OAH Community College Conference 2012

The Organization of American Historians will be holding its Sixth Annual Community College Conference on June 14-16, 2012. This year's setting will be at Lincoln Land Community College in Springfield, Illinois. 


"The conference offers community college historians an excellent opportunity for professional development, networking, and an enjoyable break in the bustling capital of Illinois. Attendees will also have a chance to immerse themselves in the city where Abraham Lincoln began his professional career as an attorney and politician.



The 2012 OAH Community College Conference will feature panels tailored to meet the specific needs and challenges of community college historians. The conference, held over three days, revolves around plenary-style panels and small group sessions focused on subjects related to teaching American history.


“Speakers give presentations that include thematic approaches and suggest topics and sources not always familiar to community college instructors who are overwhelmed with teaching responsibilities,” said Doris Dwyer, professor of history at Western Nevada College and OAH Executive Board member.


Conference presenters are master teachers, community college professors, prominent research historians, and local public history experts.


“The OAH works very hard to ensure that the topics covered are timely and appropriate to the educator's classroom,” said Mark Roehrs, professor of history at Lincoln Land Community College. “The speakers are experts in their fields and engaging presenters, and the field experiences are high quality, educational, and entertaining.”


While immersed in sessions and events, attendees will have an opportunity to network with a unique mix their peers. Networking is essential to building collegiality, assimilating lessons learned, and setting the stage for follow-up activities.


“Networking is one of the greatest benefits of attending the conference,” said Katherine Finley, executive director of the OAH. “Participants can share and receive feedback on their research, talk about professional issues and concerns, and meet old friends and colleagues.”