October Titan Talks will focus on the sociology of food, leadership styles

NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. – Westminster College’s Dr. Kristin Park, professor of sociology, and Dr. Colleen Merrick, associate professor of communication studies, will continue the 2019 Titan Talk series with their respective lectures “Eat Like a Sociologist: Reflections on Food, Culture and Society” and “Identifying and Improving the Way You Lead” at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 10, at the Hop Asylum Brewery in New Wilmington.

Park will explore several themes that are of interest to social scientists when they study food. These themes include ethnocentrism in food choices, the ethics of eating animals and living and working conditions of migrant farm workers in western Pennsylvania.

Merrick will discuss different leadership styles and how people can improve how they personally and professionally work with others.  

Park, who joined the Westminster faculty in 1993, earned her undergraduate degree from Colgate University. She holds an M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, as well as a master’s certificate in Latin American Studies.

Merrick joined the Westminster faculty in 2002. She earned her undergraduate degree, M.A. and Ph.D. from Duquesne University.

Established in the fall of 2018, Westminster College’s Titan Talks is a three-part series featuring Westminster scholars and professionals and aimed at helping human beings develop their best selves and live lives with a mindful purpose.

Titan Talks are free and open to the public, but reservations are due by Friday, Oct. 4. There will be light snacks at the event. To register, visit https://www.westminster.edu/alumni/events.

For more information, please contact Nicole Hunter, assistant director of alumni engagement and coordinator of Titan Talks, at 724-946-7373 or hunterna@westminster.edu. The next installment of Titan Talks will be in November.

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