Claremont, Calif. (October 23, 2013)—Pitzer College Assistant Professor of Political Studies William Barndt will explore why liberal arts colleges increasingly describe themselves as national institutions in his talk, “How To Get a Job Anywhere: The Nationalization of Our Liberal Arts Colleges” at Claremont McKenna College’s Marian Miner Cook Athenaeum on Friday, October 25. Barndt’s talk starts at noon as part of a luncheon that begins at 11:30 a.m.
William Barndt
Barndt suggests that the “nationalization” of liberal arts colleges arises from the belief that the primary task of a liberal arts education is to ready students to do anything, anywhere. Yet this task is neither particular to liberal arts colleges nor what makes them special, he contends. Barndt’s talk will therefore examine what is unique about liberal arts colleges — and how they might navigate the tensions associated with this growing nationalism.
Barndt received his BA from Colby College and his MA and PhD from Princeton University. His teaching and research explore the social foundations of democratic practice in the Western Hemisphere, with particular attention to conservative and agrarian politics.
