Eight new faculty and staff members will join Genesee Community College this fall semester.
They are:
- Monica H. Mattioli, associate dean, Lima Campus Center. She has worked as executive director of the Roman Catholic Community of Downtown Rochester, senior director of marketing and public relations for Genesee Country Museum, and director of marketing and recruitment for the Division of Business Management at Roberts Wesleyan College. Mattioli holds a B.A. degree from St. Bonaventure University and a M.S. degree from Roberts Wesleyan College. She is a resident of North Chili.
- Michelle E. Tomaszewski, systems and electronic services librarian. She has worked as database administrator for Upstate NY Go Local Project, and in library positions at Finger Lakes Community College, Hobart and William Smith colleges, Pennsylvania State University at Altoona, and Centre County Library and Historical Museum in Bellefonte, Pa. Tomaszewski holds a B.A. degree from SUNY Geneseo and a M.L.S. degree from SUNY Albany. She is a resident of Scottsville.
- Jodi S. Harvey, instructor of teacher education. Harvey comes to Genesee from Pavilion Central School District. She has also taught at Genesee Valley BOCES and Genesee Valley Academy in Leicester. She holds a B.S. degree from SUNY Brockport and a M.E. degree from Roberts Wesleyan College. She is a resident of Geneseo.
- Derek D. Maxfield, instructor of history. He comes to Genesee from Capital Community College in Hartford, Conn. He has also taught at Western New England College in Springfield, Mass., Niagara County Community College, SUNY College at Fredonia, the University at Buffalo, and Canisius College. He holds a B.A. degree from SUNY Cortland and a M.A. degree from Villanova University. He is a candidate for a Ph.D. degree from the University at Buffalo. He is a resident of Dundee.
- Donna A. Lee LaMura, temporary instructor of chemistry and mathematics. She has served as a member of Genesee's adjunct faculty. She has also taught at Monroe Community College, Rochester Institute of Technology, and Nazareth College. She also has been a high school teacherl. LaMura holds B.A., B.S., and M.S. degrees from the University of Bridgeport, Conn. She resides in Fairport.
- Roshani Shrestha, temporary instructor of computer technology. She comes to Genesee from John Wood Community College in Quincy, Ill. She has also taught at Monroe Community College and Bryant & Stratton College. Shrestha holds a B.S. degree from Quincy University, IIl., and a M.S. degree from the University of Illinois. She is a resident of West Henrietta.
- Susan M. Chiddy, learning specialist. She has served as a member of Genesee's adjunct faculty for 10 years. She holds a B.S. degree from D'Youville College and a M.E. degree from the University at Buffalo. Chiddy is a resident of Elba.
- Glenn E. Taplin, academic advisor. He has served as a member of the staff of East High School in Buffalo, retention coordinator for the University at Buffalo's Student Support Services program, and assistant men's basketball coach at Buffalo State College. He holds a B.A. degree from Canisius College and a M.S. degree from Buffalo State College. Taplin resides in East Amherst.
I often wonder how colleges
I often wonder how colleges can be the source of teaching the next generation of people working to produce products when so much of the staff has no experience working in a high level job outside of the education or non-profit community.
Posted by Peter O'Brien on
Posted by Peter O'Brien on August 14, 2009 - 2:47pm
I often wonder how colleges can be the source of teaching the next generation of people working to produce products when so much of the staff has no experience working in a high level job outside of the education or non-profit community.
Peter, don't faint but this is one area where I agree with you 100%, nay 200%.
I could right a book, but won't on here.
Eight people doesn't entail
Eight people doesn't entail most of the staff at GCC.
While I'm at it, where should a teacher education instructor get experience for her field of expertise outside of the teaching community?
For a community college, GCC has some extremely brilliant professors. For the sake of argument, one of my professors from last year has a Masters from Brown.
Most of the students at
Most of the students at Genesee transfer into four year colleges to pursue higher degrees. Therefore, certain instructors are placed to prepare them for that new experience at a more traditional institution. While other professors are indeed more focused on product and industry for those going right into the world of work. I think we have a good balance here.
I'm not faulting any one
I'm not faulting any one particular institution of higher learning.
What frustrates me is the caliber of entrants into the workplace after four years or more.
There should be a required course called "Real Life 101" and no student should be allowed to receive a sheep skin without it.
A student could be the top of their class; have awards coming out of their ears, but if they enter the work force without the basic skills needed to be a productive member in their chosen field, then they are a liability.
Professors who have never been outside the hallowed halls of academia can't possibly prepare students for what is expected.
I applaud GCC for bringing in people who have experience in the rigors of business. They will be the people who can relate their chosen field of instruction to how things really work once out of college.
One example, in an adult education class, a professor explained how a certain procedure was the correct method. Someone brought up a dozen reasons why, in the lab, other events could change the method. The professor looked confused. His only answer was, that is impossible. This WAS the way it should be done. No one argued that, but knew from experience that what SHOULD be done and what IS done under a variety of unknown circumstances are two different things. The guy couldn't wrap his head around the fact that there are variables in the real world.
That's your perception. If
That's your perception.
If there's an industry procedure for something specific, the professor may have been to confused why someone with less experience than him was suggesting different methods.
Teaching Common Sense 101 or Real Life 101 isn't the job of a college, especially with tuition rates these days. It can be an optional class, but not required.
If a college made a class like that required, students shouldn't be expected to pay for it.
In reality, no class can
In reality, no class can prepare people for the real world of work. Professors are supposed to teach students skills and methods that will help them in the real world. Professors stay in academia because that is what they have to do in order to succeed in the field - academics is a blood sport. I plan to get my phD from Cornell University and teach at a major university, eventually. That cannot happen without being in the very depths of academia. Maybe this isn't a good thing, but it is the way it is. I at least will always try to teach my students the skills they need to succeed wherever they go.
I wonder if I could get you
I wonder if I could get you to teach English at MIT. It is a major university, you know.
I'm aware, not the one I want
I'm aware, not the one I want to teach at though.
I can only imagine why. :D
I can only imagine why. :D
Is it a bad thing we're
Is it a bad thing we're discussing this here when I'm sitting three feet behind you?
Good or bad, I'm not sure. It
Good or bad, I'm not sure. It does show our dependence on technology though. Kind of like the Verizon tower losing service, you know?
Except I have Sprint, not
Except I have Sprint, not Verizon, so it really didn't bother me.
I wouldn't say we have a "dependence" as you put it. We rely on it, but we can live without it.
I'm not sure I could live
I'm not sure I could live without checking my e-mail for too long.
I want to teach at Hopkins someday.