The Viewbook
College of Liberal Arts
Art & Design
Charmaine Martinez field: Graphic Design reason for entering teaching: I was a T.A. in graduate school and I discovered that I really enjoyed working with students. reason for entering the field: I loved art as a child and discovered graphic design in college. When I realized that I could channel my creative skills into a viable career, I became very excited about becoming a graphic designer. favorite quote: "Make it work." – Tim Gunn continued inspiration: My children, the ocean, and delicious food. last reason to explode in laughter: Watching my daughter do her crazy legs dance down the hallway. biggest challenge: Balancing work life and home life; trying to do everything well when there is never enough time. description by students: I'm not sure how my students would describe me. I hope they would use adjectives like: demanding, tough, motivational, and funny. favorite part of the day: When dinner is on the table, everyone is at their seat, and I am attempting to get my kids to tell me about their day. perfect day: Hmm, that's a hard one. Can a day really be perfect? In some ways, I think perfect days only happen when you are young and free of responsibility. I remember being in my early 20s, living in Chicago and having an entire weekend to just do whatever: sleep in, walk along the lake, go shopping for some random thing with friends, watch bad t.v., go out for delicious Vietnamese noodles, etc. I don't really have days like that any more and I don't remember realizing that they were perfect at the time. reason for coming to Cal Poly: In academia one often does not have much of a choice: you need to find a job at a university that happens to be hiring when you are looking for a teaching position. I got lucky. I was unhappy at my previous institution and saw the job listing for a graphic design position at Cal Poly. I had never been to the Central Coast and knew very little about Cal Poly. During the interview, I decided it was definitely the place I wanted to live and work. favorite weekend activity:Going to the beach with my kids. favorite part of the central coast: It is beautiful here and I have always wanted to live close to the ocean. I love that there are microclimates. I also love that the growing season is year-round and fresh fruits and vegetables are always available. I love that I have two big orange trees in my front yard. I did not grow up in California, so I appreciate it more.
Communications Studies
Richard Besel Field: Communication Studies Reason for entering teaching field: I enjoy teaching. I hope to be to my students the kind of mentor my teachers were to me. Reason for entering the field: During my sophomore year in high school I needed to take an elective class to complete my schedule. I was fortunate enough to attend an institution that had an active debate program and could offer it as a class. I enjoyed the activity so much I eventually majored in Political Science and Speech Communication as an undergraduate while competing in speech and debate activities. The people I met and the experiences I had early in my life all influenced my decision to pursue this line of work. Favorite Quote: "I would rather be ashes than dust." --Jack London What(Who) inspires you? Good movies, good books, and the memory of my mother. Last reason to explode in laughter: My wife, Renee', probably said something I misunderstood. We both probably laughed. Biggest challenge: Taking on too many projects. Description by students: I think they would describe me as relaxed, but serious. They might even note that I like playing card games and don't eat meat. Favorite part of the day: Not the morning. Reason for coming to Cal Poly: Who doesn't want to go to Cal Poly? Favorite weekend activity: Watching movies or playing games. Favorite part of the central coast: The weather is great.
Graphic Communications
Lorraine Donegan Field:Design Reproduction Technology Reason for entering teaching:"…it's never boring. I can always learn more...knowledge is endless. My goal is to teach them the basics...the rules. Once they know the rules, it's fun to watch them throw them out the window! I have the luxury of watching, listening and learning from them." Reason for entering the field: "I always had a passion for good design whether its a beautiful window display or creative advertisement. I love watching how a piece could take shape with beautiful typography." Favorite quote: "It's what you learn after you know it all that counts." - John Wooden (former UCLA basketball coach) Continued inspiration: "…my students and their work. They change every year and so does technology... they both keep getting better. I miss my students when they graduate and move on, but the emails they send me after graduation is a wonderful source of inspiration." Last reason to explode in laughter: "...this happens daily...in class, in lab, at home. Watching and listening to my kids and my students. Life is good." Biggest challenge: "…keeping up with technology. I stay up nights learning software, reading about technology. I would love to read a novel instead of a software manual!" Description by students: "...she is very serious about her classes. She is picky, detail oriented, silly, energetic, expressive, into coffee (therefore perky), and she will keep you awake in lecture." Favorite part of the day: "…when the day is done, I'm sitting on the couch with my husband and I can hear my daughters chatting and giggling in bed...I can't even tell them to go to sleep--It's just too darn cool!" Perfect day: "…usually falls on a day without work, hanging with family and friends. I love to play golf with my husband, but those days are rare. Someday soon it'll be fun to play golf with my husband and both my daughters." Reason for coming to Cal Poly: "I'm able to teach the best of the best and live in one of the most beautiful areas in the world. I also love the people I work with, we all work well together." Favorite weekend activity: "…watching my daughters play softball, soccer, basketball (or whatever the sport of the season happens to be)." Favorite part of the central coast: "…my newly remodeled home. We live near the beach, which I love. I have my dream kitchen and home office. I love driving up to my house, working in my yard, entertaining and enjoying family and friends."
History
George Cotkin Field: U.S. Intellectual and Cultural History Reason for entering teaching field: Did not know what else to do. And I found that I enjoyed it immensely. Reason for entering the field: It was challenging in terms of complexity of ideas and invigorating because I could follow my interests into a variety of areas. Favorite quote: Flaubert, be directed and careful in your life like a good bourgeois so that you can be daring and creative in your art. What(Who) inspires you?: Too many to name. Last reason to explode in laughter: hmmmm. Biggest challenge: Recognizing how much there is to know, even in your own subject area, and settling for less. Description by students: I don't know how to answer this. They seem to like my oddly colored and patterned socks and quirky sense of humor Favorite part of the day: Morning, when it is quiet and I can get work done. Reason for coming to Cal Poly: It was the only job that I was offered. Favorite weekend activity: Doing my research and writing Favorite part of the central coast: Just walking around town
Journalism
Bill Loving Field: Journalism Reason for entering teaching: I flunked beginning reporting three times under the professor who was my mentor and eventually brought me into teaching. I figured as I had done about everything a student could do wrong, I would be in a good place to help other students avoid my mistakes. Reason for entering the field: There is little to compare with the notion that you've told people information they need in order to be informed voters, especially when the information reveals the truth about folks who enjoy the privileges of power. Favorite quote: "When in doubt tell the truth" Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens) Continued inspiration: Persons. Not people. People can be the damnedest bunch of knuckleheads to come down the pike especially when they stop thinking for themselves and follow like sheep. Persons, on the other hand, have a better chance of having common sense and actually using it. Last reason to explode in laughter: I co-author a textbook on media law. I sent my acquaintance a copy of the book and she wrote back that not only was it "brilliant," it was good for killing rattlesnakes, especially when dropped from hip height. Biggest challenge: Finding the time to enjoy all that life has to offer. Description by students: Tough and demanding Favorite part of the day: When I get to sit down after being on my feet walking talking with students for the better part of 8 hours Perfect day: Being with my wife and traveling to new places, enjoying each other's company and trying new things. Reason for coming to Cal Poly: I applied in 1991 after graduating from law school. I didn't get the job but I fell in love with the place. In 2008, I realized my goal. Favorite weekend activity: Going to farmers market with my wife. Favorite part of the central coast: I ride a big v-twin and I like the coast roads.
Modern Languages & Literatures
Brian Kennelly Field: Modern Languages and Literatures (French) Reason for entering teaching field:Inspirational teachers Reason for entering the field:I was originally a Biological Sciences major at UC, Davis. But it soon became clear to me that questions rehearsed in the cutting-edge French literature I was also studying (as a French minor) were potentially more relevant to my life and interesting to me than assembling plastic molecular structures and memorizing chain reactions. Favorite Quote:"Do you really not see it, life, life the whore, all round you?" --J.M.G. Le Clézio, The Interrogation What(Who) inspires you? :Sunrises Last reason to explode in laughter:I don't explode in laughter. Biggest challenge:Accepting (confronting) mortality. Description by students:Ask them. Tough but fair? Favorite part of the day:Walking my dog shortly after I get up and before breakfast. Reason for coming to Cal Poly:Location, climate, quality of students (and to escape the midwest, where I had taught for 9 years before relocating) Favorite weekend activity:Kicking back at Pirates' Cove Favorite part of the central coast:The beaches
Philosophy
Stephen Lloyd Moffett Field: Religious Studies Reason for entering teaching field : The realization that the path to a better community and society begins with education. Reason for entering the field : Religion is something that deeply shapes our society and people care passionately about, yet know so little. Favorite Quote : Margaret Mead - "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed it's the only thing that ever has." What(Who) inspires you? Intelligent and talented people who refuse to conform. Last reason to explode in laughter : Watching my colleagues dance to Lady Gaga. Biggest challenge : Finding time to do all the things I want to do. Nicknames by students : Lord-Muffin, Pro Lloyd-Mo, Prof Lloyd-Moff... Favorite part of the day : Before sunrise when it is all quiet. Reason for coming to Cal Poly : The opportunity to build a program with students who take religion seriously. Favorite weekend activity : Wine tasting and playing with my kids, not necessarily in that order. Favorite part of the central coast : The road up to Big Sur.
Political Science
Craig Arcineaux Field: Comparative Politics: Latin American Politics, democratization, and civil-military relations Reason for entering teaching:Because I never want to stop learning reason for entering the field: Comparative Politics introduces us to a mélange of places, people, cultures, but the task of Comparative Politics is to uncover patterns and generalizable standards within that diversity. I get to play detective every day! favorite quote: "So it goes"- Kurt Vonnegut continued inspiration: Jerry Brown last reason to explode in laughter: Last time I studied American voting behavior. biggest challenge: My ten year old daughter. description by students: "Tough but fair" favorite part of the day: 2pm- when a fresh cup of coffee gives me my second wind. perfect day: An afternoon at Dodger Stadium- and a win for the home team, of course. Or alternatively, and afternoon at a SF Giants game- and a defeat for the home team, of course. reason for coming to Cal Poly: I take pride in its reputation, and- location, location, location. favorite weekend activity: Cycling through wine country favorite part of the central coast: I'm not giving that away!
Theatre
Thomas John Bernard Field: Theatrical Costume Design Reason for entering teaching field: I started teaching because I found I loved it while I was in graduate school. It is exciting for me to see the light bulb of discovery go on for students. Reason for entering the field: I became a costume designer because It is exciting to see things I design come to life. Favorite Quote: "Life is what you make of it!" What(Who) inspires you? Beauty found in everyday life inspires me. It is all around you, you just have to stop and take a look! Last reason to explode in laughter: A goofy answer to a goofy question. I guess you get what you ask for. Biggest challenge: Dyslexia Description by students: "An out-going, ambitious, nice guy!" (wow, thanks for making me ask!) Favorite part of the day: Midnight on the beach! Reason for coming to Cal Poly: Great reputation and it's near the beach! Favorite weekend activity: Saturday nap on the couch or the beach! Favorite part of the central coast: Paso Robles - wine country