April 23, 2025
Linda Blaser
Foresters present ‘Decolonizing Bodyminds’ research at Midwest conference
Seven students from Professor of Anthropology Holly Swyers’ Decolonizing Bodyminds and Their Relations class presented at the 2025 Midwest Conference on the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL), held April 11 at Indiana University South Bend.
The students, Ivette Cardenas ’25, Avis Elfman ’25, Adrianna Kandilakis ’25, Isabella Núñez ’26, Lejla Murati ’25, Andrea Sandoval-Torres ’26, and Eva Zacatenco-Gomez ’25, spoke on the question, “Can the Master’s House Be Decolonized from the Inside?” They were supported by work from their classmates, Isabel Bersie ’26, Sadie Fry ’27, Angelica Hryb ’25, Lily Reed ’26, Lia Romanotto ’25, and Camila Velasquez ’26.
Participation in such conferences allows Lake Forest College students to engage with current educational research and practices, enhancing their academic and professional development. By contributing to and learning from these scholarly discussions, students gain valuable insights into the dynamics of teaching and learning, preparing them to be thoughtful and effective educators in their future careers.
“My biggest takeaway from our conference presentation is that we have more allies and supporters than we know. Our audience was not only interested in what we did in class, but also our experiences doing it,” Elfman said. “It’s interesting to present on a research project that’s part of personal and community growth. At least to me, it’s vulnerable in a way that a lot of research isn’t.”
“We aren’t disconnected from the subject of study. We are part of it. That vulnerability and openness was a form of strength. People genuinely wanted to listen.”
The students will carry this experience beyond Lake Forest College, Elfman said. Conducting their research and sharing their findings at an important conference “taught me a more nuanced way of thinking about connectedness, relationships, and the importance of just ‘being,’” Elfman said.
Professor Swyers said she is “really glad the College is able to help fund opportunities like this. While I know our students are top-notch and are able to hold their own in a professional setting, sometimes they need to experience it for themselves to believe it.”
The 2025 Midwest SoTL Conference centered on the theme “Care, Kindness, and Creativity,” emphasizing the importance of compassion and innovation in teaching. Keynote speaker Dr. Cate Denial, author of A Pedagogy of Kindness, advocated for a transformative approach to higher education that prioritizes care and justice for both students and educators. The conference featured a variety of sessions, including empirical studies, theoretical discussions, and workshops, all aimed at exploring effective teaching practices and fostering a supportive learning environment.