Oklahoma Humanities Council to honor NSU's Corbett

(Tahlequah, Okla.)--In recognition of his dedication to conducting humanities programs, Dr. Bill Corbett will receive the Public Humanities Award from the Oklahoma Humanities Council.

Corbett, professor of history at Northeastern State University, will receive the award during the Oklahoma Humanities Awards dinner March 22 at the Oklahoma History Center in Oklahoma City.

He has been an active and popular scholar for OHC programs, including Lets Talk About It, Oklahoma! and Territory Speakers. Dr. Corbett also served as the state scholar for the councils first Museum on Main Street exhibit, Journey Stories.

I am really flattered and honored by this award, Corbett said. For me it is a great accomplishment to be included with people who have won this award in the past. They have all been dedicated to the OHC and respond to their responsibilities the way it is supposed to be done.

Since arriving at NSU in 1988, Corbett has done 126 Lets Talk About It, Oklahoma! programs. The reading and discussion forum has adults read four books over an eight-week period. Every two weeks, a scholar such as Corbett leads an audience discussion of one of the books. An average program draws 20-25 people.

Corbett called Museums on Main Street, conducted in association with the Smithsonian Institution, one of the most rewarding projects Ive ever done.

The Smithsonian did an exhibit about a topic, he said. Mine was transportation in America. These were designed for display in the libraries or public spaces of small towns.

Weeks before, Corbett would visit the citizens of a town to help develop an exhibit that reflected the communitys relationship to the display theme.

I went to Newkirk, Okmulgee, Sand Springs, Miami, Okla., Chandler and Durant. Of course the Miami display involved Route 66 and Durants dealt with U.S. 69. Almost the whole community of Newkirk became a history project and several hundred people were at opening day in Chandler.

Corbett said he often meets NSU graduates and alumni when conducting OHC programs.

The (alumni) always ask about former faculty and are proud of their degrees, he said. When I see them, I see that the intellectual light is on and they are still learning, whether they graduated last year or are retired.

Corbett said joining NSU, with its teacher training tradition, was an ultimate goal.

With our social studies majors, we are always keeping in mind that many of them are going into the public schools, he said. I want to ensure they have a strong academic background, because what these students say in their classrooms is also very important. Social studies educators have a crucial job.

He said an enjoyable facet of teaching is helping undergraduates conduct research projects and fostering overachievement among students.

Im not a genius, Corbett said. Ive always had to work very hard for my grades. Sometimes students get discouraged and wonder if they have what it takes. I try to help them see that they don't have to be Einstein. They just need a willingness to work hard and listen to their instructors.

When on the road for an OHC program, Corbett considers himself an ambassador for NSU.

I think being from a regional university helps me do OHC outreach, he said. Many scholars involved with these programs are from Oklahomas regional universities, and they seem to have a tremendous capacity to relate to the public. Many who attend these programs, if they don't hold a degree, are well-read. They want to be there, and I want to represent NSU and OHC well.