M.A. online faculty, Dr Karin Cadwell, had the opportunity to spend
time with the Surgeon General on January 20, 2011 during the
announcement of The Surgeon General's Call to Action to Support
Breastfeeding. Surgeon General Regina Benjamin announced 20 key actions to improve support for breastfeeding nationally.
Dr. Karin Cadwell works nationally and international to improve
maternity practices and increase breastfeeding rate through education,
research, collaboration and competency based lactation education through
the Healthy Children Project. As faculty for the MA online in Health
and Wellness and the BS in MCH Lactation Consulting at Union Institute
and University, Dr. Cadwell works with students during their academic
journey through their undergraduate and graduate programs. Dr. Cadwell
is a fellow of the American Academy of Nursing (FAAN).
Thursday, July 18, 2013
Kym Kennedy, M.A. 2010
While wrapping up her master's coursework at UI&U, Kennedy was
offered a job teaching writing and composition at Southwestern Oregon
Community College. She is also working on her Ph.D. in adult and
postsecondary education. Kym's goal in earning a M.A. with a
concentration in literature and writing was to “become the type of
college professor that can transmit passion for literature to students
and show them how literature and writing are relevant to their lives
regardless of their majors.”
Melanie Diedrich, M.A. 2009
Upon graduating from UI&U, Melanie Diedrich founded
Archaeological Macroflora Identification (AMI), a subcontracting
business serving archaeologists. She explains, “Macrofloral analysis
from archaeological excavation is an important component of the overall
analysis of a site.” Diedrich has been hired for this specialized work
by such organizations as the Washington State Department of
Transportation, Drayton Archaeology Research, and Rain Shadow Research,
Inc., and Cultural Resource Consultants, Inc.
Diedrich’s successful academic career at UI&U resulted in articles published in both the Journal of Wetland Archaeology and Archaeology in Washington Journal. The articles Diedrich authored in Journal of Wetland Archaeology, Volume 9, focus on the site work she completed at Sunken Village Archaeology Site on Sauvie Island, Oregon, during her application courses. Her thesis work, "Pacific Northwest Paleobotany: Native Seeds and the Creation of a Comparative Library," was published in Archaeology in Washington Journal and describes the importance of sampling for botanical material in Pacific Northwest Archaeology, her efforts to design a seed-key, and the digital photography of native seeds as a comparative library for research.
Diedrich’s successful academic career at UI&U resulted in articles published in both the Journal of Wetland Archaeology and Archaeology in Washington Journal. The articles Diedrich authored in Journal of Wetland Archaeology, Volume 9, focus on the site work she completed at Sunken Village Archaeology Site on Sauvie Island, Oregon, during her application courses. Her thesis work, "Pacific Northwest Paleobotany: Native Seeds and the Creation of a Comparative Library," was published in Archaeology in Washington Journal and describes the importance of sampling for botanical material in Pacific Northwest Archaeology, her efforts to design a seed-key, and the digital photography of native seeds as a comparative library for research.
Glenda Taylor, M.A. 2010
Eminent cultural historian Glenda Taylor describes herself as a “griotte,” a mistress of words and music. Her master's thesis was published in 2011 and is available through Amazon.com: The Jalimuso’s Drum: African American Female Entertainers as Cultural Historians/Griottes. Using autobiographical lenses of African American celebrities, Taylor explores Civil and Human Rights Movements within twentieth century America through their diverse perspectives.
Other books she has written include Blind Light, The Secrets of Success: Quotations by African American Achievers, The Secrets of Success: The Black Man’s Perspective, and Truth Beyond Illusion: African-American Women 1860s-1950s.
Other books she has written include Blind Light, The Secrets of Success: Quotations by African American Achievers, The Secrets of Success: The Black Man’s Perspective, and Truth Beyond Illusion: African-American Women 1860s-1950s.
David Gentilini, M.A. 2010
David Gentilini focused his studies at UI&U on how to create a relevant and accessible museum experience ̶ making the museum the "lung of a city." He continues his imaginative programming through his involvement in collaborating with five Columbus art galleries to produce On Display ’10 at Capital University Museum's Schumacher Gallery in Columbus, Ohio. The five galleries that displayed at the museum each represented their own niche in the art world, so they are able to collaborate to draw attention to the collective galleries and Ohio artists in general. The display was designed to introduce the general public to the galleries and spark further interest in art.
Aaron Moe, M.A. 2009
Aaron Moe has recently published "Chaos & the 'New' Nature Poem: A Look at E. E. Cummings' Poetry." CT Review 32.1 (2010): 11-24. It is a continuation of the work he completed for his final document within the M.A. Program.
Moe is now pursuing his doctorate in English. He is currently exploring W. S. Merwin's poetry, specifically how Merwin's ecological anguish leads to an unprecedented poetics of humility. Along with his literary research, he teaches composition courses for the university's undergraduate program. He explains his composition philosophy as follows:
Indeed, rhetoric creates the backbone of my composition philosophy. Ethos, pathos, logos, kairos, and decorum. These words encapsulate ideas that guide the composing process, for they define some of the ways through which we persuade. The composing process must include a rhetorical awareness of how the framing of language--whether its typeface, punctuation, paragraph breaks or facial gestures, intonations of voice, or bodily tilts--contributes to the Protean possibilities of meaning making.
For more information about Moe’s work, see his website: http://www.aaronmoe.com/.
Moe is now pursuing his doctorate in English. He is currently exploring W. S. Merwin's poetry, specifically how Merwin's ecological anguish leads to an unprecedented poetics of humility. Along with his literary research, he teaches composition courses for the university's undergraduate program. He explains his composition philosophy as follows:
Indeed, rhetoric creates the backbone of my composition philosophy. Ethos, pathos, logos, kairos, and decorum. These words encapsulate ideas that guide the composing process, for they define some of the ways through which we persuade. The composing process must include a rhetorical awareness of how the framing of language--whether its typeface, punctuation, paragraph breaks or facial gestures, intonations of voice, or bodily tilts--contributes to the Protean possibilities of meaning making.
For more information about Moe’s work, see his website: http://www.aaronmoe.com/.
Daniel Van Horn, M.A. 2011
Daniel Van Horn made an exciting historical discovery during his
Applications course of a cache of original drawings and letters from the
first official WWI artist commissioned by the U.S. government, J. Andre
Smith. Not only did he focus his final document on J. Andre Smith’s
role in the war, Van Horn’s find also resulted in his being asked to
design a new, permanent exhibition at the Maitland Art Center in
Florida.
Van Horn’s discovery showed the steadfast leadership of J. Andre Smith as he guided the “Art Squad” engaged to document the Great War. Smith operated under the belief that the Art Squad’s role was to faithfully create historical documentation of the war through their works of art. However, others felt the true purpose of the Art Squad was to roll out propaganda for use in the government’s ongoing struggle in the battle of public opinion. Smith’s perspective won out and, for the 8 months they were engaged before the end of WWI, the Art Squad’s drawings revealed the unsensational business side of war.
A House in Badonviller by J Andre SmithFor example, Smith admired the soldiers’ complacency around death, and documented soldiers relaxing in the bombed building remains as if the war “was a thousand miles away and not just the other side of the next building."( J. André Smith, In France with the American Expeditionary Forces (New York: A. H. Hahlo, 1919), 59.)
The scope of this primary source is so vast that Daniel Van Horn was able to use only a small part of it for his final document, and is continuing his research into Andre Smith to develop a complete biography. Based on his serious academic scholarship and successful museum exhibit of the life and work of Smith, Van Horn has been approached about other research and book opportunities.
Van Horn’s discovery showed the steadfast leadership of J. Andre Smith as he guided the “Art Squad” engaged to document the Great War. Smith operated under the belief that the Art Squad’s role was to faithfully create historical documentation of the war through their works of art. However, others felt the true purpose of the Art Squad was to roll out propaganda for use in the government’s ongoing struggle in the battle of public opinion. Smith’s perspective won out and, for the 8 months they were engaged before the end of WWI, the Art Squad’s drawings revealed the unsensational business side of war.
A House in Badonviller by J Andre SmithFor example, Smith admired the soldiers’ complacency around death, and documented soldiers relaxing in the bombed building remains as if the war “was a thousand miles away and not just the other side of the next building."( J. André Smith, In France with the American Expeditionary Forces (New York: A. H. Hahlo, 1919), 59.)
The scope of this primary source is so vast that Daniel Van Horn was able to use only a small part of it for his final document, and is continuing his research into Andre Smith to develop a complete biography. Based on his serious academic scholarship and successful museum exhibit of the life and work of Smith, Van Horn has been approached about other research and book opportunities.
Elizabeth Jacquet, M.A. 2011
Elizabeth Jacquet focused her Final Document on the lesser-known
civilization of the Etruscans, contemporaries of the ancient Greeks and
Romans. Through careful examination of the artifacts these people left
behind in burial chambers, Jacquet seeks to debunk the slanderous claims
made by their Roman enemies. One of the most fascinating aspects of
the Etruscan culture that Jacquet reveals is the equity between men and
women. Iconography in the hand mirrors, for example, honors women as
brides, wives, and mothers. Some reflect men and women reading together
or competing as equals in games. One mirror shows a man and a woman
playing a board game wherein the inscription reads “I’m going to beat
you” above the woman, and “I do believe you are” carved above the man.
Based on this and other iconography, Jacquet asserts that the hand
mirrors are “Not just a tool, but a gift for a bride and a dedication to
the deceased. The uniquely Etruscan bronze hand mirror demonstrated the
power and equality of Etruscan women."
The M.A. degree from UI&U has not only enhanced Jacquet’s career as a history teacher, it has also given her the courage to start a high school summer program in France, called "L'Atelier au Chateau," with her husband. Although the curriculum emphasizes the fine-arts, creative and scholastic thinking are intertwined in each lesson. “I believe that my work at Union has given me the edge to stand behind such scholastic and artistic pursuits, and to confidently represent our program as a professional and scholar,” explained Jacquet enthusiastically. For more information, view their website at drawinginfrance.com.
The M.A. degree from UI&U has not only enhanced Jacquet’s career as a history teacher, it has also given her the courage to start a high school summer program in France, called "L'Atelier au Chateau," with her husband. Although the curriculum emphasizes the fine-arts, creative and scholastic thinking are intertwined in each lesson. “I believe that my work at Union has given me the edge to stand behind such scholastic and artistic pursuits, and to confidently represent our program as a professional and scholar,” explained Jacquet enthusiastically. For more information, view their website at drawinginfrance.com.
Jon Neal Wallace, M.A. 2008
Jon Neal Wallace’s final document, “Light from Design,” presents a
concept for a new design principle for art entitled, “Directions,” that
correlates art and physics. Wallace’s innovative design principle got
him noticed by the international art community. Since graduating from
the M.A. Online Program, his environmental and political art have been
shown in San Francisco, Chicago, New York, Miami, London, and Europe.
His art was originally scheduled to be included in a show for Beijing,
but some of the show’s controversial stance on communism was quickly
vetoed by the Chinese government. Currently, his work is under
consideration for an exhibit in Paris.
Wallace’s other passion is writing, which he is pursuing within an MFA program. He is presently working on a historical novel about the civil War, Ragman’s Roll. It involves the reader in the cause of freedom for everyone through the dedicated eyes of the narrator, Tom Jackson, friend of Gen. William H.L. Wallace whose heroic life he witnesses.
In addition to his art and writing career, Jon Wallace hopes to share his passion for these topics with his own students one day.
Wallace’s other passion is writing, which he is pursuing within an MFA program. He is presently working on a historical novel about the civil War, Ragman’s Roll. It involves the reader in the cause of freedom for everyone through the dedicated eyes of the narrator, Tom Jackson, friend of Gen. William H.L. Wallace whose heroic life he witnesses.
In addition to his art and writing career, Jon Wallace hopes to share his passion for these topics with his own students one day.
Jan Hurndon, M.A. 2011
Jan Hurndon started a blog as part of her Applications course to document her European travels that brought her up-close-and-personal with the subject of her research, French Gothic art and architecture. Hurndon’s primary focus has been on the use of light in the architecture.
She explains, The builders of the great Gothic cathedrals sought to recapture the holy light of creation in a literal and figurative sense, to recreate the Heavenly Jerusalem for the earth-bound believer. The Gothic cathedral would also serve to illumine the mind and transport the spirit of the medieval pilgrim in a way that no physical structure before or since has been able to do. It is a seemingly immortal testimonial to faith, as imposing and inspirational in its quiet presence as it was nearly a millenium ago.
The Chartres workshop was led by leading French researchers and restoration archaeologists, and provided the inspiration for her own research. Hurndon’s final document for her MA degree was titled From Lux to Inluminare: Light as agent of enlightenment in the labyrinth and related elements of the French Gothic cathedral. She credit Union’s experiential and personalized approach with encouraging her to combine her interest in various disciplines – language, European history, her Christian faith, and Gothic architecture – into a culminating project that she found both academically challenging and personally enriching. Hurndon now teaches Western Art Appreciation on the college level and hopes to share that same cross-disciplinary focus and hands-on passion with her own students.
For more information about Hurndon’s travels, please visit her blog.
She explains, The builders of the great Gothic cathedrals sought to recapture the holy light of creation in a literal and figurative sense, to recreate the Heavenly Jerusalem for the earth-bound believer. The Gothic cathedral would also serve to illumine the mind and transport the spirit of the medieval pilgrim in a way that no physical structure before or since has been able to do. It is a seemingly immortal testimonial to faith, as imposing and inspirational in its quiet presence as it was nearly a millenium ago.
The Chartres workshop was led by leading French researchers and restoration archaeologists, and provided the inspiration for her own research. Hurndon’s final document for her MA degree was titled From Lux to Inluminare: Light as agent of enlightenment in the labyrinth and related elements of the French Gothic cathedral. She credit Union’s experiential and personalized approach with encouraging her to combine her interest in various disciplines – language, European history, her Christian faith, and Gothic architecture – into a culminating project that she found both academically challenging and personally enriching. Hurndon now teaches Western Art Appreciation on the college level and hopes to share that same cross-disciplinary focus and hands-on passion with her own students.
For more information about Hurndon’s travels, please visit her blog.
Dalene Fisher, M.A. 2011
While completing Teaching Writing I and her final document, Dalene
Fisher lined up a job to teach three sections of Composition I at
Oklahoma Wesleyan University upon graduating. Dalene has five years of
experience teaching high school English and maintains a blog, The Musty Study,
to encourage the hesitant reader to discover the timely nature of the
old classics in English literature.“UI&U has enabled me to reach my
goal of teaching at the university level” explains Dalene. “From
engaging in challenging writing exercises, I am able to empathize with
my own students and have been truly stretched as a writing teacher.
I've shed tears of both sorrow and joy! I loved teaching high school,
but I feel prepared now to move to a new level of instruction."
Amber Fellure, M.A. 2011
Amber Fellure strengthened ties with her grandmother, Ann Brown,
during her archival research locating primary sources for her final
document. Their shared passion for genealogy made the discovery journey
fun for both of them. Fellure focused her study on the “French 500”
who settled in her town, Gallipolis, Ohio. These French aristocrats,
fleeing from the French Revolution, purchased deeds to the area around
Gallipolis from land speculators. However, those that survived the
shipwreck and other hardships to reach this promised land discovered
their deeds were worthless. Fellure dug into their original accounts of
how they managed to survive on the Ohio frontier and created a
fascinating final document.
Amber Fellure, J.D., is the assistant city prosecutor for Gallipolis. After graduating from the M.A. Program, she began to teach history, law, and criminal justice classes at her local community college.
Amber Fellure, J.D., is the assistant city prosecutor for Gallipolis. After graduating from the M.A. Program, she began to teach history, law, and criminal justice classes at her local community college.
Amy Pizzuti-Brown, M.A. 2011
Like many woman before her, Amy Pizzuti-Brown’s interest and passion
for breastfeeding began when she became a mother. It was only when she
was expecting her first child and started reading the abundance of
parenting literature did she realize how important breastfeeding is for
the long term health of both children and mothers. However, to her
surprise she discovered that breastfeeding is hard work, both time
consuming and exhausting. It was certainly not the rosy picture of
maternal happiness that she once envisioned. Out of this struggle grew
her desire to become a support for women like herself and she proceeded
to research the steps she would need to follow in order to become a
lactation consultant. Ultimately, her search led her to Union Institute
& University, which has one of the few programs for lactation
consulting in the United States. UI&U set up affiliation agreements
with local hospitals and breastfeeding programs for Amy to complete the
required internship within her Master of Arts application courses. Amy
describes her experience:
“I found the M.A. Program exciting and challenging as I found my way around academia. At the completion of my program, I had interned at a hospital, a non-profit, and a city health department. I believe that it was due to the diversity of job experience in the program that qualified me to be considered for a position as perinatal educator and lactation consultant at Del Sol Medical Center. I am incredibly proud and very excited that my final document, 'Guilt, Breastfeeding and Health Behavior Change' was recommended for both publishing and presenting at an upcoming international conference on breastfeeding."
“I found the M.A. Program exciting and challenging as I found my way around academia. At the completion of my program, I had interned at a hospital, a non-profit, and a city health department. I believe that it was due to the diversity of job experience in the program that qualified me to be considered for a position as perinatal educator and lactation consultant at Del Sol Medical Center. I am incredibly proud and very excited that my final document, 'Guilt, Breastfeeding and Health Behavior Change' was recommended for both publishing and presenting at an upcoming international conference on breastfeeding."
Stephanie David, M.A. 2011
Stephanie David-Chapman began working on her final document, “Weaving
Creativity, Culture and Indigenous Education,” with the question “How
can teachers share ‘i ka olelo ke ola i ka olelo ka make?’ She loosely
translates this to be “How can teachers share the life in literacy? How
can teachers share the life in words and the death in words? In what
ways could teachers have students taste the flavor of words and share
the power and intimacy of text?”
Through an action research study with native Hawaiian middle and high school language arts students, Stephanie identified six recommendations on how to use creative teaching strategies to promote student motivation and self-actualization: set the foundation, discover student’s creative appetite, feed appetite, learn the internal library of your students, establish real and genuine relationship, and find a project with purpose and relevance. She applied these strategies to placed-based, project-based and culturally-focused education in Hawaiʻi, which allowed students to channel, direct and develop their own creativity. These creative teaching strategies resulted in an exciting increase in student performance, motivation, skill-building and relationship-building per the pre- and post-class assessments.
This school year Stephanie primarily works as a middle school project teacher. She uses her six recommendations to ground her interdisciplinary curriculum design. This year's project surrounds genealogy, relationship building and community service. Students will take part in a yearlong study of their genealogy, birth stories, and place of birth in order to envision their goals and sense of place for the future. Occasionally, she shares her action research project, findings and observations during school wide professional development and through indigenous education networks around Hawaii.
Through an action research study with native Hawaiian middle and high school language arts students, Stephanie identified six recommendations on how to use creative teaching strategies to promote student motivation and self-actualization: set the foundation, discover student’s creative appetite, feed appetite, learn the internal library of your students, establish real and genuine relationship, and find a project with purpose and relevance. She applied these strategies to placed-based, project-based and culturally-focused education in Hawaiʻi, which allowed students to channel, direct and develop their own creativity. These creative teaching strategies resulted in an exciting increase in student performance, motivation, skill-building and relationship-building per the pre- and post-class assessments.
This school year Stephanie primarily works as a middle school project teacher. She uses her six recommendations to ground her interdisciplinary curriculum design. This year's project surrounds genealogy, relationship building and community service. Students will take part in a yearlong study of their genealogy, birth stories, and place of birth in order to envision their goals and sense of place for the future. Occasionally, she shares her action research project, findings and observations during school wide professional development and through indigenous education networks around Hawaii.
Cathleen Rockwell, M.A. 2011
Since graduating from the Master of Arts Program in 2011, Cathleen
Rockwell’s writing career has blossomed. She is now writing an online
blog for Gainesville's edition of Italian Foods Examiner and Holiday
Examiner. INsite Magazine hired her as a freelance writer to do theatre
reviews and cover events such as the Epcot Food & Wine Festival and
Universal Studios Mardi Gras Celebration. They have been so pleased with
her work that they offered her the position of one of their staff
writers as a movie columnist and film writer. She has also been given
the opportunity to interview celebrities. She recently interviewed
comedian Ron White in January. She also will be writing reviews for
concerts like George Strait and Andrea Borcelli in February.
Rockwell will be the official media/press person for INsite Magazine at the Hoggetowne Medieval Faire in January and will be snapping pictures to go with the articles. Rockwell was also nominated to have her photo and bio in January's issue as a contributing journalist. She looks forward to this leading to full-time work as a writer.
Rockwell will be the official media/press person for INsite Magazine at the Hoggetowne Medieval Faire in January and will be snapping pictures to go with the articles. Rockwell was also nominated to have her photo and bio in January's issue as a contributing journalist. She looks forward to this leading to full-time work as a writer.
Lissa Pohl, M.A. 2006
In 2006, within the Master of Arts Program at UI&U, Lissa Pohl
studied how people embody leadership competencies and from that
developed an equine-guided leadership education program where
individuals receive immediate feedback on their leadership qualities
through working with horses. Horses, as intelligent herd animals, are
willing followers of people who successfully present themselves as
leaders. As Pohl explains, “Collaborating with horses increases people’s
awareness of kinesthetic intelligence and the effective use of body
language. Working with horses can teach people how to effectively lead
and manage by creating productive and collaborative relationships with
others that are based on mutual respect, consistency, clear boundaries,
integrity, intention and authenticity.”
Now Pohl regularly facilitates Herd Dynamics for Leaders workshops with both students and organizations through the Center for Leadership Development at the University of Kentucky. This year she is embarking on pioneering research into equine-guided leadership education through collaboration with UK Chandler Hospital. The research study will look at how interaction with the horses develops emotional intelligence in expert nurses.
Now Pohl regularly facilitates Herd Dynamics for Leaders workshops with both students and organizations through the Center for Leadership Development at the University of Kentucky. This year she is embarking on pioneering research into equine-guided leadership education through collaboration with UK Chandler Hospital. The research study will look at how interaction with the horses develops emotional intelligence in expert nurses.
Concetta Spano, M.A. 2010
Concetta Spano, alumna of the History and Culture Concentration,
recently received the 2012 New Jersey Governor’s Teacher Recognition
Award for the Hopatcong School District. More importantly, she reports,
“The greatest gift was my students telling me that I am the best teacher
and many saying I am ‘awesome.’ It brought tears to my eyes.
Spano first became interested in becoming a teacher while she was in high school. Inspired by President Herbert Hoover’s quote, “Children are our most valuable resource,” she chose to volunteer at a middle school to help troubled adolescents. There she discovered she has a real talent and passion for teaching. She went on to complete her bachelor’s degree in elementary education (K-8) and began to work for Hopatcong Middle School. Spano lives by Dr. Robert H. Shaffer’s philosophy on teaching: “We must view young people not as empty bottles to be filled, but as candles to be lit.” She enjoys each child and encourages their individual gifts. Spano’s pupils exclaim, “Mrs. Spano we love that you come every day and just listen to us.”
Spano first became interested in becoming a teacher while she was in high school. Inspired by President Herbert Hoover’s quote, “Children are our most valuable resource,” she chose to volunteer at a middle school to help troubled adolescents. There she discovered she has a real talent and passion for teaching. She went on to complete her bachelor’s degree in elementary education (K-8) and began to work for Hopatcong Middle School. Spano lives by Dr. Robert H. Shaffer’s philosophy on teaching: “We must view young people not as empty bottles to be filled, but as candles to be lit.” She enjoys each child and encourages their individual gifts. Spano’s pupils exclaim, “Mrs. Spano we love that you come every day and just listen to us.”
Kristin Casas, M.A. 2012
According to Kristin Casas’s research, over 400,000 children worldwide
in 2007 acquired HIV from their mothers during the pregnancy process or
through breastfeeding. Casas’s thesis explored the complex issues
involved in determining whether an HIV-infected mother should breastfeed
or use formula. In resource-rich countries where formula is safe and
readily available it is an easy choice. However, in resource-poor areas,
the choice is complicated by the high infant mortality rates for those
who do not breastfeed. Casas also found that the highest transmission of
HIV occurred in infants who received both breast milk and formula. (The
intermittent use of formula inflames the baby’s gut, increasing the
likelihood of contracting HIV.) For mothers who choose to breastfeed,
there is highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) to reduce the
chances of the mother transmitting HIV to her nursing baby. By
preserving breastfeeding in low-income contexts with the aid of HAART
treatment, infants may be able to live longer, healthier, HIV-free lives
compared to their formula-fed counterparts. The choice of an
HIV-infected mother of whether to breastfeed or bottle-feed a baby is
very convoluted. Casas explains, “Although I set out to discover what
the safest feeding method would be for an infant born to an HIV-infected
mother, the results from studies revealed that it differs for each
individual.”
S. Amy Desjarlais, M.A. 2012
A graduate of the M.A. and Center for World Indigenous Studies
partnership program, Amy Desjarlais’s final project was a journey of
both self-discovery and research into culturally-appropriate
consultation methods. The thesis, “Emptying the Cup: Healing Fragmented
Identity: an Anishinawbekwe Perspective on Historical Trauma and
Culturally Appropriate Consultation,” addresses how historical
tribulation continues to impact daily lives. Desjarlais explains that
she uses the metaphor “Emptying the Cup” to describe the healing
process: “The healing that takes place is akin to pouring the negative,
self-defeating, and DANGEROUS ideals out of the vessel in order to make
way for new things to replace it with. I sought out wisdom-keepers who
could help me fill my vessel with teachings of our people, ways of
healing and learning how to practice our way of life.”
The Canadian government has mandated consultation with First Nation peoples, which led Desjarlais to ask, “How can two completely different cultures successfully communicate, let alone consult, when the frameworks are so profoundly at odds with each other?” Her thesis is an exploration of the ways to bridge the worldviews, so individuals can come together to determine common goals, objectives, and understandings. The first step is to "translate" the consultation discussion so that the intent for all involved is similar. Desjarlais points out that building a culturally appropriate consultation will be unique for each group consulted.
The Canadian government has mandated consultation with First Nation peoples, which led Desjarlais to ask, “How can two completely different cultures successfully communicate, let alone consult, when the frameworks are so profoundly at odds with each other?” Her thesis is an exploration of the ways to bridge the worldviews, so individuals can come together to determine common goals, objectives, and understandings. The first step is to "translate" the consultation discussion so that the intent for all involved is similar. Desjarlais points out that building a culturally appropriate consultation will be unique for each group consulted.
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
Rachel Martinez, M.A. 2012
Although she was already an IBCLC-certified practicing lactation
consultant and educator, the MA Program provided Rachel Martinez a
tremendous opportunity for career growth. While researching her thesis,
Prenatal Breastfeeding Education: Impact on the Early Postpartum Period,
she was able to apply discoveries made along the way to her work at the
hospital throughout the entire process. She observes, “What really
surprised me is how the experience showed me what is possible for the
work I do and how I can now move forward with it.”
In addition to writing her thesis, Martinez also produced a prenatal breastfeeding education series that has garnered statewide interest. Martinez was invited to present her education series at the Breastfeeding Coalition of Oregon’s Annual Meeting in March 2012. Area prenatal practitioners, hospitals, and multiple county WIC offices will be participating in implementing the series.
Martinez acknowledges, “I credit much of what I have gained through the Master’s Program to the supportive and knowledgeable staff, and my classmates who introduced me to varied experiences, perspectives, and camaraderie.” She leaves the M.A. with an extended circle of new colleagues from all over the country to continue to draw upon for a community of practice.
In addition to writing her thesis, Martinez also produced a prenatal breastfeeding education series that has garnered statewide interest. Martinez was invited to present her education series at the Breastfeeding Coalition of Oregon’s Annual Meeting in March 2012. Area prenatal practitioners, hospitals, and multiple county WIC offices will be participating in implementing the series.
Martinez acknowledges, “I credit much of what I have gained through the Master’s Program to the supportive and knowledgeable staff, and my classmates who introduced me to varied experiences, perspectives, and camaraderie.” She leaves the M.A. with an extended circle of new colleagues from all over the country to continue to draw upon for a community of practice.
Anne Roth, M.A. 2012
As a special education teacher in Tennessee, Anne Roth focused her
studies in the Master of Arts on the achievement gap between low income
children and their more privileged peers. She has seven years of
experience working with both inner-city and rural children and
adolescents in Tennessee. Roth watched the heartbreaking pattern of
children living below the poverty line experiencing an ever-widening
achievement gap and wondered how best to teach them. Roth explains, “My
passion is to help those children who are born into communities and
homes where education cannot be priority because daily survival is often
insecure.”
Her thesis research showed that students fall behind during their time outside of school, so government programs focusing on families with young children, e.g. the early Head Start program, have the greatest impact. Successful programs coordinate with other efforts to consider such important aspects as targeting, developmental timing, intensity, and accountability.
Roth traveled to Haiti this summer to provide assistance to families there that ranged from bringing toothbrushes, setting up a soccer ministry, feeding a village of children and their families, to bringing school supplies to children in orphanages. Roth exclaims, “I am so excited to bring back experiences that will help enrich my teaching strategies and to help those who I work with understand the lifestyle of those living below poverty, whether in our country or elsewhere.”
Her thesis research showed that students fall behind during their time outside of school, so government programs focusing on families with young children, e.g. the early Head Start program, have the greatest impact. Successful programs coordinate with other efforts to consider such important aspects as targeting, developmental timing, intensity, and accountability.
Roth traveled to Haiti this summer to provide assistance to families there that ranged from bringing toothbrushes, setting up a soccer ministry, feeding a village of children and their families, to bringing school supplies to children in orphanages. Roth exclaims, “I am so excited to bring back experiences that will help enrich my teaching strategies and to help those who I work with understand the lifestyle of those living below poverty, whether in our country or elsewhere.”
Leslie Korn, Ph.D.
Dr. Korn served as a post-doctoral Fulbright scholar in Mexico for
2009-2010. She was awarded a joint grant from the U.S. State Department
and COMEXUS to continue her research with indigenous women on
traditional medicine in rural west Mexico. Dr. Korn has published two
books this year, the bi-lingual Medicinal Plants of the Jungle/Plantas Medicinales de la Selva, and Preventing and Treating Diabetes, Naturally, the Native Way, with co-author Dr. Rudolph Ryser. Medicinal Plants of the Jungle educates
the reader about both indigenous and biomedical science of 11 of the
most important healing plants chosen by the women of Yelapa, Mexico. This book is a product of the women’s community medicine project.
Anna Blair, Ph.D.
Dr. Blair spoke on a cruise to Grand Cayman on May 17-21, presenting
“Research Updates in Breastfeeding and Human Lactation.” At the end of
August, she is lecturing on a cruise to Alaska on “Continuity of Care in
Breastfeeding: Finding the Path to Best Practice.”
In addition to her responsibilities as M.A. faculty and advisor and chair of the UI&U's B.S. in Maternal Child Health, Dr. Blair performs clinical work at Healthy Children’s center on the cape. She also routinelyvolunteers for dolphin rescue at Cape Cod.
In addition to her responsibilities as M.A. faculty and advisor and chair of the UI&U's B.S. in Maternal Child Health, Dr. Blair performs clinical work at Healthy Children’s center on the cape. She also routinelyvolunteers for dolphin rescue at Cape Cod.
Patricia Monaghan, Ph.D.
Patricia Monaghan's book of poems, "The Grace of Ancient Land," has been
published by the Voices from the American Land project, established to
"revive and amplify a dominant tradition in American letters — the
poetry of place, whether urban, rural, or wild." Monaghan's book
portrays the little-known Driftless Area of Wisconsin, named for its
lack of glacial soil or "drift" and the only area of the Midwest that
has been untouched by glaciation for the last half-million years. Of
the book, editor Renny Golden said, "Her work falls in the tradition of
Aldo Leopold’s “land ethic.” Yet it is a subversive moral vision in the
tradition of Eavan Boland’s ethic of “powerful ordinariness.” Monaghan
thus genders her land ethic. Monaghan does not mythologize the land but
embodies its beauty and bounty in the luminous ordinary of planting,
canning, the fleeting presence of deer and hawk. She implicitly links
seasonal change to the cycle of birth and death. When she sees the hawk
circling for field mice, she reminds us of the mortal path we trod and
bids us to pay attention to what grace offers: the quickening unbidden
moment." More information atwww.voicesfromtheamericanland.org.
Dorothy Firman, Ed.D.
Due to her expertise in transpersonal psychology, Professor Dorothy Firman was invited to blog for Psychology Today.
Among other timely topics, she has written about “saying yes to the
call of Self” to become “part of the solution to whatever problems we
are faced with individually and globally.”
As tragic events unfold domestically and internationally, we are reminded to say “yes” to responsibility, to learning life’s lessons and to change. We learn to say “yes” to hope that give us the possibility of being a better nation and united people. For more sage advice, read Living a Life of Purpose: Spirituality in Real Time.
As tragic events unfold domestically and internationally, we are reminded to say “yes” to responsibility, to learning life’s lessons and to change. We learn to say “yes” to hope that give us the possibility of being a better nation and united people. For more sage advice, read Living a Life of Purpose: Spirituality in Real Time.
Woden Teachout, Ph.D.
Among Pulitzer Prize-winning historians and other eminent speakers
chosen for the First Wednesdays Humanity Lecture Series in Vermont,
Woden Teachout presented Imagining America to a packed house.
Using famous drawings, photographs and literature, Teachout led the
audience through unfolding conceptualizations of America across four
centuries. The country has been represented as a dangerous wilderness;
through Norman Rockwell’s famous paintings of freedom of speech, of
worship, from want, from fear; and, in a recent Egyptian cartoon, as an
oversize Uncle Sam lolling on a recliner. Teachout emphasized the fact
that America looks very different depending upon who does the
imagining. Her speech drew on Benedict Anderson’s famous idea of the
nation as an “imagined community” to question the very idea of America.
She challenges us to actively choose how we imagine America and shape
that vision into being.
The most recent publication of Dr. Teachout, Capture the Flag: A Political History of American Patriotism, has been reviewed by many national publications, including The Wall Street Journal.
The most recent publication of Dr. Teachout, Capture the Flag: A Political History of American Patriotism, has been reviewed by many national publications, including The Wall Street Journal.
Asghar Zomorrodian, Ph.D.
Due to his expertise in areas of public administration and
management, Asghar Zomorrodian was appointed by The Council for
International Exchange of Scholars (CIES), to the 2010-11 Peer Review
Committee for the Fulbright Specialist Program. With his selection, he
joins the ranks of distinguished scholars and professionals worldwide
who are leaders in the educational, political, and social lives of their
countries. Dr. Zomorrodian has also been appointed as a member of the
International Scientific Committee of Academic Public Administrative
Studies Archive (APAS). APAS is designated to collect, archive, and
disseminate scientific papers focused on public administration.
In 2010, Dr. Zomorrodian acted as track chair for Emerging Trends in Management: Creativity and Innovation for the 17th Annual Conference of American Society of Business & Behavioral Sciences (ASBBS). Dr. Zomorrodian’s paper, Program Evaluation: Its Significance and Priority for Shaping and Modification of Public Policies: A Comparative Analysis, co-authored with Lucia Matei of Romania, was selected as the best paper by a track chair of the ASBBS.
In 2010, Dr. Zomorrodian acted as track chair for Emerging Trends in Management: Creativity and Innovation for the 17th Annual Conference of American Society of Business & Behavioral Sciences (ASBBS). Dr. Zomorrodian’s paper, Program Evaluation: Its Significance and Priority for Shaping and Modification of Public Policies: A Comparative Analysis, co-authored with Lucia Matei of Romania, was selected as the best paper by a track chair of the ASBBS.
Loree Miltich, Ph.D.
The March 2011 Exhibit at the MacRostie Art Center in Grand Rapids, MN, featured Migration,
a collaborative project by poets Loree Miltich and Susan Hawkinson,
photographer Jackie Solem, and calligrapher Meridith Schifsky. Jackie
Solem exhibited photographs from her travels that she explains changed
her as she experienced diverse cultures of the world. Loree and Susan
wrote in response to the photographs using a form that Loree calls
“double-voiced” poetry. With Susan’s voice in the left column and
Loree’s in the right column, the poem is also intended to be read line
by line across the page to offer greater possibility. Follow this link to experience the poem.
Judith McDaniel, Ph.D.
UI&U Professor Judith McDaniel will be presenting “The Challenges
of Using Authentic Assessments in Online and Community-based Learning
Contexts” at the 17th Annual Sloan Consortium International Conference
on Online Learning. Teaming up with Jan Kempster, the dean of the Adult
Degree Program at Prescott College, they will each present different
possibilities for authentic assessment of programs that emphasize
interactive, experiential learning. McDaniel explains, “Both UI&U
and Prescott College are founded on a belief that education is about the
ability to think creatively and to interact with new knowledge as a way
of incorporating knowledge into performance, so finding an authentic
means of assessment has challenged the faculty.
Within their Applications course at UI&U, some students have chosen to design a course that demonstrates an ability to bring the theoretical learning into a practical application. Dr. McDaniel will demonstrate the design of the website where students create their courses and discuss the effectiveness of self and peer assessment in this context.
Within their Applications course at UI&U, some students have chosen to design a course that demonstrates an ability to bring the theoretical learning into a practical application. Dr. McDaniel will demonstrate the design of the website where students create their courses and discuss the effectiveness of self and peer assessment in this context.
Rudolph Ryser, Ph.D.
Professor Rudolph Ryser reported the content of an intervention to
the Adhoc Working Group on the Kyoto Protocols (AWG-KP) summit in
Durban, South Africa, in support of the International Indigenous Peoples
Forum on Climate Change (IIPFCC). His report stressed the urgency of
strengthening the Kyoto Protocol and cutting greenhouse gas emissions to
protect Indigenous Peoples, especially in Africa, who are already
suffering from the impacts of climate change.
His report warned that pressures to weaken the Kyoto Protocols could result in at least 5 degrees warming, and could lead to the destruction of cultures and the ecocide of territories. The intervention called for the AWG-KP to incorporate safeguards for adaptation and mitigation measures that are negatively impacting Indigenous Peoples. The formation of such an Indigenous Peoples’ Expert Group under the Kyoto Protocol must include Indigenous Peoples to be certain their rights are protected: rights to lands, territories and resources, full and effective participation, as well as the right to free, prior and informed consent, in line with applicable universal human rights instruments, including the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Professor Ryser is currently lecturing in Mexico under a Fulbright Scholarship Grant regarding the application of traditional knowledge to food security adaptation strategies in response to the adverse effects of climate change.
His report warned that pressures to weaken the Kyoto Protocols could result in at least 5 degrees warming, and could lead to the destruction of cultures and the ecocide of territories. The intervention called for the AWG-KP to incorporate safeguards for adaptation and mitigation measures that are negatively impacting Indigenous Peoples. The formation of such an Indigenous Peoples’ Expert Group under the Kyoto Protocol must include Indigenous Peoples to be certain their rights are protected: rights to lands, territories and resources, full and effective participation, as well as the right to free, prior and informed consent, in line with applicable universal human rights instruments, including the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Professor Ryser is currently lecturing in Mexico under a Fulbright Scholarship Grant regarding the application of traditional knowledge to food security adaptation strategies in response to the adverse effects of climate change.
Karin Cadwell, Ph.D.
Doctors Nashwa Samra, Amal El Taweel and our own Professor Karin Cadwell
recently published their research findings, “The Effect of Kangaroo
Mother Care on the Duration of Phototherapy of Infants Re-admitted for
Neonatal Jaundice,” in The Journal of Maternal-Fetal and Neonatal
Medicine. Out of the 50 jaundiced infants studied at an oasis hospital
in Egypt, those that received intermittent kangaroo mother care (KMC:
held by their mother in skin-to-skin contact which allows on-demand
breastfeeding, among other benefits) required significantly shorter
periods of phototherapy to recover from jaundice. Although further
research is recommended to confirm these results, the study indicates
that KMC is a safe, effective treatment to reduce the duration of
necessary phototherapy and frees up ICU resources for sicker infants.
Kyle Patrick Williams
Kyle Williams is currently serving as the AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers
in Service to America) Leader for the Kentucky Campus Compact project at
Northern Kentucky University, where he has integrated his Master’s
research into his role. William’s research study, “Strengthening
Citizenship through Service Learning in Kentucky Higher Education,” will
poll student attitudes about citizenship and service learning and
determine how programs designed to strengthen citizenship through
service learning could be integrated into course curriculum. The
population for the online study will be post-secondary students at
member institutions of the Kentucky Campus Compact, which are colleges
and universities seeking to connect with their surrounding communities.
Williams hopes to propose a program design that can be replicated at
other universities across the U.S. by AmeriCorps VISTA members.
Julie-Marie Bristol
Formerly a part of the Scandinavian empire, the Shetland Islands were
pledged to Scotland in 1469 as part of a marriage arrangement involving
Princess Margaret of Norway. Though now part of the Scottish realm and
culture, Shetland maintained strong political and commercial links with
Norway for some time, and the resulting blend of culture, traditions,
and language resulted in the unique Shetland regional identity that
remains more than 500 years later. This distinctive heritage is
epitomized in the beautiful dialect, poetry, and strong oral traditions
so characteristic of the Shetland Islands. It is this rich Shetlandic
history that Julie Bristol has tried to convey as part of her
Applications course, included as part of a presentation she created
complete with interviews conducted with several Shetland poets, readings
by two Shetland poets, and readings of her own poems that are written
in the Shetland dialect.
Here is an excerpt from one of her poems to give you a feel for the melodious vernacular:
Ma dowter’s i ma airms
wi a glim apö her ee
Harken, mither! she sudden cries –
A trow is whit I’ll be.
Strampin aa owre Shetlan
birlin and rowlin da kames,
flinging da wadder aa roon aboot,
rummelin aabody’s hames;
makin da boanniest pictures
wi da lichts dat are held nort by
Here is an excerpt from one of her poems to give you a feel for the melodious vernacular:
Ma dowter’s i ma airms
wi a glim apö her ee
Harken, mither! she sudden cries –
A trow is whit I’ll be.
Strampin aa owre Shetlan
birlin and rowlin da kames,
flinging da wadder aa roon aboot,
rummelin aabody’s hames;
makin da boanniest pictures
wi da lichts dat are held nort by
Colleen Kappeler
Already an experienced editor, Kappeler assisted one of her local
writers in self-publishing a book through Kindle Direct Publishing and
CreateSpace for her Applications course. Kappeler found the text to be
inspiring and well-deserving of the extra effort to get it out in the
public eye. Print and Kindle versions of the book, LOL by Patty
Dunn Merletti, are now available on Amazon.com. Along the way,
Kappeler learned helpful tips for successfully navigating the
self-publishing market. She recommends starting with Kindle Direct
Publishing and, when sales warrant hard copies for book signings, etc.,
to develop the print version in CreateSpace. Once the book is written,
the hardest part is designing the cover because you have to make the
front, spine, and back cover all in one document. Therefore, you may
prefer to work with an experienced graphic designer for that step.
After the book is published to Kindle, she suggests pricing it low
(under $5) and generating a strong “buzz” through genre-specific chat
boards. The more feedback on your book, the higher it comes up in
searches on your topic.
Shirley Rossi-Rivera
Shirley Rossi-Rivera recently returned from the 46th Annual Congress
on Medieval Studies in Kalamazoo, MI. New to the field, she found the
3000 plus attendees quite daunting; however, she encourages anyone
interested in attending a conference in their field to “go for it.” “It
can be intimidating at first,” she explains, “but you have to remember
that you are among like-minds who offer a wealth of information."
Shirley’s favorite part of the conference was being able to attend presentations by some well-known Crusades scholars whose work she has read and cited. One such presentation was given by Dr. Carole Hillenbrand, an extremely well respected historian. She reports, “When Dr. Hillenbrand spoke you could have heard a pin drop. The reverence she was paid was mind-boggling."
Although Shirley’s own research into Christian and Muslim women and the Crusades only began a year ago, she discovered that her focus is unique. In fact, her topic has attracted serious attention from a well-known publisher who proposed a contract to publish her manuscript when it is finished. Not knowing how seriously to take such offers, she sought the advice of UI&U faculty. The advice given to her was to read Thinking Like Your Editor: How to Write Great Serious Nonfiction and Get it Published by Alfred Fortunato. While she is not quite ready to tackle a manuscript, we look forward to hearing more about her book in the future.
Shirley’s favorite part of the conference was being able to attend presentations by some well-known Crusades scholars whose work she has read and cited. One such presentation was given by Dr. Carole Hillenbrand, an extremely well respected historian. She reports, “When Dr. Hillenbrand spoke you could have heard a pin drop. The reverence she was paid was mind-boggling."
Although Shirley’s own research into Christian and Muslim women and the Crusades only began a year ago, she discovered that her focus is unique. In fact, her topic has attracted serious attention from a well-known publisher who proposed a contract to publish her manuscript when it is finished. Not knowing how seriously to take such offers, she sought the advice of UI&U faculty. The advice given to her was to read Thinking Like Your Editor: How to Write Great Serious Nonfiction and Get it Published by Alfred Fortunato. While she is not quite ready to tackle a manuscript, we look forward to hearing more about her book in the future.
Michael Horowitz
In preparation for his final document, Michael Horowitz is questioning
the manner in which homes are being rated by LEED (Leadership in Energy
and Environmental Design), and other internationally-recognized green
building certification systems. Can they truly be rating sustainable
building and development practices when the size of the building in
relation to the number of occupants does not seem to be a significant
part of their calculations? Horowitz explains the problem, “Overall,
size is one of the most significant contributing factors to the resource
efficiency, and therefore the environmental impact of a home. In short,
it is possible to save more energy by reductions in size, than by
increases in the quality of energy efficient construction.” Horowitz
will be using sustainability as a lens through which to view policy,
leadership, design and management as they relate to green building.
Through his research he intends to highlight how the current green
building certification systems contains a socioeconomic bias towards
larger homes with “nifty green features,” AKA "Green McMansions.” He
plans to propose alternative ways of measurement that take
sustainability into account.
Rachel Cohen-Rottenberg
Rachel Cohen-Rottenberg was recently selected as one of the 2012
BlogHer Voices of the Year for her article "The Path That Chose Me." The
piece will be honored at the 5th annual Voices of the Year Community
Keynote in the Identity category along with a total of 120 honorees
worldwide in the six categories.
Rachel’s Master of Arts studies focus on cultural representations of disability. She shares her reflections and analysis in her powerful and thought-provoking new blog. In her latest musing she states, “The myth that we can control our bodies against difficulty, illness, injury, aging, and death is simply a blanket denial of physical reality, but the more I look, the more I see this myth all around me.” She links this mainstream myth promotion to the reason more money is spent on preventing the inevitable than in helping disabled people to have a better quality of life.
Rachel’s Master of Arts studies focus on cultural representations of disability. She shares her reflections and analysis in her powerful and thought-provoking new blog. In her latest musing she states, “The myth that we can control our bodies against difficulty, illness, injury, aging, and death is simply a blanket denial of physical reality, but the more I look, the more I see this myth all around me.” She links this mainstream myth promotion to the reason more money is spent on preventing the inevitable than in helping disabled people to have a better quality of life.
Kyle Patrick Williams
Soon to graduate, Kyle Patrick Williams has been selected for a
two-year contract at Lingnan University in Hong Kong. He will join the
Office of Service Learning's Visiting Service-Learning Tutorship Scheme
with responsibilities including expanding and creating programs for
service learning, research (at least one original study), and hostel
duties (learning communities). Williams successfully interviewed via
Skype, and will depart in a few weeks to begin the August 2012-August
2014 contract.
Williams enthuses, “I am very excited about this program, as it is the golden opportunity to gain two years of international experience in my field. I cannot wait to hit the ground running in Hong Kong!” At the end of his contract, Williams intends to return to complete his Ph.D.
Williams enthuses, “I am very excited about this program, as it is the golden opportunity to gain two years of international experience in my field. I cannot wait to hit the ground running in Hong Kong!” At the end of his contract, Williams intends to return to complete his Ph.D.
Stacy Freeman
Stacy Freeman is thrilled to announce that she will be teaching at
Mohawk Valley Community College upon graduating from the M.A. program.
It has been quite a journey so far. To explain what this means to her,
Freeman shared the following:
"When I started my master’s degree at Union Institute & University I eventually figured out that I didn’t need to be three different people. My home life, my work life, and my school life began to overlap, began to meld into one coherent form. I realized, with the help of the faculty and staff at Union, that I wasn’t three different people. At Union I finally became the person I truly am. I finally became myself. Most of the writing assignments I completed while at Union not only demonstrated my breadth of knowledge as a meager graduate student but also reflected my struggle as a single mom of a son with ADHD and the drudgery of being an employee at a rural Wal-Mart Distribution Center. The work I completed at Union reflects who I am and has prepared me for the next stage in my life, for the next role I will play, as an adjunct at a local community college.
Apparently my role as a mom and my role as a Wal-Mart employee are just as relevant as my education. Those roles are relevant because those are the same roles that the students, particularly on the community college level, are forced to embrace. They, as I am, are parents, employees, and students. They, as I do, want something more. Every role I have ever played, every experience I have ever had, will help me relate to my students, will help me understand the difficulties my students endure, will aid me in being compassionate toward their plight, will allow me to appreciate the sacrifices my students will be forced to make just to show up to class. In this next role as Composition Instructor I will still be a mom, I will still be a Wal-Mart employee, and I will still be a student. Though I know I will be teaching, I also know I will be learning. I have a feeling my students will have much to teach me. I have a feeling that my true education is about to begin."
"When I started my master’s degree at Union Institute & University I eventually figured out that I didn’t need to be three different people. My home life, my work life, and my school life began to overlap, began to meld into one coherent form. I realized, with the help of the faculty and staff at Union, that I wasn’t three different people. At Union I finally became the person I truly am. I finally became myself. Most of the writing assignments I completed while at Union not only demonstrated my breadth of knowledge as a meager graduate student but also reflected my struggle as a single mom of a son with ADHD and the drudgery of being an employee at a rural Wal-Mart Distribution Center. The work I completed at Union reflects who I am and has prepared me for the next stage in my life, for the next role I will play, as an adjunct at a local community college.
Apparently my role as a mom and my role as a Wal-Mart employee are just as relevant as my education. Those roles are relevant because those are the same roles that the students, particularly on the community college level, are forced to embrace. They, as I am, are parents, employees, and students. They, as I do, want something more. Every role I have ever played, every experience I have ever had, will help me relate to my students, will help me understand the difficulties my students endure, will aid me in being compassionate toward their plight, will allow me to appreciate the sacrifices my students will be forced to make just to show up to class. In this next role as Composition Instructor I will still be a mom, I will still be a Wal-Mart employee, and I will still be a student. Though I know I will be teaching, I also know I will be learning. I have a feeling my students will have much to teach me. I have a feeling that my true education is about to begin."
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