May 9, 2006 issue

I taught my first class here at Eastern in 1995. I came to Michigan to attend graduate school at the University of Michigan, and have been in the area ever since. I taught here for a few years, left for a year to teach at Alma College, and now I am back.

The reason I am continually drawn back to Eastern, and continue to stay, has to be the students. They offer a unique opportunity. Many of them are the first in their family to go to college or are nontraditional students. It is rewarding to be able to expose them to a liberal arts education. My undergraduate experience was a singularly formative time in my life. I was, as one philosopher puts it, initiated into the rich tradition of human reflection and explanation that constitutes the conversation of mankind.

The best part of my job is having great conversations in class. I work hard to have conversations that end with a deeper understanding of the political world and, thus, put students in a better position to make more reflective, intelligent choices.

In addition to my full-time teaching load, I have been working on some research projects involving the nature of political education and the connection between religion and politics. I have to be engaged in the world of ideas. This profession allows me to do that and provides opportunities to excite others about ideas.

 

---