Loyola University Hosts the 66th Annual Midwestern Conference on British Studies

From September 26th through September 29th, Loyola University welcomed dozens of British Studies scholars as part of the Midwestern Conference on British Studies. The Midwestern Conference on British Studies, established in 1953, attracts roughly 100 scholars throughout the country and globe. This conference coordinates with the larger organization, North American Conference on British Studies, which also holds an annual conference, this year in Vancouver, next year in Chicago. Local organization of the weekend long conference was handled by the History Department’s very own Drs. Robert Bucholz and Aidan Forth. According to Dr. Forth the conference saw “presenters ranging from nervous PhD students delivering their first conference paper, to seasoned emeritus professors who have been coming to the conference for over thirty years.”

Highlights included a reception on September 27th in the IC 4th floor followed by the keynote address by Carole Levin titled “Dreaming of Death and the Dead in the Stuart Political World Imaginary: the Case of William Laud.”  As a guest of the conference, the British High Consul to Chicago, Mr. John Saville, also delivered some remarks during Friday's reception. A plenary address also took place on Saturday during lunch in Palm Court by Jordanna Bailkin titled "Unsettled: Citizens, Migrants, and Refugees."

Dr. Bucholz, who organized the logistical portions of the conference, praised all the support received to make the conference possible including the "reliable, astute, helpful, gracious, and welcoming help of our History Graduate volunteers" who included Matthew Amyx, June Coyne, Chelsea Denault, Jennifer Duvall, Nathan Ellstrand, Hope Shannon, and Emily-Paige Taylor. History alumna Meghan Kobza, now a doctoral candidate at the University of Newcastle, UK and a faculty member of Arrupe College won the Walter Arnstein Award for the best graduate student paper at the conference. Dr. Bucholz also wishes to "thank the Department Chair, Steve Schloesser, SJ for his support and the invaluable assistance of David Hays and Tim Libaris."

Two Loyola alumni served in vital roles at this year's Midwestern Conference on British Studies. Dr. John Krenzke served as the Program Chair and Dr. Steven Catania served as the Technology Chair on the Executive Committee and a member of the Conference Program Committee. Read on for interviews with Drs. Krenzke and Catania conducted by History Department media assistant, Alicia Zeimet.

Dr. John Krenzke

Can you tell us a little about your role at the Midwestern Conference on British Studies?

I am the Program Chair for the Midwest Conference on British Studies (MWCBS). My role encompasses recruiting the program committee, posting the call for papers, sorting proposals to be sent to the faculty experts on the program committee, organizing panels based on their recommendations, writing the local guide and program for the conference, and troubleshooting issues while the conference takes place.

How did you become involved in the conference?

I became involved with MWCBS through my doctoral advisor at Loyola, Dr. Robert Bucholz. He organized a panel which included himself, Dr. John Donoghue of Loyola, John Michael Goode, who was a graduate student at the University of Illinois at Chicago at the time, and myself. While at that meeting in Pittsburgh I met many of the regular MWCBS attendees who were always friendly towards listening to graduate student papers and their ideas. I continued attending the conference as often as I could as a graduate student and, since becoming a faculty member at Tidewater Community College, I was recruited to become a member of the program committee and now the chair of that committee.

Is there any particular panel/session you are most looking forward to at this year’s conference?

I am looking forward to them all since I now understand how much work the program committee does in order to make them happen. However, as an early modernist I am looking forward to the early modern panels in general, and the panel on cultural entertainments in early modern London specifically since my own interests and work center on London.

Can you tell us about what you are doing now/what you have done since you graduated from Loyola?

I am now an Associate Professor at Tidewater Community College in Virginia Beach, Virginia. I was hired there in 2015 following my graduation from Loyola in 2014. Besides contributing to MWCBS through presenting papers and working on the program committee, I have recently completed a journal article for the Journal of Early Modern History titled “Resistance by the Pint: How London Brewers Shaped the Excise and Created London’s Favorite Beer” which will be published early next year.

How has Loyola prepared you for your career after graduation?

Loyola prepared me to be a well-rounded and flexible scholar and teacher. I received a rigorous education in the courses I took at Loyola, but what I really remember and use on a daily basis are the pieces of advice that I received from my advisors and other faculty while at Loyola. For instance, I was encouraged to take courses that were out of my field and to teach courses at Loyola, such as World and U.S. History, that were not “in my wheelhouse”, but that were incredibly helpful in informing my teaching. Those experiences were directly responsible for being hired in my current position as being experienced in multiple historical fields and having a well-rounded teaching portfolio is always attractive on the job market.

Dr. Steven Catania

Can you tell us a little about your role at the Midwestern Conference on British Studies?

My role at the MWCBS is two-fold. First, I am the Technology Chairperson (Wizard) on the Executive Committee. My job is to ensure that technology supports a successful conference and to address any technical issues that arise during sessions. Second, I am a member of the Conference Program Committee. Along with the other committee members, we review conference submissions, organize sessions, and select the Walter L. Arnstein Prize winner for the best graduate student paper at the conference.

How did you become involved in the conference?

I began attending and presenting at the conference when I was a graduate student at Loyola. My other roles have evolved over the last few years. 

Is there any particular panel/session you are most looking forward to at this year’s conference? 

I’m most interested in the session that covers Cultural Entertainments in Early Modern London.

Can you tell us about what you are doing now/what you have done since you graduated from Loyola?

Since I graduated from Loyola, I have taught history courses as an adjunct professor and worked as an educational technologist at the University of Wisconsin – Madison.

How has Loyola prepared you for your career after graduation?

While at Loyola, I participated in many scholarly debates and conversations with individuals across disciplines and backgrounds. Additionally, through classwork and my dissertation research, I honed my ability to delve deeply into complex topics, analyze the findings, and clearly communicate the significance to a wide audience. These same skills serve me well now, as both a history professor and as an educational technologist.