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A newsletter for the students, faculty and staff of the Collin County Community College District. Published monthly. For information or submissions, call 972.599.3142. Cougar News welcomes student and faculty submissions. Next deadline: January 10. All submissions are due by 5 p.m. on the due date. Photos cannot be returned. Text should be emailed to mrobinson@ccccd.edu or sent on disk. Please submit copy that is proofed, edited and saved in Word format. Cougar News staff: Lisa Vasquez, director; Mark Robinson, editor; Marcy Cadena-Smith, contributor; Stephanie Hall, student correspondent; Adriana Rodriguez, student correspondent; special contributors: Heather Darrow, Sonya Flaming, John Glass; Nick Young, photography and layout.
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Faculty spotlight
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| Dallie Clark |
1. Name: Dallie Clark
2. Title: Professor of Humanities
3. List of degrees (include institution, area of study, type of degree)
a. University of South Alabama, BA-Psychology
b. Southern Methodist University – MLA/Liberal Arts
c. The University of Texas at Dallas – Current Ph.D. Student-Humanities
4. Where have you worked in the past and what was your title there?
After a backbreaking array of waitress/hotel jobs during college, my first “real” position after college as a banker lasted for eight years, and I worked my way up to Financial Services Officer and then AVP in Marketing. It taught me a lot about professionalism, customer service and networking – and I never, ever want to do it again.
My next role of motherhood, and to date the most important job I’ve had, began 19 years ago when my son Drew was born. Sometimes I wish I could repeat those priceless first 10 years I spent with him at home all over again. Pumpkin!
I began my love affair with teaching in 1998 as an adjunct professor at Eastfield, then Collin and Richland, sometimes concurrently, before finally achieving full-time bliss at Collin. I am also a freelance writer and occasionally publish articles on everything from nutrition to literature, which I consider part of my role as an instructor. Education for elevation!
5. What book are you currently reading and what is your favorite book of all time?
I am currently reading The Know-It-All/One Man’s Humble Quest to Become the Smartest Person in the World. Author A.J. Jacobs made it his life goal to read through the entire Encyclopedia Britannica from A to Z, and this is his story. I am now at the letter “Q” – vicariously endeavoring to pick up on A.J.’s smarts.
My favorite book of all time is Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. It gives me perpetual pleasure – love that high-spirited Lizzy Bennet!
6. In your profession/area of study/discipline, who is your foremost influence and why?
I can only answer this in a threefold way. The first influence being my incredibly gifted husband Larry Bassuk. Although he works with cutting edge technology as a patent lawyer, he also has a love for the humanities that continually inspires me. Second, the Arts & Humanities program at UTD is honing my skills as a teacher and as a life-long learner, so I am now a UTD junkie! Third, my students and colleagues at Collin “wow” me each and every day! It would be impossible not to be influenced when I am surrounded by people who challenge and motivate me with their curiosity and passion for history, music, art, literature – and life – on a daily basis.
7. What would your last meal be, if you had the choice?
Sorry, it’s a tie. Morning meal: Hands down, breakfast at Poor Richard’s in Plano – eggs, grits, biscuits and gravy.
Evening meal: My mother’s pinto beans, chopped onions and skillet cornbread. (Why should I worry about gas if it’s my last meal?)
8. What do you like about Collin County Community College?
Serious answer: Its brilliant leaders, faculty, staff, students, and its collegiate atmosphere.
Less serious answer: Envision Julie Andrews singing “These are a few of my favorite things,” and then “sing” my list: Karen Lander’s deadpan humor, Linda Sears’ hats, Mindi Bailey’s vocabulary, Scott Yarbrough’s Johnny Cash obsession, Carolyn Perry’s mental acuity, Peggy Brown’s encouragement, Joanne Stevens’ suits, Pam Gaiter’s hugs, Jackie Hsu’s patience, Andrea Leavey’s pixieness (ask me), Collin guitar students playing outside my office, the entire library staff…you get the picture. I could go on and on…what’s not to love about Collin?
9. What is your funniest classroom story?
Too many quirky student stories to name, but one stands out from when I was delivering my own teaching demonstration to the Humanities Search Committee. I had read that eating fruit before an important interview helps brain performance, so I quickly inhaled a box of raisins before facing the interviewers. One raisin got lost in my suit somewhere – and, in the back of my mind, I worried the entire time I was lecturing that a lone raisin would drop out of nowhere. The raisin didn’t drop though – and I got the job.
10. If you could lunch with three people (dead/alive, past/present, etc.) who would it be?
19th Century author Jane Austen, Aviator/author Anne Morrow Lindbergh, and Art Critic Sister Wendy Beckett. Ultimate girl power!
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