Gordon in the News: last updated 10/07/2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 5, 2010
MEDIA CONTACT
Jo Kadlecek
Office of College Communications
978.867.4752
[email protected]
WENHAM, MA—From Australia and Chile to Texas and Illinois, new faculty appointed for the 2010–2011 academic year come from all over the world, bringing not only their unique scholarship to Gordon, but an array of cross cultural experience from which students will benefit.
“Our newest members of the faculty build on everything that’s great about Gordon: academic excellence with a global perspective,” said Provost Mark Sargent. “We are looking forward to welcoming this exceptional group of scholars to our community.”
The new faculty include (from top): Joel Boyd, chemistry; Jonathan Gerber, psychology; Susan Kim, music; Joyce Meeuwsen, education; Moises Park, language and linguistics; Kejun Song, economics and business; and Jessica Ventura, kinesiology.
Building on Gordon’s commitment to green chemistry, Associate Professor Joel Boyd comes from Wayland Baptist University in Plainview, Texas, where he’s been teaching for the past nine years. The marathon runner is looking forward to joining the Gordon community and “exchanging Texan dust for New England snow.”
Jonathan Gerber, assistant professor of psychology, joins the faculty from Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia. He will teach research methods and social psychology. Gerber says he will miss the metric system and cricket, but is eager to explore the woods of New England and follow the Red Sox and American politics.
Violinist Susan J. Kim will be the newest professor in the music department. With training at the Juilliard School and her doctor of education from Teachers College, Columbia University, Kim has also performed as a soloist and orchestra member throughout the world, including Germany, Japan and South Korea.
Joining the full-time faculty in the Education Department as an Assistant Professor, Joyce L. Meeuwsen taught elementary school for nine years before completing her Ed.D. in Educational Leadership, Policy, and Organizations from Vanderbilt University in Nashville. Her educational research interests include the impact of performance incentives on teacher quality, student achievement and organizational dynamics, and the intersection of policy and practice.
Though he’ll be moving from Davis, CA, Moises Park, assistant professor of Spanish, is originally from Santiago, Chile. As the newest member in the department of language and linguistics, Park, who just completed his Ph.D. in Latin American Literature and Cultures at the University of California, is also a musician, filmmaker and soccer player.
After teaching at Wheaton College this past year, Kejun Song, assistant professor of economics, will join the department of economics and business, one of the largest majors on campus. With her B.S. from Central South University in China, Song received her Ph.D. at the University of California, Irvine. She loves hiking and is eager to explore the trails and beaches of New England.
Jessica Ventura, assistant professor of kinesiology, comes from Austin, Texas, where she recently completed her Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering. An active native of sunny California, Ventura is looking forward to living in a place with four distinct seasons and hopes students in her classes will gain a new appreciation for how their bodies move through completing the fun and interesting projects she has planned.
