He concluded his presentation by sharing his most recent initiative to historically reconstruct one of these plantation sites and transform it into a place of memory.

Dr. Yaw Bredwa-Mensah is the Senior Lecturer in the Department of Archaeology at the University of Ghana. He received his BA in Archeology and Modern History, his MPhil in African Archeology, and his PhD in Historical Archaeology with specialization in Archaeology of Slavery at the University of Ghana, Legon. He is a member of both the World Archaeological Congress and the Society of Africanist Archaeologists. At the end of his lecture he presented Dean Samuel Ruhmkorff with an embroidered plaque that symbolized the relationship that continues to grow between Simon's Rock and the University of Ghana.

The School where he would be teaching, KLSh School (from Krsnoyarsk Summer School) was founded in 1976 by key faculty members at the Krasnoyarsk State University in Siberia. "The mission of this school was originally to provide selective students an intensive opportunity to study Math & Physics. During its founding years, the program really only encompassed these quantitative disciplines" says Kondrashov. However, over the last few decades, a shift in philosophy has transpired. This shift has lead to the incorporation of most academic disciplines in the Natural Sciences, Mathematics, Humanities including the study of Languages and Linguistics.

This transition has also resulted in the school embracing not only those students who are successful by the traditional standards of quantitative problem solving, but also those who possess an inherent brightness and curiosity. "Much like Simon's Rock, the entrance into this [selective] program is based on a thorough review of the whole student, taking into account their overall achievements and motivations towards learning." Strong emphasis is also placed on a personal interview.

In a given session at KLSh, Kondrashov displays a range of skills from lecturing on global warming and human genetics to acting as a group councilor and mediator. He has serenaded his students with lullabies and even taken it upon himself to make sushi for nearly a hundred people! Revisiting this role was reminiscent of his time as a residence assistantce during five semesters of his time at Simon's Rock.

Kondrashov's love for his work is boldly apparent in his dedication, commitment and passion for enriching the lives of his students both in and outside of the classroom. Most recently this dedication is manifested in the work he has done to expand the schools curriculum and integrate bridges between science, math, the arts and humanities.

During the summer of 2006, Kondrashov introduced a pilot program using excerpts from Pride and Prejudice and Solzhenitsin as a basis for a discussion based seminar session. Kondrashov's observation within the school system was that his students needed to be given greater opportunities to cultivate their abilities to write and think. Much of the intention and motivation behind his vision was strongly based on the liberal arts curriculum and the Seminar series that he encountered while studying at Simon's Rock. "As a scientist I am attempting to emphasize the value of an education that works towards integrating disciplines and encourages students to expand the scope of their knowledge and the flexibility of their thinking."

Many students who enter the program are already engaging in intense preparation for University study. Because Russian University only allows students to pursue one major area of focus, Kondrashov feels that his curriculum will give students a rare opportunity to experience a diverse curriculum before narrowing in and committing to a single major. In the traditional fashion of Liberal arts education, his broadened basis of study will inspire his students to engage more deeply in their course work and develop comprehensive skills that will serve them throughout their academic careers.

Kondrashov has arranged a conference between himself, and other faculty members to discuss expanding and formalizing the presence of a Liberal Arts curriculum within KLSh for the 2007 academic year. One of Kondrashov's long term visions is to create a formal connection between the philosophy of this program and Simon's Rock. In the future he hopes to invite Simon's Rock faculty and allumni to the school as guest instructors.

Kondrashov plays an intricate role in a legacy of Simon's Rock which has enrolled and graduated members of his family for over a decade. His brother Dimitri '92 graduated with his BA in Applied Mathematics, brother Vasya '99 graduated with his BA in Psychology and brother Michael '06 is a current first year student. To learn more about KLSh, please e-mail Fedya directly at kondrashov@ucsd.edu.