The Digital Humanities Hub, School of Arts and Humanities, Bower’s Writers House and Office of Alumni Relations are working together to help students market their freelance work.
The four-part series is focused on “creating and managing your own freelance business” and is entitled “More Than a Side Gig: How to Value and Market Your Freelance Work.”
The project has been funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, which is “the largest supporter of the arts and humanities in the U.S.” It seeks to aid struggling arts and humanities departments and higher education institutions. The foundation was founded in 1969 by Ailsa Mellon Bruce and Paul Mellon, who are the children of Andrew W. Mellon.
It was organized by a planning committee, which included English professor Dr. Tara Moore, Program Coordinator for the Digital Humanities Hub Carol Ouimet, Dean of Arts and Humanities Dr. Kevin Shorner-Johnson, Director of the Bowers Writers House Jesse Waters and Associate Director of Alumni Relations Kaitlyn Miller.
In regard to the inspiration for the series, Moore was “looking for a way to help her students set up their own freelance businesses.” She especially wanted to give them insight on “what to charge, how to manage your time [and] how to make [connections in the field].”
On Wednesday, Oct. 13, students were able to talk with Elizabethtown College sociology professor and author Dr. Conrad Kanagy. He spoke about his latest book in an event entitled “Coming Together While Falling Apart: ‘A Church Dismantled’” and his podcast of the same name.
Kanagy recently published his latest book “A Church Dismantled: A Kingdom Restored,” which touches on the relationship between the decline of the Church and the work of God. It addresses the institutionalization of the Church.
Over the course of homecoming weekend, alumni returned to campus, some of whom spoke at the Alumni Author Round Table on Oct. 16.
“The event was a casual opportunity for alumni to not only meet with one another for the potential of networking, but to also discuss with Professor Waters and one another what they would like to gain from a more collected sense of the publishing and writing community of graduates from [the] College,” the committee said.
Upcoming events include “When the Side-Hustle is the Main-Ride: Developing Your Brand,” which will be led by Billy D. Washington on Oct. 27 and “Blue Jays and the Side Gig Hustle: Alumni Panel” with alumni Lori Donofrio-Galley ’83, Abby Spessard ’19 and Megan White ’20.
As noted by the committee, the four-part event series is open to the College community and “each event is centered around individuals who have established their own freelance work.”
“Students will hopefully learn from [strategies and techniques] on how to value and market their work and create their own business [from the speakers],” the committee said. “They can also begin to build a support network by connecting with other students who share the same goals.”
To transform your hobby into a side gig, attend one of the upcoming events hosted by Washington or Donofrio-Galley, Spessard and White to learn more about how to market your freelance work.
