{"id":20062,"date":"2015-03-23T10:00:35","date_gmt":"2015-03-23T15:00:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.discoverclarksville.com\/articles\/?p=20062"},"modified":"2015-03-23T03:27:11","modified_gmt":"2015-03-23T08:27:11","slug":"apsu-plays-host-to-phi-alpha-theta-regional-history-conference","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.discoverclarksville.com\/articles\/2015\/03\/23\/apsu-plays-host-to-phi-alpha-theta-regional-history-conference\/","title":{"rendered":"APSU plays host to Phi Alpha Theta Regional History Conference"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"AustinClarksville, TN<\/strong> – The Dean of Austin Peay State University\u2019s College of Arts and Letters, Dr. Dixie Webb, knows first-hand the possibilities for a student pursuing a degree in history.<\/p>\n

Webb shared those thoughts with the over 130 attendees of the annual Phi Alpha Theta (PAT) Regional History Conference, held February 28th on the campus of APSU. Founded in 1921, PAT exists to promote the study of history and is one of the largest honor societies in existence.<\/p>\n

Students from universities across the region gathered at APSU, with Webb speaking on the value of a degree in history. Regardless of your ultimate career path, Webb said, a background in history can provide students with the tools necessary to succeed.\u201cIn my welcome, I shared the range of opportunities study in history provides our graduates,\u201d Webb said. \u201cThe critical thinking, solving complex problems that don\u2019t have obvious solutions and oral and written communications skills that history majors are honing every semester are attributes employers want.<\/p>\n

\u201cI never imagined serving as a dean when I earned my degree in art history, but the same skills that made me successful in completing my degree have been a benefit to me as an administrator,\u201d Webb added.<\/p>\n

A number of APSU students presented their research during the event, addressing an array of topics from American colonial history to World War I and even a critique on the fathers of modern philosophy.<\/p>\n

PAT student president Alexandria Poppendorf, currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Military History degree at APSU, presented her research, titled \u201cJacob Riis and the Movement against Childhood Poverty in Five Points New York.\u201d<\/p>\n

Poppendorf said the conference was an opportunity for her organization to display the fruits of their labor.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe event was a real success and everything went exactly as we had hoped,\u201d Poppendorf said. \u201cFor our members who presented papers at the conference, it is a wonderful academic experience for anyone who is interested in going into the history field.<\/p>\n

\u201cBy working closely with the history department, and our partner organization, the APSU History Club, PAT has continually promoted events where our members have a chance to improve themselves as historians while also making new friends,\u201d Poppendorf added.<\/p>\n

Non-student attendees included Dee Boaz, former editor of The Leaf-Chronicle. Boaz retired in 1994 as editor, after leading the organization to 135 state and national press awards.<\/p>\n

Following her husband Sam\u2019s death in 2013, Boaz created The Judge Sam E. Boaz History Endowment, a scholarship awarded to a junior or senior APSU history student pursuing a concentration in U.S. History \u2013 her late husband\u2019s college major, and a subject he briefly taught at APSU.<\/p>\n

[320left]\u201cIt was exciting to attend the conference and witness the quality and depth of the presentations, as well as the array of topics being explored,\u201d Boaz said. \u201cI was impressed with the maturity and seriousness of the presenters.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have no doubt establishing the scholarship was wise, and being at the conference just affirmed my decision,\u201d Boaz said.<\/p>\n

A total of 10 APSU students presented their research topics during the conference.<\/p>\n