Oberlin Blogs

Prof. Steve Volk

Hey, everyone. My name is Steve Volk, and I've taught history at Oberlin since 1986. I specialize in Latin American history, and also teach Museum Studies, along with First Year Seminars on human rights and on how images work. Teaching is what I do and what I love and I'm lucky enough to be the director of Oberlin's Center for Teaching Innovation and Excellence (CTIE), where I work with other faculty members in our continual search for ways to improve teaching and learning at the college.

My own field of research is Latin American history, specifically contemporary Chilean history, a subject which I've been interested in since I participated in an exchange program (AFS) to Chile as a high school student. I've lived in a number of Spanish speaking countries (Spain, Bolivia, Chile), but Chile remains my true love. If my experiences as a high school student in Chile in 1964 helped orient my future career in academia, I was formed politically and emotionally by the years I lived there in 1972-73, when I experienced the tremendous hope of the government of Salvador Allende (1970-73), as well as the terrible catastrophe of the military coup in 1973 that overthrew him. I try to carry my own sense of engagement in those years into the classroom, and work closely with students as they combine their studies with an active engagement in the world. I'd be interested in finding out what moves you, and what questions you have about entering the Oberlin community.

Entries from this blogger

One Big Motrin

March 15, 2013

Listening is not easy; hearing is even harder because it means that you have to think about your own positions as well as those of the other party. And that is particularly difficult when one's ears are filled with shouts of approval from one's supporters (or one's hearing is hardened by disapproving voices from one's detractors). But hearing is essential if we are to move ahead.

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Volunteers Wanted...to Reflect

February 14, 2011

So here's the deal. I'm looking for VOLUNTEERS. Students who would like to begin working on their own ePorfolios now. I provide you with access to an ePortfolio system, you use it (more instructions provided) and, every now and again, we get together to talk to other ePortfolio users about how it's going and what you're getting out of it (or not!).

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Let it Snow!

February 4, 2009

There's much to be said about adverse conditions, turmoil, and challenges. They have a way of cutting right across a number of boundaries which previously seemed unalterable.

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