Posted on Friday, January 23, 2026
(Due to the threat of inclement weather and for the safety of our 3D Journeys audience, the January lecture previously scheduled for Monday, Jan. 26 has been moved to Monday, Feb. 2.)
When it comes to observing medieval and early modern timelines, Ethel Dallis Hill History Professor Dr. Kevin Shirley can tell you that there are no seamless transitions.
“I often ask my students to keep in mind that categories and periods of history are constructs we build,” he said. “The lines separating one age from the next are never as clear, hard and fast as we think.”
One such instance is the French town of Avignon, which will be the focus of Dr. Shirley’s presentation to open 3D Journeys’ 16th season on Monday, Feb. 2, at 10 a.m., at Turner Hall. He will discuss in his talk, “Medieval Avignon and the Road to Modernity,” how the small French village that served as a Palace of the Popes for nearly a century went through a tumultuous period and played an important role in the early phases of modern western history.
“Its importance lies not just in the history of the medieval church/papacy but the broader history of Europe in the late Middle Ages,” he said. “I want to examine the ways in which Avignon was not just a medieval phenomenon but one that pointed toward ‘modernity.’”
A Ph.D. graduate of Florida State University, Dr. Shirley has served as the co-affiliate coordinator of National History Day Georgia program since 2012. Among the countries the six-time 3D Journeys lecturer has taught during his nearly 30-year career at LaGrange, he said France is one of the most intriguing.
“The history of France—ancient, medieval, and modern—is rich and complex,” Dr. Shirley said. No matter the period, France has a fascinating story to tell.”
Carolyn Wynens, 3D Journeys Committee Chair, said Dr. Shirley serves as the perfect opener for this season’s exploration of France.
“From the study of Medieval Avignon's role as the seat of the Catholic Papacy in the 14th century, stimulating cultural and economic predominance, to the charming Provencal city of today, this presentation promises to interest all,” she said.
If there is one thing Dr. Shirley said lecture goers will come away with from his presentation, it is heightened curiosity.
“They will get a better understanding of Avignon and the role it played in what Barbara Tuchman referred to as the ‘calamitous fourteenth century,’ he said.
Attendees are asked to park in the lots adjacent to the pedestrian bridge on Vernon Street; a shuttle beginning at 9:30 a.m. will take you to the door. Additional parking is available for walking across the Gulley Gateway bridge on Vernon Street. A Dutch-treat lunch will be available in Pitts Dining Hall following each session.
This season’s lecture and travel series will include presentations from Art & Design Associate Professor Carolyn Ford and English Professor Laine Scott on Feb. 23 and March 23, respectively. The optional trip to France, hosted by President Susanna L. Baxter and First Gentleman Mark Huffman, has filled quickly, reflecting the strong interest from our 3D Journeys community.
For more information, call 706-880-8244 or email 3DJourneys@lagrange.edu.
Mind Wellness Health Fair
Tuesday, Jan. 27
11 a.m., Dickson Assembly Room
Evening of Yoga & Meditation
Wednesday, Jan. 28
7 p.m., Dickson Assembly Room
Creative Prayer Practices
Thursday, Jan. 29
11 a.m., Smith Hall Den
Women's Basketball
After last weekend’s 83-65 victory at Agnes Scott (Decatur, Georgia), LC continued its winning streak with an 89-60 win against Belhaven on Thursday, Jan. 22, in Mariotti Gym. The team will compete against host Maryville on Saturday, Jan. 31, at 2 p.m., in Maryville, Tennessee.
Senior Amanda Mclendon was named the Collegiate Conference of the South (CCS) Player of the Week. She averaged 14.7 points with 10 rebounds for the week.
Men's Basketball
The Panthers edged out a 69-65 win against Belhaven on Thursday, Jan. 22, in Mariotti Gym. Senior Micah McAllister led the Panthers with 18 points, ten rebounds, four assists, two steals and a block. The team will be heading to Piedmont College (Demorest, Georgia) on Tuesday, Jan. 27.
Track and Field
The LC Men's and Women's teams competed at the KMS Invitational at the Birmingham CrossPlex in Birmingham, Alabama on Sunday, Jan. 18. Freshman Alan Vidrio Buen Rostro broke his own school record in the men's 600-meter run with a time of 1:37.83. Freshman Ryheem Mighten established a LaGrange school-record in the men's 400-meter dash with a time of 50.52. Freshman Khristian Bell broke her own school record in the women's long jump with a distance of 5.17 meters, good for fifth place on the day. Bell then established a LaGrange school record in the women's triple jump with a mark of 10.25 meters, finishing in sixth place. In the men's 4 x 200-meter relay, Coleman, Adams-Gibson, Brown and Zeigler combined for a time of 1:33.08, establishing a new LaGrange school record. The teams will return to competition on Saturday, Jan. 24, when they travel to the Asics Superblast Invitational at the JDL Fast Track in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
(Please note that schedules may change due to circumstances beyond our control. Please check www.lagrangepanthers.com to confirm.)
Sunday, Jan. 25 – Track & Field at Asics Superblast Invitational, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Tuesday, Jan. 27 – Men’s Basketball at Piedmont, 7 p.m., Demorest, Georgia
Boddie shares MLK message with students, Jan. 22, LaGrange Daily News
LaGrange College honors Martin Luther King Jr. with motivational message, Jan. 20, WTVM
Category: Events, Community, College
Keywords: Education, Travel
