Austrian Puppetry Course Performance

April 24, 2023

As the semester comes to an end, the students of my Austrian Puppetry course put together a wonderful performance of their original piece "The Magic Flower" that was well attended by students, faculty, staff and local families. Here is a link to the video. It begins at around 7:54

Dabbling With 3D Imaging

February 28, 2023

Now exploring 3D imaging to add to my teaching. Here is a simple model of me : -) .

Wrapping Up Black History Month

February 28, 2023

This year I wrapped up Black History Month with a look at the life and works of August Wilson. My talk was held virtually and the turn out was great. Now working on something for Women's History Month.

It's 2023 ALREADY!: A look back at 2022 OrJames Labs' community work

January 6, 2023

With the ebbing of Covid restrictions, I was once again able to actively engage with the community. Below you can see we were able to do our traditional dissections and microscopy work once again with individuals of all ages. Feel free to peruse the images below.

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It's 2023 ALREADY!: A look back at 2022 OrJames Labs' global component

January 6, 2023

2022 was a great year for the OrJames Labs on the global front. My study abroad program was able to run once again. Because there was still strong concern regarding the pandemic, caution was exercised by limiting the student number to sixteen and strengthening health and safety measures. My students and I were nonetheless still able to have a wonderful, educational experience. Shortly before the end of the program we learned that we no longer needed to show a negative covid test to reenter America.

In 2022, I was also appointed secretary of the Austrian Nationality Room. In this capacity I simply assist fellow committee members share information on Austrian culture with students. This was already being done via my Austrian History, and Puppetry courses. During the month of September, I was also able to bring in a guest speaker (Florian Traussnig). Feel free to peruse the images below.

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It's 2023 ALREADY!: A look back at 2022 and puppetry

January 6, 2023

2022 went by so quickly! The year was pretty much spent on building off of the previous year. For starters, I opened a new course as a spinoff from the Puppetry and Mental Healthcare course I offered a few semesters ago. This new course was simply called Puppetry, with its many functions globally. The students focused heavily on the making of the puppets (carving wood and cutting shadow puppets), you can see in the pictures below students had a good time in the class room, so much so that word got out about it into the community and I was asked to lead a workshop with the Jewish Family Community Center. This aspect of the OrJames Labs will certainly continue into 2023. Feel free to peruse the images below.

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The OrJames Lab Preps for Harvest

September 1, 2021

The OrJames Lab's garden is prepping for harvest :-) This year I planted okra, beefsteak tomatoes, sweet peas and cucumbers.

The OrJames Lab Remains Creative

August, 21, 2021

The OrJames Lab remains creative. Here is one of the dissection boxes made by yours truly that was used by the families during our kidney dissection.

Summer Fun with OrJames Labs 2021

August 20, 2021

The OrJames Labs concluded the summer with community events which included a look at the kidney in detail via dissection, a urinalysis, and an introduction to microscopy. Families were able to win prizes in the end during our trivia event focusing on content we covered. Earlier on in the summer I shared information on the puppet theater and kids got a chance to interact with the puppets. See images below.

OrJames Lab Events Return - Spring 2021

November 27, 2020

The OrJames Lab is excited to bring to you the following events during the spring 2021 semester: here

New Course: Puppetry and Mental Health(care)

September 28, 2020

This course will be interdisciplinary with a look at the biochemical components of mental health along with a historical global view of treating mental health. Students will explore a range of illnesses, including, but not limited to dementia. Students will look at modern trends at the government level addressing mental health via the current healthcare system. Special attention will be given to art as a means of addressing mental heath, with emphasis on puppetry. Students will gain an understanding of how this has been used in the past and learn basic manipulation of a variety of puppets to perform a show. More here

Stage

Little Red Riding Hood

Grandma

Big Bad Wolf

Faust

Casperl

All Roads Lead To Austria 2018!: Jeopardy!

April, 3, 2018

Back again to kick off this year's countdown events! How well do you know Austria? Take the Jeopardy challenge April 4, in the dining hall. Practice here.

Europatag 2017!

March 2, 2018

Yip! I know it's a little late, but better late than never. Here is a video taken roughly a year ago on ÖRF. You will find me at roughly 1:15:20. Here is a transcript of my comments.

Guten Abend meine Damen und Herren,

Ich bedanke mich bei Ihnen für Ihr Interesse. Ich wurde gebeten, darüber zu berichten, was meine Sicht auf die europäische Kultur und Identität ist. Was meine persönliche Meinung ist, und auch was die allgemein vorherrschende Meinung in den USA hinsichtlich der europäischen Hoch-, Alltags- und Lebenskultur ist, und ob es überhaupt eine solche Vorstellung in der amerikanischen Öffentlichkeit gibt oder ob eine solche nur bei einer kleinen Minderheit zu finden ist.

Zugleich soll ich auch etwas dazu sagen, welche Vorstellung im konkreten Fall ich von Europa hatte oder habe, was davon falsch war, wo ich angenehm, wo negativ überrascht wurde, was besonders herauszustreichen ist, was Osterreich sympathisch, vielleicht einzigartig macht und wo es gravierende Unterschiede zwischen der Wirklichkeit und der Vorstellung gibt?... Mehr hier.

The OrJames Lab Events

February 15, 2018

The OrJames laboratory returns with another semester of research and events for all. More here. You may sign up for events here

Happy New Year and Welcome Back!

February 15, 2018

It's been a while since I have posted anything new, please accept my apologies. Much good things have been happening and I hope to keep you all posted. For Starter my study abroad program "Comapartive Healthcare in Graz" is once again the number 1 study abroad choice university wide. This year I am able to add another week, which will be spent in Slovenia.