Leslie Van Gelder

10 Shirelake Close

Oxford, United Kingdom OX1 1SN

011-44-1865-249-906

leslievg@btopenworld.com

 

 

Education:

 

2002, Doctor of Philosophy, Place Studies with Emphasis in Experiential Education. The Union Institute and University

 

1995, Master of Arts, Literature with Emphasis in Native American Studies. The College of New Jersey

 

1990, Bachelor of Arts, English. The University of Michigan. Magna cum laude

 

Experience:

 

2001-Present: Program Director, Oxford Institute for Science and Spirit.

 

Program director of graduate certificate for doctoral level students involving international travel. Instructor of online and experiential travel courses, curriculum designer and student coordinator.

 

2001- Present: Archaeological Researcher, Rouffignac, France

 

Researcher working on methodological research study of human finger line markings in prehistoric caves. Work includes field study, lab analysis, grant writing, and grant management.

 

2002-Present: Adjunct Faculty, Walden University.

           

Professor in Masters of Education program teaching online courses in philosophy of education and instructional technology.

 

1998-Present: Executive Director, Road Scholars, Inc.

 

Founder and director of non profit experiential learning program for college-aged students.  Instructor, curriculum designer, director and web site designer.

 

2000-Present: Adjunct Faculty. Institute for Learning in Retirement. Bergen Community College.

 

Instructor in Elderhostel education program. Teaching course in Wilderness and Imagination and lecturing on Prehistoric Finger Flutings.

 

1998-Present: Staff Developer. New Jersey Educational Computing Cooperative.

 

            Workshop presenter for teachers incorporating technology into the classroom. Focus on promoting learner centered classrooms, and teacher education. Offering long term workshop programs in school districts and one-day workshops on a variety of computer and education related topics.

 

1998-Present: Educational Consultant

           

Staff development and curriculum consultant for K-12 schools throughout the Northeastern United States. College consultant for parents and guidance departments.

 

1998-1999: Staff Developer. The Learning Edge.

 

Workshop presenter for teachers incorporating technology into the classroom. Long term one-on-one trainer with teachers in four school districts.

 

 

1995-1998: High School English Teacher, Northern Valley Regional High School.

           

Taught all levels, honors through special services with emphasis on writing and advanced literature. Taught advanced placement level British Literature and Twentieth Century American Literature. Advised academic team, newspaper, book group. Led curriculum revision committees, hiring committees, and departmental improvement group.

 

1990-1995: High School English Teacher, Allentown High School

 

Taught all levels. Emphasized Junior/Senior level course in comparative mythologies and research methods. Revised all curricula. Advised yearbook, outing club, natural helpers group.

 

1992: Summer Program Director, Stonybrook Millstone Watershed Association

           

Led summer environmental education program in five separate sessions. Designed curriculum, taught students aged 5-16, and led staff development. 

 

1989: Folklore Researcher, Quebec Labrador Foundation

           

Interviewed informants throughout Southern Labrador. Inventoried local cemeteries. Organized local staff and worked with community development corporation. Summer position.

 

1985-1988: Environmental Educator, Quebec Labrador Foundation

 

Taught environmental education, arranged community outreach, designed curriculum in four residential summer programs in Newfoundland, Quebec and Labrador.

 

 

Publications:

 

Turning the Light Around: The Nature of Inheritance

Accepted for publication University of Utah Press. Forthcoming 2003.

 

            Weaving a Way Home: The Role of Place and Story in Human Survival.

            Accepted for publication University of Michigan Press. Forthcoming 2004.

 

            “The Poetics of Death and the Nature of Life in the Works of Terry Tempest Williams”

            Accepted for publication in University of Utah Press Critical Anthology, 2002. 

 

“Replacing Memory and the Geography of Childhood.” in Nature in Story and Legend Journal. Fall 2002.

 

“Childhood in the Church of Darwin.” Accepted for publication in Terra Nova Monograph Series. MIT Press. 2002.

 

“The Philosophy of Place, The Power of Story.” Accepted for publication in Call to Earth: Journal of the International Association for Environmental Philosophy. Winter 2003.

 

Interviews from the Southern Labrador Coast, Them Days. July 1990

 

Presentations:

 

“Wilderness and Imagination” at Association for Experiential Education Conference.

            Minneapolis, Minnesota. November 10, 2002.

 

            “The Enigma of Prehistoric Finger Flutings” at Bergen Community College. October 24, 2002.

 

“The Philosophy of Place” at International Association of Environmental Philosophy Conference. Chicago, Illinois. October 14, 2002.

 

“Homo Narrans: The Storying Species and Prehistoric Finger Flutings” at Northern Valley Regional High School Humanities Symposium. October 2-3. 2002.

 

“Replacing Memory and the Geography of Childhood” at Association for the Study of Literature and the Environment Conference. University of Leeds, England. September 8, 2002

 

“City as Classroom” Two-week seminar course at P.S. 1 Denver, Colorado. August 6-18, 2002.

 

“Faith in the Process: The Illuminating Power of Place,” at C.S. Lewis Foundation Conference. Oxford University, England. July 18, 2002.

 

“The Philosophy of Place, The Power of Story” at Beyond Anthropocentrism Conference. University of Exeter, England. July 16, 2002.

 

“The Philosophy of Place” at Oxford Institute for Science and Spirit Summer Residency. Harris Manchester College, Oxford University, England. July 15, 2002.

 

“Teaching Sustainability Through Literature” at Sustainability Education Center, New York, NY. May 11, 2002.

 

 

Professional Organizations:

Editor, Green Letters, Journal of Association for the Study of Literature and the Environment, United Kingdom.

 

Association for the Study of Literature and the Environment, United States.

 

Association for Experiential Education

           

            International Association for Environmental Philosophy

 

Awards:

2002, Marvin B. Sussman Project Demonstrating Excellence Award, Highest Award for Project Demonstrating Excellence (Dissertation) 2001-2002, Union Institute and University

 

1998, Teacher of the Year, Governor’s Recognition, Northern Valley Regional High School

 

1998, Academic Decathlon National Coach of the Year Finalist