EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
HIGH SCHOOL - Collegiate School
My early education consisted of public schools in Richmond Virginia up until 1960 when I started the 8th grade a Collegiate School, a private school with a newly opened campus in the west end of town. While at Collegiate I discovered an interest in Theater. I began acting in plays at school and soon found the courage to try out for community theater in Richmond. While at Collegiate I performed with the All Saints Drama Guild, the Richmond Shakespeare Players and with an Equity Troupe one summer at the Barn Dinner Theater. Here's a video to give you an idea of the school. I looked closely and I've identified my Mother's car (fourth from the right) at 1:38 into the video.
My early education consisted of public schools in Richmond Virginia up until 1960 when I started the 8th grade a Collegiate School, a private school with a newly opened campus in the west end of town. While at Collegiate I discovered an interest in Theater. I began acting in plays at school and soon found the courage to try out for community theater in Richmond. While at Collegiate I performed with the All Saints Drama Guild, the Richmond Shakespeare Players and with an Equity Troupe one summer at the Barn Dinner Theater. Here's a video to give you an idea of the school. I looked closely and I've identified my Mother's car (fourth from the right) at 1:38 into the video.
COLLEGE - Furman University
I was a member of the famous college class of 1969. While at Furman University I majored in Drama and filled many roles on stage and off. My first production was in The Threepenny Opera, (that's me with my back to the audience). Then Liliom, Inherit The Wind, The Visit, my musical debut in The Fantasticks, royalty as Duke Orsino in Twelfth Night, and my Gilligan-look-alike in Luv. I ultimately concentrated on directing for my senior project. (A Delicate Balance, by Edward Albee) I minored in Education while at Furman and upon graduation I was licensed to teach Drama in public schools in South Carolina. Many more plays followed in community theatres in Greenville, Winnsboro, and Columbia, SC, and in Lexington and Leesburg, VA.
I was a member of the famous college class of 1969. While at Furman University I majored in Drama and filled many roles on stage and off. My first production was in The Threepenny Opera, (that's me with my back to the audience). Then Liliom, Inherit The Wind, The Visit, my musical debut in The Fantasticks, royalty as Duke Orsino in Twelfth Night, and my Gilligan-look-alike in Luv. I ultimately concentrated on directing for my senior project. (A Delicate Balance, by Edward Albee) I minored in Education while at Furman and upon graduation I was licensed to teach Drama in public schools in South Carolina. Many more plays followed in community theatres in Greenville, Winnsboro, and Columbia, SC, and in Lexington and Leesburg, VA.
GRADUATE SCHOOL - James Madison University
By 1981 I was becoming restless and decided to take a course at JMU. One course led to another and soon I had completed a Master's in Education. I was not teaching at the time but I still had an interest in education.
GRADUATE SCHOOL CONTINUED - University of Maryland
"How hard can it be?", I asked myself. Fired up by receiving a Master's degree, I decided to go for the PhD. So I enrolled in the doctoral program for Public Communication (PCOM) at the University of Maryland in College Park. I was advised that in order to complete a PhD I should go to school fulltime. HA! How would I pay for that? No, I continued to work and go to school at night. I completed all of the courses, and passed the comprehensive exams. But before I could write the dissertation, I lost my job in Washington and moved to Richmond. No dissertation, no PhD. I guess the advice was right. FEAR THE TURTLE!
MORE GRADUATE SCHOOL - UMUC
I had been teaching at the University of Richmond since 1997 when, in 2004 I was asked to teach a course online.
"What's that", I asked.
"It's easy, we'll train you in how to use Blackboard", they said.
So I learned online distance education in a one week class in the computer lab. For my first online course I took all of my classroom notes and asked the students to meet online each week. That lasted about one day, when I learned that my students were in different times zones, no one could meet at the assigned times. My classroom notes didn't make any sense when I posted them on Blackboard. I decided there must be more to this distance thing so I searched online (Google) and enrolled in the MDE program at UMUC. It was an excellent decision! The quality of the education I have received has been exceptional. There are other schools that offer DE degrees but UMUC sets the standard in my opinion.
"What's that", I asked.
"It's easy, we'll train you in how to use Blackboard", they said.
So I learned online distance education in a one week class in the computer lab. For my first online course I took all of my classroom notes and asked the students to meet online each week. That lasted about one day, when I learned that my students were in different times zones, no one could meet at the assigned times. My classroom notes didn't make any sense when I posted them on Blackboard. I decided there must be more to this distance thing so I searched online (Google) and enrolled in the MDE program at UMUC. It was an excellent decision! The quality of the education I have received has been exceptional. There are other schools that offer DE degrees but UMUC sets the standard in my opinion.