The Internet provides a unique avenue for reflection and deliberation. The asynchronous and virtual nature of the web, free of the traditional constraints of time and space, creates an opportunity for a living document and interactive experience that invites collaboration of an unprecedented scale. This portfolio is one such invitation, a product of my time at Pennsylvania State University.
My name is August.
In May 2012, I completed my undergraduate studies with a BA in Political Science. Four years at Penn State, of course, amounts to much more than a degree. My course work has wandered the alphabet, covering Arabic Language to Women Studies and quite a bit in between. As I look back on where the path has led me, two primary themes begin to emerge — terrorism and technology — parallel yet intertwined, each informing the other.
The first — and somewhat more scholarly oriented — section on Terrorism (and the Pursuit of Justice) focuses largely on my studies in political science. Coming of age in a post-September 11th world, many of my perceptions on foreign policy are filtered through the lens of those terrorist attacks and the United States’ subsequent interventions in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Meanwhile, communications technology advanced by leaps and bounds. The second section on Technology (and the Problems for Communication) shares projects from a wider range of disciplines and media. In accordance with Moore’s Law, I enjoyed the advances in personal computing power and witnessed first-hand the dawn of Web 2.0, the rise of user-generated content on the Internet. Much as terrorism continues to shape our policy, technology colors our discourse with as-yet-unknown ramifications. How does this increased connectivity mold our roles as scholars? As professionals? As citizens?
Yet these two topics are not mutually exclusive. Extremist groups using the Internet as a recruitment and propaganda tool, the threat to cyber security, and the mobilization of grassroots organizations are a few of the examples that demonstrate the inextricable link between the two. I pursued these questions across a variety of media, as the twenty-first century demands. This e-portfolio provides a small sample of my work, demonstrating my development as a communicator while exploring the links between and across disciplines. More than a simple directory of my coursework, this project has allowed me an opportunity to reflect on my own progress as a communicator over these past four years and where that may take me in the future.
A Final Note
The organization of this site reflects the basic principles espoused above, providing two main pages where I explore these themes in prose, while demonstrating the innumerable connections between the two. Important concepts are hyperlinked to and cross-indexed with relevant coursework that supplement the discussion. Viewing the main tabs alone will provide a brief cross-section of my studies alongside a few of my more in-depth pieces. Following the links will lead to additional pages and provide a more nuanced argument. The site also integrates choice cuts from my blog published under the auspices of Penn State’s Presidential Leadership Academy. As such, this site is not intended to be a linear document as there are many routes and the destination uncertain.
Addendum
In April 2012, Penn State’s College of Liberal Arts awarded this web site its Excellence in Communication Certificate (ECC) for “demonstrat[ing] superior skill in various types of communication (oral, written, visual, and electronic).”