Faculty Focus Friday is a Q&A series that highlights individual faculty members in various academic programs around Spalding University. Today’s featured faculty member is Dr. Chris Kolb, Associate Professor of Anthropology in the School of Liberal Studies. (Read his bio on the liberal studies faculty page.) He holds a bachelor’s degree in anthropology from the University of Kentucky, a master’s from George Washington University and a doctorate from Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Kolb is also a member of the Jefferson County Public Schools Board of Education.

What do you like about working and teaching at Spalding?
I like the students and the small class size because it allows me to build relationships with students. We have a diverse campus and student body, which challenges professors to communicate with many different types of people. I really enjoy it.

What is your academic specialty or area of expertise or research?
I am a cultural anthropologist, and we do everything under the sun, but my specialty is urban anthropology focusing on drug use, race, policing, homelessness and how cities function. I did my field research from 2005-07 in Cincinnati not long after the riots there. Unfortunately, for society these issues are prevalent and people hear about them more easily now, which makes it an interesting time to be studying these issues.

LEARN MORE | Spalding’s School of Liberal Studies
MORE FACULTY FOCUS FRIDAY | Check out all our past faculty interviews

Why is liberal studies a good option for students to consider as their major?
There are many different reasons. I will start with the money-making aspect, which is that employers are realizing no matter what their business is, they need people who can communicate well and write well. Beyond that, it’s a great foundation for many paths such as, advocacy, the nonprofit sector, graduate studies, business and law.

What is an interesting thing that you keep in your office?
There is a drawing with colored pencils from a guy in Cincinnati who was well-known and struggled with homelessness and mental illness. He was a gifted artist, and he sold me this for $5-10, and if you look at it, I think it’s actually George Washington. I think it’s a brilliant piece of art work done on a piece of cardboard.

What is the most rewarding part of your job?
I think getting to do something that really interests you. Of course there are aspects that aren’t as entertaining as others such as paperwork and administrative pieces, but there are rewarding factors. I have a lot of independence and get to experiment within the classroom. I really enjoy finding ways to reach students and get them to take an interest and ownership in the material.

At Spalding, we like to say, “Today is a great day to change the world.” How do you think your role at Spalding is helping you change the world or the world of your students?
I think the topics we discuss in class open my students’ eyes to ideas they have probably heard about but didn’t know a lot about. We go into much further detail about prominent Civil Rights figures such as Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King and how our superficial view of these individuals is actually much more complicated than we think. I hope I am helping my students become more curious about the world and not rely on the news media to create the world for them.

Faculty Focus Friday is a Q&A series that highlights individual faculty members in various academic programs around Spalding University. Today’s featured faculty member is Dr. Dorina Miller Parmenter, Associate Professor of Religious Studies in the School of Liberal Studies. Dr. Parmenter teaches a variety of religious studies courses and has also served as director of Spalding’s Study Abroad in Ireland program. Dr. Parmenter earned her PhD in Religion from Syracuse University. She also holds two master’s degrees in religion from Syracuse, a Master of Arts in Fine Arts from Ball State University and a bachelor’s degree from Central College in Pella, Iowa. (Check out her bio on the School of Liberal Studies’ faculty page.)

What do you like about working and teaching at Spalding?

I like being at a school that values compassion and social justice and recognizes that learning about both of those goals requires broad-based knowledge about history, society and human creativity. I appreciate that the faculty and staff here are always striving to share with Spalding students the best of what they have to offer in order to instill in students the values of the school.

What is your academic specialty, areas of expertise or research?

While I teach a broad range of Religious Studies courses, my research falls in a field called “material religion,” and I try to bring that into all of my classes somehow. It involves looking at how religion is created through and reflected in material objects and embodied practices rather than through abstract ideas. More specifically, my research field is the materiality of the Christian Bible, or how the Bible is a ritual object and material image rather than just a text to be read. My most recent publications have been on miniature Bibles and on the American Evangelical movement called “Bring Your Bible to School Day.” I am currently working on a project on digital Bibles.

Why is the program/department in which you teach a good option for new students to consider as their major?

Surveys of employers consistently indicate that they are looking for employees who are self-motivated and who can think critically and creatively, communicate well, and make ethical judgments. The School of Liberal Studies at Spalding offers several interdisciplinary majors that emphasize the importance of broad-based knowledge, independent thinking and the skills required to address complex social problems. Our majors do not provide specific job training but do allow graduates to enter or advance within the workforce with a social conscience and with the ability to come up with creative solutions to and expressions about whatever might come their way.

What is an interesting thing that you keep in your office?

Five years after I graduated from Central College in Pella, Iowa, when I had just finished a master’s degree in art and was starting a graduate program in religion, I was featured along with some of my college classmates in an issue of our alumni magazine. The cover of one of the books I made in art school engulfs the cover of the publication, with the headline, “Artists Give Credit to the Liberal Arts.” I have that magazine cover framed in my office. Now, several decades later, I am trying to impart that love for the Liberal Arts to Spalding students.

LEARN MORE | PROGRAMS IN THE SCHOOL OF LIBERAL STUDIES
PAST FACULTY FOCUS FRIDAY PROFESSORS | MINDA REVES, JEREMY WHITE

What is the most rewarding part of your job?

I love to see students taking the issues that we are discussing in class and relating them to other classes or their lives outside of the classroom. It is like watching the students build a sculpture out of their knowledge and experiences.

At Spalding, we like to say, “Today is a great day to change the world.” How do you think your role at Spalding is helping you change the world or the world of your students?

I think that studying religion in a college atmosphere where questioning is encouraged and diversity is valued is one of the best ways for students to grow as individuals and as members of local and global communities. This growth helps to break down boundaries and allows for greater respect for and collaboration with others so that oppressive systems can be challenged and the most life-affirming aspects of shared human existence can be utilized to bring about change.

Faculty Focus Friday is a Q&A series that highlights individual faculty members in various academic programs around Spalding University. Today’s featured faculty member is Jeremy White, Associate Professor of Mathematics in the School of Natural Science. Dr. White holds a bachelor’s degree from Colgate University and master’s and doctoral degrees from the University of Louisville.

What do you like about working and teaching at Spalding?

I enjoy mathematics and how it’s a big puzzle with several pieces, which allows me to explain math in several different ways. I like interacting with students, and I enjoy presenting mathematics in an enthusiastic way to give students a positive experience. Additionally, the small class size allows me to see students progress and catch students who need additional help.

What is your academic specialty, areas of expertise or research?

My PhD is in Mathematics, and here at Spalding I teach fundamentals in the School of Natural Science. My research area is in Lattice Theory, which involves discrete mathematics, which deals with analyzing math structures.

Why is your college/school a good option for new students to consider as their major?

The sciences are an exciting area and lays a good foundation for all students. This could be beneficial for someone who is interested in the medical field, but it may be a longer path because it is a general degree. If a student is unsure but is interested in sciences, this would be beneficial especially if they were interested in medical school, dental school or physical therapy or another health profession. We try to prepare students to be successful in graduate school.

What is an interesting thing that you keep in your office?

I have an American bald eagle touch lamp that I received from running in a race. I used to be a runner, and I went to a race in Shelbyville and won my age bracket. Instead of an award, they laid out items on picnic tables and said to pick something, so I picked out this lamp.

What is the most rewarding part of your job?

Helping students make connections within mathematics is rewarding. For instance, oftentimes students just need to be shown math in a different way than what they were taught in high school to understand the material. For a lot of students, I may be teaching their last math class they will ever have to take, so maybe they will leave the math classroom without a bad taste.

At Spalding, we like to say, “Today is a great day to change the world.” How do you think your role at Spalding is helping you change the world or the world of your students?

I am hoping that students will not be afraid to ask questions because math is not easy. I want my students to know that I still have to work through problems just like they do. Everyone has to work through the early stages of math and work through the problems. Hopefully they leave feeling more confident about not just mathematics but other areas of study.

LAST WEEK’S FACULTY FOCUS FRIDAY | Minda Reves, BFA in Creative Writing Director

Faculty Focus Friday is a new Q&A series that highlights individual faculty members in various academic programs around Spalding University. The first faculty member we’ll meet is Assistant Professor Minda Reves, who is in her first year as Director of the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Creative Writing program within the School of Liberal Studies. Reves, who holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Louisville and an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of California-Riverside, is a successful freelance writer outside of her teaching duties. She’s had articles in essays published by the Oxford American, Longreads, the Los Angeles Review of Books, the Guardian, the Washington Post, Teen Vogue, Dropbox and elsewhere. She is an active member of Louisville’s literary scene serving on the Young Author’s Greenhouse board and leading community-based writing workshops for Sarabande’s Writing Labs.

What do you like about working and teaching at Spalding?

I love the students and my colleagues and staff. Everyone is great, and there is a lot of openness, positivity, compassion and willingness to learn about each other amongst everyone on campus.

What is your academic specialty, areas of expertise or research?

I am the director of the undergraduate creative writing program. Personally, I write personal essays, memoir and a lot of article and content writing.

Why is your program a good option for new students to consider as their major?

A lot of times students who are passionate about creative writing seem to shy away from it because either society or their parents have taught them that there is no money in writing despite the fact that there are millions of people around the world making a living as writers. I feel like college is the place for exploring what you are passionate about, and over the years we have pulled away from that. As the new director of the program, I am putting an emphasis on giving students the freedom and empowering them to find out what fascinates them through creative art. I am also realistic because I know after their time here they have to go into the workforce, and I have a strong understanding of what a writer’s life can look like. Whether you want to write full time, or if you have a day job and need to remain connected to the writing community, I can help these young writers find their path.

LEARN MORE | Spalding’s BFA in Creative Writing and Spalding’s School of Liberal Studies

What is an interesting thing that you keep in your office?

I have a pretty minimalist aesthetic, so I think the most interesting thing about my office is how empty it is. I’m sure I will get more books and things, but I am into design and decor and have a specific aesthetic that will prevail as I spend more time in this office.

What is the most rewarding part of your job?

Getting to see people grow and light up as they are encountering new thoughts. I also find it rewarding that the same cycle is happening within me. I learn just as much from my students as they learn from me.

At Spalding, we like to say, “Today is a great day to change the world.” How do you think your role at Spalding is helping you change the world or the world of your students?

Changing the world starts with changing people, and the first person you can change is yourself. I think when students or peers see you are willing to change it inspires others to grow and change as people. Change is scary, and it’s easier to stay small and closed off. But the more you face your fears and step up, I think that inspires others, and it becomes a chain reaction.

Follow the Spalding BFA in Creative Writing program on Instagram at @spaldingcreativewritingbfa

Faculty Focus Friday is a Q&A series that highlights individual faculty members in various academic programs around Spalding University. This week’s featured faculty member is Dr. Jana Cason, Associate Professor in the Auerbach School of Occupational Therapy. Cason joined the occupational therapy faculty in 2004 and specializes in pediatrics and telehealth. For her leadership in telehealth, she was honored as the recipient of the 2019 Emerging and Innovative Practice Award by the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). She holds doctoral and master’s degrees from the University of Indianapolis and a bachelor’s from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

What do you like about working and teaching at Spalding?

One of the things I like best about working at Spalding is the emphasis on teaching. At many large research institutions, a professor’s focus is on research and grant acquisition and teaching is secondary. At Spalding, the primary focus is teaching excellence. Through Spalding’s Center for Teaching & Learning and professional development opportunities specific to teaching excellence, I continue to learn best practices to support student learning. I’ve had the pleasure of presenting at and participating in premier teaching conferences, including the International Lilly Conference on College Teaching and the American Occupational Therapy Association’s Education Summit.

What is your academic specialty, areas of expertise or research?

My academic specialty is occupational therapy. I’ve been an occupational therapy practitioner for 20 years, primarily in the area of pediatrics. I’ve also been a faculty member at Spalding for 14 years. My area of research is telehealth, which is the use of information and communication technology to deliver health-related services when the provider and client are in different physical locations. I pioneered the use of telehealth within occupational therapy and co-authored a number of interprofessional and occupational therapy-specific standards and guidelines documents.

Why is the academic program/school in which you teach a good option for new students to consider for their degree?

The Auerbach School of Occupational Therapy (ASOT) is an excellent option for students considering a career in occupational therapy. The faculty are respected experts in the field and continue to remain active in practice and in professional associations, including service on the Kentucky Board of Licensure for Occupational Therapy (KBLOT), the Kentucky Occupational Therapy Association (KOTA), the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), and/or the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). The faculty work collectively to assure students gain entry-level competencies and are well prepared to pass the NBCOT exam upon graduation.

What is an interesting thing that you keep in your office?

An interesting thing I keep in my office is a Luminara candle (electric candle) that has a real-life flickering flame effect.

What is the most rewarding part of your job?

The most rewarding part of my job is having a positive impact on students’ educational journey. Seeing students graduate and enter the field and positively impact their clients and communities through their work is very rewarding.

LEARN MORE | Spalding Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) programs
LEARN MORE | Bios of the faculty of the Auerbach School of Occupational Therapy