Catalog

Most people have never heard of Azerbaijan, and even fewer could point it out on a map. Nestled between the Caucasus Mountains and the Caspian Sea, it is a land of striking contrasts: ancient caravan routes intersect bustling modern boulevards, medieval stone walls stand beside futuristic towers, and remote mountain villages preserve traditions that have endured for centuries. Its landscapes are as varied as its history, shaped by empires, trade and the resilience of its people.

In Memoirs from the Land of Fire, Dr. Wonda Grobbelaar and Marius Grobbelaar recount what began as a short holiday and became a three-year journey into one of the least understood countries of the Caucasus. From the winding streets of Baku’s walled city to the highland village of Khinaliq, and from the legendary centenarians of Lerik to landscapes marked by endurance and renewal, the authors offer a rare and intimate portrait of daily life, culture, and extraordinary individuals.

Through personal experiences, cultural discoveries, and encounters with remarkable locals, this memoir reveals a country where hospitality is instinctive, history is ever present, and every journey-even the smallest- can become unforgettable. More than a travel story, it is a journey into the heart and soul of Azerbaijan, a nation quietly emerging onto the world stage yet brimming with stories, traditions, and wonders waiting to be discovered by those willing to look beyond the map.

This project is designed to help you improve your understanding of culture and the impact it has on the way people think, behave, and interact. Cultural differences can lead to conflict, but they can also be fascinating and enlightening. When you expand your cultural intelligence, you become more aware of how culture impacts us all, which makes it easier to take a step back and empathize with people you disagree with. This increased sense of self-awareness and empathy can help you build stronger relationships and solve complex problems with all sorts of people—from colleagues on the other side of the world to neighbors just across the street. When we think of practical examples of cultural intelligence, we often think of rigid rules we should learn so that we don’t offend people. For example, it can be useful to know whether you should shake hands, bow, hug, or kiss when greeting a stranger from a particular country, or if a gesture like pointing could be considered taboo in a place you’re planning to visit. But these types of cultural “dos and don’ts” are only a small part of cultural intelligence. Developing cultural intelligence is about more than sensitivity. It’s about learning to postpone judgment and make sense of things that are open to multiple interpretations. This is especially important for values and behaviors that we tend to feel strongly about. Collaborating with others isn’t just about tolerance or “helping” someone learn a better way of doing things. To truly become culturally intelligent, you need to learn how to identify situations where a difference in perspective is preventing people from understanding each other better.

#TheatreAppreciation is a textbook for introductory level lecture classes such as Theatre Appreciation and Introduction to Theatre. It provides insight about the art and craft of theatre, a brief exploration of theatre history, and discussion about the styles and forms of theatre along with an overview of professions in the field.

Welcome, and thank you for visiting this Civic Discourse Faculty Resource! As highlighted by Chancellor John B. King Jr. in the January 7, 2025, press release, SUNY is introducing a new civic discourse competency to help students demonstrate the skills necessary to participate thoughtfully in civic life, including reasoned inquiry, ethical advocacy, constructive dissent, and meaningful dialogue.

This book was created to support faculty in integrating civic discourse into the classroom, providing practical strategies, examples, and exercises that can be adapted across disciplines. It explores how to facilitate respectful debate, foster critical thinking, and guide students in engaging with complex social, political, and ethical issues. While designed for SUNY faculty, the approaches and insights in this resource are relevant to educators worldwide who aim to prepare students to engage as informed, responsible citizens.

By combining evidence-based pedagogical practices with real-world applications, this resource helps instructors create inclusive, engaging, and reflective learning environments where civic discourse is not just taught but experienced.

This dynamic reference source supports inclusive and equity-focused historical work in public settings by sharing a knowledge base that invites more people to engage in history projects. This handbook provides concrete examples of how to make history work more relevant. It centers on equity, inclusivity, diversity, and public service while offering accessible windows into the many ways public historians work. The online version is available at https://inclusivehistorian.com/.

The book introduces the reader to the history of theatre from the origin to the 18th Century. Each chapter includes an investigation of the theatrical literature, theatre architecture, the evolution of acting and of theatre professions along with an historical background and activities for the classroom.

ReStorying Education: Critical Perspectives in Public Education offers a foundational exploration of public education in the United States using different perspectives and critical analysis of education and educational policy. From showcasing how popular media creates narratives about teachers and school to a case study of the education system outside the United States, this text offers multiple viewpoints and purposes of education to give readers studying education a multi-faceted story of the social, political, and personal purposes of public education. Each chapter details a restorying of key aspects of education critical to developing a more nuanced understanding of public education: popular media narratives, historical, curricular, philosophical, and political.