Featured Tigers is a monthly series wherein the spotlight shines on a few students, alumni, faculty and staff from our Crete, Lincoln and Omaha campus locations. These individuals stand out in the best way — as talented and driven leaders.
View all Featured Tigers here.
What is your name and title?
Dr. Mark Orsag, Professor of European and Interdisciplinary History
How long have you taught at Doane? What attracted you to teach here?
This is my 28th year at Doane. Of the three places that I was a finalist back in 1998, Doane was my top choice pretty much easily.
What do you consider the best part of your Doane experience?
The ability to combine teaching and research in an intensive way.
Do you have a favorite class to teach? What about it makes it your favorite?
History 105 (Western Civilization I). Yeah, it is a survey, but I greatly enjoy meeting and starting to work with the next cohort of students. This is the course, more than any other, where that happens.
Are you pursuing research this year? What are you researching and what excites you about it?
Yes, always. Giovanni Meledandri (Marconi University-Rome, Italy) and I are presenting an interdisciplinary paper at a medical conference in Paris, France, in May. That paper — with Giovanni, Dr. Amanda McKinney (OB-GYN at Beatrice Women's and Children's Clinic) and Melissa Clouse (registered nurse at Bryan Health) as co-authors — will be published by a scientific journal. Additionally Amanda, DeeAnn M. Reeder (Bucknell University and the Smithsonian) and I have received an invitation to present in August at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln School of Virology about our 2023 interdisciplinary book on the 3rd Century CE Plague of Cyprian.. Particularly proud of that one — not bad for a historian!
What advice would you give to current students or what was some advice you received as a student that you still value?
Constantly seek ways to improve yourself. View your academic development similarly to the way many of our students view their sports. Faster, stronger and always new techniques to master!
What's something you like about yourself that other people may not know?
I am equally comfortable leading or following. That is true whether I am rock climbing, teaching or researching. All depends on the circumstances and whom I am working with!
