The American Studies Major at Ramapo College

Thomas J. Heed Associate Professor of American History

Office:		B 232
Campus Phone:		(201) 684-7419
Email:		theed@ramapo.edu
Web Page:		http://phobos.ramapo.edu/~theed

Educational Background: B.A. Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, M.S. SUNY New Paltz, Ed.D. Teachers College, Columbia University.

Arrived at Ramapo College: 1972

Areas of Specialization: Harry S Truman, American Studies, US Civil War & Reconstruction, History of the 1950's, Military History of World War II, US Business History.

Courses regularly taught: Introduction to American Studies, Decade of the 1950's, Global Perspectives: World War II, Civil War & Reconstruction

Scholarship: Harry S Truman: Early Years 1884-1934 (manuscript); US Dept of State Grant, "New Beginnings: An International American Studies Program" $247,879. assist Volgograd State Pedagogical strengthen American Studies program, 2001-2005; "Web-Based Instruction: One Story" The Intensive Learning of Foreign Languages: The Problems of Linguistics and Methods of Teaching, Volgograd State Pedagogical University Press, (Summer, 2001); "The Birthing of a Progressive Reformer: Harry S. Truman as Presiding Judge" in William F. Levantrosser's Harry S Truman; The Man from Independence, Greenwood Press, 1986.

Points of Interest: Currently I am very involved in searching for better ways to use technology to enhance student learning. All my courses have a very large web site to support them and each semester I strive to sharpen the focus and improve student growth with the use of technology. In each course the students must replicate the technology work we pattern in class. I am also very involved with a Grant with our Russian partner school: Volgograd State Pedagogical University (VSPU). I have taught American Studies in both Shanghai and Volgograd and American History in London. I have spoken on aspect of American Studies in China, Russia, Ukraine, France and Hungary. Our Russian grant is designed to assist VSPU' s American Studies center improve their curricular offerings. As all my students know I am also interested in photography and my grand children. Often the two go closely together.