Bryn Athyn College Alumni Magazine Fall/Winter 2017-18 | Page 37

FACULTY
running
SPOTLIGHT
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Dylan Roscioli (BA '16)
explains how a printing
press works.
of students, and while there he
went to lunch with the department
chair and Ármann Jakobsson, who
would later become his advisor.
In recent years, Sean has
taught full time at the College
while taking trips to Iceland for
his doctoral research, publishing
articles, and traveling to various
conferences around the world to
present his papers. He successfully
defended his thesis in 2016 against
an impressive panel of opponents:
William Ian Miller (University of
Michigan Law School) and Jón
Viðar Sigurðsson (University of
Oslo).
Fortunately, Sean has been
able to stay connected to many of
the scholars who played a role in
his academic journey, and he con-
tinues to expand his network. He
regularly presents papers at con-
ferences internationally and has
even put together an upcoming
local speaking event focused on
contemporary society’s approach
to the notions of peace and jus-
tice. Sean has arranged for William
Ian Miller to give a lecture on this
topic in March at Glencairn Mu-
seum, co-sponsored by the History
Sean Lawing presents his research.
Kirsten Cranch (BA '15) and
Dara King (BA '13) spin wool.
and Social Sciences department at
BAC and the Cole Foundation for
Renewing the Culture.
Sean's students appreciate
his expertise. Junior human soci-
ety major Brennen Keck-McCurdy
('19), says, “I have taken several
classes with Professor Lawing. I
have enjoyed each one more than
the other, and I plan to take more.
... My favorite memory from one of
his classes was the Medieval Festi-
val held at Glencairn Museum. We
dressed up as medieval townsfolk
and lead visitors on a pilgrimage
tour through Glencairn, stop-
ping to view historical artifacts
throughout the museum. This ex-
perience was important not just
to my knowledge of history, but
to the development of my public
speaking ability.”
Sean teaches at all levels in the
College, from first year courses to
senior seminar. His willingness to
let students organically interact
with the subject matter, each oth-
er, and with him as their professor,
brings something to the experience
that helps students get to the heart
of the matter. Brennen sums it
up, “Dr. Lawing is relatable and ap-
proachable, making his classroom
more than just a learning environ-
ment.” 
This speaks to the power of
the dynamic relationship between
teaching and learning; the evolv-
ing process that hopefully sees
students off into a wide world of
life-long thinking and discern-
ing, feeling confident to step from
classrooms into workplaces and
other real-life arenas. So, while
medieval European history may
be violent, senior seminar might
be daunting, and learning Ger-
man can feel like a harrowing test
of tongue-twisters and brain path-
way construction, there is a thread
amidst all of these endeavors that
Sean helps his students uncover
and eventually enjoy. He works to
bring students closer to the essence
of these subjects, and how that re-
flects or interacts with the core of
who we are as living beings, pav-
ing the way for students to know
themselves and their neighbors
better than they did when they
started.
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