November 17, 2021
Q&A with Civ director Dr. Jennifer Illuzzi
By Vicki-Ann Downing
Dr. Jennifer Illuzzi, associate professor of history, is director of the Development of Western Civilization Program — the 12th director in the program’s 50-year history and the fourth woman to have that role. She explains why she loves teaching Civ, its challenges, and her hopes for the program going forward.
What do you like about Civ?
“I’ve taught Civ since I started here in 2011. It’s an amazing program. It allows students to see the connections between what has happened in the world before them and the lives they lead today.”
Why do professors enjoy it?
“One of the strong points is there is a lot of freedom in the texts you choose and in the teaching. You have the opportunity to teach with faculty outside your academic discipline. Part of the challenge of teaching Civ, and part of the fun as well, is doing things you would never otherwise do. For example, I got to teach a lay version of Einstein’s theory of relativity.”
What are the challenges?
“The challenge is to get all students to feel equally engaged and part of the program. We can do this by broadening the appeal, engaging faculty, and getting more students to see the connections. The seminar is the
core of the program and it requires student participation to be successful. So getting students to engage with the readings is essential.”
What builds engagement?
“Choosing the right texts can help. When students read James Baldwin’s The Fire Next Time, for example, they engage. They arrive ready to talk. And we can be creative in how we handle assessments. For the most part, they are in the form of thesis-driven essays, which most of our students won’t be writing again. A student could make an oral presentation or a digital one. Or make a poster. An artist could produce a graphic novel. A journalist could
write a newspaper article. We could have assignments that students feel more involved in.”
What advice would you give new students about Civ?
“I would say, ‘Remain open to it. Don’t believe everything you hear. And if you’re struggling, reach out.’ I hear from alumni all the time about how important Civ was to them.”
