Deep in the literary works and minds at Geneva College, the Core Studies Department in collaboration with the English Department has launched themed conferences every fall semester since 2024. This term, the theme was “Here be Dragons.” Students, alumni, and faculty congregated to appreciate these mythical beasts that have influenced many literary works and other forms of entertainment. From epic myths, medieval banners, and decorations to modern books and movies, dragons have soared among us, inspiring the world with wonder and whimsy.

The Roots

The conferences were inspired by Frederic S. Durbin, a creative writing teacher at Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School. He shared a course idea with his wife, Julie Durbin, PhD speaking of monsters and how they reflected specific human fears; “fears of the unknown outside of us as well as within us” (Dr. Julie Durbin). From that conversation, Julie Durbin realized Geneva College could benefit from a discussion panel based on monsters.

With the help of English Club students and other faculty members, Julie Durbin and Lori Symmonds, humanities and core department program coordinator, worked together to kick off the first Monsters panel in the fall of 2024: “Monsters and the Monstrous in Fiction.” The panel was hosted in the West Reading Room in McCartney Library, setting the mood by surrounding the assembly with endless stories.

The first panel was a success, and Fern Cliffe made the decision to host an annual interdisciplinary event. The following year, the Monsters panel expanded into a hybrid conference: a creative night and an academic panel day. This conference — “Monsters II: Blood & Ink” — focused on vampires, as well as the divide between life and death.

An additional “Trees of Life Symposium” was hosted in the spring, which was initiated by Pearl Soundron, ‘26.

The Fall 2026 conference was “Monsters III: Here be Dragons.” For Monsters II, III, and the “Trees of Life” symposiums, the planning committee asked for creative works and academic papers to fill the event with more diverse readings and allow students, faculty, and alumni to participate.

The Creative Night

Creative nights are filled with wonder, laughter, and inspiration. Students find brilliant ways to make the night come alive through their writing. The winners are asked to publicly share their story or poem at the symposium while the runner-up pieces and other works are acknowledged by being placed into The Geneva Chimes Literary Magazine annex.

The night was kicked off by Daniel Williams, PhD who shared a humorous conversation between him and his family about the existence of dragons. Williams then welcomed the speakers for the night.

The winner of the short story competition, and the winner and runner-up of the poetry contest, shared their work with the audience.

Winner and runner-up for short fiction stories:

• Josiah Smith ‘27, “Dragun: A Documentary”
• Julia Vander Plaats ‘27, “Valley of Bones”

Winner and runner-up for poetry:

• Richard Stoltzfoos ‘29, “The Dragon Speaks”
• Josh Barto ’27, “Visions in the Morning”

The rest of the night consisted of a reading excerpt Aphelion Season, written and read by Frederic S. Durbin. The night closed with a song written by the Durbins and sang by Julie Durbin herself.

The Academic Morning

The academic presentations inspired the audience with their research. There are endless stories, and details of dragons in the past and the present day will certainly carry into the future. Julie Durbin, PhD; Lynda Szabo, PhD; and Kiera Foster ’27 introduced the panelists in three different sessions throughout the day and lead the Q&A afterwards.

Session One:

• Caleb Willis ‘24, Monsters Great and Small: Frogs and Dragons in Human Imagination
• Luke MacKenzie ‘26, From the Devil to Dives: Dragons in Tolkien’s Stories
• Shirley Kilpatrick, PhD, Margaret and the Dragon

Session Two:

• Ryan Milford, Our Reflection Through the Eyes of Dragons
• Laura Cerbus, PhD, Greedy, Dragonish Thoughts: Thinking about Desire and Appetite with Eustace
• Matthew Kickosola, PhD, Love Bearing All Things for the Sake of the Beloved: Lady Fortitude’s Dragons’ Anvils, and Winepress
• John Fry, PhD, Roger Water’s ‘Sunset Trip’: The blood Red Dragon and the Longing for Home

Session Three:

• Byron Curtis, PhD, Be There Dragons in the Bible?
• Josh Barto ’27, Juxtaposing Japanese Dragons
• Bridget Fox, Here be Dragons: Komodo Dragons
• Joe Watson, The Watchful Dragons Within

Why We Celebrate and What Comes Next

Julie Durbin and Symmonds say that they “hope to increase interdisciplinary research and conversation, while providing a unique space that is more grassroots and informal than your typical academic conference,” calling it “academic fun.”

The planning committee wants to “encourage students and faculty alike to bring their best creative work to the table” to “make room for unique pieces that fall somewhere in the space between.” The submission process challenges writers to participate in niche topics while sharing in a safe space. The planning committee hopes these interdisciplinary studies continue to entertain and enlighten Geneva College and guests who attend the events.

This year Geneva invited neighboring high schools, such as Lincoln Park and Coram Deo, to attend the Dragon Symposium. The planning committee says that they “would like to explore more ways to reach out to high school students in the area.” These conferences are not just for the College but are a way to welcome our neighbors with love by sharing stories and research we all enjoy as one community.