Month: November 2019

EMAIL:

rbuccola@roosevelt.edu

CAREER:

Professor of English and Chair of the Department of Humanities, Roosevelt University

HOMETOWN:

Louisville, KY

COLLEGE:

Bellarmine University

UG MAJOR/MINOR:

English and Journalism/Communications double major

WHY YOU CHOSE THE MAJOR/MINOR:

To be a writer

EXTRACURRICULARS DURING UG (CLUBS, ORGS, JOBS, INTERNSHIPS, VOLUNTEER WORK, ETC.):

I founded the campus chapter of Amnesty International and served as the news editor and subsequently editor in chief of the campus newspaper, The Concord.

WHY YOU CHOSE TO WORK AT ROOSEVELT:

It reminds me a great deal of Bellarmine, actually, and I had a wonderful educational experience there. The low student-faculty ratio is a similarity, as is the opportunity for faculty to work closely with students both in and out of the classroom. Finally, the really amazing opportunities to hear from and meet cutting-edge thinkers and writers offered at both institutions is a major draw. By my senior year, I had had the opportunity to meet and interview Joyce Carol Oates and Norman Mailer.

WHAT PROJECT ARE YOU CURRENTLY WORKING ON:

I just finished copy editing an article on “marathon” productions of Shakespeare’s history plays for a new series called Cambridge Elements which will be published online by Cambridge University Press. Right now, I have a pile of books on my desk about Hamlet for a teacher workshop on the play at Chicago Shakespeare Theater where I will deliver the kick-off lecture. Next month, I start work as the dramaturg for The Shakespeare Project of Chicago’s production of Thomas Middleton and Thomas Dekker’s 17^th-century play The Roaring Girl (based on a real cross dressing woman in 17^th-century London, Mary Frith!).

FAVORITE QUOTE:

“Don’t dream it. Be it.” – The Rocky Horror Picture Show

PEOPLE WOULD BE SURPRISED TO KNOW THAT…:

I was painfully shy as a child. Now, if you walk into an elevator with me, I 100% guarantee that I will talk to you.

ADVICE FOR INCOMING/CURRENT STUDENTS:

The answer is “yes.” Take advantage of all of the incredible opportunities that will be offered to you at Roosevelt, and in the surrounding city.

FAVORITE SPOT AT ROOSEVELT:

The Sullivan Room

FAVORITE SPOT IN CHICAGO:

The lakefront – anywhere along the entire length of it. It is amazing to live next to an inland sea, with its own weather and eco-systems.

CAUSE YOU’RE PASSIONATE ABOUT AND WHY:

Social justice which, for me, right now, means fighting for women’s rights to equal pay and to control of their own bodies, and working to address the effects of climate change, which will become catastrophic in our lifetimes if we do not take drastic action now.

LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED:

Christopher Strong (1933) – I have a thing for pre-code films, and this one stars a young Katherine Hepburn as a pioneering pilot who flies around the world.

WHAT I WISH I KNEW BEFORE GOING TO COLLEGE:

Incremental crises (like paper assignments or exams that don’t go as well as you’d hoped) fade very quickly into the background. Employers don’t really care what your GPA is. They care about what you know, the skill sets that you bring to the table, your level of commitment to the work that you do, and the generosity of spirit that you bring to the communities with which you interact. Don’t sweat the small stuff. Take care of figuring out who you are, what makes you tick, and what makes you happy. The rest will fall into place and come into focus around you.

By Phylicia Richardson, senior psychology major

After talking to fellow transfer students, I realized we all have different reasons and stories for why we decided to transfer to Roosevelt University. This is my experience.

Why did I transfer?

The institution I transferred from is a community college in Miami, Florida. I graduated from that institution with my Associate of Arts degree with a major in psychology. In my final semester, I knew I wanted to continue my education and receive my bachelor’s degree at a university.

How did I choose Roosevelt University?

I initially thought it was best to remain in Florida. So I originally only looked at in-state universities. But upon further consideration of what I wanted and what was the best learning environment for me, I took a risk and applied to intuitions outside of Florida that had strong psychology programs. I found Roosevelt during my search and I am glad that I did.

How did I know Roosevelt was the school for me?

When I received my acceptance letters from the different schools, I decided to research the history of those institutions. After learning more about the history of how Roosevelt University was founded, I knew Roosevelt was the place for me. Diversity has always been a research interest for me and I knew what it meant to me to attend a university whose foundation is rooted in manifesting diversity, inclusion and equity. Knowing that if I had wanted to attend Roosevelt University when it first opened in 1945 that I would have been allowed to attend means a lot to me. Seeing the photographs in the hallways of the Auditorium Building of the early students are constant reminders of Roosevelt’s moral beginnings and why I am proud to walk these halls.

What have I gained in transferring?

 I have gained so much during my time at Roosevelt. I have made life-long friends by getting involved in student life, including the College of Arts and Sciences Student Advisory Council (CASSAC), the Student Board of Conduct, the McNair Scholars program and Alpha Phi Omega.

                  

Was it hard settling into a new city and university?

Change is always hard. Being away from my family and my best friends was a first for me. The beginning of my first semester was a little lonely. Thankfully, Roosevelt welcomed me with open arms, I was able to find people I connected with and began to form a new type of family. I really took #ChicagoIsOurCampus campus to heart. Every chance I get I try and explore different parts of the city. My favorite part of living in Chicago is the duality of nature and the urban landscape that exist here.

EMAIL:

nbaldwin01@roosevelt.edu

CAREER:

Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychology & Director of  the MA in Industrial and Organizational Psychology Program

HOMETOWN:

Bowling Green, OH

COLLEGE:

Bowling Green State University (BGSU)

UG MAJOR/MINOR:

Psychology, BS

WHY YOU CHOSE THE MAJOR/MINOR:

Interested in understanding human behavior.

EXTRACURRICULARS DURING UG (CLUBS, ORGS, JOBS, INTERNSHIPS, VOLUNTEER WORK, ETC.):

Animal Behavior Assistant , APhiO, Kappa Alpha Order, IFC, RSA,

WHY YOU CHOSE TO WORK AT ROOSEVELT:

I believe in Roosevelt’s mission for social justice and I want to be a part of defining that in a modern context.

BOOK YOU’D RECOMMEND READING BEFORE GRADUATION:

“The Social Animal” by David Brooks

FAVORITE QUOTE:

“Knowledge is essential to understanding, and understanding should precede judgement” – Justice Louis Brandeis

PEOPLE WOULD BE SURPRISED TO KNOW THAT…:

My first paid job included slicing rat brains.

FAVORITE SPOT IN CHICAGO:

The “Bean”

LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED:

Ant-man and The Wasp

EMAIL:

jfine@roosevelt.edu

CAREER:

Lecturer, Paralegal Studies

HOMETOWN:

born in Evanston, IL; grew up in Appleton, WI (ages 7 – 18)

COLLEGE:

University of Wisconsin-Madison; Northwestern University; DePaul College of Law

UG MAJOR/MINOR:

US History/English (BA at UW); English/Sociology (MA at Northwestern); DePaul University (JD)

WHY YOU CHOSE THE MAJOR/MINOR:

The history of most things is what I’ve always found the most fascinating part of our culture. I also believe that we do need to understand what happened to get us to “NOW” and why it happened so we can make better choices going forward.

EXTRACURRICULARS DURING UG (CLUBS, ORGS, JOBS, INTERNSHIPS, VOLUNTEER WORK, ETC.):

Wrote for The Daily Cardinal the University of Wisconsin student newspaper covering news, sports, and cultural events; Did draft counseling through the American Friends Service Committee (Quaker organization) during the Vietnam War. Participated in folk music concerts to raise money for various educational and anti-war causes.

WHY YOU CHOSE TO WORK AT ROOSEVELT:

Having spent almost a decade as a high school history and English teacher, I wanted to continue teaching after law school. In particular I wanted to teach Law and the opportunity presented itself in 1983 through the Paralegal Studies Program (then knowns as the Lawyer’s Assistant Program_. Also, I really was drawn to Roosevelt because of the history behind the founding of the University and the ideals of diversity and cultural and gender inclusion.

WHAT PROJECT ARE YOU CURRENTLY WORKING ON:

An autobiography my daughters asked me to write.

BOOK YOU’D RECOMMEND READING BEFORE GRADUATION:

or after graduation – 11/22/63 by Stephen King.

FAVORITE QUOTES:

“Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.” Oscar Wilde;

“I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” Thomas Edison when asked about inventing the lightbulb;

and, since 2016

“On some great and glorious day, the plain folks of the land will reach their heart’s desire at last, and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron.” – H.L. Mencken

PEOPLE WOULD BE SURPRISED TO KNOW THAT:

I had dinner with Muhammad Ali.

ADVICE FOR INCOMING/CURRENT STUDENTS:

Put away your cell phones, make eye contact, and think about what you can add to every class you choose to take. Think adventurously!

by Evi Arthur
Senior, Journalism Major

Over the summer I interned at St. Louis Magazine.

Desperate for an internship and sick of the lack of response I was getting from all the other publications I’d applied to, I emailed one of the editors of the magazine asking about an internship program and sent along a resume, a cover letter, and a few clips.

She responded within a day letting me know that they’d be happy to have me—the best response I had gotten from my entire internship search.

That whole summer—instead of spending my time lying on the beach or going to the mall with my friends (I’m not exactly sure what other college kids do in their free time)—I spent my Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays writing articles, interviewing sources, fact-checking information, and keeping up with the weekend events in the city.

And I really loved it. I felt like I wasn’t wasting my summer by doing silly things like relaxing (kidding) and making new friends (half-kidding), I was making myself more marketable to employers after graduation. And isn’t that what summer break is really all about?

Although the internship was a wonderful experience where I grew as a writer and a journalist, I also learned that writing for a city magazine wasn’t the field I really wanted to go into after all. This is the hidden value of an internship – by doing the job, you might learn that you want something different.

I always saw myself working for a city magazine after graduation. I saw it as a great jumping off point into bigger, more-prominent magazines, —and I still do—but interning at St. Louis Magazine helped me to realize that this wasn’t the type of jounal I  wanted to write for. It was fun, but I felt like I wanted to be able to write about more serious, non-local news and working at a city magazine wouldn’t allow me to do that.

And that’s, frankly, one of the best things I think an internship can teach you. I’m happy to have been able to figure that out myself before being on my own and needing to find a steady job and being uncertain about what I want.

This summer I learned a lot about being proactive and the power of experiential learning. If I had not been proactive and emailed the editor, I probably would not have gotten the internship. And although I learned through it that I didn’t want to go into this particular area of journalism, I think that was a very valuable conclusion to come to and it has been helping me narrow down my options for next semester’s internship search.

So always strive to find those out-of-school experiences that will teach you something valuable that you might not learn in class. It could save you some time and confusion after graduation.

EMAIL:

tmccoy@roosevelt.edu

CAREER:

Associate Professor of Criminal Justice

HOMETOWN:

Black Springs, Arkansas

COLLEGE:

Sam Houston State University

UG MAJOR/MINOR:

Sociology/Political Science

WHY YOU CHOSE THE MAJOR/MINOR:

I actually wanted to major in political science but transferred to a new college and majoring in political science would have taken another semester of courses to graduate. Fortunately, sociology was a great fit for me and the combination paired wonderfully.

EXTRACURRICULARS DURING UG (CLUBS, ORGS, JOBS, INTERNSHIPS, VOLUNTEER WORK, ETC.):

I played college basketball so I had little time for anything else. The experience was invaluable though. I made friendships that have endured to this day AND my education was completely paid for!

WHY YOU CHOSE TO WORK AT ROOSEVELT:

I loved the idea of being involved in a criminal justice program that was in its earliest stages of development. Also, the ideal of social justice captivated me. Coming from the South, all of the universities I had contact with had more of a law and order orientation. Perhaps most important was the city of Chicago, a cultural smorgasbord  that I had craved since childhood, growing up in a place with virtually no religious, ethic, or racial diversity. It’s been a fantastic fit for me and one of the greatest experiences of my life.

WHAT PROJECT ARE YOU CURRENTLY WORKING ON:

The impact of county conservatism on detaining girls who are charged with status offenses.

BOOK YOU’D RECOMMEND READING BEFORE GRADUATION:

Makes Me Wanna Holler: A Young Black Man in America. Also, The Rich Get Rich, The Poor Get Prison by Jeffrey Reimann

FAVORITE QUOTE:

“My conscience won’t let me go shoot my brother, or some darker people, or some poor hungry people in the mud for big powerful America. And shoot them for what? They never called me nigger, they never lynched me, they didn’t put no dogs on me, they didn’t rob me of my nationality, rape and kill my mother and father. … Shoot them for what? How can I shoot them poor people? Just take me to jail.” —Muhammad Ali, 1967, protesting the Vietnam War

PEOPLE WOULD BE SURPRISED TO KNOW THAT…:

I witnessed an actual execution in Arkansas. It only increased the intensity of my opposition to capital punishment.

ADVICE FOR INCOMING/CURRENT STUDENTS:

Get to know your professors personally. Stop by my office. Tell me more about you, where you grew up, your family, and career goals. I love really getting to know my students. You will feel more connected. Establishing a personal connection with a professor has one of the strongest influences on the likelihood a student will continue college.

FAVORITE SPOT AT ROOSEVELT:

Second floor Fainman Lounge overlooking Grant Park.

FAVORITE SPOT IN CHICAGO:

It was crossing the bridge over the Chicago River on Michigan Avenue but that was before the Trump Tower. Now, I would have to say driving north on Lake Shore Drive, south of the city at night.

YOUR ROLE MODEL AND WHY:

Muhammad Ali. He was willing to risk everything fighting for his political, religious, and social beliefs. Also Bob Dylan—wow, where do I begin? Basically, he changed the course of history through his music. He’s a poetic genius.

CAUSE YOU’RE PASSIONATE ABOUT AND WHY:

Defeating Donald Trump because innumerable civil liberties are in jeopardy should he be reelected.

LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED:

Wonderboys starring Michael Douglas, Frances McDormand, Robert Downey Jr. Tobey MacGuire, and Katie Holmes. I’ve actually seen it before but find it worth revisiting. It follows the existential crisis of a pot-smoking college professor in love with a married administrator at his university.

FAVORITE SPORTS TEAM:

Chicago Bears

WHAT I WISH I KNEW BEFORE GOING TO COLLEGE:

It’s important to go to class!