Posted on Thursday, February 18, 2021
Dr. Don Livingston and Dr. Sharon Livingston don’t just share an interest in teaching. The married couple works side by side in the college’s Department of Education, where he is a Professor and she an Associate Professor.
Native Pennsylvanians who met in high school, the Livingstons also share an interest in travel. Since joining the college faculty in 2001 and 2006, respectively, they have crisscrossed the world for personal travel and led more than 10 student groups on trips to Asia, Europe, Central America and New Zealand.
On Monday, they’ll share the podium for the second lecture in the college’s latest 3D Journeys series, held virtually this year with a focus on the Far East. The topic will be one of their favorite destinations: “Thailand: Land of Smiles.”
The professors have visited the culturally rich Southeast Asian kingdom a total of six times – twice together and four times with students.
With a smile, Dr. Sharon Livingston said it all started with their love of Thai food.
Seeking a “really different” travel option, they chose to explore Thailand because “it seemed exotic, would challenge us and we knew we would like the food,” she said.
They were not disappointed. In fact, they found Thailand to be safe, friendly and welcoming, with stunning natural beauty and endlessly fascinating culture, an intriguing blend of ancient and modern.
The couple sees Thailand as an ideal destination for students to experience an area of the world very different from their own.
“We encourage them to see the differences and the similarities between cultures and to appreciate the differences from a human perspective,” Dr. Sharon Livingston said.
The duo makes a point to plan the trips themselves, seeking authentic experiences and opportunities for students to learn about the country by “meeting real people,” Dr. Don Livingston said.
Previous trips partnered with organizations like Cultural Canvas for visits to hill tribe schools, where they interacted through art, and Urban Light Foundation, which works to educate and empower at-risk young males to escape a life of exploitation and trafficking.
They also worked with the University of Chiang Mai, where students learned about Thailand’s serious problem with deforestation and the university’s impressive forest restoration projects. 
“We show them the problems, as well as the beauty,” Dr. Don Livingston said.
Now in its 11th season, 3D Journeys offers free lectures open to anyone with an interest in learning. 3D stands for “discover, discuss and develop,” and the pandemic has given participants the chance to “discover” the world in a new way, via Zoom.
The Thailand lecture begins at a 10 a.m. Monday with a welcome by College President Susanna Baxter. Following the lecture, the Livingstons will be available for a question-and-answer session. The programs typically last less than one hour.
Martha Pirkle, the college’s director of Alumni and Community Relations, said the 3D committee was thrilled by the response to the first online lecture, presented on Nepal by Dr. David Ahearn. Almost 100 people participated, and a post-lecture survey provided overwhelmingly positive reviews.
“I really like this format. It feels like I am getting a private lecture, and I can watch from home,” one participant commented.
“I was amazed at how personal a Zoom lecture can be,” added another.
The February lecture promises to be equally appealing, said 3D committee member Judy Gilliam, who visited Thailand in 2015. She was struck by the reverence of the citizens for their king and the magnificence of the Buddhist temples.
“Visiting the Wat Rong Kuhn, also known as the White Temple, in Chiang Ra Province was awe-inspiring. The temple was built as a center for prayer and meditation for the Buddhist community. I was not prepared for the opulence of the temple. It defies description,” Gilliam said.
Registration for the lecture is underway and easy.
“We encourage everyone to register to receive details on how to join the event from the comfort of home through Zoom,” Pirkle said.
To sign up, use this link or call 706-880-8244 or email 3DJourneys@davidegalliani.com.
As part of the Commencement Countdown, seniors from the Class of 2021 received their caps and tassels Tuesday in a drive-through celebration, featuring personal, socially distanced greetings from President Baxter. Tuesday marked 100 days until graduation.
This year’s Commencement will be held May 15 and will honor and celebrate both the classes of 2020 and 2021. In order to have as many people as can attend safely, the ceremony will take place in Callaway Stadium and will be a ticketed event due to limited seating. Each participant will get a certain number of tickets. To get an accurate count of how many tickets needed for allocation, members of the Class of 2020 are strongly encouraged to notify the registrar’s office at registrar@davidegalliani.com by Feb. 26. To accommodate those that cannot attend because of COVID restrictions or concerns, commencement will be live streamed.
Ringing the school bell to start my next chapter in Coast Guard. Thank you all who helped me in college. 🔔🇺🇸 #LCSoundofSuccess
The Chapel bell continues to ring as graduating seniors celebrate their first full-time, post-graduation job offer or acceptance to graduate school. This week’s ringers include Makayla Red (Education), accepted into the Instructional Technology graduate program at the University of Georgia in Athens; Amy Channel (Biology), accepted a full-time job offer as a post-baccalaureate research intern at the University of Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Lillian DeGennaro (Biology), accepted into the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Minnesota in St. Paul; Matthew Tyler (Nursing), accepted a full-time job offer as a registered nurse with the medical surgical unit at Wellstar West Georgia in LaGrange; and India Gleason (Religion), accepted into the Master of Divinity program at the Emory University Candler School of Theology. Complete this online form to receive instructions on how to ring the bell between the hours of 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. on weekdays when the college is open.
Dr. John Cook, Professor of Religion, recently published “The Tradition of Peter’s Crucifixion” in Talking God in Society: Multidisciplinary (Re)constructions of Ancient (Con)texts. Festschrift Peter Lampe (Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht)
The Writing Center and Tutoring Center will continue virtual sessions this spring. For more information, contact Dr. Justin Thurman jthurman@davidegalliani.com , Associate Professor of English, for writing, or Dr. Stacey Ernstberger sernstberger@davidegalliani.com, Associate Professor of Mathematics, for tutoring.
Check LC Connect for Virtual CE events and instructions. For in-person events, all COVID guidelines apply.
Through Sunday
Young Alumni Virtual Interview Series – Tyler Martin Grant ’19, Nonprofit Leadership
A former Servant Scholar and employee with Circles of Troup, Grant knows her way around the world of nonprofits.
Local Professional Interview Series – The Rev. James Goodlet, Ministry
Goodlet is senior pastor at First Presbyterian Church in LaGrange. He will discuss his career in the ministry and share insights with current students.
“Environment and Modern Agriculture” film
Students explore how the current global demand for animal products and related crops affect ecosystems and our health through global warming, the depletion of natural resources, the pollution of soil, water and air, the loss of wildlife, deforestation and ocean depletion. *Sustainability Credit
Feb. 21-28
Young Alumni Virtual Interview Series – Sidney Divine ’11, Business
Divine is founder of Divine Wealth Strategies in Atlanta, where he is a registered life planner. He will discuss his time as an undergraduate student, how his experience at LC prepared him for his current career path, and offer advice and insight to current undergraduates.
Women’s Soccer makes a season-opening statement in 3-1 win over Berea.
http://www.lagrangepanthers.com/sports/wsoc/2020-21/releases/20210213vr6ipn
Men’s Soccer
Huntingdon spoiled LC’s season-opener with a 4-1 win over the Panthers (0-1) last Saturday. Blake Webb scored with an assist from Enrique Hernandez for the Panthers.
Swimming
The Panther swim team finished its season at the Georgia Small College Championships. Sophomore Connor Cochran had three first-place finishes to pace the Panthers.
Women's Basketball
The Panthers (8-1) suffered their first loss of the season, losing 64-55 to Maryville on Thursday in Mariotti Gym. Senior Jahpera McEachin led LC with a double-double of 18 points and 12 rebounds.
Baseball
The Panthers (0-1) opened the season with a 6-3 loss to Birmingham-Southern on Wednesday at Cleaveland Field in Williamson Stadium. E.J. Churchich and McKinley Erves each had two hits. Former Panther Casey Bell (2017) was named to the USA South’s Decades Athletes of the Week.
Men’s Lacrosse
Freshman Michael Poteete had two goals for LC in its 7-5 season opening loss at Shorter on Wednesday. Tareyon Delgado, Jack Bryan and Robert Hunt also scored for the Panthers.
Calendar (Dates and times are subject to change)
Saturday – Women’s Basketball at Maryville, 3 p.m.
Tuesday – Women’s Basketball at Piedmont, 6 p.m.
Thursday – Men’s Basketball at Maryville, 3 p.m.
Men’s Lacrosse vs Birmingham-Southern, 7 p.m., Callaway Stadium
The Rev. Dr. Adam Roberts, LaGrange College Campus Minister, welcomes students to use the campus Chapel for meditation and prayer during class hours.
Game time for LaGrange College baseball – LaGrange Daily News, Feb. 16, 2021
http://lagrangenews.com/2021/02/16/game-time-for-lagrange-college-baseball-team/
Panthers remain perfect with home win – LaGrange Daily News, Feb. 16, 2021
http://lagrangenews.com/2021/02/16/panthers-remain-perfect-with-home-win/
Panthers open with home loss – LaGrange Daily News, Feb. 18, 2021
http://www.lagrangenews.com/2021/02/18/panthers-open-with-home-loss/
Gracie Brunel continues family legacy at LaGrange College – Valdosta Daily Times, Feb. 12, 2021
Category: Global engagement, Academics, College, Community, Faculty, Events, Arts and Culture
Keywords: 3D Journeys Livingston Thailand
