Michael R. Sawdey
Professor of Fine Arts,
Aurora University
Office:
(630) 844-5656
100B Stephens
Hall
FAX: (630-844-3852
347 South
Gladstone
msawdey@aurora .edu
Aurora,
Illinois 60506-4892
Education
Ph.D., University of Illinois
at Urbana-Champaign. English Language and Literature.
A.M., University of Illinois
at Urbana-Champaign. English Language and Literature; minor in History
of Science.
A.B., Honors College,
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. English Language and Literature;
minor in German. Honors degree with high honors in English. Phi Kappa
Phi.
Additional graduate study,
Johnson State College (Vermont): Adult development, age/stage effects
in student learning; research project on development and writing
remediation.
Harvard University, Institute
for Management and Leadership in Education, June 1999
Teaching Experience
2007-
Professor of Fine Arts, Aurora University.
Develop and teach multiple levels of photography coursework; design,
implement, and maintain darkroom and digital imaging resources.
2001-2006
University Professor of Interdisciplinary Studies, Aurora
University; develop selected courses and program initiatives in such
fields as cultural studies, international studies, and
photography/digital graphics; teaching assignments in communication and
fine arts; develop coursework and materials around University museum
collections.
1995-2001
Professor of Communication and English, Aurora University.
Courses developed and/or taught included: Public Speaking, Corporate
and Professional Communication, Popular Culture,
Introduction to Photography, Professional Presentation, Writing for the
Mass Media, Educational Assessment, Persuasion and Organizational
Change. Designed remedial and
business writing courses and seminars for adults. Taught one to three
courses per year in addition to administrative duties.
1985-95
Associate Professor of English and Communication, Aurora
University. Duties as above.
1979-85
Instructor, Community College of Vermont. Developed and taught
courses in remedial writing, English composition, Modern British
Literature, degree plan development. Developed writing and English
literature sections of college-wide curriculum. After 1980, taught in
addition to administrative duties.
1979-80
Lecturer, Communication Department, University of Vermont. Taught
courses in public speaking; advised student yearbook.
1974-75
Instructor, Parkland Community College, Champaign, Illinois.
Developed and taught creative writing courses for adults.
1973-74
Assistant Professor, Greenville College (Illinois). Developed and
taught courses in English Composition, Introduction to Literature,
Modern British Literature, Literary Theory and Criticism.
1969-73
Graduate teaching assistant, University of Illinois at
Urbana-Champaign. Developed and taught courses in Introduction to
Poetry, Introduction to Drama, and Narrative Writing.
Administrative Experience
2001-06
Executive Director, The Schingoethe Center for
Native American Cultures, Aurora University, Aurora, Illinois
2001
Senior Vice
President for Planning, Aurora University
1999-00
Vice-President for Academic Research,
Enhancement, and Planning, Aurora University; Interim Provost.
1995-99
Associate Provost for Academic Affairs, Aurora
University
1994
Acting
Vice-President for Academic Affairs, Aurora University
1991-00
Founding Dean, New College of Aurora University.
1991
Acting
Dean, School of Business and Information Science, Aurora University.
1986-91
Dean of Academic and Extension Services, Aurora University (appointed
as Director in 1986, as Dean in 1988
1985-86
Director of Continuing Education, Aurora
University.
1983-85
Regional Director, Western Region, Community College
of Vermont.
1980-83
Coordinator of Instruction and Advisement,
Community College of Vermont.
1975-79
Founding Partner, General Editor, and
Production Manager, Publication Service Associates, Urbana, Illinois.
Grant Activities and
Related Research
1986-Present
Prepared or participated in preparation
of numerous applications
for funding, with positive results from such sources as Ameritech,
Illinois State
Board of Education,
Associated Colleges of Illinois, etc.
1985-86
Activity
Director, Title III grant program for Center for
Life-Long Learning, Aurora University.
1983-85
Activity
Director, Title III extension-of-services grant,
Community College of Vermont; member of grant preparation team
1977-80
Associate Project Director, "The Korean-American Child at School
and at Home: An
Analysis of Interaction and Intervention through
Groups."
ACYF/DHEW Grant No. 90C-1335, University of
Illinois
1977
Co-investigator, pilot project funded by
Asian-American Mental Health Research Center (Chicago); tested
feasibility of research design for
ACYF/DHEW project
described above.
Publications,
Presentations, and Shows
2008 Exhibit: Seven images in faculty group show to
accompany Aurora University production of Shakespeare's As You Like It, November, 2008.
2008 "Camera Obscura, Lucas a non Lucendo," presentation at
annual ACCA (Associated Colleges of the Chicago Area) conference on
teaching, Lewis
University,
Romeoville, IL, October 18, 2008
2007 "From
content to community: Introductory Photography as a general education
course." Presentation at Midwest Society for Photographic Education,
Flint,
Michigan,
November 10, 2007
2006
Invited exhibit, Kaneville (IL) library and community center,
December 2006
2006 Winter
Art Show, Campbell House, Geneva, Illinois (digital images)
2005
“Wolves in Native American Culture.” Presentation at Brookfield
Zoo, Brookfield, Illinois, in conjunction with two-day wolf conference.
2005 2005
Invitational Photography Show, Campbell House, Geneva, Illinois.
Invited participant in four-person show
2004
“Native Americans in Illinois, invited presentation, Native
American History Month program, Harper College, Palatine, Illinois,
November 9, 2004
2004
“Impersonating a Professor: Adapting the small museum to the
purposes of higher education.” Paper presented at Association of
Midwest Museums annual conference, Grand Rapids, Michigan, October 21,
2004
2004
Faculty/Staff Art Show, Aurora University (digital images).
2004 “Steps
in Establishing a New Museum,” invited presentation to Big Rock
Historical Society, Big Rock, Illinois, February 12, 2004
2003
“Remembering JFK,” photographs and essay incorporated in 40th
anniversary exhibit, Downstairs Dunham Gallery, Aurora University
2003
Faculty development presentation, Aurora University: "Teaching
from Things--A Classroom Methodology"
2003
Faculty/Staff Art Show, Aurora University (digital images).
2002
Digital graphics, "Back in the World: Alan B. Walker, A Native
American in Vietnam," video production, Aurora University
2001 Review
of Teaching without Tenure
(R. G. Baldwin and J. L. Chronister); Academic Leader (Magna
Publications), June 2001.
2001 “Pow
Wow: Photographs by Michael Sawdey,” One-person show, 30 photographs,
silver and digital, with accompanying essay, Dunham Downstairs Gallery,
Aurora University, May-July, 2001
2001
“Conversations about Poetry,” invited presentation with L.
Church, River Forest (Illinois) Public Library, writers and artists
series, February
2001
Invited participant, “Self-Study Fair,” North Central Association
2001 Annual Meeting, Chicago, April 1.
1999
Narrator and on-camera interviewer, "Vietnam: March On," video
production, Aurora University
1998
Invited articles on Samuel Beckett and on the fifth anniversary
of the publication, Caxtonian, VI., 6, VI., 8.
1997 “On
First Listening in on Henry Miller.” Invited article, Caxtonian,
V.,1(January 1997), p. 3
1997
September, invited presentation on distance learning, Libras
library directors group, Chicago.
1993
Invited show, Waubonsee Community College “Arts and Ideas”
series, displaying photographs from the day of John F. Kennedy’s
assassination together with a reflective essay, October-December.
1993 “But
Will It Get Me A Job? Integrating Professional and Liberal Arts
Learning through A Graduation Portfolio Process.” Co-presenter with L.
Church, 15th Annual Conference of the Association for Integrative
Studies, Detroit, October 8, 1993.
1993 “From
Office to College: Shaping Continuing Education Administration to the
Institutional Mission.” 1993 Conference on the Adult Learner, Columbia,
South Carolina, May 31, 1993.
1993
"Managing Contractually Offered Programs Effectively: An
Important Market Opportunity,” presentation with D. Steeples,
Annual Meeting, North Central Association, Chicago.
1992
"Strategic Planning in the '90s" One-day presentation and
planning retreat delivered to staff and board of directors, Family
Support Center, Aurora, Illinois.
1991 "Works
in Progress" One-person photography show, Aurora University, Aurora,
Illinois, November-December.
1988 "John
F. Kennedy: Twenty-Five Years Later" Photo exhibit and accompanying
essay, November-January, Aurora University, Aurora, Illinois.
1987
"Aurora Yesterday and Today" Exhibit, 35 color photographs,
Aurora University, Aurora, Illinois.
1982
"Facilitation Roles for the School Social Worker in the School
Experience of Non-Native Korean-American Children." With B.L.-C. Kim
and B. C. Meihoefer. Social Work in Education, 4(2), 17-33.
1982 Women
in Shadows: A Handbook for Service Providers to Battered Asian Wives of
U.S. Servicemen. Contributing Editor. San Diego: Committee Concerned
with Asian Wives of U.S. Servicemen.
1982
Presentation: "Rhetoric and Development: Some Issues in the
Teaching of Basic Writing.” Vermont State Colleges Symposium on Basic
Skills, Johnson State College, April, 1982
1980 "The
Korean-American Child at School and at Home: An Analysis of
Interaction." Final report to Administration for Children, Youth and
Families, DHEW, Grant No. 90C-1335. Co-author.
.
1979
"Still Photography as a Data Collection Method in Evaluation Studies."
Presentation and demonstration given with P.T. Templin at national
conference of the Evaluation Network, Cincinnati, September, 1979.
Monograph embodying results: Paper and Report Series No. 32, Research
on Evaluation Program, Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory,
November, 1979.
1979
"Mental Health Aspects of the Home-School Interaction in the
Lives of Non-native Korean-American Children." Co-author and presenter,
American Orthopsychiatric Association, Washington, D.C. Abstracted in
Psychiatric Spectator, 1980.
1979
"Instructional Implications of the Cultural Background of
Non-Native Korean-American Children." Co-author and presenter, Illinois
Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages/Bilingual Education
(TESOL/BE), Chicago.
1975 "The
Incurious Seeker: A Study of the Antiquest in the Novels of Samuel
Beckett." Ph.D. dissertation, University of Illinois at
Urbana-Champaign. Dissertation Abstracts International, 35(1):472A.
Awards and Honors
Who's Who in American Higher
Education
Who's Who in International
Education
NDEA Fellow, University of
Illinois
Phi Kappa Phi, University of
Michigan
Woodrow Wilson Finalist
Professional Affiliations
Phi Delta Kappa
American Society for Photographic Education
Midwest Society for Photographic Education
Association for
Integrative Studies
American Association for
Institutional Research
Caxton Club (Chicago)
Council on College
Composition and Communication (CCCC)
Council for Adult and
Experiential Learning
Community Activities
(various years, 1985-present)
Board of Directors, Family
Support Center, Aurora, Illinois
Advisory Board, Acorn Retreat
Center, Yorkville, Illinois
Aurora Area United Way,
Communication Committee
Friends of Fermilab,
Outreach/Membership Committee
Aurora Historical Society
Fox Valley Center for Visual
Art
Aurora Public Art Commission
Gallery/Aurora Art and History Center
Commissioner, GAR Memorial
Commission, City of Aurora, Illinois