First-Year Seminar

First-Year Seminar (FYS) is a course designed specifically for Barton College first-year students. You may select your class from the descriptions below. You might choose one that relates to your potential major, one that sounds interesting, or one that solely focuses on college success.

All the FYS classes are designed to help you be a successful college student and, therefore, have some similar content. For example, all classes will work in areas such as study skills, time management, career research, and choice of a major. However, there are five classes that will focus heavily on those college success skills. We will all use Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand as our summer reader. Your first FYS assignment is to read the book before classes begin in August.

You will meet your instructor, who will also be your academic advisor, when you attend orientation.

Course Descriptions

Creative Expression: Your Story, Your Voice

Adam Twiss
Assistant Professor of Theatre
Director of Theatre at Barton

Each of us has a remarkable story to tell based upon unique experience, insight, and perspective. While very few stories may rival that of Louis Zamperini from our summer reader, Unbroken, the profound effect on our life course is felt just as keenly. Students in this class will use personal stories as a creative springboard to dramatic expression, formalizing and channeling each unique “voice” into plays and monologues intended to move an audience. A student enrolled in this course need not have any experience with plays, playwriting, or performing on stage; all that’s required is imagination, introspection, and a desire to be heard.

A professional actor, director, and producer for over 15 years, I have been Barton’s Director of Theatre and a proud member of the Communication and Performing Arts faculty since the fall of 2008.  In this time, we have constructed and moved into the beautiful, new Lauren Kennedy and Alan Campbell Theatre, where we offer all members of the greater Barton community the chance to participate – onstage, backstage, or from the audience.  I remain active with professional theatre, film, and television throughout the country and look forward to sharing this journey with you.

(Course Full) Is There a Jekyll and Hyde in All of Us?

This FYS course has reached capacity and is not currently accepting additional students.

Ashley Gardner
Visiting Instructor of Psychology

Following our reading of Unbroken during the summer, this course will explore the duality of mankind’s behavior towards others and our amazing resiliency. We will look at Louis Zamperini’s experience with both the best and worst of humanity. What are we capable of doing to other people? Does altruism truly exist? Can people do heinous acts without feeling guilty? Also, is recovery a possibility when faced with the situations Louis experienced? Taking a social psychological approach, we will discuss the possibilities of individuals behaving in ways that go against and/or go beyond what they ever imagined possible.

I have been a proud member of the Barton faculty since fall of 2008. The Department of Psychology is what I currently call “home.” I teach several different psychology courses including, but not limited to, Introductory Psychology, Developmental Psychology, Abnormal Psychology, and Psychology of Aging. I received my master’s degree from East Carolina University; and I now live in Nashville with my husband, David; my dog, Snickers; and my two cats, Norman and Twitch. In my free time, I enjoy reading and spending time with my family. I love teaching, and I especially love teaching psychology. I look forward to meeting all of you!

Learning to Tell Our Stories

Angie Walston
Assistant Dean of Student Success

Everyone has a story, and our stories continually evolve.  We have the ability to shape them and choose a path for our lives just as Louie Zamperini did in our summer reader, Unbroken. Through Louie’s story and the story of others, you will learn to tell your own story. We will explore big questions – how do you define happiness?  what makes you “you”? what do you want to gain from your college experience?   – while also learning practical ways to successfully make the transition from high school to college. We will examine the idea of vocation and consider how your personality, interests, values and skills play a role in your decisions about majors and careers.

The Barton College chapter of my story started eight years ago when I began working in the Office of Student Success. In my current position as assistant dean, I lead the office in the coordination of academic advising, academic support services, and career services.  I love working with college students and watching you learn more about yourself and discover new possibilities. Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my husband and two daughters.

What Does It Take to Be Successful in College?

As you prepare to enter your first semester of college, you may find yourself asking, “What does it take to be successful here?” This course seeks to answer that question for you and provide you with the tools, skills, and attitudes necessary to achieve your best while in college. Along with thorough discussions and applications of our summer reader, Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand, we will also discuss some common pitfalls to avoid – both academic and personal – that trip up many beginning college students: managing your time effectively, studying efficiently, interacting with professors and others appropriately, and taking care of your health mentally, emotionally, and physically. All of these and more are essential topics we will cover in this course. So not only will this course help provide a foundation for being successful in college, but it will also offer a supportive environment where you can share your successes and frustrations, make lasting friendships, and get to know others who are beginning college, too.

This FYS course is available in five sections, each taught by a different instructor:

Kim Bellamy
Student Success Coordinator

Elizabeth Dennis
Assistant Professor of English

Jane Kolunie
Professor of Biology

Carol Ruwe
Associate Professor of Nursing

Rick Stewart
Assistant Professor of Communications

(Course Full) YOLO – You Only L.I.V.E. Once

This FYS course has reached capacity and is not currently accepting additional students.

Jared R. Tice
Director of New Student Programs, Student Activities, Greek Life, and Intramural Sports

Louis Zamperini, the protagonist in our summer reader Unbroken by Lauren Hillenbrand, lived a full, experiential life. The iconic Latin phrase Carpe Diem, or “Seize the Day,” would certainly apply to Louis’ life.

In college, experiences occur daily inside and outside the classroom. The millennial generation has adapted the traditional Carpe Diem into the modern mantra of “YOLO,” or “You Only Live Once.” This course will focus on seizing the opportunities of a diverse community of learners that only a college can create. We will adopt the acronym L.I.V.E to emphasize four areas of the college experience: Leadership, Involvement, Volunteerism, and Education. This course will discover the importance of student involvement, service learning, and leadership skills through co-curricular activities, practical discussions, projects, self-exploration, self-impression, and personal experiences.

As the Director of New Student Programs, Student Activities, Greek Life, and Intramural Sports, I have the privilege of working with students directly as they move through their college career outside the classroom. Next year will be my third at Barton College in this position, and it will be my first experience teaching a First-Year Seminar course. My passion for working with college students was born out of my undergraduate experiences at a small, liberal arts college similar to Barton, which led me to pursue an education and a career in student affairs.

I reside on campus in Hilley Hall; and, when I am not working, I enjoy good food and films and visiting family and friends in my native West Virginia.

(Course Full) Your Health, Your Success, Your Choices

This FYS course has reached capacity and is not currently accepting additional students.

Jennifer O’Donoghue
Associate Professor of Physical Education and Sport Studies
Director of Athletic Training Education

How have current concepts and trends related to well-being, fitness, sports, and media, as well as your upbringing, influenced your life and shaped your health? How do our everyday health practices influence our ability to function and remain unbroken? Just as there are challenges in life, “how” we live our lives and the “choices” we make can provide the path to achieving or maintaining health. In this course, we will explore many of the factors that influence our health and assist us as we develop as individuals. Students will be provided with learning tools and objectives that may assist them with their own personal development and achieving success as well as what factors may influence their health during their freshman year of college.

This course will require recording weekly activity and performing wellness assessments. We will begin by gathering several data points and reevaluating them at specific times throughout the academic year.  These data points are:

• Age
• Height
• Weight
• Body-Mass Index
• Resting Blood Pressure
• Resting Heart Rate
• Body Fat Percentage
• Circumference Measurements
• Self-reported level of Fitness
• Self-reported level of Activity
• Self-reported Dietary Pattern

This project takes place within the structure of this particular FYS course.  Your personal information will not be disseminated. Additionally, direct, personal identifiers will not be disclosed as students will be assigned a pseudonym.

I returned to Barton College in 2009 as the Athletic Training Education Program Director. I also serve as the Director of Faculty Development. My doctoral study was in educational leadership, research, and technology, while my master’s study was in athletic training. My undergraduate major was physical education and exercise science. I have served as an educator, athletic trainer, and strength and conditioning specialist in various clinical-outreach, high school, college, and professional settings. From 2001 to 2003, I was an assistant professor/athletic trainer/on-site clinical coordinator and strength and conditioning education program advisor for Barton College. My research and areas of interest include athletic training clinical education, the establishment of clinical education sites, dance and sports medicine, accreditation compliance issues, learning styles, injury evaluation and diagnosis, strength and conditioning program development, and the implementation of strength and conditioning education. I reside in Wilson with my husband, Jeff; son, Ci’an; and daughter, Lily.

(Course Full) The Integrity of College Athletics

This FYS course has reached capacity and is not currently accepting additional students.

Rich Patterson
Assistant Professor of Physical Education and Sport Studies
Clinical Coordinator of Athletic Training Education

The great football coach, Vince Lombardi once said, “Football is like life. It teaches work, sacrifice, perseverance, competitive drive, selflessness, and respect for authority.” Is this true? Is this an antiquated philosophy, or are these really the attributes we receive from participation in athletics? Recent events would suggest athletes have a sense of entitlement and operate above the rules. Throughout the semester, we will explore the character, integrity, and experiences that have driven early athletes like Louis Zamperini and modern athletes such as Oscar Pistorius. Should we emulate these individuals, or should we be more like Charles Barkley who said, “I’m not a role model”?

This fall marks the beginning of my fifth year at Barton College. Currently, I serve as the Clinical Education Coordinator for the Athletic Training Education program in addition to my duties as Assistant Professor in the Department of Physical Education, Sports Studies, and Gerontology. I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in athletic training from Alfred University and a master’s degree in physical education from Hofstra University. During the course of the semester, you will hear a variety of stories involving my 13 years of athletic-training experience at various levels and the multitude of other jobs I’ve had in my life. You can expect some heated discussions on topics such as the NCAA, intercollegiate athletics, and recent incidents in the world of athletics.