Oct. 2, 2007 issue
I started working at EMU during the winter semester of 1992. I was asked
to teach several sections of "History 100: The Comparative Study of Religion," which
continues to be my primary responsibility. For me, there is no greater
vocation than to be a college teacher.
I've come to see that EMU plays a significant role in the Michigan university
system. We really do provide a first-rate education for an unrivaled diversity
of fine students, and at a reasonable cost. I'm especially pleased to
be a member of a department with so many outstanding teachers, who've
inspired me to be better at my craft.
In the past, I've always received positive feedback from students who've
taken my courses. However, I've had pies thrown in my face! It was all
in fun for "Pie a Professor," the Alpha Phi Omega's National Bone Marrow
Registry fundraiser.
I consider myself a high-impact teacher. I like to break away from the
traditional talking-head style and incorporate keynote
presentations with music and movie clips. EMU has given
me the opportunity to facilitate multi-media discussions
with my students on Hinduism, Buddhism, and the Abrahamic
religions — Judaism, Christianity and Islam — which
are the focus of my personal research. I always make myself
available to my students outside of the classroom to further
contribute to their educational experience.
I'm proud to say that I was the first recipient of the EMU Full-Time
Lecturers Outstanding Teaching Award (2001-02). I've since
served on the committee, selecting others who do extraordinary work.
While teaching at Eastern, I earned my doctorate in Near Eastern Studies
from the University of Michigan. I wrote a book, "Theophilus of Antioch:
The Life and Thought of a Second-Century Bishop," that focuses on Jewish-Christian
theology and may contribute to dialogue among wider religious communities.
A while back, I was interviewed about modern Islam and religious dialogue
for a "Currently Speaking" episode on PBS. I'm an occasional contributor
to the Ann Arbor News on similar issues.
