Interviews collected by Janey Joiner and Greta Lieske
IV Leader staff
Q. Where are you from originally? A. I grew up just south of Joliet, in a small town called Coal City.
Q. Where did you attend college and what degree do you hold? A. I got my BA from Illinois Wesleyan University and my MA from Illinois State.
Q. Why did you go into teaching? A. Largely because of the influence of a number of high school teachers. I also always had that somewhat nerdy love of history.
Q. Are you new to teaching? If not, how does IVCC differ from anywhere else you have taught? A. I spent nine years teaching at Eureka High School and five years at Black Hawk’s East Campus in Kewanee, Ill. prior to IVCC. I don’t think that IVCC differs all that much from Black Hawk. I enjoy the larger and more diverse community it has, but the student population seems much the same...albeit with fewer spurs.
Q. What were your first impressions of IVCC? A. Everyone—staff, faculty, students—have been extremely friendly and welcoming so far. It’s been a great environment to teach in!
Q. What classes are you currently teaching? A. US history to/since 1865 and Latin American History
Q. What should students know about you? A. That my door is always open to them for help. Many may have had the “stereotypical” history classes before in life and may not enjoy the subject, but I think they will learn that it is a fascinating field, with applications beyond the history “major.” The skills they can learn reach far beyond these survey courses. I’m a firm believer in life-long learning, and have a deep interest in Historical Archaeology. I’m also an avid Pittsburgh Steelers fan.