Professor Attends History Conference; Speaks to Local Rotary Club on Electoral College
Posted on Friday, October 31, 2008
Dr. Timothy Cuff, associate professor of history and a 1978 Westminster College graduate, recently attended the annual meeting of the Social Science History Association in Miami, and also spoke to the New Wilmington Rotary on the Electoral College.
The Social Science History Association meeting brings together historians, sociologists, political scientists, economists, and geographers who share a common interest in interdisciplinary and systematic approaches to historical research.
Cuff participated in several panels Oct. 23-26 focused on the history of the influenza pandemic of 1918-1919.
"This pandemic, which is estimated to have killed between 50 and 100 million individuals worldwide, is the research focus of my Historical Methods class," Cuff said. "For the last three years, sophomore history majors have been researching the pandemic's effects in the western Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio region. Several students have begun to analyze patterns of influenza death in Youngstown and Mahoning County [Ohio] using death certificates that were digitized."
Westminster's Drinko Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning and Faculty Research funding has supported the digitization.
Cuff added, "At the meeting in Miami, I was able to exchange ideas with other researchers attempting to understand the nature of the pandemic and share with them some of my students' work."
On his return from the conference, Cuff spoke on "The History of the Electoral College" at the Oct. 27 meeting of the New Wilmington Rotary Club.
Cuff discussed the creation of the elector-based system via the Constitution of 1787, modifications to that system, and problems some Americans believe exist within the system.
Cuff, who has been with Westminster since 2000, earned a master's from Bowling Green State University and master's and Ph.D. from the University of Pittsburgh.
Contact Cuff at (724) 946-6152 or e-mail cufft@westminster.edu for more information.
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