed and invigorated by my fellow Pitzer peers. These ladies are so self-aware and dynamic; their presentations and questions were challenging and compelling; they are empowering.