Dr. Sharon Rubin

Professor of American Studies

Educational Background: B.A., University of Chicago, English literature; M.A., University of Chicago, English Literature; Ph.D., University of Minnesota, American Studies

Arrived at Ramapo College: 1993

Areas of Specialization: Late 19 th and early 20th century American culture

Courses regularly taught: Introduction to American Studies, Readings in the Humanities, College Seminar

Scholarship: "Institutionalizing Service-Learning," a chapter in Service-Learning in Higher Education, "Community Service and Metropolitan Universities: Meeting the Challenge of Social Responsibility," in Metropolitan Universities, "Transforming the University Through Service Learning," in Community Service as Values Education, and "Service-Learning: Education for Democracy," in Liberal Education. I also co-authored Strengthening Experiential Education Within Your Institution and co-edited "2003 American Association for Higher Education Research Forum 'Good Work in Challenging Times;' a research agenda" in Arts and Humanities in Higher Education.

Points of Interest: From 1993 to 2000, I was Vice-President for Academic Affairs at Ramapo. As chief academic officer I was responsible for development and implementation of a wide range of policies and plans for assuring program integrity and academic quality. Prior to coming to Ramapo, I was Dean of the Fulton School of Liberal Arts at Salisbury State University. I previously held several administrative positions at the University of Maryland College Park, including Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Studies and Director of Experiential Learning Programs.

I am a frequent speaker on diverse higher education topics, particularly experiential learning and service-learning. My presentations have included a panel on internationalizing the curriculum at the Association of American Colleges and Universities annual conference, a major address on "Experiential Teaching and Learning" at a conference on Transforming the Curriculum at Teachers College, Columbia University, and a debate on "Teaching Values: No Experience Necessary?" at an Association of American Colleges and Universities conference.

President of the Board of the National Society for Experiential Education from 1989-1991, and a Board member from 1986-1993, I have been a consultant to over two dozen colleges with NSEE's national consultation project. I have also advised the Danforth Foundation and the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education, and has served on Maryland's Governor's Advisory Board on Service and Citizenship.