Spotlight on New Faculty Myers, Odiase, Parra, Qin
Edith (Edie) Myers
Assistant Professor of Biology
Maxwell Becton College of Arts and Sciences
College at Florham
How long have you been at FDU?
Two months (since August).
What book or film did you recently enjoy? Why would you recommend it?
One of my favorite books that Ive read over the past year is Special Topics in Calamity Physics, by Marisha Pessl. I picked up this book because it was a recommended read at a little independent bookstore I used to frequent in Connecticut (where I lived before moving to New Jersey). This is a well-written and creative mystery that references all kinds of classic literature and has a great twist at the end.
Something Ive always wanted to learn is
how to play the cello.
My first job was
a roller-coaster attendant at Hersheypark.
Three things that brighten my life are
my family, my friends and a good joke.
Complete the phrase: People would be surprised to know that I
have four red-eared slider turtles. Over the past decade, my husband and I have adopted all of our turtles from people who no longer wanted them. They make great pets and are surprisingly friendly, although I suspect they are always eager to see me because they know I feed them.
My biggest challenge is
finding enough time and energy to spend on people and projects that are most important to me.
What profession other than your own would you most like to attempt, and what profession would you want nothing to do with?
I would want to be a wildlife photographer, but I would not want to be an accountant or professional golfer.
Conrad Odiase
Lecturer of Construction Engineering Technology
University College: Arts Sciences Professional Studies
Metropolitan Campus
How long have you been at FDU?
I have been at FDU since August 27, 2008.
If you could meet anyone in the world whom would you pick? Why?
If I could meet anyone in the world I would pick Daisaku Ikeda, president of Soka Gakkai International, a nongovernmental organization at the United Nations, and a leader truly committed to world peace. I would choose him because he is a true example of how to live as a human being.
What book or film did you recently enjoy? Why would you recommend it?
I recently enjoyed the book The Budhha in your Mirror, by Woody Hochswender, Greg Martin and Ted Morino. This book reveals a powerful way in which people can bring out their potential. The authors introduce the concept of how the transformation of oneself is the surest way to change the world for the better.
Something Ive always wanted to learn is ...
to play the piano.
My first job was
a plant engineer with General Electric Company in Sunnyvale, Calif.
Three things that brighten my life are ...
my son, my daughter and my wife.
Complete the phrase: People would be surprised to know that I ...
am very interested in the concept of global education.
My biggest challenge is ...
winning myself over on a daily basis and reminding myself that everyone has the potential to do good in their lives, no matter how bad they may look on the outside.
What profession other than your own would you most like to attempt, and what profession would you want nothing to do with?
I would like to attempt being a doctor of medicine. I would not want to be a politician.
Francisco Parra
Senior Lecturer, Puerta al Futuro, and Assistant Director, Latino Promise Program
Anthony J. Petrocelli College of Continuing Studies
Metropolitan Campus
How long have you been at FDU?
I have been with FDU for three years as a student, four years as a volunteer; 18 months as an adjunct professor and since August 27, 2008, as a senior lecturer and assistant director.
If you could meet anyone in the world, whom would you pick? Why?
I would like to meet Robert Zoellick, president of the World Bank, to discuss the alternatives that our globalized society can pursue in order to overcome the food, economical and environmental crises and how the industrialized world can lead a global movement to start fixing this situation.
What book or film did you recently enjoy? Why would you recommend it?
The most recent film that I enjoyed was The Motorcycle Diaries, a human approach to the mythical personality of Ernesto Che Guevara and his personal choices.
Something Ive always wanted to learn is ...
mathematics.
My first job was
an office messenger.
Three things that brighten my life are ...
my son, Nicolas; my wife, Solangel; and my mother, Sara.
Complete the phrase: People would be surprised to know that I ...
was a regular janitor while I was pursuing my degree at FDU [BA06 (Metro)] back in 2004.
My biggest challenge is ...
to be a better person.
What profession other than your own would you most like to attempt, and what profession would you want nothing to do with?
If I have to change my entire career, I would like to be a marine biologist, and the one that I want nothing to do with is becoming a priest.
Li Qin
Assistant Professor of Information Systems
Silberman College of Business
Metropolitan Campus
How long have you been at FDU?
Since August 2008.
If you could meet anyone in the world, whom would you pick? Why?
My old friends with whom I have shared wonderful times and whom I have not seen for a long time.
What book or film did you recently enjoy? Why would you recommend it?
A Chinese movie titled To Live. People should never let hardships bring them down.
Something Ive always wanted to learn is ...
cooking.
My first job was
an information analyst at the largest petrochemical company in Beijing, China.
Three things that brighten my life are ...
getting married, getting a PhD and working at FDU.
Complete the phrase: People would be surprised to know that I ...
am not as serious as you think!
My biggest challenge is ...
developing semantic Web applications.
What profession other than your own would you most like to attempt, and what profession would you want nothing to do with?
I believe I can be a great scientist; I will not be a politician.
