Representatives from a Ukrainian university visited
Dalton State College this month to discuss a possible collaboration
between the two institutions of higher learning, Dalton State officials
announced today. During the week-long visit, a treaty of mutual
collaboration between Precarpathian National Vasyl Stefanyk University and
Dalton State College was signed. The terms of this agreement will
initiate dialog between the two universities, which will include
discussions on the ways in which courses on Appalachian studies are taught
at Dalton State.
“The Ukrainians have an interest in Appalachian studies
because of the cultural similarities between the people of Appalachia
and the peoples who live in the Carpathian mountain regions of their
country,” says Dr. Don Davis, Associate Professor of Sociology who was a
Fulbright Scholar in Romania during the past academic year.
“They are very interested in learning how we incorporate
the study of Appalachian history and culture into our courses,” he
says. Dr. Davis, the author of several books, has recently
written Homeplace Geography: Essays for Appalachia and is working on a
book on the history of the Carpathian Mountains.
“I believe that the Carpathian and Appalachian
mountains, though miles and oceans apart, share much in common,” he says,
“particularly when it comes to coping with life in a rural and somewhat
isolated society.” Mr. Iurii Moskalenko, Vice President for Education for
the Ukrainian university, and Roman Poznanskyy, Inspector for the
Department for the Organization of Correspondence and External Studies for
the institution, have been meeting with faculty and staff at
Dalton State, making presentations about life in the Ukraine and
gathering information about teaching pedagogy.
“They also took a field trip to Berea College in
Kentucky to learn about their Appalachian studies curriculum,” Dr. Davis
says.
