Lisa Doyle and Joe Faykosh: Senior Humanities Scholars Reflect on Experience of Unique Opportunities

Lisa, an English major and Professional Writing minor, is especially glad she took special-interest courses—one on advertising and another on the development of the city—available to her through the program. Because Lisa’s Humanities Scholars advisors encouraged her to take advantage of internship and job opportunities, she applied for—and got—a job as a student editorial assistant in the Office of Editorial Projects in the OSU President’s Office. She discovered that having fellow English majors within the Scholars program was a “comfort and an asset,” as they take classes together and discuss post-graduation options.

Joe, a History major, says his favorite Humanities Scholars experience was a study abroad trip to Paris in 2004. He has participated in rewarding service projects through the program, including a community garden project in Boston, and he believes that the “humanities are about giving back, and education not always in the traditional sense, but also in bridging the gaps of culture, languages, and shared histories.” In mentoring and providing leadership to the current freshman class of Humanities Scholars, Joe has reaffirmed his career interest in teaching.

Both Joe and Lisa give their time and talent to the program in student leadership roles. Joe, the president of the Scholars program’s leadership council, initiated a program in which students read a book simultaneously, see the movie version together, then gather for a discussion led by a university instructor. Lisa, the vice-president of the council, oversees several committees of students that create and organize programs for the entire Humanities Scholars community. Both serve as Scholars Ambassadors, recruiting future Scholars to Ohio State.

The Humanities Scholars program is designed to provide students with unique co-curricular experiences that will aid their intellectual and personal growth, expand their understanding of the humanities, clarify their career choices, and prepare them to be successful. Clearly, Joe and Lisa have taken full advantage of all these opportunities.