Saint Michael's College

Title: Associate Professor of Education

Education: B.S., M.Ed. State University College of New York at Buffalo; Ph.D. University of Minnesota

Areas of Expertise/Research Interests: Inclusive education, curriculum adaptations for students with significant disabilities, paraprofessionals

Testimonial: Students who attend Saint Michael's want to make a positive difference in this world.

What do you like most about teaching/working at Saint Michael's College? The opportunity to work in a community that values the needs, gifts, and talents of the individual within the larger community.

What do you like about Saint Michael's students? Their serious commitment to community service. I am amazed with their choices to commit huge amounts of time and effort to many worthy causes. I am fortunate to be able to be influenced by so many lovely young people.

What is your favorite class to teach, and why? At the undergraduate level it is Cognition and Individual Differences. This course offers me the opportunity to combine all three of my areas of research. I work with Saint Michael's students on campus once a week, and then we are in the schools together once a week. This model provides wonderful opportunities to learn about crossing the bridge from theory to practice.

What kinds of unique opportunities are available to students in your classes or department? In my Cognition and Individual Differences class, students have the responsiblity of providing direct instruction to one or more students with disabilities for the entire semester. While this may sound like "fun," students learn the huge responsibilities associated with this job. My students are planning instruction, preparing materials, teaching, evaluting and reflecting on their work every week. They constantly receive feedback from students and teachers. Generally it is a semester of personal growth for them.

Favorite quote: "The secrets of good teaching are the same as the secrets of good living: seeing one's self without blinking, offering hospitality to the alien other, having compassion for suffering, speaking truth to power, being present and being real. These secrets are hidden in plain sight."
- Parker Palmer