As Virginia Wesleyan welcomed the class of 2011, it also welcomed a new class of professors.
Dr. Harold E. Dorton
Assistant Professor of Sociology, Bowling Green State University
Dorton received his Ph.D. from Bowling Green State University, Ohio, and has taught courses at Texas State University, San Marcos. His main teaching interests are sociology including culture, popular culture, sport, social psychology and theory. Dorton says “Teaching sociology appeals to me for the same reason being a sociology student appealed to me: I always find new windows to the world around me through my discipline.” In his spare time, he enjoys listening to live music, running, reading and collecting books.
Mr. Brett S. Heindl
Assistant Professor of Political Science, Syracuse University
Heindl received his M.A. from Syracuse University and B.A. from Ithaca College, both in New York. His teaching interests include public policy and how American politics intersect with international politics. In addition, his research focuses on how ethnic and immigrant groups in the U.S. have tried to influence politics in their ancestral homelands. He plans to teach classes on human rights, immigration and citizenship, and U.S. foreign and national security policy.
Dr. Stephen Hock
Assistant Professor of English, University of Pennsylvania
Hock received his Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania and B.A. from Haverford College with Phi Beta Kappa honors. Hock has taught courses at Haverford College where he specialized in post-modern literature and film and twentieth-century literature. Having attended a small liberal arts college for his undergraduate work, Hock said he understands the importance of relationships between faculty and students. Hock says he most enjoys teaching contemporary American literature and film courses and focuses his research on “postmodern seriality,” a phenomenon in which “postmodern” authors like Thomas Pynchon, Kathy Acker and Nathaniel Mackey write their books as sequels or series novels.
Dr. Eric Michael Mazur
Gloria and David Furman Endowed Chair of Judaic Studies and Associate Professor of Religious Studies University of California, Santa Barbara
Mazur received his Ph.D. from the University of California, Santa Barbara and has taught courses at Bucknell University, where he was associate professor and chair for the department of religion; coordinator for American studies; and coordinator for legal studies. His teaching interests range broadly including religion in American culture, sociology of religion and history of religion. Mazur says he enjoys the conversational model of teaching. “I like to engage my students and get them talking,” he said. “I also like to play devil’s advocate – nothing is sacred, everything is subject to analysis.” Mazur has three main research areas: church and state relations, religion and popular culture and Judaism in America.
Dr. Josh A. Weinstein
Assistant Professor of English, State University of New York at Buffalo
Weinstein received his Ph.D. from State University of New York at Buffalo and received his B.A. from Wesleyan University with Phi Beta Kappa honors. His areas of research include exploring the ideas of humility towards nature, American nature writing and poetry. In his spare time, Weinstein enjoys hiking, camping, traveling and reading. Weinstein says he “hopes to get students involved in poetry and bring outside poets onto campus.”