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Meet
Our Faculty
Resident Degree Program |
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Ellen Abell
Integrative Studies
Ed.D., Northern Arizona University, Counseling Psychology, 1991; M.A. & M.Ed., Columbia University, Counseling Psychology, 1983; B.A.; University of Delaware, Psychology/Women's Studies, 1981.
Email
Ellen Abell's areas of expertise are in women's studies and counseling psychology. The courses she teaches are designed largely for students interested in personal and social change, as they require the learner to blend self-inquiry with social consciousness. "The personal is political" is a slogan coined by the women's movement and one that Ellen applies to her classes as she encourages students to explore how their personal lives and choices have been affected by gender, race, and class politics.
"Dreams do come true! I have envisioned working at a wonderful school like Prescott College for a long time and find myself delighted by the possibilities this offers. I am especially excited to be working with students and faculty who believe we can make a difference in the world and in the lives of those around us. I love teaching courses that inspire students to engage in self-inquiry and personal growth as this is such an integral step in creating external change. One of my favorite quotes by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama is: 'World Peace must develop from inner peace. Peace is not just mere absence of violence. Peace is, I think, the manifestation of human compassion.' I am truly honored to be part of the community at Prescott College!"
Publications:
Abell, E. Our toughest challenge. In G. Simons and A. Zuckerman, Working Together: Succeeding in a Multicultural Organization.
Abell, E., and Simons, S. How much can you bend before you break? Constructionist consulting in the corporate world. European Journal of Occupational and Industrial Psychology.
Abell, E. Seven strategies for a more inclusive workplace. Managing Diversity.
Courses Taught:
Counseling Theories; Interpersonal Communication; Psychology of Women; Sexuality and Sexual Outlaws; The F-Word: Feminism, Women and Social Change
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Bernardo
Aguilar
Cultural and Regional Studies
J.D., University of Costa Rica, San Jose, 1987; M.S., University
of Georgia, Athens (Fulbright Scholar), 1991; Specialist in
Agrarian and Environmental Law, University of Costa Rica, San
Jose, 1989.
Email
Bernardo's fields of expertise are ecological economics and environmental law. Through field experience he has acquired expertise in the areas of sustainable development studies and Latin American/border studies. This transdisciplinary focus is reflected in his course lineup, which mixes field courses with in-town courses.
Publications:
Aguilar, B. Economic Paradigms and Sustainable Development (in Spanish).
Aguilar, B. and Munoz, T. (forthcoming) Interdisciplinary Indicators, Ecosystem Health and Holistic Resource Management: Further Evolution and Case Study Comparisons Using the HEHI in Managed Ecosystems. Ecology and Health.
Hall, M. and Aguilar, B. A Brief Historical and Visual Introduction to Costa Rica. In Hall, C., et. al. (ed.) Quantifying Sustainable Development. The Future of Tropical Economies. San Diego, Academic Press, 2000. 19-44.
Courses Taught:
Environmental Law; Global Development Issues and Energy Economics; Global Sustainable Development; Principles of Ecological Economics; Socialism, Democracy, and Conservation; U.S.-Mexico Interface: The Border
"I am committed to being a facilitator of positive
change. I am convinced that without the discussion of new
ideas and the elaboration of a complete new paradigm of society,
this change is not possible. A sustainable world needs more
than a patched-up concept of development; it requires a structural
change that will affect the essence of our lives. As a citizen
of a tropical developing nation, I see in the philosophy
and practice of Prescott College a great substrate to plant
the seeds of such a change."
Bernardo is also an affiliate faculty for the College’s Ph.D. Program.
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Randall Amster
Cultural and Regional Studies
Ph.D., Arizona State University, Justice Studies, 2002; J.D., Brooklyn Law School, 1991; B.S., University of Rochester, Physics & Astronomy, 1988.
Email
Before coming to Prescott College, Randall worked as an attorney, a judicial clerk, and an instructor in the School of Justice Studies at Arizona State University. He is a homeless-rights advocate, a sustainable-community activist, an anti-war organizer, and has published widely on subjects ranging from radical pedagogy to community building to the global justice movement. Teaching courses at Prescott College in Peace Studies and Social Thought (including Social Movements, Law and Social Change, and Human Rights) has provided a unique opportunity for Randall to combine his scholarly pursuits and his activist passions, and to continue his explorations of social justice, political action, and peace education.
Publications:
Amster, Randall. 2004. Street People and the Contested Realms of Public Space. NY: LFB Scholarly.
Lauderdale, Pat, and Randall Amster (eds.). 1997. Lives in the Balance: Perspectives on Global Injustice and Inequality. NY: Brill.
Amster, Randall. 2003. "Patterns of Exclusion: Sanitizing Space, Criminalizing Homelessness," Social Justice, v30/n1.
Amster, Randall. 2002. "Globalization and Its Discontents," The New Formulation: An Anti-Authoritatian Review of Books, v1/n2.
Courses Taught:
Human Rights Seminar; Introduction to Peace Studies; Law and Social Change; Social Movements; Social Problems: Research Methods and Theories
"It truly is a blessing to be part of a dynamic community
that seeks to make education more than just a goal, but a
way of ‘being in the world’ that promotes right
relations both among humans and with the natural environment.
This includes helping to make concepts such as justice,
peace, and ecology part of the everyday experience
of students, extending the workings of the classroom far
beyond the schoolhouse walls. Prescott College is one of
those rare places where one can learn to take seriously the
responsibilities of being a ‘citizen of the earth,’ and
still have great fun in the process!"
Randall is also an affiliate faculty for the College’s Ph.D. Program.
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Walt
Anderson
Environmental Studies
Ph.D. candidate, University of Michigan, Resource Ecology, 1976; M.S., University of Arizona, Wildlife Biology, 1974; B.S.,
Washington State University, Wildlife Biology, 1968.
Email
Walt has been referred to as "the naturalist of old cast in modern times, the next generation of a proud and ancient lineage." His field experience spans the globe: East Africa, Madagascar, Brazil, Ecuador (including Galapagos), Argentina, Australia, Mexico, Alaska, and the American West. Walt teaches and advises on natural history, ecology, wildlife management, wetland ecology, interpreting nature through art and photography, ecotourism, and field biology.
Publications:
Anderson, Walt, (writer, illustrator, and photographer) Inland Island: The Sutter Buttes. Prescott, AZ: Natural Selection and Middle Mountain Foundation, 2004.
Gutnik, Martin and Natalie Brown-Gutnik, Wonders of the World: Madagascar. (primary photographer, Walt Anderson) Austin, TX: Raintree Steck-Vaughn Publishers, 1995.
Anderson's work appears in Co-existing with Urban Wildlife, Wonders of the World: Madagascar, National Audobon Society, Ecology, Journal of Wildlife Management, Condor, American Birds, and more.
Courses Taught:
Interpreting Nature through Art and Photography; Natural History and Ecology of the Southwest; Wetland Ecology and Management; Wildlife Management; Applied Conservation Biology.
"I view learning as yet another ecological process,
an ever-expanding system of linkages and interdependencies.
I am forever both teacher and student. In that dual, indivisible
role, I can use my personal experiences and insights to form
broader connections with other students/teachers."
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Gret
Antilla
Education
M.C., Arizona State University, Counseling Psychology, 1978;
B.A., Arizona State University, Secondary Education and Political
Science, 1971.
Email
Gret has been associated with Prescott College as a faculty member and administrator since 1987. Her background includes working with public schools, private schools, colleges, environmental organizations and youth at risk programs. Gret has more than 30 years of experience in higher education and is dedicated to the academic and personal development of students.
"I believe that the way we teach at Prescott College gives students the ability to be effective in the reform of education. My experience and scholarship has shown me that the best curriculum one can design comes from engaging students in a real world problem and having a strong mastery of content. Collaboration is key to gaining academic understanding and application is the key to using knowledge wisely."
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Joel
Barnes
Adventure Education/Environmental Studies
Ph.D., Union Institute & University, Environmental Conservation and Education, 2005; M.S., California State University at Humboldt, Natural Resource
Studies in Wilderness and Water Resource Management, 1991;
B.A., Prescott College, Environmental Sciences and Education,
1981.
Email
Joel has designed and taught a number of college-level interdisciplinary field programs across the Colorado Plateau and Mexico, Latin America, Alaska, and New Zealand. Joel's professional interests emphasize the integration of environmental studies and adventure education with backcountry travel and bioregional explorations. Joel's doctoral studies had him conducting research in the Grand Canyon National Park to support Wild and Scenic River designation for the Colorado River and its tributaries.
Publications:
Barnes J., "Wild and Scenic Rivers in the Grand Canyon Ecoregion," River Management Society News, 13 (3).Fall 2000. Missoula, Mont: River Management Society.
Tershy B., Bourillon L., Meltzer L., Barnes J., "A Survey of Ecotourism on Islands in Northwestern Mexico." Environmental Conservation, 26 (3) 1999: 214-217.
Courses Taught:
Environmental Education; Environmental Issues in Adventure Education; Environmental Perspectives and Whitewater Rafting; Restoration Ecology: Watersheds of the Southwest; River Guides Training
"Through teaching and advising I encourage students
to wrap their education around their passions and run with
it. I feel lucky to be part of an academic community that
encourages this approach to learning."
Joel is also an affiliate faculty for the College’s Ph.D. Program.
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Melanie
Bishop
Arts & Letters
M.F.A., University of Arizona, Fiction, 1992; B.A., Prescott
College, Creative Writing, 1986.
Email
Melanie writes fiction, creative nonfiction, and screenplays. She has published both fiction and nonfiction. Melanie is founder of Alligator Juniper, Prescott College's award-winning national literary magazine. Melanie is recipient of a Transatlantic Review Award, two residencies at Hedgebrook, and a Chesterfield Screenwriting Fellowship.
Publications:
Glimmer Train, Puerto del Sol, Greensboro Review, Florida Review, Georgetown Review, Valley Guide, Hospice Magazine, Family Circle
Courses Taught:
Advanced Fiction Workshop; Introduction to Fiction Writing; Literary Journal Practicum; Screenwriting; The Memoir; Writers in the Community; Writing Workshop
"Unlike many who write and teach, I am more passionate about teaching. I love discovering talent, whether in the classroom or in the stacks of submissions sent to our magazine. Finding and nurturing talent in others is often more thrilling than exercising my own. It is truly a privilege to teach creative writing and literature at a school where the students inspire me on a daily basis with their talent, drive, and insight. Many students who emerge from our program have, during their time here, worked on a national literary magazine, run a college newspaper, taught writing to a community group, and written their first book.'"
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Ed
Boyer
Environmental Studies; Co-Director, Kino Bay Center for Cultural and Ecological Studies
Ph.D., University of Arizona, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology,
1987; M.S., University of Arizona, Ecology and Evolutionary
Biology, 1980; B.S., Arizona State University, Zoology, 1977.
Email
Ed's primary focus is in developing the Kino Bay Center for Cultural and Ecological Studies, Prescott College’s
field station and marine laboratory on the Sonoran coast
of the Gulf of California. Dr. Boyer also teaches a marine biology field course at the Center every year, where the focus is on training students in marine ecological research methods. He also teaches Basic Biological Principles at the main campus. Dr. Boyer's Ph.D. dissertation was on the relationship between predation, diversity, and community structure in marine ecosystems.
Publications:
Boyer, E.H., The Natural Disappearance of a Top Carnivore and Its Impact on an Intertidal Invertebrate Community: The Interplay of Temperature and Predation on Community Structure. Michigan; Bell and Howell Company, 1987.
Boyer has also published articles on the Gulf of California Harbor Porpoise (Phocoena sinus), anatomy and physiology of the eye, and co-authored a paper at the Gulf of California Conference in Tucson, Arizona, in June 2004, on the Management of Alcatraz Island, Sonora, Mexico.
Courses Taught:
Basic Biological Principles; Marine Biology
‘"My main interest, and the reason I am here
at Prescott College, is to help prepare students to better
deal with the great challenge ahead of us all. That challenge
is of course to control the unprecedented and massive global
ecological catastrophe that is permanently altering our biosphere.
Through our marine studies courses and the program at the
Kino Bay Center, students can graduate with a competence
in marine studies and have first-hand experience of the complexity
and beauty of marine ecosystems and personal involvement
in issues confronting these natural areas."
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Grace
Burford
Cultural and Regional Studies
Ph.D., Northwestern University, History and Literature of Religions,
1983. M.A., University of Chicago, Religious Studies, 1978;
B.A., Swarthmore College, Religion, 1977.
Email
Grace uses her expertise in the history of religions to guide her students' intellectual and personal exploration of humanity's search for meaning, depth, and connection. In such courses as World Religions, Mysticism, and Studies in Buddhism, Grace collaborates with students in the study of the world's religious beliefs and practices. In Religious Ethics and the Environment, Women's Religious Lives, Religion and Science, and Globalization and Religious Change, Grace help students apply their understanding of various religious worldviews to significant contemporary issues.
Publications:
Burford, G. "The Use of Site Visits in Religious Studies Courses," American Academy of Religion, Spotlight on Teaching, 2004.
Burford, G., "A Buddhist Reflects on Some Christians' Reflections on Buddhist Practices." Chapter in Christians Talk About Buddhist Meditation; Buddhists Talk About Christian Prayer, Gross and Muck, eds. New York: Continuum, 2003. Burford, G., "If Buddha Is So Great, Why Are These People Christian?" Chapter in Buddhists Talk About Jesus; Christians Talk About Buddha, Gross and Muck, eds. New York: Continuum, 2000.
"In a certain sense, teaching is my primary spiritual
practice. I love to share what I have learned and am continuing
to learn, and to guide students in their own process of discovery.
To participate in such effective and meaningful education
not only fulfills my professional goals, but also gives me
the opportunity to contribute to the spiritual growth of
my students and, through them, the world."
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Linda Butterworth
Library Faculty
M.A., University of Arizona, Library Science; 1994
B.A., Arizona State University, History, 1992.
Email
Linda's background and life experiences in the fields of travel, management, advertising, and professional sports have provided a knowledge base for integrating a variety of interests with the responsible planning and research necessary for implementing successful programs and projects. She brings a solid liberal arts education to her work with the students and faculty at Prescott College.
"I enjoy the luxury of getting to know the students I work with. Prescott College offers me the opportunity to share my enthusiasm for today's research methodologies and unlimited possibilities for access to information with students and faculty who, in turn, continue to teach me about their interests."
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Eileen Chalfoun
Library Director
C.A.G.S. Boston University, Library Science; M.A. Fairfield University, English and Education; B.A. Connecticut College, English and Philosophy.
Email
Eileen arrived from the mountains of the northeast to the warmth of Prescott's pines and high desert to develop a library system for the College. She has had extensive experience in Vermont creating a library for a state college having twelve different library sites and no central campus. "What I particularly love about Prescott College is the vital connection between librarians, students and faculty who work together closely to foster learning. No one here is an island careless of the other." Eileen has taught and worked in libraries in Europe, the Middle East, Greece and Japan. Her publication Biblio-Tech: Survival Skills For The Information Age has been widely used in library instruction programs in New England colleges, and she has published a variety of articles on off-campus library services in U.S. academic library journals. When not in the P.C. library she can be spotted on a near-by tennis court training for USTA matches.
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Julie Comnick
Arts and Letters, Studio Arts
M.F.A., Montana State University, Painting, 2001; B.A., The Evergreen State College, 1995.
Email
Julie believes that art is an integral part of our cultural history and an avenue for personal expression and social change. In the liberal arts, visual art is not an isolated subject, but a vehicle to communicate ideas across disciplines. Julie teaches studio arts courses including painting, drawing, sculpture, and art theory. Within each area, Julie emphasizes the historical, cultural, and contemporary context of the art making process and visual experience.
Exhibits and Reviews:
New American Paintings, September 2003 and June 2000; Spotlight on Living Artists: Chicago Art Scene, 2004; Her exhibits have been reviewed in Dialogue Magazine, The Chicago Tribune, The Chicago Reader, The New York Times: Connecticut Edition, and the New Haven Advocate.
Courses Taught:
Abstract Art and Nature; Critical Concepts in Contemporary Art; Design Workshop: 3-D Design; Introduction to Drawing; Painting Workshop: Painting the Human Form |
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K.
L. Cook
Arts & Letters
M.F.A., Warren Wilson College, Creative Writing, 1991; M.A.,
Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, English, 1987;
B.A., West Texas State University, English and Theater, 1984.
Email
Publications and Awards
Kenny is the author of two books of fiction: Last Call (Univ of Nebraska 2004), a collection of linked stories that won the inaugural Prairie Schooner Book Prize in Fiction, and The Girl from Charnelle (William Morrow 2006, Harper Perennial 2007), which was an Editor's Choice selection of the Historical Novel Society, a Southwest Book of the Year, and a School Library Journal best adult book for high school students. His stories and essays have been published widely in literary journals, magazines, and anthologies, including Glimmer Train, American Short Fiction, Harvard Review, Poets & Writers, Threepenny Review, Shenandoah, Alligator Juniper, Now Write: Fiction Writing Exercises from Today's Best Writers and Teachers, and Teachable Moments: Essays on Experiential Education. His honors include the grand prize from the Santa Fe Writers Project Literary Arts Series, an Arizona Commission on the Arts fiction fellowship, several Pushcart Prize nominations, and artist colony fellowships to Yaddo, MacDowell, Ucross, and Blue Mountain Center. Visit K. L.'s website at www.klcook.net
Teaching Philosophy
"I love teaching here because Prescott College reinforces my own philosophy about education. Self-direction, cross-disciplinary study, and experiential learning are the cornerstones of any artist's life. It's a privilege to help students discover literature and to encourage them to develop the craft, vision, and generosity of spirit it takes to write their own stories. I'm amazed by the work students do. It serves as inspiration for my own writing."
Courses Taught
Forms of Fiction, Short Story Cycle, Sudden Fiction, Introduction to Fiction Writing, Family Systems in Film and Literature, Shakespeare, Literature as Experience, Literature of the American Dream |
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David
Craig
Adventure Education
M.S. Ed., Northern Illinois University, Outdoor Teacher Education,
1993; B.A., California State University, Long Beach, Recreation
and Leisure Studies, 1989.
Email
Dave has focused his energies at Prescott College on developing courses that blend adventure pursuits with the study of the ocean environment. As an outdoor educator and naturalist, he facilitates highly experiential studies of sea kayaking, SCUBA diving, freediving, marine natural history, outdoor teaching and leadership skills, and coastal expeditioning.
Courses Taught:
Introduction to Sea Kayaking; SCUBA and Marine Natural History, primarily in Mexico's Gulf of California; Wilderness Explorations and Landscape Studies: Baja; Sea Kayaking and Marine Natural History
"I love combining the aesthetic grace of sea kayaking and diving with building people's understanding of the 70 percent of our world covered by water. The beauty of a tide pool teaming with life, the underwater acrobatics of a sea lion, or dolphins leaping around our kayaks seldom fail to inspire a dedicated desire to understand and protect our ocean planet."
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Tim
Crews
Environmental Studies
Ph.D., Cornell University, Ecosystem Biology, 1993; post-doctoral
research, Stanford University; B.A., University of California
at Santa Cruz, Agroecology, 1985.
Email
Tim is the director of Prescott College's Wolfberry Farm. His specific research interests include nitrogen fixation and cycling in farming as well as native ecosystems.
Publications:
Crews, T.E. and M.B. Peoples. 2004. Legume Versus Fertilizer Sources of Nitrogen: Ecological Tradeoffs and Human Needs. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 102:279-297.
Crews, Timothy E., Heraldo Farrington, and Peter M. Vitousek. "Changes in Asymbiotic, Heterotrophic Nitrogen Fixation on Leaf Litter of Metrosideros polymorpha with Long-Term Ecosystem Development in Hawaii." Ecosystems 3 (4) July-August 2000:386.
Crews, T.E., "The Presence of Nitrogen Fixing Legumes in Terrestrial Communities: Evolutionary vs. Ecological Considerations." Biogeochemistry 46 1999:233-246.
Courses Taught:
Agroecology; Southwest Plants for a Natural Systems Agriculture; Agroecosystems of the Arid Southwest; Issues of Global Food Production; Introduction to Soil Science; Land Stewards
"The 21st century is going to be a profound hurdle
when it comes to global food production. There are three
potentially conflicting goals we are just beginning to encounter:
making agricultural practices more sustainable, feeding an
unprecedented human population, and leaving intact natural
habitats for all other species. Exploring with students how
to best accomplish these goals at the level of the farm,
community, region, and nation is why I am at Prescott College."
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Bob
Ellis
Education and Environmental Studies
M.S., Western Illinois University, Recreation, Park, and
Tourism Administration, 1991; B.S., University of North Texas,
Secondary Education, Biology and Earth Science, 1981.
Email
Bob comes to Prescott College with more than 20 years of teaching experience ranging from coral reef ecology in the British Virgin Islands to desert ecology in Utah. Bob has taught at all levels in public schools and has an extensive background in field-based education with organizations like the National Wildlife Federation, as the field director for an adventure-based environmental education program for the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, directing pre-service and in-service teacher training, writing natural history publications, and conducting human dimension research.
"Many of today's youth endure a childhood of relational poverty exacerbated by education's graceless march toward high-stakes testing. My life's work stands in sharp contrast to this trend. I believe that learning is an act of building understanding through relationships - especially those relationships that connect children to place."
Courses Taught:
Basic Concepts of Ecology; Environmental Education: Practicum; Environmental Education: Theory; Special Topics in Environmental Studies: Wilderness Designation and the Tavaputs Plateau; Special Topics in Environmental Studies: Wolf Ecology and Management |
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Elizabeth
(Liz) Faller
Arts & Letters/Integrative Studies
M.A., Prescott College, Dance and Transformation, 1999; B.A.,
Western Washington State College, 1974.
Email
Liz's passion for dance, nature, experiential and progressive education and human potential has spanned 30 years. With her extensive foundation in African-inspired, improvisational, and transformational dance, Liz continues to enthusiastically teach, perform, direct, and choreograph. Her background in personal growth and earth-based community enlivens her courses. Her approach is holistic and supportive, calling forth the unique creative potential of each student.
Performance and Presentation Highlights:
Seattle World Rhythm Festival; Arizona Jazz Festival; Seattle Festival of Alternative Dance and Improvisation.
Publications:
When Spirit Comes Dancing: The Union of the Spiritual and Physical in Dance, with video and an anthology essay Dance for Wilderness Project: Interdisciplinary, Service-Based Education.
Courses Taught:
African-Inspired Dance; Dance and Transformation; Intermediate Dance Improvisation; Introduction to Dance and Improvisation; Nature and Dance. |
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Jeff Fearnside
Arts & Letters
M.F.A., Eastern Washington University, Creative Writing, 2000; B.F.A., Bowling Green State University, Creative Writing, 1996.
Jeff Fearnside is an avid jazz fan, outdoorsman, and traveler. Fearnside lived in Central Asia from 2002 to 2006, first as a university instructor through the U.S. Peace Corps and later as manager of the Edmund S. Muskie Graduate Fellowship Program in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. He bicycled with a companion across England and Wales in 1994 and in 1999 cycled solo nearly 1,100 miles around Scotland. In all, he has visited more than 35 U.S. states and a dozen foreign countries on three continents, including China, India, Turkey, and Uzbekistan.
Publications and Awards
Fearnside’s fiction, poetry, and nonfiction have appeared in nearly two dozen publications, including The Sun, Rosebud, Permafrost, Isotope, and the anthology A Life Inspired: Tales of Peace Corps Service. His work has also been honored nationally several times. Most recently, he was a 2007 Dorothy Norton Clay Fellow at the Mary Anderson Center for the Arts in Mount St. Francis, Indiana. He was also the 2006 Bernheim Writer-in-Residence, a three-month fellowship offered to one writer annually at the Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest in Clermont, Kentucky. Fearnside’s short story “Nuclear Toughskins” won Many Mountains Moving’s 2005 Flash Fiction Contest, while a selection from his short-story manuscript Making Love While Levitating Three Feet in the Air was chosen a grand prizewinner in the Santa Fe Writers Project’s 2005 Literary Awards Program. He has taught writing and literature at the university level for several years, both in the U.S. and abroad. As a Visiting Assistant Professor at Western Kentucky University, he was nominated for a Faculty Award for Teaching. Visit Jeff’s website at www.jeff-fearnside.com.
Courses Taught
American Literature, Conversational English, Creative Writing, Critical Thinking, Directed Writing, Fiction Writing, Introduction to College Writing, Introduction to Literature, Introduction to Writing, Technical and Professional Writing, Writing About Literature, Writing in the Disciplines, Written English
Teaching Philosophy
“I’m passionate about my vocation—and I do see teaching as a vocation, a ‘calling,’ and not merely a job. Concurrently, I feel strongly that teachers of writing must be writers themselves, for the practice of writing is what gives the writing teacher something worthwhile to pass on. To learn how to write, one must write. My primary role is to help my students discover what is already within them—to sharpen their interests, develop their minds and talent, and encourage their enthusiasm. Ultimately, I see myself in the exciting role of helping to expand the individual worldviews of students hungry for such a broader view, so that they might fully realize the fruits of higher education: a better understanding of themselves and their place in the world.” |
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Anita E. Fernández
Education
Ph.D., University of Arizona, Language, Reading and Culture, 2001. M.A. University of Arizona, Teaching and Teacher Education, 1997. B.A. University of Colorado, Boulder, English, 1990.
Email
Anita brings with her to Prescott College a passion for working with future teachers. She is committed to issues of equity and access to education, particularly in public school settings. As a former high school English teacher in Tucson, Anita understands the need for compassionate, caring and committed teachers in our schools to teach in a manner that puts students’ lives at the center of their curriculum.
Before joining the Prescott College faculty in 2005, Anita taught in the teacher preparation program at CSU, Chico. Her areas of research interest include the use of autobiography in teacher education; multicultural, anti-racist education, and education as the practice of freedom. She has published articles in a variety of journals including It's not so elementary: Practices to disrupt homophobia in teacher education classes, which was recently feature on EdChange Multicultural Pavillion, an online research room.
Anita is also an affiliate faculty for the College’s Ph.D. Program. |
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Thomas
Lowe Fleischner
Environmental Studies
Ph.D., The Union Institute, Environmental Studies, 1998; M.S.,
Western Washington University, Biology, 1983; B.S., The Evergreen
State College, Field Biology, 1977.
Email
Tom's interests include nature writing, the historical and philosophical aspects of the human-nature relationship, and the relationship between science and public policy. Tom's field studies of birds and marine mammals have taken him from the Pacific Northwest to the Alaskan Arctic to the Sonoran Desert. He is an active conservation biologist regionally and nationally. Tom co-founded and directed the North Cascades Institute, an environmental field school, and worked for the National Park Service.
Publications:
Fleischner, T.L., Singing Stone: A Natural History of the Escalante Canyons. University of Utah Press. 1999.
Fleischner, T.L., Desert Wetlands. In Press. University of New Mexico Press, Albuquerque.
Fleischner, T.L., "Diversity Deep and Wild." Conservation Biology 17 2003: 952-953.
Courses Taught:
Coastal Ecology of the Gulf of California; Conservation Biology; Nature and Psyche; Nature's Voice: Reading and Writing about Natural History; Natural History and Ecology of the Southwest
"I believe in the life-changing power of a simultaneous
immersion in wild nature and rigorous educational process." |
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Lisa
Floyd-Hanna
Environmental Studies
Ph.D., University of Colorado, Environmental, Population,
Organismic Biology, 1981; M.S. University of Hawaii, Botany,
1977; B.S., University of Hawaii, 1974.
Email
Lisa Floyd-Hanna is a plant ecologist whose research focuses on fire history and fire effects in piñon-juniper and other arid southwestern ecosystems. She also studies the effects of disturbances such as roads and grazing on plant communities and threatened plant populations. Lisa is involved in many National Park Service and Forest Service projects. Her courses include Plant Biology and Statistics for Research. Field Methods for Plant Ecology takes place in Kino Bay and focuses on Sonoran desert ecology as well as field sampling and GIS techniques. Field Biology Studies: Colorado Plateau allows students the opportunity to be involved in on-going research in Chaco Canyon, Mesa Verde, and Canyonlands National Parks. Special topics classes include Fire Ecology.
Publications:
Floyd, M. Lisa. 2003. Ancient Piñon-juniper woodlands: a natural history of Mesa Verde country. University Press of Colorado.
Floyd, M. Lisa, David D. Hanna, William H. Romme. 2004. "Historical and recent fire regimes in piñon-juniper woodlands on Mesa Verde, Colorado." Forest Ecology and Management. 198:269-289.
Grissino-Mayer, H., W. H. Romme, M. Lisa Floyd, and D. Hanna. 2004. "Climate and human influences on fire regimes of the southern San Juan Mountains." Ecology. 85(6):1708-1724.
"Although I am deeply involved in ecological research,
I have found that involving students and learning from them
is far more fulfilling. Prescott College allows both faculty
and students the opportunity for mutual growth."
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Deborah
Ford
Arts & Letters/Education
M.A., Arizona State University, Art Education/Art History & Photographic
Theory, 1987; B.F.A., Arizona State University, Photography/Art
History, 1977; Minneapolis College of Art and Design, Photography, 1973-1976.
Email
Photography, in its many forms of visual expression, is a very powerful tool. Much of what we know about the world today has come to us through the camera and its offspring through its powers to extend our visual experience. At Prescott College we provide individuals with a wide array of opportunities to engage with personal, ecological, and cultural issues while studying contemporary theory, as well as historical and technical approaches. The courses I teach reflect these varied visual art applications. At Prescott College, art and life are clearly inextricably linked and honestly reflected in the serious commitment to the work that our students produce.
Courses Taught:
Photography I and II (the foundation for photographic studies); Documentary Photography (from theory to practice); Alternative Processes in Photography (19th century photographic processes in contemporary application); Color Photography (film and digital applications); New Technologies in Photography: Digital Imaging; Art Education (experiential opportunities for teaching art in a variety of settings including the Children's Art Workshop), and Bookmaking as Art (an interdisciplinary approach to creating one-of-a-kind Artists' Books)
"Whether in the study of the arts or education my own
personal philosophy has always been to help nurture the natural
curiosity that resides within individuals about the world
that surrounds them. I try to offer opportunities to expand
their ideas, beliefs, and experiences and to provide them
with a means of tolerating ambiguity while exploring their
environment and accepting diversity of ideas in today’s
society. Prescott College by its nature supports this approach
and provides students with unique opportunities to see how
education and life are inextricably linked."
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David
D. Hanna
Environmental Studies
M.S.T., Antioch New England Graduate School, Environmental
Education and Science Teaching, 1984; B.S., Fort Lewis College,
Biology, 1977.
Email
David's research and teaching emphasize the integration of ecological understanding and modern technology. Synergy between these fields is invaluable to help monitor the health of our planet and build a sustainable future. This commitment manifests itself through his courses in geographic information science, where students use its analytic capabilities to evaluate ecological issues across various spatial scales. His courses in ecological design bridge the sometimes opposing disciplines of technology and ecology as students seek to understand what they can do to build a more sustainable future.
Publications:
Floyd, M. Lisa, David D. Hanna, William H. Romme. 2004. "Historical and recent fire regimes in piñon-juniper woodlands on Mesa Verde, Colo.," USA. Forest Ecology and Mangement 198 (2004) 269-289.
Floyd, M. Lisa (editor) D. Hanna, W.H. Romme, M. Colyer (Technical editors). 2003. Ancient Piñon-Juniper Woodlands: A Natural History of Mesa Verde Country. University Press of Colorado. Boulder, Colo.
Courses Taught:
Advanced Geographic Information Science; Energy and the Environment; Field Biology Studies; Field Methods for Plant Ecology; Introduction to Ecological Design; Introduction to Geographic Information Science
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Sam
Nyal Henrie (Faculty Emeritus)
Cultural and Regional Studies
Post doctorate study in Creative Writing and Literature,
University of Arizona and Michigan State University; Ph.D.,
University of California at Berkeley, Psychology and Education,
1969; M.A., University of Utah, Music and Spanish Literature,
1962; B.A., Brigham Young University, Music Theory and Composition,
1959.
Email
Sam taught at Prescott College from 1971 to 1997, when he transferred to emeritus status. He currently limits his teaching areas to philosophy and religion, while he pursues research and writing. Over the course of his tenure, he taught writing, music, art history, Latin-American studies, education, and cognitive psychology. His extracurricular activities include parenting five children, promoting educational innovation, working with physically challenged, wilderness activities, singing, composing music, restoring historic homes, and writing both fiction and nonfiction.
Courses Taught:
Holy Books: Survey of Religious Literature; Near East: History, Culture and Current Issues; Philosphy: Making Ethical Decisions; Philosophy: Modes of Thinking; Philosophy: Modes of Scientific Thinking
"I meet the demands of the mundane, but I can't live
without my visions and dreams, even when they painfully frustrate
me. At Prescott College, I help people learn about civilizations,
ancient and modern, and how we are at the same time products
and creators of our culture. I try to open possibilities
for informed, healthful, and humane living – help them
learn to express themselves in clear, imaginative, and technically
competent writing."
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Jack
Herring
Dean, Resident Degree Program; Environmental Studies
Ph.D., University of Washington, Atmospheric Sciences, 1994;
B.S. University of Alaska-Fairbanks, Chemistry, 1989.
Email
In his academic career, Jack has focused on understanding the Earth as an integrated system and exploring to what degree human activities are interfering with that system. Current research projects include a study of cancer-causing air pollutants in Phoenix and monitoring of greenhouse gas emissions from different ecosystems in Arizona. Jack is also keenly interested in how we can solve environmental problems by developing consensus among stakeholders. He is involved with collaborative groups that are tackling some of the key environmental issues in Arizona, including the protection of our public forests.
Jack served as the Associate Dean of the Resident Degree Program for the 2007-2008 academic year, and began his term as Dean in 2008-2009.
"The human species has reached a developmental stage
where we have the power to perturb natural systems on a global
scale. As democratic societies grapple with complex global
environmental issues, all citizens need effective tools to
help them become more sophisticated decision-makers. There
is no more important task than to provide effective education
that empowers individuals to face these challenges."
Publications:
Herring, J.A., A. Muro and T. Crews. "Nitrous Oxide Emissions From Interior Chaparral in the Southwestern United States," Eos Trans. AGU, 84(46), Fall Meet. Suppl., Abstract A11F-0040, 2003.
Classes Taught:
Earth System Science and Policy; Energy and the Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Problem Solving; Topics in Environmental Policy: Energy; Weather and Climate
Jack is also an affiliate faculty for the College’s Ph.D. Program.
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Doug
Hulmes
Education and Environmental Studies
M.S., George Williams College, Environmental Education and
Administration, cum laude, 1976; B.A., Prescott College, Environmental
Sciences, 1974.
Email
Doug's teaching integrates natural sciences with historical and cultural perspectives that illustrate how people's attitudes toward nature influence ecological sustainability. He helped design the College's environmental education curriculum. Doug has received numerous awards, including the 1990 National Wilderness Education Award, sponsored by the U.S. Forest Service; the Educator of the Year and President's Appreciation awards from the Arizona Environmental Education Association in 1994; and the City of Prescott Earth Day Award in 2003. Recgnized for his portrayal of John Muir, Doug was invited to perform for the 40th anniversary of the Wilderness Act in Washington, D.C., in 2004.
"I am interested in how cultures relate to nature, and teach classes in Mexico, Scotland, and Norway. I am dedicated to instilling a sense of compassion, wonder, and responsibility toward life and the environment through the study of nature and ecology."
Courses Taught:
Basic Concepts of Ecology; Environmental Education: Methods; Environmental Education: Theory; Explorations in Norway and Scotland: Nature and Culture; Natural History and Cultural Ecology of Kino Bay, Mexico; Philosophies of Interpretive Naturalists
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Lee James
Adventure Education
M.S.T., Antioch/New England Graduate School, Environmental Studies and Education, 1988.
Email
Lee has extensive experience as a mountaineer and has worked as a climbing guide in Colorado, Alaska, and abroad. His 18 years of experience as an outdoor educator include work with therapeutic programs for at-risk youth, instructing mountaineering courses for the National Outdoor Leadership School, and guiding on Denali (Mt. McKinley, AK). He is increasingly drawn to rivers and Arctic environments, and combines these in month-long canoe trips in Alaska's Brooks Range. Lee is committed to an interdisciplinary approach in his classes, which integrate adventure, environmental studies, and cultural awareness, while developing technical skills in navigation, mountaineering and river travel.
Courses Taught:
Expeditionary Canoeing; Introduction to Rock Climbing; Map and Compass for Wilderness Travel; Mexican Volcanoes Expedition; Special Topics: Arctic River Expedition; Adventure Education
"I am interested in seeking out connections between people, academic disciplines, and with the natural world. It's an honor to be involved in the process through which students realize these connections and expand their sense of the possible."
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Tim
Jordan
Human Development
M.A., Antioch University, Psychology, 1983; B.S., The Evergreen
State College, Biology, 1979.
Email
Tim has worked as a family therapist in community mental-health centers and as a ranger and forest firefighter. He is fascinated with all kinds of ecological systems - from forests to human families - and grounds his clinical work and teaching in a natural systems perspective, with an emphasis in the psychology of nonviolence and social responsibility. He teaches courses in human development, counseling, and ecopsychology.
"I encourage learners to reflect upon the relationships
between their personal growth, their academic progress, and
their professional development. I see these as strands of
the same rope, assisting them in their journey at Prescott
College. In the helping professions, these students must
be aware of the distinctions between these strands of development
as well as how, together, they provide for integrity in practice.
I think this makes counselors, educators, and leaders more
profoundly helpful to those they serve – and more durable
in daily practice."
Courses Taught:
Ecopsychology; Lifespan Development II: Early to Late Adulthood; Nature and Psyche; Psychology for Social Change; Psychopathology
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Phil
Latham
Adventure Education
B.A., Prescott College, Wilderness Leadership, 1983.
Email
Growing up in Tucson, Phil developed an interest in outdoor
recreation at an early age and discovered Prescott College
just before high school graduation. His course of study focused
on outdoor leadership and recreation. Since his graduation,
Phil has worked for a variety of outdoor programs throughout
the Southwest as an environmental educator, climbing instructor
and guide, and trip leader. Phil enthusiastically pursues
rock climbing, mountain biking, and general outdoor exploration.
Courses Taught:
Adventure Education; Intermediate Rock Climbing; Introduction to Rock Climbing; Rock Climbing and Geology; Search and Rescue; Whitewater Kayaking
"The educational experience here at Prescott College
is a unique blend of physical endeavors and intellectual
challenges within an unusually close-knit community. I feel
I am doing my best when students are discovering things on
their own. It is then that I feel like a true teacher, and
it is then that I also learn the most."
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William
Litzinger
Environmental Studies
Ph.D., University of Colorado, Boulder, Biological Science, 1983; M.S.,
University of Colorado, Boulder, Biological Science, 1980; B.A., San
Jose State University, Botany, 1974.
Email
I am a botanist and ecologist with my primary area of expertise being the ethnobiology of plants. My geographic areas of interest include the floras of Southwestern North America, Mexico, and Central America. I am currently focusing my research on the floras of the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico, Belize, and the Peten of Guatemala.
"I feel fortunate having the opportunity to be part
of the Prescott College community. To teach through direct
experience with the natural world is inspiring and rewarding.
It is a pleasure to work with students who have a genuine
appreciation and respect for what is being taught. Developing
one-to-one relationships with students is especially rewarding,
as is seeing students in my courses incorporate into their
intellectual process a greater sensitivity to other cultures
and the natural world."
Publications:
Litzinger, W., Maya T'an/Spoken Maya. Ediciones Euroamericana, Mexico, D.F., Mexico. 1999.
Litzinger, W., "A personal perspective on the ethnobotany of old-growth Pinyon-Juniper Woodlands." In: M.L. Floyd (ed.) Ancient Piñon-Juniper Woodlands. University of Colorado Press, Boulder. (Chapter 22, pp. 287-293.) 2003.
Courses Taught:
Advanced Systematics of Seed Plants; Basic Biology; Ecology; Ethnobiology; Introduction to Flowering Plants; Plant Biology; Plants and Humans
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Erin
Lotz
Adventure Education
M.A., Mankato State University, Experiential Education, 1996;
B.A., California State University, Northridge, Leisure Studies
and Recreation, 1991.
Email
Erin has enjoyed decades of teaching in the field of experiential and adventure education. From adjudicated youth to Montessori preschoolers, from Outward Bound expeditions to science camp, Erin has taught individuals of all ages and facilitated groups with widely varied objectives. At Prescott College, Erin spends much of the year teaching expeditionary-based courses using rock climbing, backpacking, and mountaineering to impart teaching and facilitation skills. While on campus, she teaches wilderness first aid as well as a survey course titled Origins and Directions in Adventure Education. Erin has become a resource on feminine leadership and learning styles to aspiring women in the field, as well as to men and women wishing to teach inclusively to both genders. Erin has published a chapter on empowering women in wilderness-based courses.
Courses Taught:
Adventure Education; Introduction to Rock Climbing; Origins and Directions in Adventure Education; Women's Topics in Wilderness Leadership
"I feel I have been subject to a 'liberal arts life'
where creativity, education, and humanitarianism have been
more highly valued than traditional pillars of progress.
My parents introduced me to experiential education by offering
raw materials, support, and safety — the essential
ingredients for a wonderful, self-directed, educational encounter.
In my teaching, whether the subject is rock climbing or curriculum
design, I believe a student who feels safe and supported,
and who is able to explore and interpret raw subject matter
with intrinsic motivation, has all the ingredients for a
successful educational experience."
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David
Lovejoy
Adventure Education
B.A., Prescott College, Photography and Publication Design,
Outdoor Leadership, Geology, 1973.
Email
David brings more than 35 years of mountaineering experience to the Adventure Education Program. As a senior faculty member he was instrumental in building the program from its inception. He wrote the original Granite Mountain Climbers Guide, hailed as a leading influence in promoting low-impact rock climbing. His climbing and ski mountaineering exploits have taken him to many rock walls and alpine regions of the world. Physical geography and natural sciences also are personal strengths. His long-term love affair with snow and alpine environments has engaged him in several mountain research projects.
Courses Taught:
Adventure Education; Alpine Mountaineering; Backcountry Skiing and Avalanche Training; Mountain Geography; Outdoor Education and Recreation; Rock Climbing; Ski Mountaineering; Environmental Perspectives and Whitewater Rafting; Wilderness Leadership
"I find the greatest satisfaction in working with students in a setting where the often lost arts of flexibility, adaptability, and cooperation are critical to safety, sanity, and success. Wilderness provides this, free of dogma, but full of consequences to test one's actions."
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Lorayne
Meltzer
Environmental Studies; Co-director, Kino Bay Center for Cultural and Ecological Studies
M.S., California State University, Natural Resource Management, 1990;
B.A., Pomona College, American Studies and Public Policy, 1982.
Email
As co-director of Prescott College's field station in Kino Bay, Mexico, Lorayne is active in collaborative island fisheries conservation efforts in the Sea of Cortez. Through her marine conservation classes in Mexico, students learn firsthand about complex issues confronting marine and coastal environments. It is one thing to read in a book that 85 percent of everything caught on a shrimp trawler is discarded dead as bycatch back into the sea. It is quite a different learning experience to be sorting through the bycatch on the deck of a trawler, working along fishermen whose livelihoods depend on destructive fisheries practices. Upper division students have the opportunity to learn about conservation methods, while simultaneously contributing to real conservation projects.
Recent Conference Presentations:
"Export Market Influence on the Development and Current Status of the Pacific Shrimp Fishery of Sonora, Mexico."
"An Integrated Appreoach to the Management of Alcatraz Island, Sonora, Mexico."
Courses Taught:
Marine Conservation; Population, Resources and Solutions
"Most of the conservation issues challenging society
today are multicultural, interdisciplinary, and complex.
One of the most exciting endeavors of my career has been
to empower students to become active participants in facing
these challenges."
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Charissa
Menefee
Arts & Letters
Ph.D., Southern Illinois University, Theater/Speech Communication,
1992; M.A., West Texas State University, Interdisciplinary
Studies, 1985; B.A., West Texas State University, English/Theater,
1983.
Email
Dr. Menefee teaches a variety of courses, including Playwriting, Writing as Performance, and Acting Workshop: Comedy. She has served as chair of the Arts and Letters Program, directed more than 30 plays, performed as a vocalist and improvisational comedian, and participated in the new play development process as playwright, director, dramaturge, actor, and producer. As a playwright, she has been honored by the Utah Shakespearean Festival, Arizona Theatre Conference, American College Theatre Festival, and City of Charleston Literary Arts Awards. She was also a Tennessee Williams Scholar in playwriting at the Sewanee Writers' Conference. For Prescott College Theatre, she has directed such plays as Sam Shepard's A Lie of the Mind, Edward Albee's The American Dream, Thorton Wilder's The Skin of our Teeth, and children's theatre productions of The Phantom Tollbooth and Earthlings.
Courses Taught:
Acting Workshop: Comedy; Playwriting; Theatre Production; Writing as Performance
"Developing effective communication skills is essential
for students in all fields. Participation in the performing
arts also builds confidence. The challenge and excitement
of studying theater is not just for those who plan to pursue
it as a career, but for anyone who wants to experience the
creative and personal growth that the discipline demands."
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Julie
Munro
Adventure Education
M.S., Mankato State University, Experiential Education, 1995;
Arizona Teacher's Certification, Prescott College, Secondary Earth Sciences, 1990; B.A., Prescott College, Outdoor Education and Program Administration,
1985.
Email
Julie's background in adventure education is highlighted by work with diverse populations and outdoor programs, as well as classroom teaching. She believes in the use of wilderness education as a way to reveal people's highest potential. Whether preparing students to instruct in the field setting or in the classroom, Julie's focus is on giving students multiple tools and approaches for teaching to effectively reach a broad range of students. Julie is actively involved with the Association for Experiential Education, giving frequent presentations and convening conference activities. Julie also teaches yoga-related courses at the College. Her background includes a blend of disciplines and currently she is studying the Viniyoga lineage with a master teacher, Gary Kraftsow.
Courses Taught:
Outdoor Education and Recreation; Yoga: Philosophy and Practice
"One of my favorite classes to teach is an introductory course called Outdoor Education and Recreation, but to the beautiful and diverse state of Arizona, through a multitude of outdoor activities. Arizona has been my home since 1981 and I love exploring it with students new to the area."
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Steve
Munsell
Adventure Education
B.A., Evergreen State College, Outdoor Education, 1979.
Email
Steve has been an outdoor education teaching professional for more than 28 years. His career has spanned the growth and development of outdoor education nationwide. He teaches an historical perspective and integrates current trends in the developing field. He was program coordinator from 1991 to 1995. Steve teaches from direct experience on outdoor program administration, risk management, and staffing. He teaches in a variety of environmental settings. These include backcountry skiing, desert mountaineering, rock climbing, whitewater rafting, and kayaking. He integrates themes of wilderness leadership and sense of place into all his courses. Steve has made seven trips to the Antarctic and Arctic as a research field assistant. He has traveled, climbed, and skied widely. These include solo trips to South Greenland and Tasmania, a ski traverse of the Penny Icecap on Baffin Island, mountaineering in Peru, New Zealand, Iceland, and Norway.
Courses Taught:
Adventure Education; Intermediate Rock Climbing; Introduction to Rock Climbing; River Guides Training: The San Juan; Rock Climbing and Geology; Wilderness Leadership
"Teaching at the College is a continually challenging
experience. Involvement tends to be all-encompassing; it
can be exhausting, yet is very rewarding. Students need a
good deal of motivation and commitment to excel here."
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Delisa
Myles
Arts & Letters
M.F.A., University of Colorado, Dance, 1988; B.A., University
of Northern Colorado, Recreation and Dance Education, 1981.
Email
Delisa's areas of expertise include intergenerational dance, choreography, improvization, community connections, and using dance as a vehicle for growth and healing. Some of her recent projects have included "Growth Rings: Stories of Our Lives," a 60-person collaboration with people between the ages of 12 and 82, and "Flourish Before the Flood," a traveling performance along the banks of Granite Creek in Prescott. She has directed and performed in several site specific performances and is interested in the interplay between the natural and built environments in relation with dance. Delisa's choregraphic work and writing have been featured in the Utne Reader and Contact Quarterly. She has received funding from Arizona Commission on the Arts for "Mothership: Dances of the Fluid Feminine," a dance and photography collaboration with six women between the ages of 25 and 83.
Courses Taught:
Choreography in the Community; Contemporary Dance Training; From Conception to Production; Introduction to Dance and Improvisation; The Art of Making Dance; Interdisciplinary Performance; Nature and Dance
"Prescott College students have an exciting blend of
adventurous spirit and creativity which is perfectly suited
for expression in the arts. It is a joy to guide people in
discovering their passion in dance and to help them find
form for what they feel deeply about. I see performance and
movement studies as a means of resonating with the instinctual
and uniquely individual parts of ourselves, and then taking
that sense into collaborative work and into communication
with increasingly larger circles."
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Dana
Beth Oswald
Environmental Studies
Ph.D., University of New Mexico, Anthropology, 1993; M.A.,
University of New Mexico, Anthropology, 1979; B.A., Prescott
College, Anthropology, 1971.
Email
Dana is a native Southwesterner. She longs for the stark beauty and wide-open spaces of the Southwest when she is away too long. Dana is currently conducting fieldwork on the Navajo reservation.
"Travel played an important role in opening my mind,
but now I want to stay in one place and help build a sustainable
community. My studies in cultural anthropology and human
ecology — including past, present, and future interactions
between humans and nature — prepared me to look at
modern problems from many perspectives. In anthropology courses,
I help students respect diversity and learn from people with
other world views, because diversity of thought is life-sustaining.
In human ecology courses, I challenge students to confront
difficult issues and to develop personal commitments to creating
a sustainable future for all peoples."
Publications:
Oswald, D.B., Navajo Space Use Under Conditions of Increasing Sedentism. Albuquerque, NM: University of New Mexico, 1993.
Courses Taught:
Advanced Topics in Human Ecology; Contemporary Issues in Anthropology; Ecological Design: Cultural Perspectives; Ecology of Human Evolution; Ethnographic Field Methods; History and Culture of Native America; Introduction to Human Ecology; Southwestern Archaeology
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Steven
Pace
Human Development/Adventure Education
M.S.W., University of Denver, 1986; B.S., Antioch University
at Yellow Springs, Environmental Studies, 1976.
Email
Steve's areas of expertise include interpersonal and group communication, mediation and conflict resolution, therapeutic use of adventure education, as well as outdoor program administration, and risk management. His courses are co-created with the class and contain a balanced mixture of experiential activities, critical thinking, and interesting theory. Steve's Outward Bound background, where he worked for 12 years, helps him make his courses relevant for students interested in human development and adventure education. Steve has served on the Accreditation Council of the Association for Experiential Education, which sets standards for the field of adventure education and currently serves as president of their board of directors.
"The inspiring faculty and students drawn to Prescott College and the way we design our courses make working here so fulfilling and exciting that I cannot imagine teaching in any other place."
Courses Taught:
Interpersonal Communication; Outdoor Program Administration
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Mary Poole
Cultural and Regional Studies
Ph.D., Rutgers University, U.S. History, 2000; B.A.,The Evergreen State College, Education and Political Science, 1988.
Email
Mary teaches in the areas of history, women's studies, and race relations in the United States. She brings to her courses an excitement for the study of history, and believes that our perception of what is possible in the present can be profoundly expanded by learning about what was considered to be possible in the past. Mary's first book, Securing Race: The Origins of the U.S. Welfare State, is scheduled to be published in 2005.
Courses Taught:
American Paradox: Studies in the History of a Varied People; The Color Line in U.S. History, which traces the development of the fictional belief in the biological reality of 'race' and the meaning given to that belief over time; History of Conflict in the Southwest; History and Culture of Native America; Prejudice and Intolerance; Women in American History. She also co-teaches Maasai: Indigenous People in a Global World in Kenya, with indigenous Maasai activists and educators. |
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Wayne
Regina
Human Development
Psy.D., United States International University, Psychology,
1982; M.A., United States International University, Marriage
and Family Therapy, 1979; B.A., State University of New York
at Stony Brook, Psychology, 1977.
Email
Wayne's specialties include applying systems theory to a variety of human systems. Wayne is a licensed psychologist, licensed marriage and family therapist, and certified mediator with more than 25 years of practitioner experience. Wayne also served as Dean of the Resident Degree Program and Director of Skyview School, the first parent-initiated K-8 charter school in Arizona.
"As a teacher and practitioner, I value what makes Prescott College different. We are a college, 'for the liberal arts and the environment.' Fulfilling our mission includes a dedication to social and restorative justice; a commitment to improving the human and nonhuman environment; a sensitivity to and understanding of the importance of aesthetics, beauty, and the arts; and a belief in an active, inquiry-based education system. There is no better environment for a teacher or student than a setting where learning is so cherished by everyone."
Publications:
Dr. Regina is published in psychology and mediation journals.
Classes Taught:
American Government; Community Mediation and Principled Negotiation; Counseling Skills; Family Systems in Film and Literature; Family Systems Theory; Models of Leadership
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Mark
Riegner
Environmental Studies
Ph.D., State University of New York at Stony Brook, Ecology
and Evolution, 1983; B.S., State University of New York College
at Brockport, Biology, 1975.
Email
Mark's professional interests embrace ornithology, field ecology, and comparative morphology, and have taken him from Alaska to South America. He synthesizes theory and practice in his courses. Mark is currently involved in research on the relationship between morphology and plumage pattern in birds and has identified reiterating patterns that indicate evolution is somewhat constrained and follows delineated trajectories.
"Nature study provides limitless possibilities for learning about both the world and ourselves. In fact, the two go hand in hand, as expressed in Goethe's words: 'Each phenomenon in nature, rightly contemplated, awakens in us a new faculty for inner understanding.'"
Publications:
Riegner, M., and Niemeyer, L. (photographer). 1993. Long-legged Wading Birds of the North American Wetlands. Stackpole Books, Harrisburg, PA.
Riegner, M. 1998. "Horns, hooves, spots, and stripes: form and pattern in mammals." Pp. 177-212 in Goethe's Way of Science: A Phenomenology of Nature (D. Seamon and A. Zajonc, Eds.). SUNY Press, Albany, NY.
Courses Taught:
Behavior and Conservation of Mammals; Coastal Ecology (in Kino Bay, Mexico); Form and Pattern in Nature; Organic Evolution; Ornithology; Tropical Biology (in Costa Rica)
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Sheila
Sanderson
Arts & Letters
M.F.A. University of California, Irvine, Creative Writing
(Poetry), 1986; M.A., Murray State University, English, 1984;
B.S., Murray State University, English, 1981.
Email
Sheila taught at the University of California, Irvine, and
at Yavapai College prior to joining the Prescott College
faculty in 1990. Her teaching interests include modern and
contemporary poetry, American and world novel, travel writing,
and sense of place courses. Her own poems have appeared in
Nimrod, Atlanta Review, and Crazyhorse.
Courses Taught:
American Novel; Literary Journal Practicum: Poetry; Poetry Workshop; World Novel; Writing Workshop
"Writers must always balance writing for themselves
and writing for a more public audience. The function of a
writing instructor, then, is to create an atmosphere in which
students might explore and approach that balance. I encourage
students to be creative writers and critical readers. My
rural Kentucky background has given me a strong sense of
place, community, and history, as well as a love for stories.
Stories are why I often keep long office hours, strike conversations
with strangers, work in tobacco fields, stay up all night
talking or reading, and travel. For me, the Southwest is
new territory, new stories. I am at Prescott College because
its philosophy validates my own process of learning and my
style of teaching: here I am encouraged to experiment, to
cross disciplines, to go out into the field, but most importantly,
to spend time really working with students."
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Paul
Smith
Human Development
M.A., The Naropa Institute, Transpersonal Counseling Psychology,
1995; B.A., Earlham College, Environmental Studies and Educational
Perspectives, 1982.
Email
Paul brings together a background in education, counseling and ecology, with more than 20 years experience leading and training staff for and managing wilderness-based adventure educational programs. Paul has worked with both Outward Bound and the National Outdoor Leadership School. Through all these roles, and as a faculty member at Prescott College, Paul sees his work as "exploring practical ways in which we can become more fully human, and by so doing, co-create increasingly sustainable and healthy patterns for living." Paul serves as a lead program accreditation reviewer for the Association of Experiential Education. Along with this and his ongoing collaboration with the Equine Facilitated Mental Health Association and the Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association, Paul is able to facilitate important links for students to opportunities and current practices.
Paul is also an Associate Faculty member in the Master of Arts Program.
Courses Taught:
Community and Counseling Practicum; Group Process for Adventure Educators; Interpersonal Communication; Personality Theories; Relational Horsemanship; Therapeutic Use of Adventure Education; Equine-Assisted Learning
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Jordana DeZeeuw Spencer
Education
M.S., University of New Hampshire, Experiential Education, 2001; B.A., Yale University, Theatre Studies and Literature, 1995.
Email
Jordana DeZeeuw Spencer received her M.S. in Experiential Education from the University of New Hampshire and her B.A. from Yale University. She has taught in both public and private schools, nationally and internationally, ranging from Massachusetts to California and South Africa to Greece. In addition to her classroom experience, Jordana has facilitated eight seasons of programs through Interlocken: Center for Experiential Learning (for which she traveled with students across Western Europe, Northern Africa, and the Hawaiian Islands) and toured her one-woman, Shakespeare show, Muse of Fire, to demonstrate the universal themes represented in the Bard’s canon. Jordana was the creator and first coordinator for the residential, post-secondary Bridge Year Program, an academically rigorous, semester or year-long experience, which engages students in vocational internships, cross-cultural exchanges, service learning, and scholarship. Jordana’s graduate research examined the efficacy of experiential education in cross-cultural programs to enhance students’ moral development, and her passion is education for social change. Jordana teaches in both the undergraduate (RDP) and master’s (MAP) programs.
Courses Taught:
Ethical Issues for Experiential Educators; Experiential Education Philosophy and Methods; Experiential Education Practicum; History of Gender and Sexuality; Interpersonal Communication; Learning Theories |
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