Faculty Profiles

OVERVIEW OF WISR FACULTY. WISR has deliberately sought faculty members whose range of ethnic backgrounds, academic disciplines, work experiences, and community involvements allow them to act as resource people for WISR’s adult, community-involved students in ways that go beyond intellectual specialization and unite academic with professional and community concerns.

WISR faculty members generally have very broad, interdisciplinary social science expertise beyond their particular areas of specialization, which enables them to work with our varied student population. They have many years of teaching experience, both in traditional academic settings and at WISR. Most have been teaching at WISR for 10 years or more. There is a very low rate of faculty turnover at WISR, and indeed, faculty are enthusiastically committed to working at WISR in personalized ways with the diverse and talented population of mature adults who enroll at WISR.

WISR faculty members also have a rich background of involvement with community organizations, other educational institutions, and consulting practice. This practical experience further enriches their contributions to student learning, given the strong practical community concerns of most of our students. Indeed, this is the case with our two faculty are licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (MFTs).

JOHN BILORUSKY. BA cum laude, General Studies and Physics, University of Colorado, 1967. MA, Sociology of Education, University of California at Berkeley, 1968. PhD, Higher Education, UC Berkeley, 1972. John is President of WISR, was a co-founder of WISR in 1975, and has served full-time on WISR’s faculty ever since. Before that, he taught social sciences at the University of California, Berkeley and community services at the University of Cincinnati. He is the author of many published articles and papers on higher education and social change, adult learning, and practical, community-based and participatory research methods. He has served as a consultant for community agencies in the area of participatory action-research. He has conducted evaluations of liberal arts colleges and educational innovations, performed public policy research, and helped others to create community-involved colleges. John is Chair of the Board of the Association of Private Postsecondary Education in California. John Bilorusky’s Wisrville blog: Promoting Justice and Curiosity in trying times. johnb@wisr.edu

TORRY DICKINSON. B.A. Sociology, Livingston College, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, 1975. M.A. Sociology, SUNY-Binghamton, 1977. Graduate Certificate in Women and Public Policy, Rockefeller Institute for Public Affairs, SUNY-Albany, 1983. Ph.D. SUNY-Binghamton, Sociology 1983. Torry has recently rejoined WISR’s core faculty after having spent about 10 years as a WISR core faculty member in the 1980s and 90s. Torry is a tenured Professor of Women’s Studies at Kansas State University, and also teaches in such other programs there as Non-violence studies. She has authored, co-authored, and edited a number of books including: Transformations: Feminist Pathways to Global Change; Democracy Works;Community and the World; Fast Forward: Work, Gender and Protest in a Changing World; and CommonWealth. In the past, she has taught or done research at a number of universities in California–in addition to WISR, at the University of California at Berkeley (School of Education, National Center for Research on Vocational Education), the University of California at Santa Cruz (Sociology, cross-listed with Women’s Studies), and San Jose State University in San Jose and at the former Salinas Campus (Sociology cross-listed with Women’s Studies). Torry has been a Revson Fellow in Women and Public Policy (1983)and an American Fellow (Susan B. Anthony Award) with the American Association of University Women (1980). Torry Dickinson Wisrville blog: Learning for Social Change. dickins@ksu.edu

MARILYN JACKSON. BA, Augustana College, 1981, Religion. M.A., Holy Names College, Institute in Creation Spirituality and Culture, 1989. PhD, WISR, Higher Education and Social Change, 2004. In her dissertation, Dr. Jackson contrasted popular spirituality movements in Western society to traditional religion, by relating Creation Spirituality to Lutheranism. Two of her recent articles were published: “The Life of the People: The Legacy of N.F.S. Grundtvig and Nonviolent Social Change Through Popular Education in Denmark” and “Education for Life at Danish Folk Schools and Highlander.” Marilyn continues to study and work on unlearning racism and building multicultural society through dialogue, education, cultural expression and community based celebrations. She is also interested in women’s and career development issues, as well as lifestyles, health and environment. She has organized education activities about indigenous people and has been extensive involved with Scandinavian music and other cultural activities, including translating Swedish songs. As part of her commitment to egalitarian values, she educates others about socialism and social democratic values. She is on the Board and staff of the Ecumenical Peace Institute, and organizes monthly forums at the Lutheran Church of the Cross in Berkeley. In addition to serving as a member of WISR’s core faculty, she is Executive Assistant to WISR’s President. Marilyn has a blog on wisrville: “Social Democracy and Folk School Think Tank.” marilynejackson@sbcglobal.net

VERA LABAT. BS in Nursing, San Francisco State University, 1964. Masters in Public Health, University of California at Berkeley, 1974. Vera has recently retired after a long career in the field of public health. For many years, she was in charge of immunization for the City of Berkeley, and prior to that, she was school health consultant for the Berkeley Unified School District. She taught community health at the University of California, San Francisco, and taught in the School of Medicine at the University of Dar Es Salaam in Tanzania. She was the founding Executive Director of the Over 60 Health Clinic in Berkeley. Vera has served on WISR’s faculty for most of the past thirty years. labat7@aol.com

CYNTHIA LAWRENCE. BS in Education, Massachusetts State Teachers College at Boston, 1960. MA in Multicultural Education, Pepperdine College, 1977. PhD, Higher Education and Social Change, Western Institute for Social Research, 1987. Cynthia is a former schoolteacher, and is expert in the areas of multicultural education, alternative education, and the teaching and learning of language skills. She is a retired faculty member in Teacher Education at the University of California, San Diego. Over the years, she has developed materials and conducted training sessions to heighten teachers’ sensitivity to multicultural issues. She has conducted workshops on interracial issues for such groups as the Family Stress Center and the National Organization for Women (NOW). She was appointed in 1991 to the San Diego Human Relations Commission. Cynthia was the co-author, with John Bilorusky, of the recently published articles: “Multicultural, Community-Based Knowledge-Building” in Community and the World: Participating in Social Change, Torry D. Dickinson (ed.), Nova Science Publishers, 2003, and “Participatory Action-Research, Inclusiveness, and Empowering Community Action” in Democracy Works: Joining Theory and Action to Foster Global Change. in Torry D. Dickinson and Terrie A. Becerra (eds.), Paradigm Publishers, 2008. cynthiarose@mac.com

LARRY LOEBIG. BS, Summit University, Real Estate Management, 1998. MS, Summit University, Organizational Behavior, 1999. He is a graduate of Coach University and received the MCC designation from the International Coaching Federation. When he was the Business Manager of the Black Scholar Journal, he was introduced to the works of Jay Conrad Levinson and recently became Jay’s master trainer for the Western United States and is Director of the Academy for Guerrilla Marketing International. He is an advocate of learning in action and has applied his theory and learning in co-founding California.com Inc., and as an active Director of the Socially Responsible Internet Company. He is pursuing his PhD at WISR, and has developed an interest in alternative dispute resolution and earned certification with Mediator Training International with an emphasis on conflict in the workplace. He is developing a School of Coaching and Collaborative Communication as part of his action plan for earning his PhD. larryloebig@mac.com

RONALD MAH. BA in Psychology and Social Sciences, University of California at Berkeley, 1975. MA in Psychology, Western Institute for Social Research, 1991. Teacher’s Credential Program, University of California at Berkeley, 1976. Ronald has had a private practice since 1994 as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. He is a credentialed elementary and secondary teacher, and former owner-director of a preschool and daycare center. He does consulting and training for human service organizations, teaching courses and workshops for many community agencies and educational institutions around the California and the United States. He is a visible and active writer of books and articles in the field. His areas of special concern include child development, parenting and child-rearing, multicultural education, and teacher education. He is serving a second term on the Board of Directors of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, and has served on the Board of the California Kindergarten Association. Ronald is currently pursuing his PhD at WISR, writing on multiple topics on couple’s therapy, and for a potential twenty book series, possibly e-books. For more information about Ronald’s many professional endeavors, go to www.ronaldmah.com Ronald@RonaldMah.com

MICHAEL MCAVOY. Michael completed work on a Master’s Degree in Medical Anthropology from Case Western Reserve University (Cleveland) in 1983. Prior to that, he was a student activist in the 1960’s civil rights and anti-Vietnam war movements. After receiving his BA degree from St. John Fisher College (Rochester, NY) in Biology in 1970, Michael entered medical school at the Faculté de Médecine, Université de Bordeaux (France). Preferring to work on community health rather than individual change, he left in 1973 to create the San Francisco People’s Health Resource Center and People’s Medical School (1974-79) which provided access to medical care for the poor, along with a political-economic critique of the social causes of disease as well as education in self-care, holistic health and alternative medicine. During this time, he was also working with the Berkeley Radical Psychiatry Organization developing a theory and practice of psychological healing that sought not only to heal individuals but also eliminate the root causes of mental distress through social change. Later, based at the Free Medical Clinic of Greater Cleveland and working with leaders of the African-American Hough neighborhood community, Michael helped develop a model community-based hypertension program, adolescent health clinic and radical health education program. In 1985, Michael became Core Faculty in Integrated Health Studies at the New College of California (San Francisco), and subsequently founded New College’s Center for Community Action, Research and Education, its North Bay Campus of Culture, Ecology and Sustainable Community, and its Activism and Social Change Program. During his nearly three decades at New College, he also served as Dean of Humanities and co-Academic Vice President. Currently, Michael is both an Encore Foundation California Community Clinics Fellow at LifeLong Medical Care in Berkeley while continuing advanced training in the Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons’ Narrative Medicine Program in New York City. Finally, Michael is seeking to help theorize and create a social movement which combines a spiritual change in consciousness, with healing ourselves and others, resisting injustice, and building sustainable alternatives in line with Martin Luther King’s vision for a universal “beloved community.” mmcavoy333@gmail.com

CAROLE J. MORTON. BA in American Studies/Women’s Studies, with honors, MA in Speech (Human) Communication from S.F. State University, 1989, MA in Psychology, Western Institute for Social Research, 2001. Carole comes from a strong background of grassroots organizing and social activism. She established a number of successful community organizations concerned with women and poverty, helped establish the first battered women’s shelter in NYC, the first organization to fight for the rights of lesbian mothers and gay parents including writing the first legal manual for LGBT parental rights for the National Lawyers Guild. She appeared on numerous radio and television shows as well as spoke at conferences and universities on topics ranging from women and dependence, welfare rights, the legalization of prostitution, lesbian and gay rights and learning to love yourself. In the 70’s she was known for her motto “The most radical thing a woman can do in a misogynist society is love herself”. She is honored in the book “Women Who Changed America: 1963-1975.” Carole has been in private practice since 1979 as a communications counselor and as a Marriage and FamilyTherapist since 2001. She specializes in an integrative approach to healing both the mind and the body. She incorporates a socio-political-bio-psycho-spiritual whole being perspective to helping people find their individual power. She is extensively trained in mind-body medicine, nutrition/micro-nutrition, breathwork, past-life regression plus all traditional psychotherapeutic approaches. She has a full-time private practice in Walnut Creek. Carole is active in the Association for Micronutrients in Mental Health, and helps people to avoid, reduce or eliminate the use of toxic psychopharmaceuticals. She works with adults who have been diagnosed with a critical or chronic illness, adults who are dealing with depression, anxiety, dependency, childhood abuse issues and more. In addition to her private practice, she writes, blogs, speaks, leads groups and workshops on a variety of life and health topics.carolejmorton@integrativepsychotherapist.net

ART WARMOTH Ph.D. in Psychology, Brandeis University, 1967 (N.I.M.H. Predoctoral Fellow, 1962-65); B.A., Reed College, 1959 (Major: Literature/Theater). Art has been involved in humanistic psychology since 1959, when he went to Brandeis University to pursue doctoral studies with Abraham H. Maslow. Over the years, he has used his nationally recognized expertise in humanistic psychology to address local and national economic issues, to health care reform, to politics, and ecology. He joined the Psychology faculty at Sonoma State University in 1969, and became full Professor in 1985, and he has continued to teach there, sometimes serving as Chair of the Department of Psychology. Early in his career at Sonoma State University, Dr. Warmoth co-founded the Humanistic Psychology Institute (now the Saybrook Graduate School), which emphasizes training and research in humanistic psychology that addresses human potential at all levels. In 2005, he received “The Community-Based Learning Founders Award,” which is given annually to a faculty member for career achievements and contributions in linking Sonoma State University with the local community through teaching, scholarship, and service. He has also been involved in community service, including serving on the boards of The Family Connection (a transition services agency for volunteers mentoring homeless families), the Latino Commission for Alcohol & Drug Abuse Services of Sonoma County, and the Latino Democratic Club. He has been a friend of WISR’s for many years, and his current interests in working with students at WISR cover many topics related to social change, among them: the Economic Literacy of Citizenship, Social Entrepreneurialism, The Postindustrial (Postmodern) Economy, Community Economic Survival Strategies, A Sustainable Economic Recovery, and inquires into The Epistemological Foundations of Community and Society. More information about Dr. Warmoth. http://www.sonoma.edu/users/w/warmotha/awresume.html Artwarmoth@aol.com

DAVID YAMADA. BA, Valparaiso University, Indiana, MA, Empire State College, JD, New York University, PhD, WISR, 2010. David Yamada recently joined WISR’s core faculty on a part-time basis, after having completed his PhD here. David is also tenuredProfessor of Law at Suffolk University in Boston. He is concerned with the role of intellectual activism in contributing to social change. He is currently Chair of the Board of Americans for Democratic Action. As part of his years’ of involvement in addressing the growing problem of workplace bullying, he recently founded the New Workplace Institute–a multidisciplinary, non-profit research and education center devoted to the creation of healthy, productive, and socially responsible workplaces. [from its website:] “The New Workplace Institute will serve as a vehicle for engaging in research and public education on important issues related to work and employment.” David has written numerous published articles on labor law and social policy and is a frequent presenter at professional conferences. More detailed information about David, and has academic and professional accomplishments can be found on the Suffolk University website. David has two blogs: one on workplace bullying, Minding the Workplace and one, with Chris Wagner, on “Second Thoughts: The Blog of the John Ohliger Institute for Social Inquiry.” The latter blog gets its inspiration from the late John Ohliger who “was a public intellectual, adult educator, community activist, and lifelong learner who blended an insatiable curiosity, a stubborn independence, a keen mind and good heart, and a passion for creating a better world. To many of us, he was also a friend, partner, mentor, collaborator, gadfly, and inspiration.” david_yamada@yahoo.com