Faculty Focus

Jim McIntyre
Instructor, History
B.A., Temple University,
M.A., University of Illinois

Jim likes his students to see and feel what it was like to live in an earlier time. “I bring in replicas of tools and other items from the past. I pile them on a desk and have students try to discover their uses,” he says. When teaching about the colonial fur trade, Jim lets his students handle fur pelts and European trade goods such as beads and iron so they gain an understanding of how each side benefitted from the transactions.

Jim teaches American History I and II, Western Civilization I and II, and American Military Experience. In his classes, he shares photos and personal stories of the many Revolutionary War sites he has visited, such as Hobbkirk’s Hill, Valley Forge, and Fraunces’ Tavern in New York City where George Washington bid farewell to his generals. “I believe this helps bring a deeper realism to the content for my students,” he says.

Jim believes it’s important to study history because it gives us a sense of how we got to the point where we are today. “Also, looking at the past and how people at different times solved problems similar to those we face can give us a guide to making the best choice now,” says Jim.

Dawn Patitucci
Assistant professor, Information Management Systems
B.S., Saint Xavier University,
M.S., Old Dominion University

“Our students never cease to impress me with their intelligence, creativity, and drive,” says Dawn. “We have students from all over the world and just down the street who all bring fascinating life stories to campus.” Dawn teaches computer programming and database courses and loves dreaming up new exercises for her students. “I encourage them to put a personal twist on assignments,” she says. “You can write a computer program or design a database around almost any topic, so it’s not unusual for us to discuss music, movies, books, food, or travel in my classes. When students incorporate their own interests into their work, they tend to invest more time and do a better job. And I learn a lot of interesting things, too.”

Dawn attended Moraine Valley after high school and has taken classes here periodically since then. She joined the faculty full time eight years ago and says, “At every educational and professional crossroad of my life, Moraine Valley has been there. Life takes a lot of twists and turns, but at Moraine Valley, you always have a safe place to figure things out and prepare yourself for that next step. Never stop learning!”

Amy Williamson
Department chair, Behavioral Science; Assistant professor, Psychology
B.A., M.A., Loras College

“I think Moraine Valley’s students benefit from small class sizes, high standards, and the availability of resources we have to support them,” says Amy. “And, I think our instructors’ commitment to their students is unsurpassed.” Amy knows what she’s talking about. In addition to teaching here for 11 years, she is also a Moraine Valley alum.

Amy teaches Abnormal Psychology and Social Psychology and keeps her classes fresh and exciting by getting her students involved in activities such as analyzing current events, teaching each other, and participating in role-plays and debates. She also uses music lyrics, movies and art to link course material to students’ daily lives. “Something new for me,” says Amy, “is using the social networking site Ning to encourage my students to interact with each other and talk about current issues in psychology outside the classroom.”

Amy says it’s very satisfying when she sees her students employ what they’re learning in class. “I love being able to facilitate each student’s application of psychology in his or her own life to make it better,” she says.