Summer Session Fair and Faculty Spotlights, Summer 2012

Dr. J. Matthew Ashley

Dr. Ashley’s scholarly interests include political and liberation theology, Christian spirituality, and the dialogue between the theology and science.

What is the relationship between contemplative prayer and action on behalf of others?  Explore the creative ways that Christian spiritual masters through the centuries have avoided dividing, or even opposing, these two essential elements of a full Christian life.

THEO 60240: Contemplation and Action (CRN 4087)

 

Dr. Gerard (Jerry) F. Baumbach

Dr. Baumbach is a member of the faculty of Notre Dame’s Institute for Church Life and concurrent professor in the Department of Theology. He is the founding director of Notre Dame’s award-winning Echo program and has served in a number of leadership positions in a variety of settings, including university, parish, and corporate environments, during his four decades in religious education and catechesis. His current role at the Institute for Church Life is that of senior catechetical advisor.

Through historical, theoretical, and practical approaches, Dr. Baumbach challenges students to rethink impressions and reexamine experiences of catechesis. Students eagerly probe catechesis and catechetical ministry as they encounter, uncover, and explore layers of the church’s rich catechetical tradition. This summer, join with Dr. Baumbach and contribute to the momentum of ongoing catechetical renewal. Come and see what catechesis might become for you in the life of the church and in service to the world.   

THEO 60221: Catechesis: History & Theory (CRN 3059)

Dr. Nasir Ghiaseddin

Dr. Ghiaseddin’s expertise is in the areas of Management Information Systems, Decision Support Systems, Pattern Recognition, and Expert Systems. 

Students will attain a general understanding of opportunities and  challenges in IT Management.  This will be achieved through online research and discussion of IT Management issues and business process as well as hands-on use of common IT application tools.  In addition, students will research and use an online website development tool in order to create a personal website.

MGT 20600: IT Management Applications (CRN 3104)

Dr. Daniel Graff

Dr. Graff teaches American history, in particular courses focusing on the histories of labor, race, gender, and politics. 

His summer course, “Working in America since 1945,” will introduce students to how the world of work (both paid and unpaid) has changed dramatically in the decades since World War II.  We’ll explore the rise and fall of the labor movement, the emergence and relative success of the civil rights and feminist movements, the challenges to nations posed by globalization, and the heated arguments over the proper role of markets and governments in the economy.  Since work occupies most of our waking hours as adults, we all have much to gain from learning about the evolution of the employment relationship over the past half-century.

HIST 30856: Working in America Since 1945 (CRN 4154)

Dr. Michael Jindra

Dr. Jindra is a cultural anthropologist now focusing on issues of poverty and culture in the South Bend area.

This course will get you into local “field,” as you will learn about how local nonprofits are working with the poor to provide tools and support (mostly nonmonetary) for long term life changes.  This research has implications for important questions on the causes and remedies of poverty.

ANTH 35310: Poverty and Nonprofits (CRN 4224)

Dr. Ines Jindra

Dr. Jindra is a cultural anthropologist now focusing on issues of poverty and culture in the South Bend area.

This course will get you into local “field,” as you will learn about how local nonprofits are working with the poor to provide tools and support (mostly nonmonetary) for long term life changes.  This research has implications for important questions on the causes and remedies of poverty.

ANTH 35310: Poverty and Nonprofits (CRN 4224)

Christopher Lane

Christopher Lane specializes in the history of life choices made by young people, especially as understood under concepts of "vocation."

Every adult was once a child. To ignore the historical experience of childhood and youth is both to ignore both a huge segment of the human community and to miss the foundations of past people's adult lives.

From medieval children's play to present-day "emerging adulthood," we will explore the ways in which childhood and youth--and the process of becoming an adult--over the past several centuries have stayed the same and how they have changed.

HIST 30354: Growing Up is Hard to Do: Childhood and Youth in European History (CRN 4155)

Dr. James McKenna

Dr. McKenna interests lie in the evolution of human behavior, evolutionary medicine, human parenting and infancy with special emphasis on infant sleep, breast feeding, mother infant co-sleeping, and risk factors for sudden death syndrome (SIDS).

Explore aspects of infant biology and socio-emotional development in relationship to western childcare practices and parenting with Dr. McKenna this summer.  A variety of animals are included as a comparative background to explore the relationships between infant physiology, mental and physical health and contemporary infant care giving concepts.

ANTH 30190: Infancy: Evolution, History and Development (CRN 3416)

 

Jessica McManus Warnell

Course objectives are to:  Raise ethical awareness – the course will introduce and explore the ethical dimensions of business.  The objective is to enhance awareness of and sensitivity to the broad range of ethical issues in business; Improve ethical knowledge – the course will introduce key terms and concepts.  The objective is to understand the major theoretical foundations of ethics, moral judgment and decision making; and to Enhance ethical judgment – the course will provide and improve skills of ethical decision making.  Objective is to move beyond identifying and understanding ethical issues in business to identifying and acting on the appropriate course of action.

Join this class and learn about theories that help guide you through ethical situations you might encounter in business. Ethical dilemmas faced by business peole will be integrated into the class for discussion and analysis.

BAET 20300: Introduction to Business Ethics (CRN 4102)

James O'Brien, CPA, Esq

Jamie O’Brien is a CPA, as well as an Attorney, and is actively involved in professional development and service within the accounting and legal communities.  Professor O'Brien is also an appointed member to the Indiana Board of Accountancy and works closely with the Agency and State Legislators on matters impacting the Accounting Profession.

Join Jamie O’Brien and examine the background of the legal process and the judicial system, torts, contracts, and the Uniform Commercial Code and agency law. 

BALW 20150 01: Contracts and Agency (CRN 2624)
BALW 20150 02: Contracts and Agency (CRN 4103)

Fr. Paulinus Ikechukwu Odozor

Fr. Paulinus Ikechukwu Odozor, C.S.Sp., teaches moral theology and the theology of world Church at the University of Notre Dame. He is also  president of the Governing Council of  Spiritan International School of Theology, Enugu, Nigeria, where he was teacher and Academic Dean from 1993 to 1999. In addition to his academic engagements Fr. Odozor has held positions of pastoral leadership in Nigeria, Canada, and the United States. In October 2009 he was invited by the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, as special expert assistant to the 2nd Special Assembly for Africa of the Synod of Bishops.

In in this course, he leads the student in  (a) the study of the ethical stance of the Christian (Catholic) community on a number of issues and the pastoral issues arising from the position of this community on these questions; (b) the exploration of  the ways the pastoral worker can help to effectively translate Church teaching and moral theology in these areas; (3)  a Look at the moral demands that arise from the exercise of any pastoral ministry in the Church today.

THEO 60609: Christian Ethics and Pastoral Practice
(CRN 4093)

 

Dr. James A. Parise

Organic Chemistry doesn't have to be the horrible ordeal that you've likely heard about. Dr. Parise strives to make Organic Chemistry accessible, practical, and engaging. While the summer course is intense, completing organic in the summer without many of the distractions that exist during the regular school year make it a desirable choice for many students.

CHEM 10172: Org. Structure and Reactivity (CRN 2942)
CHEM 11172: Org. Structure and Reactivty Lab (CRN 2943)
CHEM 20273: Org. Reactions and Apps (CRN 2944)
CHEM 21273: Org. Reactions and Apps Lab (CRN 2945)

 

Dr. Richard Pierce

Dr. Pierce speacilizes in social and political protest in urban environments.  

There may not be a term in American society as recognized, and yet as misunderstood, as "Civil Rights." Often civil rights, are conflated with uman rights, even though each are distinct of the other. Experience an important part of American history with Dr. Pierce this summer.

AFST 40203: African-American Civil Rights Hisotry
(CRN 4119)

Melissa Pirkey

Melissa Pirkey is a graduate student instructor in the Department of Sociology. Her research focuses on how culture shapes interpersonal and group interactions within organizations.

Have you ever wondered  why we help some people but not others,  how  we choose our romantic partners, or how our social world - from family to the media - shape how we view ourselves and others? Gain a better understanding of the nature and causes of human behavior in Introduction to Social Psychology with Melissa this summer.

SOC 10722/20722: Introduction to Social Psychology
(CRN 4066/4068)

Dr. Mark Schurr

Dr. Schurr is an expert on the prehistoric and historic archaeology of the Great Lakes region and of the Midwestern US. 

Every summer, he conducts an archaeological dig to collect new information about the past.  The Archaeology Field School is a great way to learn about archaeology by doing it.  You will spend every day discovering something new while you contribute to a research project.

ANTH 35588: Archaeology Field School (CRN 3073)
ANTH 65588: Archaeology Field School (CRN 3074)

Dr. Susan Sheridan

Dr. Sheridan is a specialist in biological anthropology.  Her research interests include analysis of ancient diet and disease, with particular interest in childhood health and adaptability, occupational stress and female reproductive status.

Experience this hands-on research course, which will engage students in an experiential learning environment that immerses them in anthropological method and theory.  Using the large Bab edh-Dhra' skeletal collection from Early Bronze Age Jordan as the cornerstone, archaeological and osteological information will be synthesized in a biocultural reconstruction of ancient life near the Dead Sea. An application for this course is required.  For information visit http://www.nd.edu/~nsfbones/nsfbones/Home.html. 

ANTH 45818/65818: NSF-REU Biocultural Research Program (CRN 2546/2547)

Dr. Katherine Spiess

Dr. Spiess has expertise in mergers and acquisitions, corporate financing, and capital budgeting decisions. 

Join Prof. Spiess this summer and learn the concept of value maximization, mathematics of finance, valuation of financial securities, capital investment evaluation, the estimation of required rates of return, financial statement analysis, and even some personal finance topics.

FIN 20150: Corporate Financial Management (CRN 3427)

Dr. Anre Venter

Dr. Venter’s interests in social psychology converge on the issue of self from both a psychological and philosophical perspective.   

The self is a core concept in the field of social psychology which focuses on how the real, implied, and imagined presence of others shapes our feelings, thoughts, and actions.  Come and learn why you do the things that you do!!

PSY 30600: Social Psychology (CRN 4193)

Dr. Michael Welch

Dr. Welch is a social psychologist and past chairperson of the Department of Sociology.

The primary objective of this summer course is to examine the nature of sport in American society and the modern world. A variety of topics will be covered, including sociological perspectives on the history of sport, the relationship between sports and the entertainment industry, problems in intercollegiate and professional sports, and other issues. Prominent guest speakers (e.g., in the past we have had Joe Kernan, former Governor of Indiana and part owner of the South Bend Silver Hawks), including journalists, former athletes, and sports administrators, will participate in at least one in-class discussion.  The course should be particularly helpful for students who are interested in careers in athletic administration, sports journalism or broadcasting, coaching, higher education administration, sports and entertainment law, and other aligned fields.

SOC 30019: Sociology of Sport: Sport and Society
(CRN 2561)