Areas of Responsibility

• Information Services
• Bibliographic Instruction

Professional Education

• Master of Library Science, Kutztown University
• Bachelor of Arts, Theology, Southern Adventist University

Departmental Liasions

• Addiction Studies
• Criminal Justice
• Education
• Social Work
• Sociology

Bio

I almost didn’t join Alvernia’s library staff in October, 1986 because the budgets for all college departments were cut back to help pay for the new gymnasium then being constructed. Fortunately, the college took a second look and decided hiring me might be worth delaying the gym’s completion by a few days, and here I am.

I began my Alvernia life as a reference librarian, and I also did cataloging, technical services, and interlibrary loan. Later, I grew up to become Assistant Library Director in charge of Public Services. When I moved into the area of instructional media and technology, they gave me an even longer title I never could remember. Today, I am the Director of Information Services, overseeing the network, technology infrastructure, and college-owned computers; I also cling to some librarian duties as an occasional outlet for the stresses of my more techie responsibilities.

Life before Alvernia consisted in managing a book store and teaching elementary school. My undergraduate degree is in theology (my professors sighed with relief when I elected not to become a minister.)

My wife, Winona, graduated from Alvernia in 1984, and is the best social worker I know. Daughter Jenni attended Alvernia classes while she was still in high school. Another daughter, Heather, is currently attending Alvernia and majoring in Communications, and the youngest daughter, Molly, considers the campus her second home, especially the gym during basketball season. We are a complete Alvernia family.

I pursue amateur but serious studies in religion, science fiction, and history. I like audio books so much, I often find excuses to drive somewhere so I can keep on listening. My hobbies include reading, collecting autograph diaries, listening to music, going to movies, and writing. Among my current favorite books are Possession by A. S. Byatt, Replay by Ken Grimwood, The Green Kingdom by Rachel Maddux, and Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand. My favorite music performers are Allison Moorer, Mindy Jostyn, Secret Garden, and Dido. There is also a talented regional bluegrass band called The Lovell Sisters Band, if you’re ever in the southeast, go hear them play. Movies I’ll watch again include What Dreams May Come, Blast from the Past, The Lord of the Rings, and The Truman Show. I am addicted to MST3K. “Manos: the hands of fate!”

My goals in life are: write a dozen novels before I die (2 down, ten more to go); stay smarter than my kids (a losing battle); be the best reference librarian around (success comes and goes); and travel to outer space (I may not make this one, but my children will.)

Favorite Web Sites

• Mystery Writers’ Resources
  http://www.zott.com/mysforum/links.htm
• SF Site (Science Fiction and Fantasy)
  http://www.sfsite.com/
• The Rutgers Oral History Archives of World War II
  http://fas-history.rutgers.edu/oralhistory/orlhom.htm
• The Orion Center for the Study of the Dead Sea Scrolls
  http://orion.mscc.huji.ac.il/
• Nestle Coffee Crisp – The world’s best candy bar
  http://www.coffeecrisp.org/

 

Updated: January 23, 2006

Your comments are welcome.