There are many new faces among the Bobcat staff this year as Ohio University has over 130 new faculty positions that span across every college and OU’s regional campuses.
“A few years ago, the number of new faculty were smaller when there were leaner budgets,” said Howard DeWald, associate provost for Faculty and Academic Planning, in an email. He did not have any data showing how the number of faculty has grown or shrunk over the past several years, only offering anecdotal information that the recession cut the ranks of faculty.
The College of Arts and Sciences has the highest influx of new faculty this year, with over 40 new professors and teachers.
The Post talked to a new faculty member in each of OU’s Athens campus colleges that had new faculty this fall. Below are those interviews.
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Robert Wayner, assistant clinical professor of physical therapy
College of Health Sciences and Professions
Teaches in the School of Rehabilitation and Communication Sciences. Salary: $80,000.00
Where did you go to school? I went to Ohio University for undergrad from 2001 to 2005 and ran track and cross country here. I also went to physical therapy school here, as well, from 2005 to 2008.
What is it like coming back to Ohio University? A lot of it is the same; a lot of it’s (me having) a different perspective. There’s a lot in Athens for family. Athens is (growing); this is a destination place to come if you are planning a visit or a place to live. It is a lot more than just the college town.
What was one of the best parts of your college experience? As a student-athlete, being part of several different events and groupings here at the university was really special for me. Ohio University is the quintessential college town.
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Charles Lowery, assistant professor of educational studies
Gladys W. and David H. Patton College of Education
Teaches students how to become principals. Was a principal of an elementary school in Texas. Salary: $63,000.00
What is like going from being a principal to a college professor? It is a big change from your typical administration standpoint, from being a school principal to coming to be a higher institution professor. I’m used to high-fiving seven-year-olds in the hallway compared to preparing individuals who have themselves been teachers... definitely a huge difference in age. It is a different culture; institutions of higher education are much larger than most school districts. Collaboration here is a lot more available.
Where did you work before coming to Ohio University? I was an elementary school principal in Texas ... (I) finished my doctorate a couple years ago and during my time there (and), through my studies, I became very involved in looking at ideals of Democracy and Social Justice in educational leadership.
What is something you did not know about Athens before coming here? Athens is just a really cool place. My wife and kids really enjoy the community ... it has a lot to offer. It’s small town feel, but it has a lot of places to eat and shop so it’s a nice blend.
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Laura Brown, assistant professor of music therapy
College of Fine Arts
I teach introduction to music therapy, music therapy principles and techniques, third year practicum in music therapy, and advanced music therapy practicum Salary: $60,000.00
Why did you come to OU? I was interested in being closer to family and this program has graduate students which is interesting to me.
What is something you did not know about Athens before coming here? I have had fun discovering all the neat places in town... all the community has to offer.
What is some research you are working on or have worked on in the past? I have worked on research with children with autism and music therapy.
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Jennifer Fredette, assistant professor of public law
Currently conducting research on law and identity in the French domestic and British Overseas Territories of the Caribbean. Salary: $63,000.00
What is some research you are working on or have worked on in the past? I just finished a book that came out this year about Muslim Activism in France and how politicians, the media and intellectuals in France depict Muslims. I was looking into stereotypes and how people respond to them. I am starting a new project on the politics of difference and legal colonialism in the Caribbean.
What is something you hope to bring to OU? I’m really passionate about teaching. I really like bringing pop culture to the classroom because it makes the students feel really comfortable because it’s something that you are masters of, frequently more so than your professors. I hope to get more students excited about the French-speaking world.
What is something you did not know about Athens before coming here? I didn’t know about the bike trail, which is awesome. The local food movement is awesome. I was unprepared for how nice people would be. People are really genuinely interested in how you are doing.
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Rafal Sokolowski, assistant professor of film
College of Fine Arts
Teach production and practice of film criticism. Salary: $55,000.00
Where did you go to school? (My undergraduate was) in biochemistry at the University of Toronto. My parents said don't be a doctor, be an actor. So I listened and got into The National Theater School and trained as an actor. I got a wonderful scholarship from New York that allowed me to go to any school in the world and pursue any interest of mine that I want to do. (I went to) this school in Poland, in Krakow, called the National Academy of Theater and ... (had a) 1 year apprenticeship in directing. With this experience, I went back to Toronto and was doing my own work in theater and in film and eventually, after 10 years, brought me to my masters degree in film at New York University.
Why did you come to OU? In my research, the film division, which is now part of the larger school of dance, film, and theater, sounds like an amazing place. It focuses on the creative process, creation and production of film. It felt like a really good match for what I was looking for.
Where are you from and where are some places you have traveled? I am from Poland. I have been to Montreal, Toronto, and now I am south of the border creating a new platform for my doings here in Athens, Ohio. I'm hoping to reach out to nearby larger communities as well.
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Daniel Skinner, assistant professor of health policy
Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine
Studies the Affordable Care Act. Salary: $80,000.00
What is something you hope to bring to OU? I don’t think that learning policy has to be stuffy or boring or even overly technical. One of the things our country does not do very well is it makes policy issues seem that they are not for average people to engage, and I think that is wrong. I really hope to encourage medical students to think more humanistically.
Why did you come to OU? It’s an extremely exciting time to be involved with health policy. This was just an opportunity to be involved with a policy issue that is on-going, that’s relevant — that’s controversial sometimes. So I felt that I had to jump at the opportunity to help medical students understand the world they were going into.
What is some research you have worked on? I have published several articles about health policy, but more politics. As a political scientist, I’m really interested in the way in which politics shape how average citizens think about health policy; shape the economics of health policy.
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Elizabeth Hendrickson, assistant professor of journalism
Scripps College of Communication
Studies the interaction between technological innovation and magazine content creation and teaches magazine feature writing. Salary: $69,000.00
Where did you work before coming here to OU? I am from up near Sandusky, Ohio. (I worked for) Glamour, Ladies Home Journal and Parade magazines, among others. (My) first faculty position was at the University of Tennessee, where I taught the magazine capstone and the journalism capstone for seniors and some graduate classes, too.
Why did you come to OU? I had been talking to faculty here and over the course of the last few years, and the right opportunity came up. I knew some of the faculty ... I went to graduate school with three of the faculty here. I really like the program and what it has to offer and the faculty that teach here. My parents are only three hours north.
What is something you hope to bring to OU? I hope to bring more connections. More New York City connections to students. I’d really like to grow our alumni in the city in the publishing industry there.
How are you liking OU so far? It’s great. The caliber of students is impressive and I really like the faculty I’m working with. I love it. I feel really at home. They have been really accommodating, just all-around pretty awesome.
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Bhaven Naik, assistant professor of civil engineering
Russ College of Engineering
Teaches a civil engineering course and a traffic parameters course. Salary: $80,000.00
What is some research you have worked on or are currently working on? Most of my research is based on traffic microsimulation modeling. If we change the traffic signal timing parameters, its hard for us to actually go out and practice in reality, just because of the liability aspect. We build simulation models, more like a computer game, and adjust the timing parameters of the simulation model and see the effects of it and, when we are satisfied, we implement it.
How are you liking OU so far? It’s great, the student community OU has is not very large and it’s not very small, so it’s in between, which is kind of what I really was looking for. The people in the department are very nice, very helpful. Things have been good.
What is something new you have learned about Athens/OU? Just coming and seeing the university was kind of new to me.
Where did you go to school? University of Nebraska.
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Lori Marchese, professor of management information systems
College of Business
Teaches management information systems. Salary: not listed
Why did you come to OU? My husband and I both left the corporate world because we have the desire to teach. We thought OU’s College of Business would be a good fit because of the student-centered approach. We were interested in OU because of that student focus.
What is it like going from the corporate world to being a professor? It is very different. Challenging and fun.
What is something you hope to bring to OU? I think my experience in business, and my enthusiasm. To better make that transition from academia to the real world.
What is something you did not know about Athens/OU before coming here? Everything. I met new people and learn new things everyday. It is very beautiful here.
