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Freshman Seminar Faculty
Academic Biographies Class Rosters |
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| Bracken | |||
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Mrs. Cindy Campbell, M.Ed.
Instructor
Education Department
School of Education and Social Services
St. Edward Hall 302
(352) 588-8322
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I am starting my third year at Saint Leo
University and I am so excited to once again have the opportunity to work
with Freshmen. I taught the SLU 101 course (previously UNV 101) last year
and the people in my class energized me daily with their fresh insights
and comments, anecdotes and discoveries. Although I think I have a natural
affinity toward working with freshmen, that class was so wonderful, I knew
this course would be something I would always enjoy teaching.
I am currently a student myself, trying to
finish my Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction at the University of South
Florida in Tampa (operative word "trying"). My BS is in Elementary
Education from Florida Southern College, a small school in Lakeland, and
my M.Ed. is in Educational Leadership from the University of Central
Florida in Orlando. My major areas of study in my Ph.D. are teacher
education (training people to become teachers), middle school education,
and social studies education. In Saint Leo's Education Department, I
teach the social studies methods course, the corresponding seminar and
field placement (where I get to observe my students teaching social
studies and other subjects in an elementary classroom), and occasionally I
supervise senior interns. I taught at the middle school level for nine
years and supervised a dozen interns during that time - to me, it's the
best part of working with future teachers. My favorite quote is from Walt
Whitman's "Song of Myself," in which he writes, "He most honors my style
who learns under it to destroy the teacher." While this seems a rather
terrifying thought, I interpret it this way - I will feel that I've done
my best when I see those who learned from me become better than me. That's
my goal - to see anyone I teach, including those in my SLU 101 course,
reach their highest potential... and then some!
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I registered to vote as soon as
I was able to and followed my parents' "affiliation" by becoming an
Independent. It wasn't until this year that I actually "claimed" a party. I
think I'll always be somewhat of an Independent, though, because I find
there are inconsistencies in both of the major parties on a number of issues
I find important (foreign policy, economic development, and job growth to
name a few).
What irks me most, though, is when everyone claims to be "the education candidate" - I hear that ad nauseam without seeing results, real results, in the classroom. I hate hearing government officials infer or conclude that teachers at schools with a high percentage of dirt-poor children must not be working very hard. While I'll agree there are teachers you have to wake up to pay at ANY school, I think that teachers at these disadvantaged schools are likely the hardest working with the least reward because they are continuously compared to "A" schools that have non-education advantages, parent involvement being one of the strongest key indicators of a successful school. I realize I'm on a tangent here, but suffice it to say that my political leanings go hand-in-hand with my educational philosophy that every child deserves a chance to succeed and every teacher deserves REAL resources and support to make that happen. An "education candidate" better show me a history of really working to improve education (not just a bunch of "elect me and I promise to..." speeches) if he or she wants MY vote. |
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| Diemer |  |
I was born on Long Island, New York and left in 1976 to become a law enforcement officer in Florida. After completing the police academy and working as a police officer, it was clear that to be effective in my position I needed to go to college. I attended Saint Leo University’s weekend program and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree. I also received my Master of Education from National-Louis University and a Doctor of Philosophy with a concentration in Criminology and Social Psychology from The Union Institute. I am a career law enforcement officer with over 27 years of varied law enforcement/investigative experience. I have extensive knowledge in the area of undercover operations and an expertise in drug enforcement investigations. I served at the State Coordinator of the Florida Sheriff’s Statewide Task force and retired as the Chief of Environmental Investigations for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s, Division of Law Enforcement. Over the past 14 years I have traveled the United States lecturing on narcotic related topics and have taught many classes in the Criminal Justice Program at Saint Leo University. In December, 2003 I retired from law enforcement and became the Director of Graduate Studies in Criminal Justice here at Saint Leo. |
What am I? Well I am not really sure. Growing up, my father had many friends in local government and he insisted that vote for them and register as a Republican. That was my first taste into politics. As I entered law enforcement I found myself supporting many of the ideas of the Republican Party and for the most part supporting the party candidate. As time has gone on, I have slowly changed. Today, I find myself looking at the issues and not the party line. I believe that the party affiliation is not more important then the issues and the record of that individual. As we all know, once a candidate is elected, the only view that really matters to them is their own. So back to the question at hand, I have many strong beliefs that are representative of Republican Party and a few of the Democrat Party. I would only support a Dictatorship if I was in charge and that is not likely to happen. The Independent concept is interesting but in reality has not much substance. So, to answer the question, I am registered as a Republican and vote my mind. |
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Susan Brown Foster, Ph.D. Professor and Chair Department of Sport Management School of Business/MC 2067 PO Box 6665 Saint Leo University Saint Leo, FL 33574 352-588-8582 |
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The study of sport management is an academic discipline that prepares students to work in:
The study of sport is important and just a degree in business administration, in most cases, is not adequate. What business program in the country would teach you how to sell the worst product? Isn’t that what a last place team is? Not everyone will enjoy working for the first, second, or even third place teams in the league every single year. Sport is a product where the quality changes daily and the majority of the money made off a sport is from what we call product extensions and not the product itself which is the actual game. |
Abortion – I am “pro choice”, but the CHOICE comes before the sexual act. We must live with the consequences of those actions and aborting a baby at any stage of pregnancy is a choice that should not be in our hands. However, I will never judge any individual that decides to abort in a life and death situation or when the baby is proven to be severely handicapped. It may not be right to abort even in these situations, but I have never walked in these shoes and cannot judge someone who must. Taxes – I believe people should pay taxes but that not every tax should be applied across the board. Some individuals will never benefit from a specialized tax and, in these instances, should not have to pay for them. |
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Jane M. Govoni, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
School of Education and Social Services
Saint Edward Hall Room 301
(352) 588-8871
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Do you know the name of the first public college in America to offer teacher training? Well, I received my undergraduate degree in Spanish from this college as a native of Danvers, Massachusetts. I attended Framingham State College, then pursued a Master’s degree in Spanish from Boston College and earned a Ph.D. in Second Language Acquisition from the University of South Florida. I currently teach the English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) courses in the Education Department as well as the first practicum course for education majors. It is truly a joy to have the opportunity to train future teachers! As a highlight of my career, I recently wrote a book titled Fusions: Integrating Values in Higher Education along with my two colleagues, Drs. Spoto and Wright. I discovered a passion and sincere feeling about Saint Leo University in communicating with several faculty members who joined us in writing creative and innovative activities. I also had the wonderful opportunity to get to know Father Jude, O.S.B., a monk in our Abbey. I am sure you will see him throughout your years at SLU on your walk to the library as Father Jude usually sits outside on the bench in the late afternoons with his dog Jessie. I sincerely hope that every member of our community will have the opportunity to read about the many fascinating and exciting historical happenings that have occurred on our campus. The section titled “History or Hearsay” should prove to be quite interesting and the timeline will accurately portray the many changes that have occurred at SLU. Most of all, the integration of our core values is presented in a manner that allows all readers the opportunity to pick and choose activities that are rewarding and fulfilling to their own personal and professional lives. I welcome each of you to a wonderful university where our core values of community, respect, integrity, responsible stewardship, personal development, and excellence are modeled and integrated in your educational experiences. |
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I am originally from New York City (even though I don’t sound like it). This may be because I have lived in New Port Richey longer than New York. I received a Bachelor’s degree in psychology and a MS in Education (Learning Disabilities) from the College of New Rochelle. (I was in the first Honors program class at my college!!) At the University of South Florida I earned and Ed.S and a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction in Special Education (specializing in learning disabilities, emotional disorders and gifted). I am certified by the State of Florida to teach everyone from students who are mentally retarded to gifted. I began my teaching career in a Catholic elementary school, moved to a public junior high school, became an assistant principal, the Director of Personnel and finally the Director of Disability Services at Saint Leo University. I teach in the undergraduate elementary education program (EDU 304) the graduate education program (EDU 636 and EDU 642), and am designing courses for the new online masters in education program. My areas of interest are learning disabilities and sensory motor integration. I work closely with an occupational therapist on studying the effects on sensory motor integration therapy on achievement. I am currently working on developing a peer mentoring program for students with disabilities. Yes, I drive a van and am a soccer mom. My “free time” is spent cheering for my children and nieces at a variety of sporting events. |
I am now a registered Democrat and have always been one. I come from a family of registered Democrats turned Republican as time passed. I have worked on several campaigns of local democratic candidates and served on the Democratic Executive Committee many years ago. As I have gone through life I have moved to a more moderate position. |
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Kevin M. Kieffer, Ph.D., NCC Assistant Professor and Psychology Internship Coordinator Department of Psychology Saint Leo University PO Box 6665 Saint Leo, FL 33574 (352) 588-8306 (Office) (352) 588-8300 (Facsimile) |
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I have been at Saint Leo University for four
years now, and I have enjoyed every semester.
My formal education is very diverse, and I have had the opportunity to study at a number of quality institutions during the past 15 years. I received a B.S. in Psychology with a minor in History and a concentration in Mathematics from Indiana University in 1994. I then completed a M.S. in Counseling and Community Psychology at the University of Southern Mississippi, graduating from USM in 1996. I completed my Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology at Texas A&M University in 2000 before moving to Tampa, Florida to complete my required one year internship in clinical psychology. In the 1999-2000 academic year, I completed my Predoctoral Internship in Clinical Psychology and Gerontology at the James A. Haley VA Medical Center in Tampa. I applied for and was hired as an assistant professor of psychology at Saint Leo University in the Spring of 2000. During my first two years at Saint Leo University, I spent my free time (is there any such thing?) completing a Postdoctoral Residency in Neuropsychological Assessment with Gerontological Populations at the James A. Haley VA Medical Center in Tampa, which I completed in early 2002. The main purpose in completing this residency was to accrue sufficient hours to be licensed as a psychologist in the State of Florida. After taking the Psychology Board exam in September, 2002, I received my license in early October, 2002. I strongly relate to my counseling psychology identity and have maintained my National Certified Counselor status since it was first awarded to me in 1996. I consider myself both a professor and a researcher and maintain a very active research program. During the past four years at Saint Leo University, I have published 10 peer-reviewed journal articles, and I have presented over 35 papers at national and regional psychological conferences. My research interests in psychology include multiculturalism and culturally diverse education and therapy; personality and abnormal psychology; geropsychology; history and systems of psychology; research methodology, psychometrics, and statistics as applied to psychological research; teaching advances in psychology; and substance abuse screening and treatment. Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my wife Kathryn as well as engaging in any number of outdoor activities from golf to tennis and anything in between. I am also an avid motorcyclist and try to spend as much time on two wheels as possible. |
As a scientist, I have no
particular affiliation with any political party. Rather, I attempt to
explore the salient issues and decide where I stand on each of them. After
deciding what I personally believe is best for me and this county, I attempt
to find a political candidate who is most closely aligned with my position.
Unfortunately, it is not always possible to find one candidate whose beliefs are consonant with my own. I must then decide on which issues I am willing to compromise. In some elections I have voted for democrats, in some elections my vote has been cast for republicans. And in still other elections, I have voted for independents, again, who were consistent with my personal beliefs. |
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I have had the opportunity as a Catholic priest to help many couples plan their weddings. One tool I use is called Focus on Marriage. This tool helps a couple reflect on the quality of their relationship and on the image each person has of the dynamics of married life. Among the many probing questions, one is related to politics. This question is phrased something like this, “I am concerned that political differences may lead to conflict in our lives.” Quite frequently, the response I get is, “If we don’t agree on political parties, we are tolerant enough to allow each another freedom of choice.” Well enough! But I try to get them to think less superficially about party politics and look closely at their idea of social justice, and their commitment to the common good and their neighbor. “For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world, but loses his very soul in the process?” For me, party politics is only a fragile means by which we are challenged to reflect on the call each of us, who are made in God’s image (human dignity), has to live in and contribute to the good of the community (justice). That community may be the family, university, city, state, nation, or finally the world. I have always considered myself an Independent when it comes to party politics. This is easy for me, because as a priest I cannot seek public office. It also allows me to avoid mixing party politics with faith, or using my clerical influence to pressure others to agree with my party selection in any given election. I will, however, debate the issues with great force and enthusiasm. I do this because I understand politics as the art of discernment and compromise in the search of the common good and for justice. Moreover, I believe we must always keep in mind a commitment to the poor and weak of our society. Such a commitment is, for me, a very important measure of a person’s character and integral to the character of any society worthy of the name, “good.” |
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| MacEachran |
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My name has always been a
source on consternation to me and my family. Most people have names that
come from somewhere - an aunt, a grandmother, a beloved friend. Not mine. No
one else has the name Joanne and we don't know where it came from. My mother
just liked it and that was all there was to know. I grew up in New Hampshire and never thought I'd leave. We lived about an hour's drive from the ocean, an hour from the mountains and slightly less than an hour from Boston. Why would anyone move? We had all the excitement of Cambridge/Boston, the hiking and skiing of the mountains and the wonder of the Maine coast all within easy reach. So, for more than 50 years, I didn't (at least not for long). My undergraduate degree was from the University of NH - actually, from Keene Teachers College formally known as Keene Normal School. My Masters degree in 19th century British Literature is from Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana - one of my adventurous but temporary moves out of the northeast. I have worked as a teacher since 1965. I was a high school English teacher, an elementary reading specialist and finally, a faculty member at a small, liberal arts college in Henniker, NH (for 24 years). While I was working at New England College, I decided I needed to continue my education and was accepted to the doctoral program in education at Harvard University. It took 9 years of commuting from Henniker to Cambridge but I finally finished in 1989. When my youngest child graduated from Mount Holyoke College, I decided I could move again. I went to the University of Washington in Seattle where I was Director of Student-Athlete Academic Services. I worked with 700 student-athletes in a comprehensive and competitive program. Finally, I realized that I needed to return to a small school where the focus was on student development and not on National Championships and the Sears Cup. So, serendipitously, Saint Leo had an opening for a Director of Academic Student Support Services. I've been at Saint Leo for going on 6 years. I work as a foster parent for Small Paws Rescue which finds Bichon Frise dogs who need homes. We take them in, rehabilitate them and find "forever homes" for them. Dr. Hahn has one of my fosters --Chrissy whose owner gave her up because she was too old (the owner - not Chrissy). So, that's what I do now. Foster dogs, teach at Saint Leo, and hang around in the pool waiting for friends from the northeast and the northwest to show up. Which they do - so, it's always busy. |
I always have hope that political people will do the right thing. However, in my experience, that is usually not the case. But, I continue to hope. | ||||||||
| McGahey |
 Follow me for an amazing mentoring story
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Since the beginning of the
2001-2002 academic year, I have been an associate professor and the director
of the international hospitality and tourism management (IHT) program at
Saint Leo University. Tourism is the world’s largest industry. Proper
tourism policy, planning, development, management, promotion, and operation
are critical to tourism outcomes that provide either benefits or
consequences to the host community. My doctorate is in international tourism from Hanyang University in Seoul, Korea, where I lived for ten years. My M.S. and B.S. are from Western Illinois University. I have also taught international tourism at several universities in Korea, at the University of Guam for six years, and as a Fulbright American Senior Scholar in Macedonia during the 1999-2000 academic year. My professional background includes ten years in tour management and operations and tourism promotion. I have been a tourism consultant in China, Korea, Micronesia, the USA, Europe, and most recently in Iraq. I have authored or co-authored five books and several hundred articles for travel trade and consumer publications. My research interests are applied and qualitative and include various topics such as event tourism, ecotourism, destination development and management, tourist information, tourism media, international organizations, tourism barriers, institutional elements, and tourism in Asia, Eastern Europe, Africa, and in undeveloped countries. My travels have taken me to over 60 countries on 6 continents; plus many other islands, regions, and territories. I served in the United States Army during the Vietnam War, where I was platoon leader with the 82nd Airborne Division and a Mobile Advisory Team Leader with MAC-V. Here at Saint Leo University I teach all the tourism and hospitality courses and enjoy advising those students who major in it, as well as any others assigned to me. IHT is a professional program with academic paths for students interested in Tourism Management, Hotel Management, and Restaurant Management. IHT is located within the School of Business and the Department of Business Administration. Therefore, IHT majors also take the core business courses, and they perform an IHT internship under the guidance of a professional mentor. |
My political views have been
shaped by studying the U.S. constitution and American historical political
philosophy since I was in grammar school. My political views do not
necessarily coincide with the specific views of any political party. And,
rarely do they ever coincide with the views (and actions) of any specific
political candidate or office holder.
Unfortunately, during my adulthood when I have been eligible to vote, there has never been a presidential candidate that I really wanted to vote for. There have been some that I definitely wanted to vote against, however. I listen to issues, but I am also influenced by personality and likeability in the sense that I feel I can trust a particular candidate or that I feel like he or she is a good person who will make the right decision on our behalf. I want to believe that our political candidates at all levels are the “best and the brightest”, but I think that is hardly ever the case. Usually they are annoying or disappointing in a number of important ways. Even though democracy is the best process, it still depends on people to make it work. And, in the political system, cream seldom seems to rise to the top. I try not to be cynical, but I do listen to my instincts when I judge a candidate, just as I do when I judge a person. In my generation, we were told by leaders among us that you were either part of the problem or you were part of the solution. I think that is always true. But it still does not provide the answer needed to discern who to support. It just means that we are all lucky enough to have a choice and there is no absolute right and wrong because we have the freedom to think whichever way we want. And, history has shown that, so far at least, we have always survived no matter how incompetent the leader we elected. That is because the system is stronger than the individual. If that were so in many other parts of the world, people there would not be in so much trouble. |
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Coach Ged O'Connor Asst. Soccer Coach Goalkeeper Coach Saint Leo University 352 588 8663 W 352 588 8290 F 352 408 3455 C |
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I am a collegiate soccer coach at Saint Leo University, where I have been for just over two years. I took this position after having a year off from coaching, where I was on tour with the Irish Dance company, Riverdance. I have been in the soccer field for most of my life, spending time as a collegiate and also a professional soccer player (in the lower leagues). Since I have been in the US, I have spent most of time playing or coaching soccer. This is actually the third university I have coached at- Webber International and Southern Miss being my former employers. I have numerous coaching diplomas, both from the US and also England. From an academic standpoint, I have just completed my MBA here at Saint Leo University. I also have a Masters degree in Sport Administration and Coaching from Southern Miss, which I completed via the internet whilst I was on tour. Part of the reason I started the MBA here was due to visa issues, however, now that I have it, I realize it was definitely the right choice, allowing me to get valuable experience that I can use in the coaching position I have. I have always had a keen interest in coaching after playing at college over here, but the teaching area is also an area of interest that appeals. I have spent time teaching at the high school level in England and am extremely interested in working more on that aspect over here. I have taught the UNV 102 class, which I shall be doing again this year, but it will interesting to be able to work primarily with sport management majors in the SLU 101 class. Eventually, in addition to my coaching experience, I will be interested in gaining my PhD. |
As somewhat of an outsider, I have no real political alliances over here, Democrat or Republican. What I am concerned about in these dangerous times is safety, I think that has to be a main priority of any leader. Of the two party leaders at the minute, I do feel that Bush, for all of his inadequacies, has the determination to strike and lead with authority, when the need arises. I do not feel the opposition leader is such a strong decision maker. I have an economic background and certainly think that a leader and those surrounding him/ her have the ability to influence the domestic economy, whether it be employment, inflation… but in America, it appears that all the parties want to do is put each other down. There is no point in leading if all that is going to be done is to shoot down the other party. Concentrate on what you want to achieve and work on making the country better. Any person who can demonstrate to me that they are able to do that, I will vote for! |
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| Persky | Follow me for an amazing mentoring story |
I am a native of Boston, Massachusetts and was raised Cleveland, Ohio.
I joined Saint Leo University in 1999 after several years as an Assistant County Attorney in Hillsborough County. I am presently serving as the Dean of the School of Continuing Education, which involves the various centers at military and civilian sites in 5 states and over the internet. I have prior service in higher education at USF, FSU and Stetson Law School in various Student Affairs and Academic Affairs positions and have taught Business Law, Legal Aspects of Sport Management and a few Criminal Justice courses at Saint Leo. |
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Dr. Hudson Reynolds Assoc. Prof. of Political Science Director of Honors School of Arts and Sciences MC 2127 PO Box 6665 Saint Leo University Saint Leo, FL 33574 352-588-8340 |
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I had no great interest in politics as a high school student growing up in Tempe, Arizona. It was only after I began attending Claremont Men’s College, just outside of Los Angeles -- a college that prided itself on its political science department -- that I caught the politics bug. My favorite freshman year teacher, Martin Diamond, happened to be featured on the cover of Newsweek as one of the ten outstanding college professors of the year. He introduced me to the subject of political philosophy and to such luminaries as the controversial Leo Strauss and Harry Jaffa, the Lincoln scholar. As a junior I landed a lucrative internship with Arizona Senator Carl Hayden and spent the summer running an elevator in the U.S. Senate and working after hours in the legislative assistant’s office, Roy Elson, as he prepared to challenge the popular conservative Republican Barry Goldwater, who sought to return to his seat in the Senate after an unsuccessful bid for the Presidency in 1964. I made enough money that summer to buy a snazzy red Ford Mustang. In 1969, I graduated with a double major in literature and political science and a minor in philosophy. At the last minute I changed my plans to attend graduate school at Cornell, when the professors with whom I had planned to study fled to Canada in the wake of campus unrest, and decided to attend the New School for Social Research on 14th street and 5th avenue in Manhattan. There I took classes from the political realist Hans Morganthau, the Holocaust philosopher Hannah Arendt, the Green party philosopher Hans Jonas, and the Straussian disciple Alan Bloom (visiting from Chicago), graduating in 1977 with a doctorate in Political Science. My thesis, on the Political Oratory of Daniel Webster, received an award, but was never published. Adhering to a promise I had made, I accompanied my wife, a budding artist, to Europe where we haunted the great museums for seven months, staying in youth hostels and small bed and breakfast joints. When we returned I found my first full time teaching job as a visiting professor at the University of South Florida. In 1979, my colleagues alerted me to an available position at Saint Leo College, which I had never heard of. Since coming to Saint Leo, I have acted as the Pre-Law advisor, directed the Honors Program, and provided summer workshops in technology and active learning for the faculty. I have attended several NEH sponsored seminars, including two on Classical studies and one on multiculturalism. For a period I served as the managing editor of the Political Chronicle, the official publication of the Florida Political Science Association, and as a regular columnist for the newsletter of the National Collegiate Honors Council. I have published a few articles on literature, comparative government, and political philosophy, but no books. I do teach an extraordinary variety of courses; including, Intro to Politics, American Federal Government, State & Local Politics, Constitutional Law (I & II), Political Theory (I & II), and various honors courses, such as the Classical World View, the Humanistic Tradition, and the Human Condition Reconsidered, along with the Honors Research Methods Course. Recently, I assisted in the development of this course, so I hope you like it. |
In case you haven't already guessed, I am a
registered Republican, who tends to split his ticket when voting for local
offices. Currently, I am appalled by our military's occupational practices
in Iraq, from allowing the sacking of Baghdad to violating Geneva
Conventions regarding prisoners of war, but I am skeptical about the good
that would come from withdrawing our forces and turning Iraq over to the UN.
The Republican Congress needs to keep abreast of the changes recently enacted in national health care and welfare policies, and it needs to do something about simplifying the tax system (The last time this was done systematically was in 1986 by a Democratic Congress). I'm not as keen as Bush about enacting constitutional amendments to advance social policy; I'd rather see the states do the problem solving. As for giving more perks to middle class college students; forget it! It's the folks stuck on the bottom of society who need increased opportunities. A restored and vibrant free economy should satisfy our dominant middle class. If tax cuts are what it takes to get there, then let's have tax cuts. Oh yes, in 1968, I worked in the Washington, D.C., offices of Arizona Senator Carl Hayden, belonged to the Young Congressional Democrats Club, and actively campaigned for the liberal Democratic Presidential candidate George McGovern. What is it Winston Churchill said? "Any 20 year-old who isn't a liberal doesn't have a heart, and any 40 year-old who isn't a conservative doesn't have a brain." |
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Who am I? I am a mathematician and a teacher
of mathematics, who was born in Gyr, Hungary. I got my Bachelor of Arts
Degree in Mathematics from Kean University in New Jersey. In my third year,
I met my husband, Hung, in a Combinatorics class. Yes, we are both math
people.
After finishing my undergraduate degree, we moved to Hawaii. I received my Masters and Ph.D. in Mathematics from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. I graduated with my Ph.D. in May 2003 and my thesis is titled New Classes of Finite Commutative Rings. I started teaching at Saint Leo University last fall. During my first year, I taught pre-algebra, college algebra, pre-calculus and calculus courses. Previously, I taught for several years as a teaching assistant at UH Manoa and for a year as an instructor at Kapiolani Community College in Honolulu as well. I am interested in improving attitudes toward mathematics, the teaching of mathematics and the future mathematics teachers. This summer, I am heading to Hawaii for a month to help coordinate Talent Development Hawaii, a math-science summer camp for high-school students. In the near future, I would like to create interest in students to take challenging mathematics classes and maybe to have a mathematics major at Saint Leo University. In my spare time, I love to read, jog, cook and of course eat, play with my Welsh Corgi, Pooh Bear, and taking long walks with my husband. On occasion, I even practice some Tahitian dancing I picked up living in Hawaii. |
I am from Hungary, a formerly communist
country. I left in 1990, the year the Russians left and Hungary became a
democratic country. I have found my adoptive country, the United States of
America, to be most open and provide its citizen's with many rights, freedom
and opportunities. Thus, as soon as I could, I became a citizen. In my
opinion the right to vote is the most important right that a citizen could
have, and it is to be taken very seriously. However, I feel that at times
the two-party system is limiting. My main concerns are domestic issues. However, since I just purchased a home and started paying real taxes, I am slowly becoming more and more aware of the importance of learning about and being informed on local policy issues as well. The domestic issues, which concern me most have to do with saving our environment, improving our public education system, improving our health care system, making the federal tax system easier and fairer, and taking better care of our children as well as our senior citizens. And, of course, naturally, I am concerned about any policy changes regarding our safety and freedom. However, I feel that this election will focus mainly on our foreign policy. I will look to find out on how the candidates plan to deal with Iraq and the future security of the people of our nation and our planet. Can you guess my political affiliation? |
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i came to teaching through my love of writing. i had just begun writing literature and musical lyrics when i graduated with a B.A. from queens college (CCNY). i worked in bookstores and theatres, drove a taxi, and wrote music and poetry/prose until i enlisted in the navy to go to greece. just before i enlisted, i finished a 'book,' an autobiographical adventure. after 3 years in the mediterranean, i went to graduate school in mexico to study writing. i finished the M.A. in montreal and began a Ph.d. denise and i met and moved to florida. i taught drama for a year before i started teaching and tutoring at SLC (1981). later i developed and directed the writing center. later i became a full-time teacher and earned an MFA in writing from vermont college. in 2000 i earned a Ph.D. in writing from lancaster university in england, studying in both scotland and ireland. all the while, for 15 years, i was publishing poems, short plays, essays, and stories. i have a deep 'practicing' interest in comparative mythology, religion, and mysticism, t'ai chi, mystical poetry, and native american culture. denise i enjoy working in/with the land in our back yard, traveling to the mountains, and visiting the sea. yasmine, our daughter, studies theatre, writing, and eastern religion at eckerd college and enjoys composing and performing music. | i abhor 'materialism' and psychological, social, and political conditioning. i might be termed a socialist/democrat. i favor sharing with the less fortunate as a way of life. i disdain elitism and aristocracy. i would like universal health care in this country. i would like us to be less aggressive, arrogant, competitive, and imperial--more like canada. | ||||||||
| Wubbenhorst |
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I
have a B.A. in Political Science from Guilford College, Greensboro, NC; a
J.D. from Cumberland School of Law of Samford University in Birmingham, AL;
and am a graduate of the Naval Justice School (JAG) in Newport, RI and the
FBI Academy in Quantico, VA. I am a member of the Virginia State Bar, and am
admitted to practice before federal and military courts, including the U.S.
Supreme Court.
At SLU, I teach 7 courses: Organized Crime; White Collar Crime; Terrorism; Police Administration; Survey of the Criminal Justice System; Criminal Procedure; and the new CJ graduate course, "Legal Issues in Criminal Justice Administration". During the last 11 years of my 22 year FBI career, I have authored many, many legal briefs; however, since almost all of them are classified, I cannot discuss them. My current academic interest is infusing the Saint Leo Core Values into my courses, and I am considering several publication options. |
Although I consider myself a
moderately conservative/conservatively moderate Republican, I generally vote
for the candidate(s) and the issue(s), not the party. And, certainly not a
party "ticket". In a candidate, I look for a personal and professional track
record of integrity, vision, team-building, intellectual competency, and
resiliency. Although my quest for these attributes generally finds me on the
Republican side of issues, I disdain almost all the conservative radio and
TV personalities. I cannot tolerate their egocentric attitudes,
self-promotion, and usual rudeness. Instead, I enjoy listening to NPR,
because their views make me listen, discern, evaluate, and ultimately,
think. Although I am usually at some level of disagreement with them, I
enjoy their general civility, and much prefer it to conservative
programs.
I am very proud to be a military veteran, and am proud to be retired from both the U.S. Naval Reserve and the FBI. I grieve for our loss of life in Iraq and Afghanistan, and elsewhere. However, I am "old-school" in my support of our troops and our President during this time of continuing national crisis. I have been in some very dangerous situations during my military and law enforcement life, and I believe in the strongest terms that the safety of our troops fighting on the front lines of terror, and our nation as a whole, depends on the continued support of our national leaders and their policies. Lest anyone think that I am advocating a mindless allegiance to government officials, I am not; rather, I am saying that an informed citizenry should support their leaders, until such time as elections afford them an opportunity to constitutionally change those leaders, if they so choose. |
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