I’ve been on quite a life journey that began in college with an interest in attending a Methodist Seminary in Kansas City, and though I later found myself in a soldier's uniform in Vietnam, instead, the interest in becoming a Methodist Minister waned considerably after the war, and so did the thought of a religious life, but over 10 years ago, both my wife and I converted to Judaism (another story!) and since then, and due partly to teaching World of Ideas at Whitewater, and taking Yoga classes, I have taken an interest in Buddhism, and especially in the teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh and The Dalai Lama. I studied to become a Rabbinic Aide in the early 90’s, and later attended an educator’s workshop to counsel and advise those considering conversion to Judaism.  For several years,  I served as the Director of my Reform (the liberal movement) synagogue’s Introduction to Judaism Program, and recently taught a course on Asian religions at that synagogue. I’ve also assisted with a few Jewish worship services, and led various adult study classes.  I’m not sure what’s in the future, but the last few years, with trips to Poland, and earlier, to Israel, I imagine the future will be as much a surprise as the past has been.

The other life that has been quite a discovery is the life of writing. In college I began to take an interest in writing poetry, and with the assistance of a wonderful poet-professor, I began another journey into the world of poetry and writing which has continued all of these years, through graduate schools, and through teaching at Whitewater.  My poetry has been published in two book length collections and five chapbooks, as well as a dozen anthologies, and over 60 journals and magazines. I’ve also published articles/essays on the teaching of writing, on historical poetry, on Jewish subjects, and currently, I’m working on an analysis of Holocaust poetry.  I rather imagine I’ll be writing on something, right up until the very end. At least I would hope so, if it doesn’t interfere with a golf tee time.

My wife and I met in Wichita, Kansas where I was introduced to her as a V.A. Hospital Nurse Specialist.  We married each other on a country farm with friends, family, and lots of animals (see connection in "Life off Campus." We've lived in Ohio for a few years and later in Ann Arbor while both of us worked on Ph.D. programs.  In the summer of 1981 we moved to Milwaukee, thinking we'd stay a year or two.  Our daughter, Melissa,  lives in the town where we once met each other, in Wichita, where she divides her time between forensic anthropology and computer technology that controls the rate of water flow in municipal water towers.  My wife, also a professor, directed the Center for Cultural Diversity in the School of Nursing at UW-Milwaukee, and taught Cultural Diversity and Health Care. She recently retired from UW-Milwaukee, and is now exploring interior design and art classes.