Posted on Friday, March 24, 2023
There was never a day during her 37 years on the faculty at LaGrange College, Dr. Nina Dulin-Mallory said, when she didn’t wake up wanting to teach.
“I could not wait to get into the classroom,” the much-admired professor said, describing her “immeasurable admiration for students” that led her to pursue engagement and “treasure finding common ground” with them.
Now, a little more than a year into retirement, Dr. Dulin-Mallory aims to find common ground with a different group of learners. On Monday, March 27, she’ll give the closing lecture of the 13th annual 3D Journeys series, speaking at 10 a.m. in Callaway Auditorium. The lecture is free and open to anyone with an interest in learning.
This year’s travel/lecture series has focused on Tuscany, birthplace of the Italian Renaissance, and Dr. Dulin-Mallory’s presentation will highlight the significant role of Tuscan poets. The lecture title sets the stage: “Chaucer and Shakespeare Send Roses: Their Thanks to the Poets of Tuscany.”
The goal, she said, will be to engage the lifelong learners in the 3D audience by showing how the celebrated poets of Tuscany – especially Dante, Boccaccio and Petrarch — contributed a spark in the early Renaissance that changed and influenced the literature of Northern Europe.
The works of Shakespeare and Chaucer, among others, she explains, “show they were inspired and influenced by the Tuscan poets” who came decades, or as much as a century, earlier. Petrarch, for example, wrote an extensive sonnet cycle and is considered by many to be the “father” of the sonnet, a form that evolved and was elevated by Shakespeare. Bocaccio’s masterwork, The Decameron, is an impressive series of 100 tales, stories told by young travelers who flee Florence to escape the plague of 1348.
“Who knows if Chaucer would have bothered to write the Canterbury Tales without Boccaccio?” Dr. Dulin-Mallory wonders.
The professor’s abiding interest in Medieval literature was triggered early when she was an English major at Clemson University in the late 1960s. Her favorite professor specialized in Medieval literature and opened her eyes to the beauty of it. In her mid-30s, she returned to school, earning a Master’s degree in Education from LaGrange College and then a Ph.D. in Medieval Literature from Auburn University.
Though no longer in the classroom, Dr. Dulin-Mallory’s influence on LaGrange College is still deeply felt. She served
as Chair of the English Department twice, as President of the Faculty Assembly twice and as Faculty Representative on the Board of Trustees, also twice.
In the late 1990s, she led a three-year process to develop and initiate an Honor Code and Council. The framework of the LC Honor Code has since been adopted by many institutions, and Dr. Dulin-Mallory served a term as president of the board of the International Center for Academic Integrity at Duke University. Her career included multiple teaching awards, including Vulcan Materials Teacher of the Year and the United Methodist Church Excellence in Teaching Award.
Dr. Dulin-Mallory has seen firsthand the benefit of travel in broadening understanding and expanding world views. She led several student groups abroad, including two trips to Italy, and predicts the May trip to Tuscany, hosted by President Susanna Baxter and First Gentleman Mark Huffman, will be meaningful for the more than 30 3D travelers participating.
Meanwhile, she’s eager to share ideas and information from “a life of having studied it” with eager learners at the closing lecture.
“I hope I can expand and inspire and excite an audience beyond my undergraduate teaching. And I will try to be funny,” she said.
The best part? “There are no tests, so I can cherry pick the most revealing and most interesting ideas.”
Another highlight of the morning will be the announcement of the topic for travel and lectures for the 14th 3D Journeys series, set January through March in 2024.
“We look forward to an outstanding closing lecture for 2023 and are excited about the plans for another year of ‘discovering, discussing and developing’ through 3D Journeys,” said Ann Beason, co-chair of the volunteer committee that organizes the program with support from Martha Pirkle, Director of Alumni and Community Relations.
Residential Quad.
Check LC Connect for Virtual CE events and instructions
Tuesday, March 28
Easter basket build for West Georgia STAR
11:15 a.m., Dickson Assembly Room
Tuesday, March 28
Screening of "Smithsonian Secrets: Crucifixion Mystery"
11:15 a.m., Corn Auditorium
Wednesday, March 29 – Friday, March 31
“The Marvelous Wonderettes”
7 p.m. (March 29, 30), 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. (March 31); Price Theater
First African American to attend LaGrange College, Alfreda Barrow Fannings ’71
Student organization Black Girl Magic, in tribute to minority women, brings to campus the first African American enrolled at LaGrange College, Alfreda Barrow Fannings.
Men’s Lacrosse
LaGrange’s USA South conference opener resulted in a 14-10 loss against Southern Virginia on Saturday, March 18. Sophomore Ryan Comeau anchored the offensive attack for the Panthers as he drilled three to the back of the net and dished out a pair of assists to go with three groundballs while freshman Luke Young had a goal, a pair of assists and two groundballs. Senior goalkeeper Isaac Bohrer made 22 saves against 14 goals allowed.
Golf
In a field of nationally ranked Division III opponents, the Panthers tied for 18-of-30 during the first round of competition at the Jekyll Island Collegiate Invitational on Friday, March 17. On Saturday, LaGrange remained tied for 18-of-30 with a score of 597 through 36 holes. During Sunday’s final round, freshman Jeremy Edmunds shot a 74-68-73-215 to tie for 14-of-150, followed by freshman Martin Prlender, who tied for 25th. The team finished 20-of-30 with rounds of 303-294-304-901.
Freshman Jeremy Edmunds earned his second Collegiate of the South Men’s Golf Rookie of the Week honor. In the final 54-hole standings, all but one individual ahead of him came from a nationally ranked team, including nine from Top-10 programs. Edmunds previously earned Rookie of the Week on March 8.
Softball
After last week’s doubleheader sweep, the Panthers suffered a setback that resulted in a 5-3 loss and 10-0 loss against Covenant on Saturday, March 18. In the first game, junior Marley Smith anchored the offense for the Panthers as she went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a run on a homerun while senior Maggie White had the other RBI on a fielder's choice. During the second game, Smith led the way for the Panthers with a 2-for-2 day while junior Lindsey Swearngin and White had the other two hits on the day.
Baseball
LaGrange took the first two games of a three-game set at Berea as they notched 6-2 and 10-9 decisions, the latter in 10 innings on Saturday, March 18. In the first game, senior Rhett Mixon delivered a strong outing, going 3-of-6 with a double and three RBIs. During the second game, junior Noah Preuer led LaGrange with three RBIs. On Sunday, the Panthers completed the three-game sweep of the Mountaineers as they delivered an 11-6 victory. Junior Brooks Short led LaGrange with three RBIs and a double and three runs. On Wednesday, LaGrange’s attempt to pull out a win against No. 1 ranked Birmingham-Southern unfortunately resulted in a 6-5 loss at home. Junior David Smigelski led the charge for the Panthers, belting his third homerun of the season to finish with two RBIs, a walk and a run, while senior Joe Ruth was 3-for-4 with a double, walk and RBI.
Freshman Jackson McElvy earned his third baseball Rookie of the Week honor from the Collegiate Conference of the South. It is the 11th overall weekly recognition this season for the Panthers with McElvy previously claiming the honors on February 27 and March 13. He is LaGrange’s third multi-time winner this season, joining Mixon and Ruth.
Men’s Tennis
The Panthers could not stave off Huntingdon as they fell by a 6-3 score on Saturday, March 18. Freshmen Michael Strydom and Nic Bodin pulled out an 8-4 win at No. 2 to even it at 1-1. Senior Al Robertson notched a 6-1, 6-2 decision at No. 2 to pull to within one. Bodin pulled the Panthers to within 4-3 as he downed HC at No. 5. On Thursday, LaGrange delivered their second 9-0 sweep of Mississippi University for Women. The Panthers were untouchable with four straight 6-0, 6-0 decisions. Robertson, Strydom, Bodin and senior Luke Griffin would author those shutouts.
Freshman Nic Bodin received his second Collegiate Conference of the South Men’s Tennis Rookie of the Week award. It is the fourth honor of the season for the Panthers with Bodin previously earning the award on March 7. He joins Robertson and Griffin, who claimed Player of the Week honors on March 7 and Feb. 28, respectively.
Women’s Tennis
LaGrange had their best showing of the season as they dropped a 6-3 decision at Huntingdon on Saturday, March 18. Seniors Kirsten Boyd and Hannah Miller would push their HC opponents before falling 8-4 at the top spot to head to singles play with the Hawks up 2-1. Boyd kept the Panthers’ hopes alive at No. 3. She took the first set 6-5 and then 7-6, winning the tiebreaker 10-8. HC defeated Miller 6-2, 6-3 at the top spot to close out the 6-3 victory. On Thursday, LaGrange took an 8-1 loss against Mississippi University for Women. Boyd and junior Journey Oden pulled out a 9-7 win over MUW at No. 1 doubles. That 2-1 margin would be as close as it would get, however, as MUW would go on to sweep singles play and lock up the victory. Boyd delivered the most competitive match of the day for LC as she narrowly dropped the first set 6-4 at No. 2 before taking the second 6-3 and barely falling 10-7 in the decisive frame.
(Please note that schedules may change due to circumstances beyond our control. Please check www.lagrangepanthers.com to confirm.)
Friday, March 24 – Beach Volleyball vs. Stevenson, 10 a.m., Rome, Georgia
Friday, March 24 – Women’s Tennis at Tuskegee, noon, Tuskegee, Georgia
Friday, March 24 – Men’s Tennis at Tuskegee, noon, Tuskegee, Georgia
Friday, March 24 – Beach Volleyball vs. Lynchburg, 1:30 p.m., Rome, Georgia
Friday, March 24 – Baseball (Home) vs. Covenant, 7 p.m., Cleaveland Field in Williamson Stadium
Saturday, March 25 – Women’s Tennis at Maryville, 2 p.m., Maryville, Tennessee
Saturday, March 25 – Men’s Tennis at Maryville, 2 p.m., Maryville, Tennessee
Saturday, March 25 – Baseball (Home) vs. Covenant, 2 p.m. and 5 p.m., Cleaveland Field in Williamson Stadium
Saturday, March 25 – Men’s Lacrosse at Brevard, 3 p.m., Brevard, North Carolina
Saturday, March 25 – Beach Volleyball vs. Hendrix, 3:15 p.m., Rome, Georgia
Saturday, March 25 – Beach Volleyball at Berry, 5 p.m., Rome, Georgia
Sunday, March 26 – Women’s Tennis (Home) vs. Berea, 11 a.m., Greer Tennis Courts
Sunday, March 26 – Men’s Tennis (Home) vs. Berea, 11 a.m., Greer Tennis Courts
Monday, March 27 – Golf at Wynlakes Invitational (Round 1), Montgomery, Alabama
Tuesday, March 28 – Golf at Wynlakes Invitational (Final Round), Montgomery, Alabama
Tuesday, March 28 – Baseball at Berry, 6 p.m., Rome, Georgia
Wednesday, March 29 – Men’s Lacrosse (Home) vs. Huntingdon, 7 p.m., Callaway Stadium
Category: Arts and Culture, Community, Academics
Keywords: Literature, Theatre, Education
