My Statements: Research, Teaching,

Service, and Personal Faith

At universities, it is a common practice for professors to create several statements that permit others to understand the plans and motivations regarding research, teaching, and public service. These permit the professors to critically reflect on their work and the plan they are using to guide them for future activities. I have updated my statements after retirement from the University of Minnesota since I am still an active professor. I also added a fourth statement, personal faith as a Christ-follower, since it helps to explain what motivates me with the other three statements. < > = web links

<Research Statement> My research explores academic access in postsecondary education and develops evidence-based strategies to increase the success of underrepresented student populations in college.

<Teaching Statement> Most formal teaching statements contain the pedagogy employed, learning objectives, details of individual classes taught, evaluations of teaching, and more. Rather than updating that document, I am using instead a blog posting that I created for my retirement. It is more of a reflection than a statement. In any case, you will get to know me better with this document.

<Service Statement> Engaged service to the community is an integral part of my research, personal faith, and an extension of who I am as a connected member of society. Many of my service activities are directed to increasing students' access and success in postsecondary education, especially those historically underrepresented.

<Personal Faith Statement> My faith in Jesus Christ is a powerful influence on me in my personal life and my professional life. It helped direct me with my approach to teaching, community service projects in that I became involved, and the reason for my focus on researching best practices for marginalized students. My personal faith is based upon the historical evidence for the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.