QU professor attends seminar on military history of World War II at National World War II Museum

QUINCY — J. Matthew Ward, assistant professor of history at Quincy University, received the honor of being selected as one of 20 fellows to participate in the Summer Seminar in Military History at the National World War II Museum in New Orleans, hosted by the Jenny Craig Institute for the Study of War and Democracy.

During this three-week program, scholars learned critical connections between military history and democracy. Scholars engaged in pedagogy sessions in which they discussed classroom strategies and how to incorporate military history into academic courses. The seminar also included a visit to the Battle of New Orleans site.

In addition to learning a great deal of historical information, attendees gained valuable classroom insight, publishing tips and networking opportunities from experienced professors and other professionals in the field of historical education and preservation.

In a press release, Ward said, “The resources and information I gained will benefit me as I design a US War and Society course for Quincy University, and I also came away with lots of ideas for classroom assignments and discussion activities.

“Additionally, I befriended the other fellows who are rising scholars in the field like myself. The seminar strengthened my understanding of how America has been shaped by warfare at home and abroad, and how many social issues that Americans continue to confront are tied to military issues like recruitment, foreign service, governmental policy and public memory.”