Jackson State University Department of English Assistant Professor Dr. Everett G. Neasman embarked on a tour of China in June to lecture on the works of William Shakespeare and promote continued exchange among Jackson State’s students and teachers.
Neasman’s trip began with a cultural and academic tour of Beijing led by the National Association of African American Studies. Neasman also met with professors and administrators at local Beijing universities, including the International Studies Department at Beijing Union University, which allowed him to discuss the possible establishment of learning communities between Beijing Union and Jackson State University.
Neasman was successful in implementing electronic research and student-based learning with Minzu University and says that he anticipates future participation with Beijing Union.
Days after meeting with representatives from Minzu and Beijing Universities, Neasman met with the English Department of Nantong University to plan for future academic collaborations between them and JSU. The emphasis on the discussion was NUs participation in a global learning partnership with the JSU Department of English and Modern Foreign Languages.
The highlights of Neasman’s trip were the opportunities to give extensive lectures on the British literature from Chaucerian Late Medieval Studies to Renaissance Shakespeare to current post-modern literary criticism that developed from the philosophical question: “What is truth?” Also featured were Neasman’s lectures on Shakespeare’s plays and sonnets. His approach to Shakespeare studies took on both the forms of open lecture and one-on-one thesis consultation with each NU Master’s of English student, with a focus on Shakespeare.
Neasman returned to Jackson State University to teach his 2013 Summer Session of Shakespeare-The Comedies course with invigorated global insight.
“Important factors of global pedagogy,” said Neasman, “are not only that one’s teaching and communication of complex ideas prioritize fresh cultural awareness, but also that one is honed to affect greater global awareness of Shakespeare’s works and of the human condition in our classrooms.”