The Journey Of Dr. Oast

     On a busy day at the University of Bloomsburg stands Dr. Oast at the front of the room teaching history. "How can we know what actually happened in the past? Why it has happened? What is history anyway?" She makes students wonder why they even study history in the first place and why it is important to understand the nation's founding. But who is Dr. Oast? Let's find out together. Dr. Oast, a history professor at the University of Bloomsburg, has taught different levels of US history.  It's safe to say, she has been on a roll in her profession, and has built up quite the reputation around the campus and beyond. Her passion for history has been long and unbreakable. Going from being a student to becoming a history professor is not an easy path, bur Dr. Oast pushed on--not only to her own benefit but to the benefit of her students: students have always looked forward to her classes, especially since her style of teaching has been influential. Class should be fun, and she makes sure her students enjoy it.

    

              Figure 1. Dr. Oast teaching the Agricultural Revolution during the 2023 fall semester

    Dr. Oast's path to becoming a professor of history at Bloomsburg began with her passion for history in high school: she loved American and European history, and she decided to explore the professions examining these topics. "I initially got a job teaching high school for 2 years, and I learned that I really enjoyed teaching high school. But afterwards, I had gone back home to college for homecoming and ran into one of my professors and he asked me 'why don't you come to grad school and become a college professor.' His comment really gave me the confidence to believe I could do that. So, I applied and was accepted and went back and received a PhD in history." While applying for graduate school, she unfortunately had to narrow down her focus of study since only one was allowed. In the end she chose US History as her focus. Once she completed her degree, she took a job teaching at the Virginia Commonwealth University until 2009. During that year, she applied to become a history professor at Bloomsburg University. With 10 other applications well underway, her dream was well received after Bloomsburg hired her for the duty. "It made me feel that I'd won the lottery." she said gratefully. Ever since 2009, her teaching has always been exciting for students regardless of their majors or minors.

When deciding what field of history to teach and study, Dr. Oast, decided to explore US History, specifically Colonial America and the history of slavery. She discussed how some slaves were owned by institutions, rather than masters themselves. In fact, that subject is what she wrote her doctoral dissertation on which was about churches, schools, universities, and businesses in Virginia that owned slaves between 1680 - 1860. With that in mind, she has taught US history to 1877 at Bloomsburg. Another course that she offers in the Honors College program Reacting to the past: War and Peace in Early America." A typical class is relaxed, and interactive. Students engage deeply with each other in group discussions regarding challenging questions emanating from the historical record, questions that we must nonetheless reckon with.

Figure 2. Role cards used to assign students of their role

Reacting to the Past is especially relevant to these challenges. It entails re-creating such past historic events as the Jumonville incident. The class is well organized, and everyone is assigned their roles fairly. To familiarize the class, Dr. Oast, puts up pictures, quotes, and other samples of student work to energize the class and help everyone get a picture of what the class will be like for that day. Dr. Oast herself always comes to class excited and speaks in a relaxed, descriptive tone that's a mix of optimism, inspiration, and seriousness. Without her excitement, the recipe for an interesting, relaxing, and exciting class would be non-existent. 

    "Class can be difficult, but in the end, very rewarding," Dr. Oast said calmly. It's not easy being a professor, but finding ways to improve class is something that is very beneficial in the long run. However, for any professor, it's difficult to keep pace with all the innovations in learning and teaching--while teaching in ways that students find engaging. But Dr. Oast excels at engaging her students in ways that they typically describe as "fun." She tries to immerse students in often conflicted discussions about the historic significance and meaning of certain events in our history. For example, in Reacting to the Past, she came up with the "Perry Game," which challenges students to identify their own respective, varied perspectives on history based on quotes by historians of different persuasions. It's an exercise that culminates in an enriched view of perspective and history. She quietly achieves that grand aim every day in class, with a smile that she wears, especially when she's helping students figure out ways to complete assignments or get back on track if they are struggling.

Figures 3 & 4. Students in Reacting To The Past planning their posters and working together to draw and create them

    Unfortunately, she is one of the only remaining history professors at the University. And the sad fact is that more history professors are retiring. "I am really worried, that the department has been cut down to be so small," Dr. Oast said somberly. "We've lost a lot of areas of specialization that just a few years ago, students could take classes in and now there is nobody to teach them. On the other side, US History: 1877 - Present, is at stake since the professor, Dr. Ford, is retiring soon. Dr. Oast stated that "while she could technically teach the class, it's not her expertise." When Bloomsburg, Mansfield and Lockhaven combined, there were 4 retirements in 1 year. "It hasn't been the same since then," she said, "but we are trying to make the best of it." Since then, Dr. Oast has continued to teach history with retirement still off into the future. 

For now, you can find Dr. Oast either in her office, or at the front of the class, taking her time and getting it right. The study of history is vital for anyone who wants to understand the present and future. And there's no warmer, more welcoming guide to the pursuit of that study than this gift of a human being and teacher.