Three Linfield College professors will discuss research in the areas of communication, nursing and psychology during “A Sampler of Faculty Research” Wednesday, Feb. 20, at 7 p.m. in 201 Riley Hall at Linfield.
Susan Currie Sivek, assistant professor of mass communication; Melissa Jones, assistant professor of nursing; and Yanna Weisberg, assistant professor of psychology, will each present information about their research.
Sivek will speak on “Packaging Inspiration: Al Qaeda’s Digital Magazine and Self-Radicalization.” Inspire magazine, a digital publication of Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, seeks to motivate potential terrorists to carry out attacks in the West. The magazine has seemed to be effective, resulting in its connection to a number of recent plots. Sivek will discuss the magazine’s potential for aiding prospective terrorists through the self-radicalization process. Sivek, at Linfield since 2011, holds a bachelor’s degree from Trinity University, and a master’s and Ph.D. from University of Texas.
Jones will present “Influence of Generational Differences on Learning in the Online Classroom.” In response to increasing enrollment in RN-BSN programs, schools of nursing are developing online and distance curricula. As more experienced nurses return to higher education, knowledge development related to generational diversity is needed to address the unique needs of RN-BSN students in the online classroom. Jones’ study looks at the gap in nursing education research related to learning and the diversity of students from a generational perspective. Jones, a member of the Linfield faculty since 2009, holds a bachelor’s from Salish Kootenai College, and a master’s from Oregon Health & Sciences University, and she is currently completing doctoral studies at Capella University.
Weisberg will present “Becoming a Different Person: Personality Change Due to Self and Others.” Can people change their personalities to become more like how they want to be? In a study of young adults, Weisberg investigated how and why personality can change over four months. Results show that personality can and does change, and that this change is an effect of both what the individual wants and outside influences. Weisberg has been at Linfield since 2011, and holds two bachelor’s degrees from Carnegie Mellon University and a Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota.
The lecture is free and open to the public. The Linfield College faculty lecture series offers one presentation each month by members of the Linfield faculty. For more information, call 503-883-2409.
