Walking around North Central’s campus, it is easy to see some of the new additions the school has made, like the New Hall and the new construction for the science center. But you might also see new faces walking around the campus: not just the freshman from the record-setting class of 2019, but new professors who now call NCC their home. Their knowledge covers a wide range of disciplines, from art history, to politics, to marketing and management. But all are excited to become a part of the North Central College family.
Here’s what some of the new faculty had to say about coming to NCC:
Name: Lindsay E. Shannon
Title: Assistant professor of art history
Department: Art and Theater
“I will be developing the art history program at North Central. While continuing the interdisciplinary nature of the current courses, I also plan to add some new courses to serve students from a variety of majors. I have already been impressed with the students at North Central; they have been active participants in the classroom and have really intelligent questions and observations. It is rare to see college students who can have fun and still maintain such a professional attitude toward learning! I am excited to be joining such a dynamic campus community; it is clear that everyone enjoys being part of the North Central experience and wants to make a positive impact.”
Name: Jason Rice
Title: Assistant professor of Sports Management
Department: Health and Physical Education
(On what brought him to NCC)
“Praise from North Central alumni friends, North Central’s reputation, similarities to my undergraduate experience, and the location. I feel the characteristics of North Central provide a unique blend of opportunities for our students. Also, there is real a sense of progress and energy on campus, which encourages us to explore our own possibilities.”
(How NCC differs from his previous institution)
“It is not in the school mascot, both honoring their respective state birds, the cardinal. Enrollment size is the most notable difference. “
(What he’s most excited about this year)
“Learning more about North Central, getting to know the students, and creating unique experiences for our campus. I am also excited about taking the train into Chicago on snowy weekends.”
Name: Alyxx Mark
Title: Assistant professor of political science
Department: Political science
(On what brought him to NCC)
“NCC appealed to me because I value small class sizes and the types of interactions small classes allow between students and professors. At a larger institution, it is more difficult to build these relationships, and I’m thankful to be at an institution that encourages them.”
(How NCC differs from his previous institution)
“I finished my Ph.D. at George Washington University in D.C. this summer. GW is a much larger school, and is an urban campus. I like the suburban feel of Naperville and NCC, but I live in Chicago so I can enjoy urban life too!”
(What he’s most excited about this year)
“I am excited to get to know the students at NCC and learn about their interests in both political science and the law. I am teaching an IDS (interdisciplinary seminar) in the winter term about politics and disasters, which should be very interesting!”
Name: Jermaine Hill
Title: Assistant professor of theatre
Department: Art and Theatre
(On what brought him to NCC)
“I was an adjunct musical theatre voice teacher here during the 2012-2013 academic year. I was immediately impressed by the passion and commitment from everyone in the theatre department to provide the highest-quality education possible. They use all of their resources to bring 10 productions to light – a feat not achieved by programs twice our size. The department is always looking for ways to improve and expand on our course offerings to provide a more thorough education in theatre and musical theatre. I really love my colleagues and I am excited to continue to work with them to improve and expand our department.”
(On how NCC differs from his previous institution)
“What is immediately clear is how connected the faculty and staff are to one another. Everyone was incredibly welcoming during our faculty orientations, and our first-year ‘class’ got to know each other very well. Having a faculty that work together, respect each other and get along is hugely important. Those qualities are oftentimes missing at large universities.”
(What he’s most excited about for this year)
“I’m looking forward to working with and mentoring the students in the musical theatre major. They have all been very welcoming and are excited to have me and this position to steer the musical theatre major. I’m sure that when the curtain goes up on the first show of the year, we will all be terribly excited!”
Name: Chetan Chawla
Title: Assistant professor of management
Department: Management and marketing
(On what brought him to NCC)
“This is my first faculty position. I recently completed my Ph.D. in Strategic Management from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.”
(How NCC differs from his previous institution)
“Unlike UMASS Amherst, the flagship state university of Massachusetts, North Central is a smaller liberal arts college. The collegiality and welcome I have received here in the last few weeks has been fantastic.”
(On what he’s most excited for this year)
“This is an exciting time to be at North Central. The new leadership under Dean of Faculty Dr. Goke-Pariola and President Dr. Hammond are catalyzing changes in the structure of our college, which are going to position us better for 21st century higher education. Especially relevant to my field (strategic management and entrepreneurship) is the new emphasis on entrepreneurship that is going to help us better prepare our students for careers post-graduation. I’m looking forward to the changes that North Central is going to see in 2015-16 and beyond.”
Name: Nicholas Mauro
Title: Assistant professor of physics
Department: Chemistry and Physics
(On what brought him to NCC)
“The biggest factor that brings me to North Central is the ability to teach and do research at an institution whose students are diverse and excited to learn. It was important to me that the values of the institution match my own. I’m an experimental physicist by training and I’ve come to realize that only through a combination of academics, hands-on research and laboratory work can students really get the best educational experience. I value the contributions that students can make to my own research and I’m glad to be here with excellent students at a college that values those contributions.”
(How NCC differs from his previous institution)
“Previous to coming to North Central, I was a visiting assistant professor of physics at Lawrence University in Appleton, Wis., and before that I was a graduate student and post-doctoral researcher at Washington University in St. Louis. It’s hard for me to say exactly how North Central differs from my previous experiences; both Lawrence and Wash U are such different places from here! Lawrence is a smallish liberal arts school that values a comprehensive experience for students much like North Central. I think the first thing I’ve noticed is the tremendous excitement my students are exuding! There is a palpable sense of enthusiasm for the college and the students are very fun to be around because of it.”
(What he’s most excited for this year)
“The most important part of my work is my students and the courses I’m teaching. I think I’m most excited about the challenge of learning about new students and coming up with new approaches and applications in my classes for the diversity of interests we have in the student body. I’m also very excited to put my research lab together. This year, my students and I will be working to understand how the molecules in lithium-ion battery electrolytes organize themselves. To do this, we’ll be developing some very sophisticated pieces of equipment and conducting experiments at Argonne National Laboratory. We have a lot of great work ahead of us this year!”
