The Wanderlust...

My parents were Air Force.  We traveled extensively throughout my childhood.  We were often stationed in a place for only a few months, a year, a long stay was three years. We lived in the following states...Arkansas, Indiana, Colorado, Georgia, Alabama, California, Florida, and Texas.  I attended four high schools in four years.  As a young man of fifteen, my family was stationed in Bermuda for two years.  While there I attended Whitney Institute School, a British school with a totally different attitude about education.  It was a wonderful and eye opening experience.  Since that time, I have been fascinated by the differences in culture that surround us.  I have become increasingly aware of the “insulation” that Americans suffer as a nation because of our size and singularity of language.  In most of the rest of the world, there is simply no parallel.  It is blessing and curse...all at once.  With this conviction, I have steadily become more focused on “international” as an integral part of my professional and teaching careers.

    In 1992, I first took part as a faculty member in the “Architecture in Italy” program.  At this time it was an eight week travel program. 

    In 1993 I was asked to speak to the Far East Society of Architects and Engineers (FESAE) on my research and design work undertaken through Tao Design Group.  This was a tremendous experience.  Thanks to the efforts of FESAE member Paul Medley, I spent three weeks visiting Osaka, Kyoto, Nara and Tokyo.  This experience gave me a great deal of insight into this ancient and yet incredibly modern eastern culture.  I lectured to the Osaka and Tokyo chapters of the organization.

    For several years, I expressed my interest in taking part in the SAED “Architecture in Italy” In 1996 my request was accepted, and in the spring of 1997, I served in Florence as Co-Director with Professor Charles Graves.  At this time the program had just become a full semester academic experience.  This had been accomplished largely through the efforts of Professors Conrad Mc Williams and Charles Graves and Italy Program Coordinator Bill Ross.  I repeated that duty the following year with two time Fulbright Scholar David Hughes.  In 1999 the Kent State University Phi Beta Delta International Honor Society recognized the excellence of the “Architecture in Florence” program by presenting it with the School Award for International Education.

In the summer of 1999 I asked to be appointed the International Studies Coordinator, and assumed that role in August, 1999.  Since that time, I have served as International Studies Coordinator for the College.  The primary responsibilities focused on building on the foundation of an already successful international studies program.  My first activities were to begin to build a year round presence for the program in Florence.  The graduate program in Urban Design was moved to the fall semester.  We contacted the School of Fashion and helped them to develop a program of their own in the fall.  That fall they sent more than 40 students to Florence.  We also began building the administration necessary for a year round program.  Past efforts had been directed at creating the academic content for a semester program of architectural studies.  No administration had been required for the travel program, and the necessity for support was just emerging as a necessity. 

At this point, I began working as an ambassador to other university programs, and worked to build new study abroad programs for students in the School of Fashion Design and Merchandising, the School of Art, and for students of the regional campus system.  In 2002, I was selected for the “Faculty Award for International Education” from the KSU Phi Beta Kappa.  That same year I began working to establish a relationship with the Faculty of Architecture at the Technical University of Dresden.  This relation has blossomed and there exists an energetic exchange of faculty and students between the two architecture programs.  In 2004, I was invited to become the DAAD Visiting Professor the Chair of Spatial Design, Dr. Ralf Weber.  Since that time numerous other exchanges have taken place with TU-Dresden.

Below is a partial list of major activities and accomplishments:

THE FLORENCE PROGRAM

      Coordinator (1999-2007)

Academic Year 1996-97

Spring 1997Teach Fifth year Design Studio

“Linking Public Square and the Waterfront”

Article by Steve Litt, Arch. Critic, The Cleveland Plain Dealer

Summer 1997Request participation in the Florence Program

Academic Year 1997-98

Fall 1997Began Orientation with Co-Director Charles Graves

Spring 1998On-Site Co-Director with Charles Graves

Attend all courses and field trips for UG and Grad programs

Familiarization with Faculty and staff

Familiarization with banking procedures

Familiarization with Kent/Italian accounting procedures

Meet with Ruth Durack to review Florence Grad Program

Summer 98Budget review and planning with Bill Ross

Student Orientation sessions planning (DH)

Fall 1998Oversee Fall Orientation with Co-Director David Hughes

Develop Organization and program budgets

Negotiate half -time administrator in Italy with CLIDA/CICP

Began negotiation for part time administrative support in Kent

Develop spring contracts for Italy faculty

Spring 1999Assumed On-site Fiduciary Director responsibilities

On-Site Co-Director with Professor David Hughes

Architecture UG students (41) and (6) UD grad students

Began evaluation of accountants, and administrative structure

Began planning with Richard Role on Graduate Program revisions

Began negotiation for additional administrative support in Florence

Announced interest in becoming Florence Program Coordinator

Summer 1999Appointed Florence Program Coordinator

Comprehensive Re-evaluation and Planning Process

Reorganized Budget

Sought additional administrative support

Began “team approach” with program participants

Recommend Florence Program joins ACCUPI

Review Curriculum for UG and Grad programs

Oversee recruitment and orientation of graduate students

Proposed change of legal Counsel to Gianfranco Borio

Work with CICP to reorganize Banking procedures

Added Lira account

Credit card for Florence Program

Fall 1999 Oversaw Orientation with Professor Charles Graves

Graduate Program in UD moved to Fall Semester

Began Graduate Program CD-ROM for recruitment purposes

Phi Beta Delta “Excellence in International Education” Award (Cmc, BR, CG)

Program joins ACCUPI

Initiated “Study Abroad Practicum” with CICP-Cynthia Beckes

Began Interior Design-Curriculum Development with ID faculty

Graduate Program CD-ROM completed

Coordinate development of ID curriculum, field trips, faculty

Spring 2000 On-Site Co-directors Charles Graves and David Hughes

First group (6) Interior Design students go to Italy

Continue search for new space

First group of Interior Design students go to Florence

Phi Beta Delta “Excellence in Education” awarded to CH

Begin discussions for additional field studies for UD grads

Summer 2000Developed and Refined Budget Procedures with CICP/SAED

Begin discussions for Interior Design students in Italy

Discuss need for legal registration of KSU with Italian authorities

Coordination with RR to establish UD grad pre-program Field Trip to London, Paris, and Turin

Fall 2000Second group (8) UD grad students to Italy

Preliminary discussions regarding the need for expanded facilities

Negotiated NTT full time position in Florence (Richard Role)

Development of contracts for NTT position with MR/CMcW

Continued refinement of ID curriculum and KSU faculty support

Development of additional administrative support

-1 Administrative Assistant (full time Florence)

-1 Administrative Assistant (quarter time, Kent)

Oversee development of new Italian staff contracts

Hired two new faculty for History of Renaissance course

Preliminary discussions regarding termination of existing lease

Established goals and parameters for new facilities

Obtained commitment from CICP for expanded facilities

Attended NAFSA Regional Conference (Risk Mngmnt.Workshop)

Sandusky, OH

Spring 2001Assumed On-site Director responsibilities

41 architecture students participate in the program

Second group (10) ID students go to Italy

Meetings with legal counsel on “Barille Law”

Begin formal registration of KSU within Italy

Oversee (with CB) accounting procedures, 30th Anniversary

Begin Long Range planning

Initiated procedures to bring accounting up to KSU/Italian standards

Planning/Search for a new year round facility

Secured 1 new accounting staff (half time, Florence)

Negotiated the new contract agreements for staff

Brought record/storage up to Italian requirements

Graduate Program CD-ROM wins CASE Grand Gold Award

Negotiated first Italian lease for copy machine in admin offices

Initiate spring meeting with Parents and students for Spring 2002 (CB,CMc, DH,JM)

Maurizio Sabini appointed Graduate Coordinator

Initiate joint SAED/CLIDA proposal for P. Repubblica location

Meeting with Provost Gaston in Florence on proposed facilities

Development of Revised Fall Budget 2001

Development of Preliminary Fall/Spring Schedules

Summer 2001Joint SAED/CICP feasibility discussions for new space

Formalized contracts for part-time accounting/management position (MR)

Provost approves CICP proposal for new facilities

CICP initiates negotiations with CLIDA for new space (GB)

Begin Fall Symposium planning and program development

Meet KSU auditor confirming quality of new accounting system

Discussions McWilliams/Sabini on recruitment & new MArch

Revision of NTT contracts (RR) to reflect year round status

Neg with CICP/SAED for new Graduate Intern (CB-Kent)

Meeting Dean Rhodes (FSDM) planning new Fashion program

Begin SAED CD-ROM for recruitment

Develop Fall Budget

Fall 2001Begin Orientation for Harker/Davis Spring 200

Third group (13) UD grad students go to Italy

Review flights and procedures with Roy’s Travel

Oversee development of Alumni Continuing Ed Program

Planning of  30th Anniversary Gala in Florence

Presentation to FSDM for new program in Florence, Fall 2002

Presentation to FSDM students to establish interest

Coordinate on FSDM curriculum & search for Italian faculty

Oversee Graphic design of SAED CD-ROM

Attend Study Abroad Director’s Meeting, Bowling Green University

Oversee dev of Model Policies and Procedures Manual (CB)

Begin development of Handbook for New Faculty (CG)

Develop “Student Conduct and Housing Policy” (GJ)

Prep Italy Organizational overview for move to College (CH/CMc)

Oversee development of Emergency Contingency Plan (CB/MH)

Attend ACE Study Abroad Conference, Washington DC

Development of Spring Budget (2002)

Spring 2002(Leave 1 mo late due to infection)  Diane takes group on her own

Teach Interior Design Studio/Textiles

Oversee search for new space (CH, MB)

Review proposals by CLIDA

Review Palazzo Cerchi

Coordinate Fashion Program integration (FIT, Pmoda)

Terry Uber--Interior Design Faculty visit

Oversee development of Distance learning for “History of Furnishings” (CB)

Develop basic agreements (Camera/Borio/Rubin)

Develop strategic plan for staff reorganization

Review and Rewrite Staff job descriptions—MH, MB

Oversee search for new Bookkeeper

30th Anniversary Celebration of Arch in Italy in Florence

President Cartwright announces approval of Palazzo Cerchi

Search for Interim space—locate and lease Via della Scala

Visit TU-Dresden to develop Student Faculty exchange

Summer 2002Teach First Year Design Studio (S3)

Plan for Fall/Spring Alumni events (CB)

Develop plan for Development activities (CB, JD)

Initiate “Faculty Emeritus Program”

Niels Fritsche, TU-Dresden

Bernhard Mueller, TU-Dresden

Review Preservation Certificate (MS)

Begin development of Stark Summer Program (BF)

Develop strategic plan (PP pres)

Develop reorganization plan for Florence Program

International Study Prog organization

ISAP “Working Committee”

Committee of On-Site Directors

Initiate Faculty Work Visa process (MH)

Develop Fall Budget expanded format (SB)

Fall 2002Teach Graduate Design Studio (Honors College)

School of Fashion Design & Merchandising send 44 students

Present “Florence Plan” to Arch faculty

Design development of interior concepts for Cerchi (with Cmc)

Oversee development of 3D model of Cerchi

Review ID Curriculum with Dr. Pamela Evans

Visit TU-Dresden, plan for Faculty Exchange

Review Palazzo Cerchi progress with Arch. Borchi

Ralf Weber (TU-D) visits Florence for future programs

Joe Schidlowski selected to be first “Faculty Emeritus” 

Hire two new staff for Interior Design Studio (KT, GP)

Oversee development of new ID “Textiles” in Florence

Revise CICP Budgeting formats for Palazzo Cerchi (SB)

Oversee Student Presentation Honors College Proposals to VP Lowell Croskey, Dean Larry Andrews, Honors College

Spring 2003KSU Architectural On-site Representative

Review progress on Palazzo Cerchi, (MB, FB)

Meet architects, contractors, owners

Design Dev. With Architect Borchi (MB)

Electrical/ Lighting Design (Ilum)

Heating Plans

Faculty Offices/Mezzanines (Castelli)

Studio Mezzanine

Library

Entry/Reception

Authorization of works, development of agreements

                                    Formal meeting with Mark Rubin to authorize Cerchi works

On-site Director Diane Davis, Joe Schidlowski

Manage “Student Near Death”  accident (BH, MH)

Oversee ID Distance Learning in Florence

Joe Schidlowski first “Faculty Emeritus” arrives

Review Florence Program with Faculty Emeritus (JS)

Discuss future SAED/FE Development efforts

Visit Bacesehir University, Istanbul, to promote new program

Return to Kent for Italian Work Visa

Discussions with Grad Coord Maurizio Sabini

Preservation Certificate

Grad Field Studies with RR

New Istanbul tour

Review Grad Arch/UD candidates

Discussions with SAED Dev Officer Jim Dalton

Emeritus Program goals

Development Candidates to Florence in May

Meet with Mary Hyatt of Music to discuss new KSU programs

Discuss new Art History program for Dr. Gus Medicus

Develop PP presentation for Medicus recruitment

CB presents program to students in my absence

Faculty Development Leave for Spring 2004 approved

Develop BU “Sketching and Drawing” Program (AA, ET, MH)

Develop TU-D “Sketching in Florence” (NF, AP, MH)

Review Palazzo Cerchi with Martin Wagner, Director (PsciArc)

Discuss future for “mutual programming”

Visit TU-D to coordinate Faculty Exchange

Dr. J. Tourbier, Waterfront Reclamation CUDC, (May 2003)

Dr. Ralf Weber, Graduate Visiting Critic (Sum 2003)

Dr. Niels Fritsche, Florence (Sum 2003)

Dr. Anja Starrick, Kent, (Fall 2003)

Charles Harker, TU-D (Spr 2004)

Dean Aisen Akpinar visits Florence Program

Preparation for new summer class

Review staff, facilities, etc.

Plan programs for future

Summer 2003Visit to Bacesehir University

Keynote Speaker at International Conference “Ecovillage”

    Lecture “Hybrid Structures-Redundancy in Steel and Masonry

Recruitment for future programs

Palazzo Cerchi construction oversite continues

Return to Kent

Teach Summer III-First Year Design Studio

Fall 2003Teach  Fifth Year Design Studio

Anja Starrick Visiting Professor to Kent

CLH to Florence-Construction Observation

Meet with Francesco Borchi on Installation of Office Systems and Platforms

Handrails, lighting and furnishings

Mary Sue Hyatt and John Sikoro visit

Review facilities

Plan upcoming events

TU-D DAAD (GERMAN ACADEMIC EXHCANGE COMMISSION

TEACHING GRANT  $10,000

Guest Professor to the Chair of Spatial Design-Ralf Weber

Palazzo Cerchi begins move-in in December 2003

Spring 2004

Faculty Development Leave for Spring 2004

Development of New course “Orchestration of Space.”

                                       Slide collection for lectures

                                    Co-teaching with Joachim Tourbier

                                    Development of Reading List:

Image of the City, Kevin Lynch

Good City Form, Kevin Lynch

View from the Road, Donald Appleyard

`City, William H. Whyte

Landscape Architecture, John O. Simonds

Nature Loves to Hide, Shimon Malin

Space and Social Theory, G. Benko & U. Stohmayer, Eds.

Design Strategies in Architecture: 

An Approach to the Analysis of Form, G. Baker

Changing Viewpoints, Andrea Ponsi

Florence-A Map of Perceptions, Andrea Ponsi

Organizational Behavior, Keith Davis

The Necessity for Ruins, J. B. Jackson

Science and Human Values, Jacob Bronowski

The Common Sense of Science, Jacob Bronowski

Scientific Revolutions, Ian Hacking, Ed.

Guns, Germs&Steel-The Fates of Human Societies, Jared Diamond

On Growth and Form, D’Arcy Thompson

Architecture 2000 and Beyond, Charles Jencks

Visual Cognition, Steven Pinker, Ed.

Dimensional Color, Lois Swirnoff

The Intelligent Eye, R. L. Gregory

The Senses Considered as Perceptual Systems, James J. Gibson

The Ecological Approach to Visual Perception, James J. Gibson

Art and Visual Perception,, Rudolph Arnheim

Lectures:

“The Perfection of the Womb,” 

    The Point Building, Cleveland, Ohio

“Early Work” Invited Lecture, SAED AIAS, Kent State University

Bahcesehir University (March)

Shelter Workshop, Workshop Coordinator

Lecture, “Shelter”

First Year Studio, Guest Juror

Invited Lectures

Scientific Revolution and Paradijm Shifts in Twentieth Century Architecture, School of Architecture, Bahcesehir University

“What is the Perfect Architecture?” Architectural Theory

“Supramorphics”  Post Professional Workshop,

International Studies Coordination

Planning sessions with Dean Aysen Akpinar

                                                Recruitment Presentation to BU students regarding Palazzo dei Cerchi, Florence

Meetings with prospective students for the CAED architecture program in Kent

    2 students come to Kent Fall

Technical University of Dresden

                                        Professional Development Leave

Teaching

“Enhancing the Silhouette” 

A joint workshop with Dr. Joachim Tourbier

Florence Excursion May, 2004

A two week trip to Florence with selected exercises, sketching and reports by students, walking tours

“Perceptual Tour:  The Uffizzi to the Duomo”

“Walking Tour :  Exploring a Ceremonial Path”