NCU Faculty

Why did I become a teacher, and continue to do it now?

Well… Way back in 3^rd grade it came through our talents’ inventory in Sunday School that I was designated to be a teacher. It was always there, so in high school, when a decision was to be made for either math or music, the dilemma began. Hey, I’m more talented music-wise, and knew I’d get into college, so music ed it was, and my math analysis teacher just cried.

Dr. Joel B. Goodin, Assistant Professor, School of Social and Behavioral Sciences

To teach, obviously, is to impart knowledge. Knowledge is often held by the more privileged in society —those who have had higher socio-economic family environments… those who have been able to afford more education… those who have cultural capital. Knowledge is indeed power.

The reason I teach in general, and why specifically at NCU, is multi-factorial. After decades in the global corporate business arena, I decided to write a doctorate on iatrogenic death, or medical death by errors. We lose a minimum of 250,000 lives each year because of medical error – it’s the third-largest cause of death in the United States according to a Johns Hopkins study. This is an almost unknown statistic.

I teach at NCU because NCU has an excellent School of Education. Our School of Education offers more than 30 doctoral education specializations, making it easy for full-time educators to receive advanced degrees. I’ve taught at NCU since 2013 and I love teaching for NCU because I get to mentor educators across the U.S. and the world who are pursuing their doctorates. NCU truly cares about its students, faculty and staff. Respect for education and inclusiveness and diversity is paramount at NCU.

When I tell people that I’m an academic librarian for a completely online university, I often see puzzled looks on their faces as they try to work out what that actually means. The closest they can get to is, “So, the books are all online then? Cool.” What they don’t know is that it’s SO much more than that. They don’t know that I get to design innovative library services to reach our online students. They don’t know that I get to attend Dissertation Boot Camps and interact with our students in some of the most interesting cities in the world.

When I was a little girl in Brazil, I used to arrange a class of doll-pupils in front of me so they could give their undivided attention to whatever I wrote on a blackboard. Then, at 16, I finally had the chance to do some "real" teaching. Our school had posted an ad looking for peer tutors. I immediately volunteered to teach English but was sad to learn that another student already had that role.

Over the last few weeks, folks around the country have felt the disorienting effects of having their routine disrupted.

Suddenly people are working from home, going to school online, juggling childcare and household management with Zoom meetings and due dates. Instead of a morning commute, they are figuring out how to troubleshoot conference calls. Instead of dropping kids at school, they are scanning Khan Academy to help with 4^th grade math.  

As most Irish-Americans, in my family, we celebrate St Patrick’s Day on March 17^th.  When reflecting a bit more on what this day means to me, I pulled out a brief historical interview of my maternal grandmother, and read it over.  I thought it would be beneficial for me to do this for two reasons.

I believe that we are guided to our destiny by others’ deeds and words. While working as a dental hygienist, I engaged with patients to learn a little about them, their lives, and their careers. During these conversations I could figure out what made them ‘tick’ so that I could find a way to teach each person how to achieve optimal dental health. What I did not realize was how inspired I would become by these interactions to learn, be curious about business, and to start a new career as an educator.