Chesley Lecture Series at Aquinas College

Chesley Lecture Series

The Chesley Lecture Series, formerly the Aquinas Lecture Series, was renamed in 2017 in memory of Dr. Brent Chesley, who co-founded the series in 1991 along with Dr. Dan Brooks. Together they organized more than 200 presentations by Aquinas College faculty and staff for over 25 years until Brent’s death in 2017. If you have a project that you would like to present, please reach out to the lecture series organizer.

Lecture Series Organizers

Dr. Scott Brown, PhD, CSCS
srb006@aquinas.edu

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Academic Year 2024-25:

Date: Thursday, May 1, 2025, from noon to 1 p.m.
Location: Sabbatical highlights from the University of Montana Western’s block model

Presenter: Dr. JoAnne Gorant, PhD, ATC
Title: A Hands on Continuing Education
Abstract: Dr. JoAnne Gorant will present highlights from her sabbatical research on the block scheduling model at the University of Montana Western (UMW), a small state-funded university. Her lecture will explore Kinesiology faculty experiences with the block format, focusing on challenges with course delivery, student retention, grading, academic rigor, and experiential learning. She will also review how support services—advising, tutoring, the library, and IT—adapted to the compressed schedule. In addition, Dr. Gorant will discuss the block model’s impact on enrollment, particularly the role of athletics and specialized programs in student recruitment. The presentation will conclude with reflections on her efforts to integrate experiential learning into a traditional semester-based, four-credit course. She will highlight successful partnerships with Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital and Hulst Jepsen Physical Therapy, and share insights into the challenges and benefits of embedding hands-on experiences within a standard academic structure.