teaching

PictureServing as Siegel Middle History Day advisor in 2012

​WHY I TEACH

   I became a professor because we can all do better to understand, care for, respect, and communicate with one another. Developing effective critical thinking skills as adults is central to this pursuit. Learning can make us better friends, loved ones, coworkers, citizens, and human beings.
   This would be my perspective regardless of the discipline(s) and subjects I taught. I just so happen to love the way literature and film tell us about ourselves in their style, content, form, and production. Creative texts hit you in the head and the heart, at best encouraging compassionate growth and inspiring positive change to make the world a better place for each and all of us. I also love the study of history and culture, equally a part of literature and film. And I study and teach popular culture because understanding how the media shapes our world and worldview is vital to challenging negative impact and enhancing resistance, again to help us create positive change in the world.
   Education is a slow process involving interaction with individuals at various stages of growth and self-awareness. I value my own ongoing education, which I strive to attain in various "classrooms" in my life, both formal and informal. Education is an adventure, a journey, and important hard work -- for all of us. Learning nourishes and frustrates, builds and tears down. I value the journey my students take with me and do all I can to help them value the the experience.

"You helped open my eyes to situations I was unaware of. You made me WOKE! Thank you." - student evaluation feedback (2017)
PictureSharing a recent publication, 2017
AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION:
  • Gender Studies
  • Film and Popular Culture
  • Holocaust Studies
  • Jewish American Studies

COURSES I CURRENTLY TEACH:
​
ENGL 2020        Themes in Literature and Culture:
  •  Holocaust Survivor Literature (online mostly)
  • Jewish American Identity in Literature and Culture
  • Women Immigrants and the American Dream (F 2020)
ENGL 3815        Survey of Popular Culture
ENGL 3885        Topics in Gender and Film:
  • Women Film Pioneers
  • Feminist Film Studies
ENGL 4780        War, Literature, and Culture: The Holocaust
ENGL 4860        Special Topics in Film: Film Noir; Film and the Holocaust (F 2020)
ENGL 6/7760    Popular Culture Studies
JHS 3020           The Holocaust
JHS 4500           Current Trends in Jewish and Holocaust Studies (Sp 2020)
WGST 3500       Women in the Media