Behind the Syllabus: Arts and Sciences

William Anderson

What do you do on the weekends?

Sadly, I mostly work on research. When I do have free time, I like to work on my cars, take the dogs out on walks and read non-math books.

What's the craziest thing you did when you were in college?

I took a road trip in three cars with my friends, who were pledging, to visit every Phi Delt house in California. We had 72 hours and stayed up for most of it.

What's one thing your students would never guess about you?

In some instances, I'm very shy.

How long have you been teaching?

This is the start of my fith year; four at Cornell and my first here.

What made you want to teach at Richmond?

I like the small classes. I get to interact with students on a one-on-one basis. I feel that teaching and research are integral to my research program.

What did you do over the summer?

I spent most of my time moving. I did get out to California for about five weeks for fun and work.

What is your favorite college memory?

Graduation. It was great to be with my friends celebrating a landmark in our lives.

If you could take one year off to do anything, what would it be?

I would go and help build schools in remote regions of Pakistan and Afghanistan with the Central Asia Institute (see the book "Three Cups of Tea").

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Julietta Singh

What do you do on the weekends?

I stock up on treats from the farmer's market, go for bike rides and walks, practice yoga and re-read all the novels I've assigned for the following week of classes.

What's the craziest thing you did when you were in college?

I backpacked through India by myself for six months and rode a motorcycle through the Himalayas with a friend I met while traveling.

What's one thing your students would never guess about you?

During my undergraduate summers, I used to work as a tree-planter in Northern Canada, replanting clear-cut forests and living in a tent in remote areas for months at a time. I used to plant between 2,000-3,000 trees a day, which is another way of saying that I was MUCH tougher back then!

What made you want to teach at Richmond?

UR reminded me of my own undergraduate education, which was at a small liberal arts university that prided itself on being an environment that fostered close relationships between students and faculty. It's amazing to find myself many years later on the other side of that relationship!

What did you do over the summer?

I packed up and drove from Minneapolis to Richmond in July, and spent the rest of my summer marveling at the beauty of and finding my way around campus and my new neighborhood, the Fan.

What is your favorite college memory?

As the president of the English Student's Association, I co-organized a 24-hour literacy marathon to raise money and books for inner-city literacy programs. Along with other English majors, I invited a series of poets, novelists and public figures to read their favorite literary works out loud. We stayed up the full 24 hours and had a blast, keeping the doors of the university open all night to welcome in anyone who wanted to listen, read, eat and hang out.

If you could take one year off to do anything, what would it be?

I would study Arabic, take piano lessons, and offer up my energy and time to one of the many organizations dedicated to promoting the equitable access of all.

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Kevin Cherry

What do you do on the weekends?

It's football season, and I went to Notre Dame for graduate school, so watching the Fighting Irish takes up most of Saturday afternoon. I also try to get in some work around the house and play with my 17-month-old daughter.

What's the craziest thing you did when you were in college?

I camped out overnight and cut class to see the re-release of Star Wars at the Uptown, a famous movie theater in Washington, D.C. As we were in line in the morning, the professor whose class I was cutting walked right past me. The worst part is that I actually fell asleep and missed most of the second half of the movie. That's me: A wild and crazy guy.

What's one thing your students would never guess about you?

My wife says I should tell them that I am slightly obsessed with Batman: comics, cartoons, movies -- everything but the video games.

What made you want to teach at Richmond?

My wife went here, and I almost went here, so I was very familiar with the school. And to be honest, it's better than I expected. I love teaching, and Richmond offers great students, great colleagues and great opportunities to advance my own education.

Where did you go to school?

I did my undergraduate and master's in philosophy at Catholic University in Washington, D.C., and my doctoral studies in political science at Notre Dame.

What is your favorite college memory?

I had dinner with Max Weinberg, the drummer from Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band and (formerly) Conan O'Brien. Sadly, when I ran into him again several years later, he did not remember me.

If you could take one year off to do anything, what would it be?

If money were no object, I'd definitely travel the world. A more realistic scenario involves me trying to catch up on some non-work-related reading, puttering around the house, and spending time with my wife and children (we're expecting a boy in late October/early November).

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Nicole Maurantonio

What do you do on the weekends?

Usually some combination of running, visiting museums, reading, shopping and eating out. My students have helped me create a list of things I need to do in Richmond to get acclimated to my new home, so I anticipate keeping very busy!

What's the craziest thing you did when you were in college?

I broke my foot on spring break. I don't know if it was crazy as much as stupid.

What made you want to teach at Richmond?

The combination of excellent academics, fantastic people, and just a general great energy on campus!

Where did you go to school?

I did my undergrad degree at the University of Virginia in History and Economics and my Ph.D. at the University of Pennsylvania in Communication and History.

What did you do over the summer?

I taught summer session at Northeastern, visited friends in Philly, visited family in New York, packed up my things in Boston and then flew down here. It was a busy summer!

What is your favorite college memory?

An amazing UVa.-Duke basketball game in February 2001. Once UVa. won, my friends and I rushed the court with all the other UVa. fans. I remember jumping around and cheering. Good times.

If you could take one year off to do anything, what would it be?

Spend four months in Italy, four months in India, and four months in Bali. ... Wait, why does this sound familiar?

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Richard Dagger

What do you do on the weekends?

Now that my wife and I are empty nesters, weekends aren't much different from weekdays -- reading, writing, grading papers and walking the dogs.

What's the craziest thing you did when you were in college?

When I was halfway through my sophomore year, I agreed to become the editor of the UMSL Current, the campus newspaper. Not only was I sober at the time, but I had already decided I wanted to be a professor rather than a journalist. My grades didn't suffer too badly, though.

What's one thing your students would never guess about you?

Students wouldn't guess: I occasionally plug in my Stratocaster and play along with the oldies stored on my iPod. "Wild thing! You make my heart sing!" Also, my wife and I were Hurricane Katrina refugees.

What made you want to teach at Richmond?

I was happy in my previous position, at Rhodes College in Memphis, but the chance to be part of UR's new PPEL program was a major attraction. The more I learned about other facets of UR, the more impressed I became.

What did you do over the summer?

I had hernia surgery and moved from Memphis to Richmond. My wife maintains that I timed the surgery to get out of all the lifting and hauling involved in the move.

What is your favorite college memory?

Meeting and (eventually) dating Barbara Ann Duepner, who was editor of the campus newspaper when I joined the staff.

If you could take one year off to do anything, what would it be?

I'd go to every single St. Louis Cardinals game, from spring training right through their triumph in yet another World Series.