Dr. Camila Alvarez
Campus: Pruitt
Office: J-314
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 772-336-6296
Biography: Camila Alvarez is a first-generation American citizen and a first-generation college graduate. She is the first person in her family to earn an advanced degree. She earned her Master of Arts degree from Florida Atlantic University, where she focused on 19th-century British and American Literature. She earned her Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Central Florida—her dissertation focused on teaching and writing with technology, reflective writing, and feminist theory. Dr. Alvarez has been teaching at IRSC since 2003 and knows all her students can become successful writers. Students in her composition courses often work on websites and use technology to enhance their learning experience. Her interests include pedagogy, digital media, gaming, learning environments, and networking learning.
Teaching Quote: "The task of the modern educator is not to cut down jungles, but to irrigate deserts" - C. S. Lewis; "Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, Nothing is going to get better. It's not” - Dr. Seuss
Personal Website: http://calvarez-irsc.weebly.com/
Campus: Pruitt
Office: J-314
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 772-336-6296
Biography: Camila Alvarez is a first-generation American citizen and a first-generation college graduate. She is the first person in her family to earn an advanced degree. She earned her Master of Arts degree from Florida Atlantic University, where she focused on 19th-century British and American Literature. She earned her Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Central Florida—her dissertation focused on teaching and writing with technology, reflective writing, and feminist theory. Dr. Alvarez has been teaching at IRSC since 2003 and knows all her students can become successful writers. Students in her composition courses often work on websites and use technology to enhance their learning experience. Her interests include pedagogy, digital media, gaming, learning environments, and networking learning.
Teaching Quote: "The task of the modern educator is not to cut down jungles, but to irrigate deserts" - C. S. Lewis; "Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, Nothing is going to get better. It's not” - Dr. Seuss
Personal Website: http://calvarez-irsc.weebly.com/
Dr. Suchismita Banerjee
(Writing Club Faculty Advisor)
Campus: Massey
Office: J-216
Email: s[email protected]
Phone: 772-462-7666
Biography: Suchismita Banerjee, aka Suchi, is a full time faculty at Indian River State College (IRSC). She holds two M.A.s in English from University of Calcutta, India and Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio. She did her Bachelor of Education (B.Ed) from Shri Shikshayatan College in India and briefly taught at a primary school in the city of Calcutta (now renamed as Kolkata). She has two graduate certificates in Women and Gender Studies from Wright State University and University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Suchi is currently teaching ENC 1101: Introductory College Writing course at IRSC. Her classes have a student-centric structure where she encourage discussion and group work over lecture. Workshop and one-on-one conference are integral parts of her Composition courses and she tries to ensure student success and achievement by thoroughly reading and commenting on drafts and providing ideas for revision. Suchi believes that she provides a safe space for student-writers where they can be comfortable reading and critiquing their work and that of their peers and also feel entitled towards their writing. She finds it immensely satisfying when her students start viewing themselves as writers and not just as college freshmen merely doing their required assignments.
As an international professor, Suchi is keenly attentive towards promoting diversity. She is enthusiastic about encouraging pluralism in classroom setting by being sensitive towards individual and collective needs of students, particularly those coming from under-privileged backgrounds. Her experience at the Upward Bound summer program at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee has enabled her to think deeply about her role as a motivational instructor who can encourage struggling students to graduate and move up in life. She constantly thinks how to match her teaching pedagogy with skill-based training that might be practically useful to my students. I try to organize activities that will train young minds to become close readers, critical thinkers, and precise writers who will have the ability to see the power of written words.
Teaching Quote: My pedagogical approach of interrogating identities is further extended in my research. My dissertation explores the politics of minoritization of colonial Christians in twentieth century postcolonial literature. Using British colonization as an analytical lens, I look at the ambiguous and ambivalent practices of the British imperial state to investigate the nuances of naming and minoritizing different Christian groups in South Asia and Britain. Though research and publications on Christians in the colonies have been growing in the past few decades, yet not enough attention has been given to the politics of negotiating minority- identities in post-colonial diasporic space.
(Writing Club Faculty Advisor)
Campus: Massey
Office: J-216
Email: s[email protected]
Phone: 772-462-7666
Biography: Suchismita Banerjee, aka Suchi, is a full time faculty at Indian River State College (IRSC). She holds two M.A.s in English from University of Calcutta, India and Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio. She did her Bachelor of Education (B.Ed) from Shri Shikshayatan College in India and briefly taught at a primary school in the city of Calcutta (now renamed as Kolkata). She has two graduate certificates in Women and Gender Studies from Wright State University and University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Suchi is currently teaching ENC 1101: Introductory College Writing course at IRSC. Her classes have a student-centric structure where she encourage discussion and group work over lecture. Workshop and one-on-one conference are integral parts of her Composition courses and she tries to ensure student success and achievement by thoroughly reading and commenting on drafts and providing ideas for revision. Suchi believes that she provides a safe space for student-writers where they can be comfortable reading and critiquing their work and that of their peers and also feel entitled towards their writing. She finds it immensely satisfying when her students start viewing themselves as writers and not just as college freshmen merely doing their required assignments.
As an international professor, Suchi is keenly attentive towards promoting diversity. She is enthusiastic about encouraging pluralism in classroom setting by being sensitive towards individual and collective needs of students, particularly those coming from under-privileged backgrounds. Her experience at the Upward Bound summer program at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee has enabled her to think deeply about her role as a motivational instructor who can encourage struggling students to graduate and move up in life. She constantly thinks how to match her teaching pedagogy with skill-based training that might be practically useful to my students. I try to organize activities that will train young minds to become close readers, critical thinkers, and precise writers who will have the ability to see the power of written words.
Teaching Quote: My pedagogical approach of interrogating identities is further extended in my research. My dissertation explores the politics of minoritization of colonial Christians in twentieth century postcolonial literature. Using British colonization as an analytical lens, I look at the ambiguous and ambivalent practices of the British imperial state to investigate the nuances of naming and minoritizing different Christian groups in South Asia and Britain. Though research and publications on Christians in the colonies have been growing in the past few decades, yet not enough attention has been given to the politics of negotiating minority- identities in post-colonial diasporic space.
Dr. Toby R. Beeny
(Chess Club Faculty Advisor)
Campus: Massey
Office: J-109
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 772-462-7710
Biography: Toby R. Beeny's graduate training focused on medieval literature and languages, especially on Beowulf and other Anglo-Saxon poetry. Currently his own research is focused on mythological underpinnings of literature (inspired by the work of Joseph Campbell), and modern mythological stories, such as The Lord of the Rings and Star Wars.
Dr. Beeny is the Webmaster for his department (the page you are on now). He is a member of the Publication PLC, where he works to assist faculty members who are interested in professional publishing and presentations. He is part of the Adjunct Workgroup, which supports our adjunct instructors, and which annually hosts our Adjunct Recognition Ceremony as well as our Professional Enhancement Day for Adjuncts.
Education:
Ph.D. English, University of Missouri, 2017
M.A. English, University of Missouri-Saint Louis, 2011
M.A. Liberal Arts, St. John’s College, Santa Fe, 2007
B.A. English, Missouri Baptist University, 2003
Teaching Quote: "Education is the kindling of a flame, not the filling of a vessel." - Socrates
Personal Website: https://tobybeeny.academia.edu/
Dr. Matthew Brooks
Campus: Chastain
Office: E-113
Email: mbrooks@irsc.edu
Phone: 772-462-7842
Biography: Dr. Brooks, not to be mistaken for Dr. Who (whom he admires above all other time lords), began teaching at Indian River State College back in 2006. He considers himself extremely dull. Do not take any of his classes. He is no fun! Seriously, click away from this page. However, if you insist on knowing more about him, then proceed at your own risk…
Howdyho! I am breaking the fourth wall, a metafictional technique used by 20th century writers to challenge our suspension of disbelief when confronting normative, supposedly realistic fictions, make of that what you will…The form as much as the content of my bio, says a lot about me as a person, a teacher, and an intellectual. It is another way of saying, “True learning is always an interruption” (Brooks 42).
Now back to your regularly scheduled program…
It may not be relevant, but he likes the Ramones; he thinks they are really cool! He also digs obscure pop-culture references in his cartoons. He loves science fiction, British TV, and the Sopchoppy Worm Gruntin’ Festival. Don’t hold it against him!
Dr. Brooks came to this college by way of a strange academic pedigree. His M.A. and B.A. are in English where he focused on: pop-culture (especially 1970s kung-fu movies), cultural theory (mainly influenced by post-structuralism/postmodernism), and gender identity (particularly the construction of masculinity in media). He holds a Master’s certificate in Women’s Studies and considers himself a feminist and a queer friendly dude. His Ph.D. is in Communication where he concentrated on interpersonal interactions primarily close friendships and romantic relationships. Yes, he is qualified to host his own talk show or advice column, but getting him to say anything definitive about how to win friends and influence people may prove impossible.
While he has actually said very little about himself in this bio, he hopes you have gotten a sense of his personality and character. And before you run screaming for the door, he does want you to know: “I sincerely wish for everyone to succeed in my courses and to take something positive away from the experience. If you ever have any questions, don’t hesitate to write.”
And now for something completely different…
Teaching Quote: "I teach, therefore I am!" Followed closely by: "so long and thanks for all the fish!"
Campus: Chastain
Office: E-113
Email: mbrooks@irsc.edu
Phone: 772-462-7842
Biography: Dr. Brooks, not to be mistaken for Dr. Who (whom he admires above all other time lords), began teaching at Indian River State College back in 2006. He considers himself extremely dull. Do not take any of his classes. He is no fun! Seriously, click away from this page. However, if you insist on knowing more about him, then proceed at your own risk…
Howdyho! I am breaking the fourth wall, a metafictional technique used by 20th century writers to challenge our suspension of disbelief when confronting normative, supposedly realistic fictions, make of that what you will…The form as much as the content of my bio, says a lot about me as a person, a teacher, and an intellectual. It is another way of saying, “True learning is always an interruption” (Brooks 42).
Now back to your regularly scheduled program…
It may not be relevant, but he likes the Ramones; he thinks they are really cool! He also digs obscure pop-culture references in his cartoons. He loves science fiction, British TV, and the Sopchoppy Worm Gruntin’ Festival. Don’t hold it against him!
Dr. Brooks came to this college by way of a strange academic pedigree. His M.A. and B.A. are in English where he focused on: pop-culture (especially 1970s kung-fu movies), cultural theory (mainly influenced by post-structuralism/postmodernism), and gender identity (particularly the construction of masculinity in media). He holds a Master’s certificate in Women’s Studies and considers himself a feminist and a queer friendly dude. His Ph.D. is in Communication where he concentrated on interpersonal interactions primarily close friendships and romantic relationships. Yes, he is qualified to host his own talk show or advice column, but getting him to say anything definitive about how to win friends and influence people may prove impossible.
While he has actually said very little about himself in this bio, he hopes you have gotten a sense of his personality and character. And before you run screaming for the door, he does want you to know: “I sincerely wish for everyone to succeed in my courses and to take something positive away from the experience. If you ever have any questions, don’t hesitate to write.”
And now for something completely different…
Teaching Quote: "I teach, therefore I am!" Followed closely by: "so long and thanks for all the fish!"
Kristine Byrne
Bio and INFO COMING SOON
Bio and INFO COMING SOON
Dr. John Carpenter
Campus: Mueller
Office: J-111
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 863-824-7707
Biography: Dr. John Carpenter went to the school of hard knocks before earning an associate’s degree at Valencia Community College in Orlando, FL. He has worked as a land surveyor, hotel doorman, and professional guitarist. He went on to earn bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English from the University of Central Florida (UCF), and then from the University of South Carolina (USC), a Master’s degree in Library and Information Science and a PhD in English Renaissance Drama and Medieval Poetry. He taught full time at both UCF and USC before coming to IRSC. He has published a number of articles linking music, his passion, with literature. See, for instance, his article about an African trumpet player in the English Renaissance court: http://facpub.stjohns.edu/~ganterg/sjureview/vol6-1/02Carpenter.pdfl
He has presented papers at numerous national and international conferences, as well, but his primary focus these days is on teaching IRSC students. To that end, he has established, with the gracious help of a Gladys Williams Wolf endowed chair in communications, a Critical Thinking Institute for IRSC faculty (see http://ct-iae-irsc.weebly.com/) and chairs a Critical Thinking Professional Learning Community. He has been active for years with the commencement committee at IRSC because he loves seeing his students graduate. Dr. Carpenter is also a devoted husband, surfer, runner, cat lover, and reader. He is also a singer/songwriter/guitarist and enjoys playing regularly in bands, especially one called Souljam; see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcugOAnLLjk
Campus: Mueller
Office: J-111
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 863-824-7707
Biography: Dr. John Carpenter went to the school of hard knocks before earning an associate’s degree at Valencia Community College in Orlando, FL. He has worked as a land surveyor, hotel doorman, and professional guitarist. He went on to earn bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English from the University of Central Florida (UCF), and then from the University of South Carolina (USC), a Master’s degree in Library and Information Science and a PhD in English Renaissance Drama and Medieval Poetry. He taught full time at both UCF and USC before coming to IRSC. He has published a number of articles linking music, his passion, with literature. See, for instance, his article about an African trumpet player in the English Renaissance court: http://facpub.stjohns.edu/~ganterg/sjureview/vol6-1/02Carpenter.pdfl
He has presented papers at numerous national and international conferences, as well, but his primary focus these days is on teaching IRSC students. To that end, he has established, with the gracious help of a Gladys Williams Wolf endowed chair in communications, a Critical Thinking Institute for IRSC faculty (see http://ct-iae-irsc.weebly.com/) and chairs a Critical Thinking Professional Learning Community. He has been active for years with the commencement committee at IRSC because he loves seeing his students graduate. Dr. Carpenter is also a devoted husband, surfer, runner, cat lover, and reader. He is also a singer/songwriter/guitarist and enjoys playing regularly in bands, especially one called Souljam; see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcugOAnLLjk
Alexandre Chabot
BIO and INFO COMING SOON
BIO and INFO COMING SOON
Dr. Peter Craft
Campus: Massey
Office: TBD
Email: [email protected]
Office Phone: TBD
Biography: Peter Craft received his Ph.D. from the University of Illinois. His research focuses on British literature of the long eighteenth century, with special interests in postcolonial theory and drama. He has had a total of six articles accepted for publication in peer-reviewed journals, and two of them are from his book: Warfare, Trade, and the Indies in British Literature, 1652-1771 (Fairleigh Dickinson University Press, 2021). He received a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) to study at the Folger Shakespeare Library, an experience that enhanced his book project by helping to contextualize ideas about authenticity in literary representations of the East and West Indies. A Dolores Zohrab Liebman Fellowship provided three years of research support for this project.
Teaching Quote: “In learning you will teach, and in teaching you will learn.” - Phil Collins
Campus: Massey
Office: TBD
Email: [email protected]
Office Phone: TBD
Biography: Peter Craft received his Ph.D. from the University of Illinois. His research focuses on British literature of the long eighteenth century, with special interests in postcolonial theory and drama. He has had a total of six articles accepted for publication in peer-reviewed journals, and two of them are from his book: Warfare, Trade, and the Indies in British Literature, 1652-1771 (Fairleigh Dickinson University Press, 2021). He received a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) to study at the Folger Shakespeare Library, an experience that enhanced his book project by helping to contextualize ideas about authenticity in literary representations of the East and West Indies. A Dolores Zohrab Liebman Fellowship provided three years of research support for this project.
Teaching Quote: “In learning you will teach, and in teaching you will learn.” - Phil Collins
Emily Doherty
Bio and INFO COMING SOON
Bio and INFO COMING SOON
Dr. Scott Fynboe
Campus: Pruitt
Office: J-311
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 772-336-6299
Biography: Originally a radio DJ from upstate New York, Dr. Fynboe holds a Ph.D. from the University of Southern Mississippi, as well as degrees from Binghamton University and Broome Community College.
Dr. Fynboe’s academic background is contemporary American and British literature, with concentrations on Allen Ginsberg and creative writing. He is also an American pop-culture scholar with a deep passion for cinema.
To date, Dr. Fynboe has written critical pieces on the use of antiheroes in superhero films, feminism in The Nightmare on Elm St. series, and “alternative” Santa Clauses in Christmas music. Currently he is working on pieces exploring: gamification in the classroom, the aesthetics of Friday the 13th’s Jason Voorhees, and music videos as contemporary literature. His poems have appeared in The Los Angeles Review, Drunk Monkeys, and The Sow’s Ear Poetry Review. He has also led workshops on writing and performing narrative poetry at IRSC’s annual Writer’s Day.
Outside of the classroom, he enjoys watching movies (and pro wrestling), playing video games, and raising dental floss at his Montana ranch during the summer. (Yippy-I-O-Ty-Ay!)
Teaching Quote: “Those that know don’t close the door on those that don’t know.” – The Gourds, “The Education Song”
Personal Website: https://sfynboe-irsc.weebly.com/
Campus: Pruitt
Office: J-311
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 772-336-6299
Biography: Originally a radio DJ from upstate New York, Dr. Fynboe holds a Ph.D. from the University of Southern Mississippi, as well as degrees from Binghamton University and Broome Community College.
Dr. Fynboe’s academic background is contemporary American and British literature, with concentrations on Allen Ginsberg and creative writing. He is also an American pop-culture scholar with a deep passion for cinema.
To date, Dr. Fynboe has written critical pieces on the use of antiheroes in superhero films, feminism in The Nightmare on Elm St. series, and “alternative” Santa Clauses in Christmas music. Currently he is working on pieces exploring: gamification in the classroom, the aesthetics of Friday the 13th’s Jason Voorhees, and music videos as contemporary literature. His poems have appeared in The Los Angeles Review, Drunk Monkeys, and The Sow’s Ear Poetry Review. He has also led workshops on writing and performing narrative poetry at IRSC’s annual Writer’s Day.
Outside of the classroom, he enjoys watching movies (and pro wrestling), playing video games, and raising dental floss at his Montana ranch during the summer. (Yippy-I-O-Ty-Ay!)
Teaching Quote: “Those that know don’t close the door on those that don’t know.” – The Gourds, “The Education Song”
Personal Website: https://sfynboe-irsc.weebly.com/
Dr. Jonathan Glover
Campus: Mueller
Office: D-219
Email: jglover@irsc.edu
Phone: 772-226-2530
Biography: Dr. Jonathan Glover earned his PhD in English with a focus on postcolonial literature and theory from the University of Florida in 2011. He also holds degrees from the University of Central Florida and Florida Gulf Coast University. He has published articles and book chapters in the South Atlantic Review, Race and Displacement, the Florida Philosophical Review, the Center for Media and Journalism Studies, Rhizomes, and the UF Digital Library of the Caribbean. His more recent endeavors include the establishment of Public Spheres: Engaged Scholarship Across the Curriculum, a faculty group and forthcoming online journal dedicated to academic service learning/applied learning in theory and practice. Dr. Glover's work with academic service learning has earned him an IRSC Foundation Endowed Teaching Chair Award (2015-2018) and the Spirit of Service Learning Award (2014). His other interests, both personal and scholarly, include underground music, independent film, and narrative-driven video games.
Campus: Mueller
Office: D-219
Email: jglover@irsc.edu
Phone: 772-226-2530
Biography: Dr. Jonathan Glover earned his PhD in English with a focus on postcolonial literature and theory from the University of Florida in 2011. He also holds degrees from the University of Central Florida and Florida Gulf Coast University. He has published articles and book chapters in the South Atlantic Review, Race and Displacement, the Florida Philosophical Review, the Center for Media and Journalism Studies, Rhizomes, and the UF Digital Library of the Caribbean. His more recent endeavors include the establishment of Public Spheres: Engaged Scholarship Across the Curriculum, a faculty group and forthcoming online journal dedicated to academic service learning/applied learning in theory and practice. Dr. Glover's work with academic service learning has earned him an IRSC Foundation Endowed Teaching Chair Award (2015-2018) and the Spirit of Service Learning Award (2014). His other interests, both personal and scholarly, include underground music, independent film, and narrative-driven video games.
Dr. Brenna K. Heffner
Campus: Massey
Office: J-111
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 772-462-TBD
Biography: Hailing from Cajun Country, Dr. Heffner is a new full-time faculty member at IRSC. She earned her doctorate from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, where she wrote a Cultural Studies dissertation that focused on the intersection between reader-response theory and popular culture. All this is to say that she was able to write about two things she loves: Jane Austen and knitting. With a background in Classical Languages and Folk Studies, she enjoys teaching Shakespeare, British literature, poetry, and writing through a cultural studies lens. Her interests include video gaming, reading for pleasure, camping, board games, cooking, and hanging out with her husband, sassy black cat, and perpetual calico kitten.
Publications: Edmund Spenser’s Married Chastity: Ovid, Feminist Coding, and Rhetorical Androgyny in Book III of The Faerie Queene.
Education:
Ph.D. in English, University of Louisiana at Lafayette
M.A. in Folk Studies, Western Kentucky University
B.A. in Classical Languages, Vanderbilt University
Teaching Quote: “If he [the teacher] is indeed wise, he does not bid you enter the house of his wisdom, but rather leads you to the threshold of your own mind.” - Kahlil Gibran
Campus: Massey
Office: J-111
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 772-462-TBD
Biography: Hailing from Cajun Country, Dr. Heffner is a new full-time faculty member at IRSC. She earned her doctorate from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, where she wrote a Cultural Studies dissertation that focused on the intersection between reader-response theory and popular culture. All this is to say that she was able to write about two things she loves: Jane Austen and knitting. With a background in Classical Languages and Folk Studies, she enjoys teaching Shakespeare, British literature, poetry, and writing through a cultural studies lens. Her interests include video gaming, reading for pleasure, camping, board games, cooking, and hanging out with her husband, sassy black cat, and perpetual calico kitten.
Publications: Edmund Spenser’s Married Chastity: Ovid, Feminist Coding, and Rhetorical Androgyny in Book III of The Faerie Queene.
Education:
Ph.D. in English, University of Louisiana at Lafayette
M.A. in Folk Studies, Western Kentucky University
B.A. in Classical Languages, Vanderbilt University
Teaching Quote: “If he [the teacher] is indeed wise, he does not bid you enter the house of his wisdom, but rather leads you to the threshold of your own mind.” - Kahlil Gibran
Mara Kallich
Bio and INFO COMING SOON
Bio and INFO COMING SOON