Georgia Southern professor brings conference on solitude to the US for the first time

Collaborative research by College of Education associate professor Richard Cleveland, Ph.D., has allowed him to form close partnerships with others in the field, making his study of solitude anything but isolated. Thanks to the bonds he has formed with researchers around the world, the International Society for Research on Solitude (ISRS) will host its annual conference in the U.S. for the first time.

“I’m very thankful for being able to make these friendships and connections with international scholars,” said Cleveland. “It was through those connections and the College of Education being willing to host international faculty that we caught the eye of the ISRS.”

The “Alone Together” symposium, which will be held April 23 to 25 at the Armstrong Campus, dives into both the challenging and liberating aspects of what it means to be alone. Researchers will discuss findings on how people in professions, ranging from law enforcement to religious leadership, can feel disconnected, even while surrounded by the noise of modern life. They will also explore the benefits of having time to reflect inward as an important part of knowing ourselves and our values. 

“There is something restorative about being alone,” said Cleveland. “We do need time for solitude where we are not influenced by the world, not influenced by others, and have time to deeply reflect and recharge.”

The hallmark style of the program is to include small group conversations beyond the presentations for larger groups of conference attendees. . Cleveland says those intimate conversations draw out deep understanding and personal relationships with attendees.

“Being vulnerable with each other and having conversations, particularly on an international level, really allows you to learn more about each other’s specialties,” said Cleveland. “It opens up opportunities that you cannot get in a larger conference environment.”

Cleveland’s own research spans a broad spectrum of topics in solitude. He has examined the social difficulties children face in school and how law enforcement officers feel about being alone. His research in law enforcement drew the attention of ISRS scholar Anna Szafranek, Ph.D., from the University of Bialystok in Poland. Cleveland hosted a visit by Szafranek to the US so they could work together in person. In turn, Cleveland visited Poland and spent a month teaching and conducting workshops to share his own expertise. That kind of exchange is exactly what Cleveland loves about working with the ISRS.

“Recognizing someone’s specialty and what they can share with you is where discovery happens,” said Cleveland. “If I can work with someone who gets excited about the research together, that’s truly rewarding.”

Conference registration is available online at https://bit.ly/4ogB5WY