01/12/06

INDEX: Education, Honors & Grants, Teaching Experience, Administrative Experience, Publications, Papers, Lectures & Workshops, Grant Consultations, Academic Affiliations, Musical Awards, Musical Compositions, Cassette Albums & CDs, Folklife Affiliations

Ernie Williams                              Saint Leo University

   P.O. Box 1172                                                     P.O. Box 6665, MC 2721

   San Antonio, FL 33576                                         Saint Leo, FL, 33574

EDUCATION

1981     Post-Doctoral Fellow, University of California, Berkeley

    Director: Stanley Brandes

1971     Ph.D. Florida State University, Philosophy

 Dissertation: The Logical Analysis of Aesthetic Discourse

 Director: Eugene F. Kaelin

1971     M.A. Florida State University, Philosophy (Awarded upon

            successful completion of qualifying examinations -- "ABD." )

1965     B. A. Auburn University, Psychology & Philosophy

ACADEMIC HONORS & GRANTS 

Outstanding Administrator, Saint Leo University, 1989‑90. 

Challenge Grant ($133,000) from the National Endowment for the Humanities to provide humanities holdings for Saint Leo University Library, 1988. 

Humanities Scholar in Residence, Augusta Heritage Arts Center, Davis and Elkins College, Elkins, WV. Funded by the Humanities Foundation of West Virginia, 1985 and 1986.

National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Fellow: "Humor in a Cross-Cultural Perspective," 1981.

Teaching Fellow, Florida State University Overseas Program, Florence, Italy, 1969.

TEACHING EXPERIENCE 

1978-P: Assistant/Associate/Professor of Philosophy, Saint Leo University, Saint Leo, Florida. 

Courses: Quest for Wisdom, Philosophy of Love, Philosophies of Personal Responsibility, Communication for Education Leaders, Philosophy of Art, Existentialism, Philosophy of Human Being, Ethics, Logic, Introductory Philosophy, English Composition, Freshman Topics (orientation course for new students). 

1975‑78: Peripatetic adjunct at various institutions in the Tampa Bay Area: University of South Florida, Saint Leo University, Saint Petersburg Junior College, Hillsborough Community College, Pasco-Hernando Community College. 

Courses included: Comparative Mysticism, Interpersonal Relations (psychology). 

1971‑75: Assistant Professor, Hillsborough Community College, Tampa, Florida. Served as faculty ombudsman for one year. 

Courses included: Philosophy in Literature. 

1970‑71: Adjunct, Florida A & M University, Tallahassee, Florida. 

      Courses included: Honors Seminar in Aesthetics. 

1966‑67: Assistant Professor, Columbus College, Columbus, Georgia (Now Columbus State University). 

Courses included: Literature of the Western World ‑‑ Homer to Chaucer. 

ADMINISTRATIVE EXPERIENCE

1988‑91: Chair, Division of Humanities, Saint Leo University.

Division comprised: art, dance, music, theater, English, philosophy and religious studies. 

1985-89 Board of Directors (President 1987-89) Nathan B. Stubblefield Foundation.

Parent corporation for WMNF-FM, "Listener‑sponsored community radio for Tampa Bay."

PUBLICATIONS 

It's How You Play the Game: a workbook for creating great results in your life (New York: Pearson Custom, 2004). Coauthored with Robert B. Levine.

The Examination of Belief: an introduction to philosophy (Lexington, Mass: Ginn & Co., 1984). Edited with Bernard S. Parker.

"Everyone Deserves an Ella." Educator's Update, February 1991. 

"Controversial Zora: can a white man understand a black woman's world?"  Florida Folklore News, May 1990. 

"The Joys of Collecting: An encounter with Paul Cadwell." The Florida Fiddler, March 1986. 

"A Couple of Good Contest Stories: Monk Daniel's Story; Jim Connor's Story." The Florida Fiddler, December 1985. 

"Dean Shultis: Florida banjo builder." The Banjo Newsletter, December, 1975. 

From 1984 until 1988, contributing editor to Southern Traditions magazine, "a publication dedicated to the preservation and furtherance of the traditional southern folk arts." Articles include: 

"George Brosi: Appalachian images in fiction"

"Snake Handling and Speaking in Tongues"

"Scottish Traditional Music"

"Florida Folk Archives"

"On the Porch of 'Doc' Flemming's Shack"

"Gerry Milnes: The old ways are special"

"The Search for Appalachia"

"Southern Shape‑Note Singing with Liz and Lynn Shaw"

"The Quimbys: Preserving the traditional values of the Sea Islands"

"Bruce Greene: Honoring the gift and responsibility"

"Reflections on Brandywine"

"Interview with Gamble Rogers"

Fiction 

"The Last Knight" (poem). Encounter, 1989. 

"James Ramm's Fence" (short story). Sandhill Review, Spring, 1987. 

"Raindrops" (poem). Etaoin Shrdlu, Spring, 1985. 

"Leaving" (short story). Southern Traditions, Vol. I, 3, October/November, 1984. 

"One Last Time" (short story). Encounter, 1981.

PAPERS, LECTURES & WORKSHOPS 

"How to be a Supervisor You Would Like to Work for." Hernando County Government, 2003.

Appreciating Differences.”Presented to Hernando County Library System, 2000.

As a member of the Speakers Bureau of the Florida Humanities Council, 1990-93, more than forty presentations on Southern Folk Music to non-profit organizations throughout the state.

"Taking Charge of Your Life." Sponsored by the Saint Leo Speakers Bureau, given to several groups, including: Annual Workshop of the Pasco County Health Department, Florida Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers, ICUF Association of Directors of Physical Plants.

Guest Author, Marion County Young Authors Conference, Central Florida Community College, Ocala, 1989 and 1990.

"Sex and Love: a philosophical perspective." University of South Florida Women's Studies Program. (Variations on this topic were presented twice a year, 1983-1988.)

"Folk Art, Ethics, and Aesthetics." Florida Folklore Society, 1985.

"A Philosophical Model for Relationships." University of South Florida Colloquium for Education of the Gifted and Talented, 1983.

"Multiple Levels of Interpretation in Folk Tales." International Conference on the Fantastic, 1983.

"Style and Function in a Family Story." Florida Folklore Society, 1983.

"Structures of Aesthetic‑Philosophical Communication." Faculty Lecture Series, Saint Leo College, 1981.

"Frontier Values and Creativity." Pioneer Museum, Dade City, Florida, 1979.

"A Philosophical Look at Love." University of South Florida, Philosophy Club, 1978.

"Developing Aesthetic Categories: an analysis of Durrell's Justine." Florida Philosophical Association, 1971.

"Sense and Non‑sense in Aesthetics." Georgia Southwestern College, Americus, Georgia, 1968.

GRANT CONSULTATIONS

Humanities advisor to three grants funded by the Humanities Foundation of West Virginia and two grants funded by the Florida Endowment for the Humanities: 

"Common Threads" and "The West Virginia Experience" brought tradition bearers together with younger artists to discuss the values and problems inherent in the preservation of older cultural forms for today's society. Elkins, West Virginia. 

"Simple Gifts: Pioneer Values" produced a slide/tape program dealing with the relationship between pioneer crafts, creativity, and humanistic values. Dade City, Florida. 

"Little Drops of Water" produced a slide/tape program of three Florida quilters and their reflections on creativity and their value systems. Dade City, Florida. 

"Values Inquiry" produced a multi‑media display inviting the public to assess their own stance concerning values. Saint Leo, Florida. 

ACADEMIC AFFILIATIONS

American Philosophy Practitioners Association 

American Society for Philosophy, Counseling, and Psychotherapy 

Sartre Society of North America 

MUSICAL AWARDS 

Edward Lee Flemming, Jr. Award, "presented to an individual who is outstanding on a single instrument, or in the recognition of exception versatility on a number of instruments (and) . . . who  exemplifies the spirit of old time music," 1993. 

Tennessee Valley Old Time Banjo Championship: first place, 1983; second place, 1981. Athens, Alabama.

Florida State Banjo Championship: first place, 1975. Lawty, Florida. 

MUSICAL COMPOSITIONS

The Lake Echo Suite: a 90-minute ballet, featuring cello, harpsichord, violin, guitar, and five‑string banjo. Excerpts from the suite were performed by the Tampa Ballet at the celebration of their thirtieth anniversary. The Susan Taylor Dance Company, Tampa, has performed excerpts of the suite under the title "Cracker Ballet." 

Wasatch Improvisations were performed as part of a faculty concert by Lynne Wimmer, Professor of Dance, University of South Florida, 1985. 

Soundtracks for two FEH‑funded slide/tape programs, "Little Drops of Water" and "Simple Gifts: Pioneer Values," also for a slide/tape program, "Lady at the Window," presented at the 1980 Suncoast Women's Colloquium. 

CASSETTE ALBUMS & CDs

Wildcat Strike!, performed by the New Sand Mountain Wildcats. 1993. 

Gather 'Round Me, Riders, epic motorcycle poems by Mark Edmonds, original and traditional music performed by Ernie Williams. 1990. 

Gather 'Round, "mountain, folk, and good time music," performed by the New Sand Mountain Wildcats. Includes two original tunes. 1983. 

Lake Echo Suite, music by Ernie Williams, arranged by Larry Sledge. 1983. 

Guest artist on albums by Florida artists: Circle of Friends, Southwind, Mary Ann Dinella & Glen Geiger, Jan Milner, Simple Gifts. 

FOLKLIFE  AFFILIATIONS 

Florida Fiddlers Association 

Florida Folklife Council

A citizens group appointed by the Florida Secretary of State to oversee folklife projects conducted by the State of Florida, 1995-2001. Chairman, 2000--2001. 

Florida Folklore Society

President, 1987‑88; Vice‑President, 1986‑87; Board Member, 1984‑89; Editor, Society Newsletter, 1986‑1988. 

Florida Old Time Music Championship

Chair, 1982--present.

Friends of Florida Folk

Board of Directors, 1981-85, 1995-96, 1998-2000

Go to Top