Web Editor’s Note: This story was written for the MCOMM 3309 – News Editing & Reporting Class

On Thursday, Oct. 13, honor students had their colloquia. At the colloquia there was pizza for dinner and the honor students had the chance to speak with a faculty member from WT.

“The colloquium is an opportunity for honor students to gather or to network,” Kathey Walker, administrative director at the office of Attebury Honors Program, said. “Thursday at 5:30 in the evening, Dr. Duane J. Rosa [had] pizza with the honor students and [talked] about his background. He is faculty from economics.”

Colloquiums are events provided throughout the semester for honor students to have conversations with faculty from WT. This opportunity is to enrich their undergraduate and honors experience through luncheons, dinners, workshops, guest lectures and special events.“I am looking forward most to having the students know my background, who I really am and how my varied background over the years has affected my purpose in life,” Rosa said. “I feel that when we talk about life’s purpose, we can talk about a many things such as career, family, friends, happiness, but also a passion for life.”

Rosa teaches both economics 2301 and 2302 honors. Rosa was a U.S. Navy officer in Vietnam, a bank loan officer and branch manager, and a casino dealer, pit boss and casino manager for almost ten years.

“It was nice to meet Dr. Rosa outside of class. I learned to keep an open mind and to learn from my experiences,” Luke Mora, an honor student, said. “It was a circle chat where we learned about Dr. Rosa’s background and the different experiences he went through in life.”