Kathryn Gatewood never imagined she would be a published writer while still in college — or that her work would reach a public audience beyond the classroom.
That changed when she enrolled in a Calderwood Seminar at the University of Maine Honors College, where students learn to translate academic ideas into writing for a general audience. Unlike traditional courses, the seminars emphasize public-facing work, with many students submitting their writing to news outlets.
Gatewood’s op-ed, “Think of nature as a sanctuary,” was published in the Bangor Daily News.
“I had never had someone fight for my writing before,” said Gatewood, an ecology and environmental sciences major from Boxford, Massachusetts.
Before the course, she said, she doubted where her writing could take her.
“I didn’t think my writing would get me anywhere,” Gatewood said. “The Calderwood class taught me different styles of writing that are more applicable to life after college.”
The UMaine Honors College offers small, discussion-based courses and close faculty mentorship, emphasizing research, creative work and communication beyond the classroom. Programs like the Calderwood Seminars reflect that mission by helping students apply academic knowledge to public audiences.
First offered at UMaine during the 2024-25 academic year, the Calderwood Seminars are now held each semester and continue to expand, with the Psychology department set to offer one next year. They are designed to help students move beyond academic writing and engage broader audiences with clear, accessible language.
“It’s empowering for student voices,” said Ellen Weinauer, dean of the UMaine Honors College. “It encourages students to recognize that their voices have an impact in the world.”
The seminars originated at Wellesley College in 1984 with a course taught by David Lindauer, professor emeritus of economics. Originally called Economic Journalism, Lindauer’s course replaced traditional exams with short writing assignments and required students to explain complex ideas to readers unfamiliar with the subject.
That emphasis on clarity remains central at UMaine.
“Calderwood students have gained a tremendous amount of confidence,” said Robert Glover, associate professor of Honors and political science. Instead of “putting their writing in a box as a way to satisfy the course requirements,” Glover explained, the Calderwood class “gives them more room to create a frame for their own story.”
Enrollment is capped at 12 students, allowing for individualized instruction and stronger peer connections.
“I was very surprised by the Calderwood Seminars,” Gatewood said. “Being able to talk in a small class was lovely. We had great conversations and got to know each other as writers.”
The courses, taught by Honors College faculty, often feature guest speakers such as state legislators and journalists. Class sessions include peer review and short exercises in which students distill key ideas into one to two minutes. Rather than relying on lectures, the course emphasizes applied learning.
“My role was to facilitate and keep time,” Glover said. “Once students understand what’s expected of them, I’m there to hold them accountable to deadlines and promote efficiency and professionalism.”
For many students, writing for a general audience is unfamiliar territory.
“At the undergraduate level, we rarely think about writing for broad audiences,” Weinauer said. “Writing a piece that isn’t jargon-bound and that is meant to convey complex ideas in a digestible fashion takes a lot of work.”
That skill is especially important at a land-grant institution like UMaine, she added, where there is a mission to share knowledge for the public good.
Assignments typically range from 500 to 1,000 words, an ideal length for publication. Students build confidence by mastering a topic and distilling it to its essentials.
“There’s a difference between knowing what you’re doing versus knowing why you’re doing it,” said Lindauer. “To be able to clearly formulate your ideas in a way others can understand means you really know what you’re talking about.”
Stripping away jargon can be one of the biggest challenges.
“It was difficult to talk casually,” Gatewood said. “You have to explain things in a way that doesn’t come across as insulting or overexplaining. It was a good challenge. I think taking the jargon out was difficult for all of us.”
Ultimately, the seminars aim to show students the power of their voices beyond the classroom.
“We’re giving students the power to make an impact. It is incredibly valuable because it lowers the barriers between the classroom and the world around us,” Weinauer said. “We want students to leave the Honors College with mastery in a specific field and disciplinary expertise. It’s powerful to take this knowledge and put it to work. It’s important to UMaine, to our land grant mission, and to the Honors College.”
Story by Mello Vancil, news intern.
Contact: Marcus Wolf, 207.581.3721; marcus.wolf@maine.edu
