Instructor Profile

In case you’re wondering about who the heck I am - here’s my brief bio:

In my day job I teach full-time at Tyler Junior College and the University of Texas at Tyler.  I am very excited to have introduced Tyler Junior College to cyber-learning by offering the online courses. This new mode of learning/teaching comes with its own challenges and rewards. It is certainly not for everyone. I enjoy the flexibility and convenience that it offers, and find that I can give students more individualized attention. My role is that of a facilitator and a tutor rather than a lecturer. I hope that you will enjoy learning through this new and exciting medium. I have extensive field work and travel experience in the Middle East, Far East and Near East.  As part of my research in comparative politics, I traveled to Turkey (since 1998 twenty one times), Canada in 2007, England in 1999-2000,  Japan in 1997, Thailand in 1995, Iran in 1993,   and Mexico in 1986. 

In 2009, I was the winner of "the Endowed Chair for Teaching Excellence" by my peer, and was "the winner Dr. Martin Luther King Award" to advance peace.   In 2008, I was selected as "the Texas Professor of the Year" by the Carnegie Foundation.    I have been the winner of teaching excellence awards and nominated three for the U.S. Professors of the Year Program.  I have received a Teaching Excellence Award from the University of Texas at Austin (NISOD), Post doctoral fellowship from UT Austin, The U.S. Institute of Peace, and five prestigious Fulbright awards among many other awards.

I look forward to a rewarding semester!

• On Teaching and Learning
• Education
• Professional Experiences, Activities and Services  
• Grants, Honors, Awards and Scholarships
• Professional Affiliations
• Publications and Book Review

• Languages
• Courses Taught
• Teaching Philosophy
• Personal Information

ON TEACHING & LEARNING

I have been teaching political science courses since 1979.  I started my teaching career at University of North Texas (Denton) and accepted a full time position at Tyler Junior College in 1987. I received my B.A. in Political Science from the National University of Iran and an M.A. in Political Science with a concentration in International Relations from Tehran University.  I have been involved with technology for the past fifteen years and global education for the past twenty years in an effort to enhance the teaching & learning process. 

Being in education keeps one young at heart. Going straight from high school through to my Ph. D., I found I enjoyed being around teachers and students. I still do. I am still a student, learning along with you, doing my homework (lesson plans and grading), and getting frustrated at times, just as you do. I have not forgotten the struggles that students face, as I had to overcome a number of language and cultural barriers when I came to this country as a foreign student.

EDUCATION

Three Post-doctoral Fellowships (University of Texas at Austin, Rice University and  The United States Institute of Peace)
Ph.D. in Political Science: University of North Texas, Denton, Texas, 1983
M.A. in Political Science: Tehran University, Iran, 1978
B.A. in Political Science: National University of Iran, 1976
 

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE, ACTIVITIES & SERVICE

Teach a variety of Political Science courses from American Politics, Texas Politics, to The Middle East, Near East and Far East Politics, Society and Culture.   Incorporate the use of multimedia, the internet, PowerPoint presentations, and active learning in all classes. Designed, set up, and teach model on-line courses in Political Science.  Direct and organize TJC International Day, develop the budget, strengthening the curriculum, and lead travel/study projects.   Initiate projects and offer faculty workshops and support in educational technology.

Piper Professor of 2010, Received Minnie Steven's Piper Award for 2010;
"The Texas Professor of the Year", The Carnegie Foundation, Washington, D.C., 2008;
“Excellence in Teaching Award”, The Mattie Alice Scroggin Baker, by the TJC Faculty Senate, Aug. 15, 2006;
Fulbright Grant ($51,000) from the U.S. Department of Education to take seventeen people to Turkey for five weeks of travel and study project in 2001;
Excellence in Education Award by TJC Student Senate 2001;
Nominee for the U.S. Professors of the Year Program in 1999 and 2000;
Selected Reviewer for the National Security Educational Program in 2000;
Selected Speaker for the Texas Council for the Humanities sponsored by the National Endowments for the Humanities;
Professional Development Grant ($1,600) from Tyler Junior College to conduct research in England (1999-2000);
Texas Commission on the Arts Grant ($2,226.00) to promote cultural arts program in the east Texas Region (2000);
Fulbright Grant ($50,430) from the U.S. Department of Education to take fifteen people to Turkey for five weeks of travel and study project in 1999;
Outstanding Instructor Nominee 1999 (The Mattie Alice Scrogin Baker Award) selected by the faculty for excellence in education;
Texas Council for the Humanities Grant ($2,000) to bring outstanding teachers, writers, and public presenters to the campus during the spring and fall of 1998 and 1999;
Selected to be among best teachers in Who's Who Among America's Teachers, 1999;
Outstanding Instructor Nominee 1998 (The Mattie Alice Scrogin Baker Award) selected by the faculty for excellence in education;
Nominee for the Endowed Chair for Teaching Excellence 1998;
Texas Commission on the Arts Grant ($1,744.00) to promote cultural arts program in the east Texas Region (1998);
Outstanding Instructor Nominee 1997 (The Mattie Alice Scrogin Baker Award) selected by the faculty for excellence in education;
Fulbright Grant ($48,000) from the U.S. Department of Education to take fifteen people to Turkey for five weeks of travel and study project in 1997;
Texas Council for the Humanities Grant ($2,000) to bring outstanding teachers, writers, and public presenters to the campus during the spring and fall of 1997 and 1998;
The Middle East Policy Council Grant ($3,000), to conduct workshop for the faculty, public school teachers and students about Arab World and Islam in October 1997;
FIPSE Grant (The Fund for Improvement of Post Secondary Education) ($800) to integrate "International Negotiation Module Projects" in core curriculum courses by using the Internet and computer technology during 1996-1997;
Certificate of Appreciation, received from Tyler Junior College for initiating and organizing TJC's International Day for the past five years.
U.S. Institute of Peace Grant ($5,000), to participate in the 1996 Summer for Community College Faculty on Approaches to Peace in a Changing World;
Fulbright Grant ($6,000) to Participation in the Group Project at Thailand in the summer of 1995 (funded by the U.S. Department of Education);
Teaching Excellence Award at Tyler Junior College received at 1995 NISOD (The National Institute for staff and Organizational Development, Austin);
The Middle East Policy Council Grant ($3,000), to conduct workshop for the faculty, public school teachers and students about Arab World and Islam in April 1995;
The Middle East Institute Grant ($4,000), to enhance Middle East Outreach Program at Tyler Junior College for the academic year of 1994-1996;
U.S. Institute of Peace Grant ($250), to supplement the OPTIONS Speakers Bureau Program at Tyler Junior College;
Appointed as a member of the Board of Directors of the East Texas Council on World Affairs, May 1992;
The Middle East Institute Grant ($3,000), to establish Middle East Outreach Program at Tyler Junior College for the academic year of 1992-1993;
U.S. Institute of Peace Grant for Speakers Bureau ($2,000), to establish a faculty speaker's bureau on international security issues for a community outreach program in the Tyler area, for the academic year 1992-1993;
Tyler Junior College, all expense paid to attend International Conference on Teaching Excellence organized by National Institute for Staff and Organizational Leaders (N.I.S.O.D.), Austin, Texas, 1990 through 2000,
The Mellon Foundation Grant, all expenses paid to attend a workshop on Congress and the Presidency at Rice University, Houston, Texas, December 15-16,1989;
Southwestern International Studies Consortium's Grant, to participate in the Third World Conference, Chicago, Illinois, April, 1989;
The Mellon Foundation's Grant, plus $300 Honorarium, room, board and travel allowance for participation in the summer workshops for "Congressional History" and "The President and Congress" Rice University, Houston, Texas, May 17-29, 1987 & May 15-27, 1988;
Southwestern International Studies Consortium's Grant ($800), to develop two new courses: one related to the Third World Countries and another related to Global Issues, 1987-88
Southwestern International Studies Consortium' Grant ($300) to Internationalize a basic course in American Politics, 1987-88
National Honorary Roll, Foreign Policy Association, Great Decisions, May, 1987
Southwestern International Studies Consortium, $800 for participation in a Seminar in Mexico for three weeks, December, 1986 - January, 1987
Southwestern International Studies Consortium, stipend, travel and per diem for participation in three day conference at Grambling State University (Louisiana), November, 1986
Nominee for the outstanding graduate student at North Texas State University, Denton, Texas, 1981
Academic scholarship from Tehran University (Iran) for the completion of the Ph.D. Program in the U.S.A., 1978
A silver medal of honor for being a valedictorian student in the M.A. program, National University of Iran (Iran), 1978
A silver medal of honor for being a valedictorian student in the B.A. program, National University of Iran (Iran), 1976

Professional Affiliations

The Middle East Institute, Middle East Studies Association of North America, Middle East Policy Council, and Texas Community College Teachers Association, American Political Science Association, American Association Community Colleges, Middle East Outreach Council

Languages

English, Persian, Turkish (Azeri), Arabic

Teaching Philosophy

I once read an essay that analogized two distinct methods of teaching. In one method, professor sees their students as empty sausage casings, ready to be stuffed with the meaty course content. The students, then, are passive recipients of the knowledge imparted by the learned professors.
In the other method, the professors envision their students as oysters. These professors provide their students with the tools they need to produce the pearls from within themselves. It is this method that I embrace. As a political science teacher at the community college level, I see many students who are underprepared for college, students who lack both confidence and skill.
My job as an instructor is to teach them to be a critical thinker. My role as a teacher, however, is much more complex. I must teach them how to play an active role in their own education. I provide the tools and the agitators necessary to stimulate their ability to reason logically, to be able to make clear decision as to what they think. It would be easier to "stuff" them with what I think, to give them my interpretation of a particular political event or action. It is my responsibility, however, to teach them how to produce a lifetime of pearls, for the betterment of their lives and of ours. I was fortunate that as a young college student, underprepared and immature, a teacher saw in me a pearl. It has made all the difference in my life, and it is my dream that I can make that same difference in the lives of my students.
 

The following poem by one of my students is a very telling story about me:

Dr. K

I need to tell you about a man who is very kind and helpful.

His name is Manoucher Khosrowshahi.  (I know that it’s a mouthful!)

He teaches at the community college.  He teaches at the university.

He teaches students about political science and he encourages diversity.

He gives his students many chances throughout the semester to succeed.

He wants everyone to learn as much as they can, and so his advice we heed.

We learn about our own government.  We learn about others too.

We learn that we have a lot in common.  We are held together by this glue.

The people in the Middle East are just like you and me.

They have jobs and homes.  They raise their families.

They may think a little different and wear different clothes than us,

But that doesn’t mean they aren’t nice.  They’re not all terrorists!

Our differences make us interesting to learn about each other.

Our similarities bind us together with our sisters and our brothers.

The Earth will still continue to go on if today was his last day.

But many of us are so much better off for having known Dr. K.

 By: Shanah Hill 2009 

PERSONAL INFORMATION

Enjoy photography, cooking, calligraphy, classical, choral, and international music, traveling, camping, VW car shows and, art and remodeling houses.

Fluent in Turkish (Azeri) and  Persian, Turkey Turkish, Knowledge of Arabic languages.

Love working on global education projects and creative technology projects.

Exceptional communication and organization skills.

I also do lots of volunteer  and charity work for the community and my college.  If you are interested in joining me at my charity work, please contact me.  I am always open to new ideas.

Enjoy driving and restoring Volkswagen Bug cars.   I had 10 different VWs in the past 20 years.  Now I have a white VW 1971 and sky blue convertible VW 1974.  Here are the pictures of my VW's:

Fun Stuff:
Please click on the following link.  You will be impressed.

http://en.tackfilm.se/?id=1265032181492RA93

If I am impressed by your profile, I accept your friendship on Facebook: