This summer, Birmingham-Southern and the Office of Alumni Engagement introduced 15 Minute Classroom – weekly Facebook Live mini-lectures featuring BSC faculty and their expertise. The series will continue starting Sept. 10 with more of your favorite professors.

15 Minute Classroom is held on Thursdays at 6 p.m. CT through BSC’s Facebook page. If you have a suggestion for a faculty member you’d like to hear from, please email [email protected].

15 Minute Classroom lectures are recorded and available to watch on Facebook.

The Fall Series

What is History? Why Study It?
Hosted by Dr. Mark Lester, Michael Atchison Professor of History

Dr. Lester examines the different meanings of history – records, footprints, and interpretations of the past – and history’s importance in our present world. View the discussion here.

Every Word Counts: Living, Teaching, and Publishing in the Midst of the Pandemic
Hosted by Melinda Rainey Thompson, Assistant Lecturer of English

When Thompson released her fifth book, “If I Were the Boss of You,” in February, she only had a couple interviews and book events before the COVID-19 pandemic hit. She talks about her experience over the last six months and the power of words, even if disrupted by unplanned disasters. View the discussion here.

The Economy of Means: Getting the Most With the Least
Hosted by Dr. Lester Seigel ’79, Joseph Hugh Thomas Professor of Music

Dr. Lester looks at how adversity and necessity have influenced trends in music. He talks about the limits on performing arts right now, during the COVID-19 pandemic and social distancing, as well as the way music has historically responded to and risen above world-altering obstacles. View the discussion here.

How Do Wealthy People Think?
Hosted by Dr. Rick Lester, Associate Professor of Management

Dr. Lester addresses the question, “Do wealthy people think differently from others?” by looking at virtue ethics, the basic uses of money, and the role of profit in our communities and relationships. View the discussion here.

W. E. B. Du Bois:  America’s Most Important Public Intellectual
Hosted by Dr. Mark Schantz, Professor of History

In his talk, Dr. Schantz discusses the powerful influence of W. E. B. Du Bois and why we need him now more than ever. He highlights several Du Bois writings and the visibility Du Bois brought to Black individuals and communities in America. View the discussion here.

How to Effectively Communicate with Your Child(ren)
Hosted by Dr. Richard Rector, Associate Professor of Psychology

Dr. Rector focuses on good practices and techniques for the parents in the BSC community, or anyone who works with children. Conversations with young children help build self-esteem, self-awareness, and social skills, and children, to some extent, will build their future relationships based on early communication with their parents and family. View the discussion here.

The Black Death and Literature
Hosted by Dr. Jessica Hines, Assistant Professor of English

Dr. Hines discusses the characteristics of the Black Death, some common misconceptions, and how the plague shaped medieval Europe and, consequently, medieval literature. View the discussion here.

The Summer Series

Creative Resilience and Listening to the Voices of the Past
Hosted by Dr. Amy Cottrill, Denson N. Franklin Associate Professor of Religion

The Psalms reflect the pain of individuals and communities in the past, and also offer glimpses of how they survived those experiences. Dr. Cottrill’s mini-lecture focuses on how the Psalms respond to times of trial and trauma through lament, embeddedness in community, and working toward a future with a shared sense of commitment and hope. View the discussion here.

The Free Magic Pill
Hosted by Dr. Joe Chandler, Associate Professor of Psychology

Good sleep changes everything. Dr. Chandler discusses how a few simple changes can improve the quality of your sleep – and your life. View the discussion here.

The Myth of the Southern Belle
Hosted by Dr. Victoria Ott, James A. Wood Professor of History

In her mini-lecture, Dr. Ott focuses on the image of the Southern Belle and its prominent role in the mythology of the Old South. View the discussion here.

The Dog That Didn’t Bark
Hosted by Dr. Randall Law, Professor of History

When making sense of the past, sometimes what didn’t happen is just as important as what did happen. Dr. Law uses a well-known Sherlock Holmes story as the point of departure for a short talk on how to think critically and creatively about the past. View the discussion here.

Racism and Health: A Look at COVID-19
Hosted by Dr. Meghan Mills, Assistant Professor of Sociology

Although racial disparities in health are well-documented, the reasons for them are often overlooked. The COVID-19 pandemic serves as a reminder that “we’re not all in this together;” racial minorities are disproportionately negatively impacted by public health emergencies. Dr. Mills’ presentation introduces a sociological framework to understanding the relationship between systemic racism and health with a focus on COVID-19. View the discussion here.