Vitae

March 2024

JOHN A. DUERK
Western Nevada College
2201 West College Parkway
Bristlecone Building, Room #324
Carson City, Nevada 89703

EDUCATION

PhD,  Political Science, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois, August 2012

MA,  History, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois, December 1999

BS,  Illinois State University, Normal, Illinois, December 1996

AA,  McHenry County College, Crystal Lake, Illinois, August 1994

CONTINUING STUDIES

Facing Race: Racism, Resistance and Reckoning in the United States (online with Zoom meetings), Rice University, Houston, Texas, March-April 2021 (6 weeks)

Democracy and Disagreement (on-campus), Rice University, Houston, Texas, March-April 2018 (6 Weeks)

CERTIFICATES

State of Illinois Certificate – Standard Secondary Teaching (Endorsements: Civics/Political Science, U.S. History, World History, and Sociology), License ID: 1935493, Regional Office of Education, DeKalb County, Illinois, Expires June 30, 2025

National Endowment for the Humanities, Amherst College, Amherst, Massachusetts, July 2005

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

Instructor, Political Science, Liberal Arts Division, Western Nevada College, Carson City, Nevada, August 2022-Present

Courses teaching: HIST 101: U.S. History to 1877 (Jump Start section at Dayton High School); HIST 102: U.S. History From 1877 (Jump Start section at Dayton High School); HIST 111: Survey of United States Constitutional History; PSC 100: Nevada Constitution (open entry online section); PSC 101: Introduction to American Politics (Jump Start sections on the WNC campus; regular sections); PSC 208: Survey of State and Local Government

Institutional service: (1) Liberal Arts Senator 2 on the Faculty Senate, May 2023-25; (2) Member of the Distance Education Committee, 2023-24; (3) Member of the Student Leadership Summit Committee, 2023-Present; (4) Member of the Open Entry Faculty Workgroup, 2022-Present; (5) Member of the Professional Advancement Committee, 2023-Present; (6) Member of the Director of Institutional Research and Effectiveness search committee, Spring 2023; (7) Member of the machine tool technology instructor search committee, 2023 (on pause)

Curriculum rewritten: Course description (e.g., PSC 208); student learning outcomes (e.g., PSC 208)

Division service: Evaluated four part-time instructors

Speakers hosted: (1) Lyndsey Boyer, Manager at Parks, Recreation, and Open Space in Carson City (Fall 2023); (2) Hope Sullivan, Director of Community Development in Carson City (Fall 2023); (3) Lori Bagwell, Mayor of Carson City (Spring 2023, Fall 2022); (4) Stacy Giomi, Ward 1 Supervisor in Carson City (Fall 2022); (5) Maurice White, Ward 2 Supervisor in Carson City (Spring 2023, Fall 2022); (6) Lisa Schuette, Ward 4 Supervisor in Carson City (Spring 2023, Fall 2022)

Faculty, History and Political Science Department, Lake Tahoe Community College, South Lake Tahoe, California, August 2018-July 2022

Courses taught: POL 100: Introduction to Political Science; POL 101: American Government; POL 107: Introduction to Political Theory; POL 204: Introduction to International Relations; POL 206: Introduction to Comparative Politics; HIS 111/112/113: U.S. History; HIS 118: California History; HIS 127A/B/C: World Civilizations

Program created: Associate of Arts transfer degree in political science (administered a survey to determine student interest level; collected enrollment data from the political science departments at nearby universities; prepared a report for the college administrators and the Curriculum Committee; wrote the program description, program sequence, and student learning outcomes; designed a leaflet for students)

Courses written (i.e., course descriptions, objectives, student learning outcomes, and outlines): POL 100: Introduction to Political Science; HIS 118: California History

Institutional service: (1) Chair/Lead of the History and Political Science Department, 2018-22; (2) Co-Advisor of Student Senate, 2019-22; (3) Secretary/Treasurer of Faculty Association, 2020-22; (4) Member of Faculty Association's Negotiations Team, 2020-22; (5) Member of the sociology faculty screening committee, 2020; (6) Member of the academic counselor screening committee, 2019; (7) Advisor of the Debate Club, 2019-20; (8) Member of the Scholarships Committee, 2019

Curriculum rewritten: Student learning outcomes (e.g., POL 101; HIS 111/2/3; HIS 127A/B/C); DE addenda (e.g., POL 101; HIS 111/2/3; HIS 127A/B/C); Title V updates for multiple political science and history courses (e.g., course titles, descriptions, objectives, student learning outcomes, outlines, and textbooks)

Speakers hosted: (1) Sofia Plagakis of the Congressional Research Service (Library of Congress) and (2) Patrick Lester of the Social Innovation Research Center

Associate Professor, Lone Star College-CyFair, Cypress, Texas, January 2014-July 2018

Courses taught: GOVT 2305: Federal Government; GOVTH 2305: Honors Federal Government; GOVT 2306: Texas Government; GOVTH 2306: Honors Texas Government (Themes: Human Interaction and Experience; Power); Federal Government/Principles of Sociology Learning Community (Theme: Individual Involvement, Group Impact)

Department service: (1) Chair of the Government Department, August 2017-July 2018 (i.e. hired and evaluated adjunct instructors; built the fall, spring, and summer schedules; conducted meetings; reviewed adjunct faculty syllabi; initiated and participated in the development of the department's mission and vision statements; collected and inputted the department's goals for the academic year; initiated and oversaw changes to the department's webpage; credentialed dual enrollment instructors at the local high schools; shared academic studies and teaching materials with full-time and adjunct faculty members); (2) Chair of a successful department hiring committee for two full time faculty members, Fall 2017; (3) Member of two political science faculty search committees; (4) Mentor to an adjunct faculty member and a 70% faculty member (i.e., observed classes; reviewed syllabi and activities; shared lessons; conducted one on one meetings)

Institutional service: (1) Coordinator of the Center for Civic Engagement on the CyFair campus, 2015-2017 (i.e., prepared agendas and facilitated on-campus committee meetings; developed programs and planned and assisted with campus events; managed a $20,768 budget; purchased supplies and reconciled our account; communicated with campus administrators; made group travel arrangements; networked with nonprofit organizations in the Houston area; updated our local webpage; led a campus-wide symposium; escorted students to a public policy conference at the University of Texas-Austin; attended system-wide meetings and workshops and a national conference); (2) Member of the Center for Civic Engagement Committee, 2017-18 (i.e. attended meetings; planned campus wide events; incorporated deliberative dialogues into my curriculum); (3) Member of the Honors Council Advisory Committee, 2016-2018 (i.e., attended meetings and events; reviewed honors contract proposals; interviewed prospective honors fellows; judged presentations at the Honors College Undergraduate Research Conference)

Speakers hosted: (1) Rosanne Barone, Houston Program Director of Texas Campaign for the Environment; (2) Lise Olsen, (former) investigative reporter at the Houston Chronicle

Resident Faculty, Mohave Community College, Lake Havasu City, Arizona, August 2012-December 2013

Courses taught: POS 120: American National Government; HIS 131/132: History of the United States I/II ; HIS 135: Western Civilization

Department service: Participant in the Academic Program Articulation Steering Committee's Articulation Task Force meetings, 2012 and 2013

Institutional service: (1) Member of the Dual Enrollment Advisory Committee, 2012-13; (2) Member of the Student Learning Initiative Sub-committee, 2013; (3) Member of the Arizona General Education Task Force, 2013; (4) Representative on the college's Faculty Council, 2013; (5) Member of the Associate Dean hiring committee, 2012; (6) Member of Student Services Specialist hiring committee, 2012

Curriculum rewritten (i.e., course packages): (1) HIS 131/132 Western Civilization (2) HIS 274: History of Mexico

BOOKS

Duerk, J. (Ed.). (2021). Environmental philosophy, politics, and policy. Lexington Books.

ARTICLES

Duerk, J. (2021). "Egalitarians speak: Lone voices of dissent in the congressional hearings on radical animal liberation and environmental activism" In J. Duerk, (Ed.), Environmental philosophy, politics, and policy (pp. 121-138). Lexington Books.

Duerk, J. (2015, Summer). "Elijah P. Lovejoy: Anti-Catholic abolitionist," Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society, 108(2), 103-121. (Peer Reviewed).

RESEARCH PRESENTATIONS

“Egalitarians Speak: Lone Voices of Dissent in the Congressional Hearings on Radical Animal Liberation and Environmental Activism," Southern Political Science Association Conference, Austin, Texas, 19 January 2019

"Elijah P. Lovejoy: Anti-Catholic Abolitionist," Illinois History Symposium, Eastern Illinois University, Charleston, Illinois, 28 March 2014

“From Voting to Bombing: A Cultural Analysis of How Animal Rights Activists Perceive Different Forms of Advocacy Utilized by Movement Participants,” Midwest Political Science Association Conference, Chicago, Illinois, 12-15 April 2012

“A Cultural Analysis of the Public Hearings Leading to the Passage of the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act,” Annual Meeting of the Illinois Political Science Association, Oakton Community College, Des Plaines, Illinois, 19 February 2011

“A Discussion of the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act,” Midwest Law and Society Retreat, Institute for Legal Studies, University of Wisconsin Law School, Madison, Wisconsin, 9 October 2010

“The Regulation of ‘Eco-terrorism’ in the United States,” Brown Bag Lecture Series, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois, 16 April 2008

TEACHING PRESENTATIONS

“Civic Involvement: Your Community, Your Choice,” Promise Class, Lake Tahoe Community College, South Lake Tahoe, California, 19 October and 8 February 2021

"Building Social Capital Through Inclusivity: Reconstructing the Classroom's Racialized Space," Teaching and Learning Center Workshop, Lone Star College-CyFair, Cypress, Texas, 13 April 2018 (and 31 October 2017)

"Civic Engagement: Inducing a Cultural Shift Through Public Work" (with Melanie Steel, Kelli Vorish, and Sharon Bippus), Teaching and Learning Center Symposium, Lone Star College-CyFair, Cypress, Texas, 26 February 2016

"Ideas for Teaching Social Science," Teaching and Learning Center Roundtable Discussion, Lone Star College-CyFair, Cypress, Texas, 24 October 2014

"Get on the Syllabus: Components of a Course Outline," Training Session for Associate Faculty, Mohave Community College, Lake Havasu City, Arizona, 17 August 2013

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Ambassador Program, The Better Arguments Project, The Aspen Institute’s Citizenship and Identity Program, Washington, DC, September-November 2023 [10 2-hour sessions via webinar]

“Planning 101,” Carson City Community Development Planning Division, Carson City, Nevada, 3 July 2023

“Better Arguments: Principles to Practice” (Embrace Vulnerability), The Better Arguments Project/The Aspen Institute’s Citizenship and Identity Program, Washington, DC, 15 June 2023 [2-hour session via webinar]

“THRIVE Technical Assistance Program,” College & Community Fellowship, New York, New York, 16, 23, 30 September, and 14 October 2022 [four 2-hour sessions via webinar]

“Gen Y and Gen Z Are Your Students for the Next 10 Years: A Survival Primer,” Western Nevada College, Carson City, Nevada, 20 September 2022

"The Anatomy of an Ad: A Bipartisan Breakdown of Top Political Advertisements" (webinar), Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, 30 September 2020

"Racial Equity in Higher Education: Turning Student Activism into Real Change" (webinar), Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, 8 July 2020

"Anti-Blackness, Racial Equity, and Higher Education: A Call for Change" (webinar), Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, 24 June 2020

"Intra- and Interpersonal Competencies and College Student Success," Fred Oswald, Ph.D., Teaching and Learning Center, Lone Star College-CyFair, Cypress, Texas, 26 April 2018

"Writing Across the Curriculum," Teaching and Learning Center Symposium, Lone Star College-CyFair, Cypress, Texas, 29 September 2017

"Citizen Professional Education Workshop," Sabo Center for Democracy and Citizenship, Lone Star College-University Park, Houston, Texas/Lone Star College-Montgomery, Conroe, Texas, 4-5 March 2016

"Simmer Down: Take the Heat Out of Class Debates," ESOL Active Learning Symposium, Lone Star College-CyFair, Cypress, Texas, 6 February 2016

"Engage Students with Advanced Infographics," Teaching and Learning Center, Lone Star College-CyFair, Cypress, Texas, 19 November 2015

"Social Class and Its Impact on Education," Economic Inequality and Civic Engagement Conference, Lone Star College-University Park, Houston, Texas, 6 November 2015

"College Student Development Theory," Teaching and Learning Center, Lone Star College-CyFair, Cypress, Texas, 28 September 2015

"Civic Learning and Democratic Engagement Meeting" (Stewardship of Place: A Civic Mission of Higher Education), The Democracy Commitment, New Orleans, Louisiana, 4-6 June 2015

"Civic Engagement," Higher Education Teaching Institute, Lone Star College-North Harris, Houston, Texas, 7 November 2014

"Empowering Students to Get on Course," Higher Education Teaching Institute, Lone Star College-Systems Office, The Woodlands, Texas, 12-13 August 2014

"Accelerated Learning," Higher Education Teaching Institute, Lone Star College-Tomball Campus, Tomball, Texas, 14-17 July 2014

"Creating Participatory Online Learning Activities with VoiceThread," Mohave Community College, Kingman, Arizona, 14 December 2012

"American FactFinder and Census Data Access Tools," Center for Governmental Studies, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois, 4 June 2012

"Young and in Trouble: Symposium on Youth Justice," Northern Illinois University College of Law, DeKalb, Illinois, 1 March 2012

“Scaffolding to Improve Student Learning,” Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois, 29 September 2011

“Designing Effective Assessments,” Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois, 24 March 2010

“Understanding and Integrating Teaching and Learning Styles,” Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois, 24 February 2010

“Teaching with the Revised Bloom’s Taxonomy,” Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois, 16 February 2010

“Learner-centered Curriculum, Pedagogy, and Feedback = Student Success,” Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois, 7 January 2010

“Rubrics for Meaningful Assessment and Evaluation,” Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois 28 October 2009

“Formative and Summative Feedback for Teaching and Learning,” Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois, 6 August 2008

“Writing Goals and Objectives: There is a Difference,” Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois, 10 July 2008

“Concept Mapping for Teaching and Learning,” Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois, 2 July 2008

OTHER WRITING

"Illegal dumping must stop," Nevada Appeal, 1 August 2020, p. A16.

"Artifacts" (in "Debating the battle flag"), Houston Chronicle, 24 June 2015, p. B8.

"Honest discussion of race is needed," Today's News-Herald, 31 July 2013, p. 4.

“Bullets aren’t long term solution to terrorism,” Daily Chronicle, 6 May 2011, p. A8.

“Facade surrounds landfill,” Daily Chronicle, 20 March 2010, p. A7.

“Learning from Victor Wogen,” Daily Chronicle, 19 December 2009, p. A9.

“City government needs major reform,” Daily Chronicle, 4 November 2009, p. A5.

“Student says Fazekas would be best choice for DeKalb mayor,” Northern Star, 19 February 2009, p. 6.

COMPUTER SKILLS

MS Outlook, PowerPoint, Word, Excel

Canvas, Desire2Learn

Screencastify, Zoom, BoardDocs, Canva

SPSS (Statistical Package of the Social Sciences)

HONORS

Dissertation Facilitation Award ($1250), College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois, May 2012

Summer Scholar, National Endowment for the Humanities seminar (Punishment, Politics, and Culture, $3600 stipend), Amherst College, Amherst, Massachusetts, Summer 2005

Speaker, North Boone High School baccalaureate ceremony, Poplar Grove, Illinois, 1 June 2005

Original course (Race, Sex, and Class: A Survey of Struggle in the United States) proposal accepted and taught, Upward Bound Program, Rock Valley College, Rockford, Illinois, Summer 2003

Speaker, North Boone High School baccalaureate ceremony, Poplar Grove, Illinois, 28 May 2003

MEMBERSHIPS

Heterodox Academy, 2019-Present

Western Political Science Association, 2022-Present

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

Volunteer, Western Nevada College, Nevada Day Parade, Carson City, Nevada, 28 October 2023

Volunteer/Lobbyist, Western Nevada College, Nevada State Legislature, Carson City, Nevada, 4 April 2023 (designed a leaflet for students)

Guest Expert, Tahoe Talks: States’ Rights vs. Federal Rights, Incline Village Library/Washoe County Library System, Incline Village, Nevada, 15 November 2022

Volunteer Reviewer, Free Inquiry Grant Program, Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Fall 2022

Organizer/Facilitator, “Free Speech, and the Inclusive Campus” Deliberative Forum, Lake Tahoe Community College, South Lake Tahoe, California, 2 November 2021

Co-Organizer (with Laura Salinas, Equity Director), Town Hall Discussion on Social Unrest, Lake Tahoe Community College, South Lake Tahoe, California, 10 June 2020

Organizer/Moderator, "Finding Truth Amid Distortion: The Role of Media in a Modern Democracy," Center for Civic Engagement, Lone Star College-CyFair, Cypress, Texas, 5 April 2018

Panel Member, Think Factory: "The Decay of Institutions," Philosophy Department, Lone Star College-CyFair, Cypress, Texas, 28 March 2018

Coordinator, Center for Civic Engagement, Lone Star College-CyFair, Cypress, Texas, 2015-2017

Facilitator, Public discussion following a performance of Rowing to America: The Immigrant Project, Center for Civic Engagement, Lone Star College-CyFair, Cypress, Texas, 12 April 2017

Panel Member, Academic Freedom, Teaching and Learning Center Symposium, Lone Star College-CyFair, Cypress, Texas, 3 March 2017

Organizer, "What's That Up in the Sky? A Panel Discussion on Drones," Center for Civic Engagement, Lone Star College-CyFair, Cypress, Texas, 15 November 2016

Faculty Escort, The Texas Tribune Festival (policy conference), University of Texas, Austin, Texas, 2015, 2016

Organizer, Local Political Candidate Forum, Mohave Community College, Lake Havasu City, Arizona, 10 October 2012

Treasurer, North Boone Education Association, North Boone Community Unit School District #200, Poplar Grove, Illinois, 2005-2006

Co-Advisor, Students Allied for Equality, North Boone High School, Poplar Grove, Illinois, 2003-2006

Member, Scholarships Committee, North Boone High School, Poplar Grove, Illinois, 2003, 2005

Advisor, Natural Helpers, North Boone High School, Poplar Grove, Illinois, 2001-2004

Member, Writing Across the Curriculum Committee, North Boone High School, Poplar Grove, Illinois, Spring 2001

PERSONAL ACTIVITIES

Volunteer, Desert Pigs, Dayton, Nevada, 2020-Present

Board Member, KNVC (95.1 FM), Carson City, Nevada, 2021-22

Volunteer, Red Cross (Caldor Fire Evacuation Shelter: Reno-Sparks Convention Center), Reno, Nevada, 5 September 2021

Board Secretary (recorded and distributed meeting minutes; reviewed financials; contacted donors; suggested edits to outreach brochure), Texas Wildlife Rehabilitation Coalition, Houston, Texas, 2018

Member, Texas Wildlife Rehabilitation Coalition, Houston, Texas, 2016-2018

Volunteer, Vegan for Life, Houston, Texas, 2016

Volunteer, Texas Wildlife Rehabilitation Coalition, Houston, Texas, Summer 2016

Participant, Walk to Save Animals, Arizona Animal Welfare League, Phoenix, Arizona, 9 November 2013

Volunteer, National Public Lands Day, SARA Park, Lake Havasu City, Arizona, 1 December 2012

Member, DeKalb Citizens for Transparency, DeKalb, Illinois, 2007-2009

Volunteer, Fazekas for DeKalb mayoral campaign, DeKalb, Illinois, 2009

Member, Animal Defense League, Chicago, Illinois, 1999-2009

Speaker, Animal Defense League Forum: Introduction to Animal Rights, Chicago, Illinois, 26 May 2007

Board Member, Alliance for Animals, Madison, Wisconsin, 2005-2006

Volunteer, Harm Reduction Outreach, Rockford, Illinois, 2001-2002

Delegation Member, Chicago Religious Leadership Network/Rockford Peace and Justice, National Mobilization on Colombia, Washington DC, April 19-22, 2002

President, Animal Rights Coalition, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois, 1998-2000

Vice President, Vegetarian Education Group, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois, 1997-1999

Volunteer, Illinois Animal Action, Warrenville, Illinois, 1997-1999

Liaison, Black Awareness and Action Committee, Illinois State University, Normal, Illinois, 1994-1995

REFERENCES

Melanie Aponte Chu, MLIS, EdD
Director, Roberta Mason Library
Lake Tahoe Community College
1 College Drive
South Lake Tahoe, California 96150
Phone: (530) 541-4660
Email: mchu@ltcc.edu

Brigitte Dillet, PhD
Professor of Earth Sciences
Western Nevada College
160 Campus Way
Fallon, Nevada 89406
Phone: (775) 445-3390
Email: brigitte.dillet@wnc.edu

Markie McBrayer, PhD
Assistant Professor, Political Science
University of Idaho
205H Administration Building
875 Perimeter Drive, MS 3165
Moscow, Idaho 83844-3165
Phone: (208) 885-6120
Email: mmcbrayer@uidaho.edu

Chris Ryan, MS
Professor of Geography
Western Nevada College
2201 West College Parkway
Aspen Building, Room 222
Carson City, NV 89703
Phone: (775) 445-4243
Email: chris.ryan@wnc.edu

Photograph

Washoe County Courthouse, Reno, NV, 2022