Curry, Janel M. and Paul Hanstedt, eds. 2014.  Reading Hong Kong, Reading Ourselves. Hong Kong: City University of Hong Kong Press.

This book, written by fourteen reflective scholars about living and learning from Hong Kong, builds on the growing interest of using “place” as text while providing a model of deepening cross-cultural encounters, from initial impressions to deeper understanding.  The book explores Hong Kong through the lenses of a range of disciplines that shaped individual author's perceptions and encounters.

Educational Theory and Practice

Educational theory and practice have changed dramatically in the past fifty years and moved from rote learning to an emphasis on high impact practices that are often described as involving “engaged learning.” These practices include service-learning, capstone synthetic projects, and applications of knowledge through internships and study abroad. The overall direction is one that is student-centered and involves the assessment of student learning. 

As a higher education faculty member and college administrator, I have both developed engaged learning practices and encouraged their development among faculty. My experience has ranged from developing extensive programs in service-learning to leading students abroad. I have also spent time working at institutions of higher education in Hong Kong and Pakistan to help them as they develop pedagogical approaches that reflect best practices.

Below is information on some of my leadership positions, initiatives, and publications related to best learning approaches and their implementation in higher education and other community education contexts.

  • Board Member. Friends of Forman, Forman Christian College, Lahore, Pakistan, 2022-present

    Committee Member. Academic Committee, Board of Governors, Forman Christian College and University, 2022-present

    Accreditation Visit Team Member, Magdalen College. New England Commission of Higher Education, October 2020

    Fulbright Specialist. Forman Christian College, Lahore, Pakistan, Fall 2019
    • Assisted in preparation for accreditation agency visit
    • Workshops on engaged pedagogy

    Provost. Gordon College, Wenham, MA, 2012-2020
    ª Grew capacity of faculty around assessment and innovative pedagogy through grants, donor funding, and the establishment of the Center for Teaching Excellence
    • Expanded faculty opportunities through the development of strategic partnerships with industry, and other institutions of higher education and schools

    Fulbright Scholar in General Education. City University of Hong Kong, January-June 2010;

    Visiting Scholar, January-June 2012
    • Supported the Hong-Kong-wide university transition from 3 to 4-year degree programs
    • Aided the provost’s office in matters of structural organization, curricular implementation, and faculty development related to transition
    • Worked as part of a team that consulted with 7 universities, community colleges, and the government agency overseeing K-12 on universities’ transition

    Dean for Research and Scholarship, Calvin College, 2000-2009
    • Development of expanded undergraduate research programs in humanities and social sciences

    Spoelhof Teacher-Scholar Chair, Calvin College, 1996-1997
    • Developed an on-going service-learning initiative in the sciences (Calvin Environmental Assessment Program)

    Professor of Geography and Environmental Studies, Calvin College 1996-2012
    • Study abroad classes to New Zealand (2011) and Pearl River Delta, China (2012)

    Associate (1991-96), Assistant Professor (1985-91) of Geography and Environmental Studies, Central College, Pella, IA, 1985-1996
    • Collaborated with other to develop a service-learning program
    • Established an interdisciplinary Environmental Studies Major

  • Michigan Campus Compact Faculty Staff Community Service-Learning Award, 2000

  • Understanding the Beauty of Butterflies. . Established a butterfly garden with the Lawrence Oliver Partnership School, 2017, Fulbright-Canada-RBC Eco-Leadership Grant

    Science in the Schools: A K-5/College Partnership in the Context of a Balanced Year School. 2001-2003, National Science Foundation-Independent Colleges Office Teacher Scholars Partnership Program

    Calvin Environmental Assessment Program (CEAP): Institution and Research in Community Context. 1998-1999, Universities as Citizens Institutional Development Grant

  • Logan, Jerry and Janel Curry. 2016. “A Liberal Arts Education: Seeking Lessons from Abroad.” In Western Higher Education in Asia and the Middle East: Politics, Economics, and Pedagogy, edited by Kevin Gray, Hassan Bashir, and Stephen Keck, pp. 71-86, Lanham, MD: Lexington Books.

    Logan, Jerry and Janel Curry. 2015. “A Liberal Arts Education: Global Trends and Challenges.” Christian Higher Education 14 (1-2): 66-79.

    Curry, Janel and Joel Carpenter, guest eds. 2013. Special Issue on Globalization and Global Trends in Christian Higher Education. Christian Scholars Review 42(4): summer.

    Logan, Jerry and Janel Curry. 2013. “Introduction to the Theme Issue: The Global Face of Christian Higher Education.” Christian Scholars Review 42(4): 317-320.

    Curry, Janel. 2012. “Cultural Challenges in Hong Kong to the Implementation of Effective General Education.” Teaching in Higher Education, 1-8.

    Curry, Janel. 2010. “Time for a courageous, experiment with education.” Guest Editorial, Grand Rapids Press, February 27, 2010, page A7.

    Curry, Janel, ed. 2009. “Seeking Truth: Three view on the Calvin approach to academic freedom.” 2009. The Calvin Spark Vol.55(4):22-25. Introduction and editing.

    Curry, Janel and David DeHeer. 2007. “Research Tracks for Undergraduates: Calvin College Science Division.” In Designing, Implementing, and Sustaining a Research-Supportive Undergraduate Curriculum: A Compendium of Successful Curricular Practices from Faculty and Institutions Engaged in Undergraduate Research. pp. 396-398. Council on Undergraduate Research.

    Heffner, Gail Gunst, Janel M. Curry, and Claudia D. Beversluis. 2006. “Transforming Liberal Arts Education through Engaged Scholarship.” Journal of Higher Education Outreach and Engagement 11(1): 119-132.

    Curry, Janel M. 2002. “The Development of an Ethic of Service to Place.” In Commitment and Connection: Service-Learning and Christian Higher Education, edited by Gail Gunst Heffner and Claudia DeVries Beversluis, pp. 167-181, Lanham, MD: University Press of America.

    Curry, Janel M., Gail Gunst Heffner, and David Warners. 2002. “Environmental Service-Learning: Social Transformation Through Caring for a Particular Place.” Michigan Journal of Community Service Learning 9(1): 58-66.

  • “Transforming the Liberal Arts Education through Engaged Scholarship.” Presentation to the Forman Christian College campus, November 25, 2019, Lahore, Pakistan.

    “Faculty Development Models.” 2018 Institute for Chief Academic Officers, Council of Independent Colleges, November 6, 2018, St. Louis, Mo. (with Linda Samek).

    “Formulae to engage students with D&I* assessment.” The Assessment Project, The University of Hong Kong, December 14, 2012 (with Hongyi Sun and Paula Hodgson).

    “Models for Integrating Undergraduate Research into the Curriculum.” General Education and University Curriculum Reform: An international Conference, City University of Hong Kong, June 14, 2012 (with Deanna van Dijk).

    “Outcomes from Cohorts I-III: GE Fulbright Project.” Culminating Conference of the GE Fulbright Program, Hong Kong, Hong Kong American Center, Hong Kong, June 11, 2012.

    “Interdisciplinary Teaching in a Business Environment.” Hang Seng Management College, May 16, 2012, (with Martha Carothers).

    “Academic Advising and General Education.” Presentation at the Federation for Continuing Education in Tertiary Institutions, Seminar on General Education and Student Success in the Sub-degree Sector, March 31, 2012 (with Melissa Fitch).

    “Engaged Scholarship: Models of Integrating Research, Teaching & Community Engagement.” Hong Kong Baptist University, March 19, 2012 (with Richard Mack and Martha Carothers).

    “Thinking Interdisciplinary When Developing GE Courses.” Community College City University, GE Workshop on Developing New GE Courses, CM Division, February 3, 2012 (with Martha Carothers).

    “The Fulbright Project on Building General Education in Hong Kong Universities.” AAC&U meeting

    on General Education and Assessment, Chicago, IL, March 4, 2011 (with Joseph Chaney, Hedley Freak, Paul Hanstedt, and David Pong). “Globalizing Liberal Education: The View from Hong Kong.” Global Positioning, Essential Learning, Student Success, and the Currency of U.S. Degrees, Annual meeting of the Association of American Colleges and Universities, San Francisco, January 28, 2010 (with Hedley Freake, Gray Kochhar-Lindgren, Joe Chaney, David Campion, David Pong, and Paul Hanstedt).

    “Curriculum Design,” (3X), workshop co-organized by The Federation for Continuing Education in Tertiary Institutions and the Hong Kong American Center, May 8, 2010, with Hedley Freake.

    “General Education at City University: Thoughts on Past Accomplishments and Challenges Ahead, May 2010,” presentation at Educational Development and General Education Office (EDGE), City University of Hong Kong, May 4, 2010.

    “Capstone courses,” Chinese University of Hong Kong, April 29, 2010, with Gray Kochhar-Lindgren

    “Managing Large Lectures,” City University of Hong Kong, April 13, 2010, with Hedley Freake and Dave Campion.

    “General Education Science Course Development: Opportunities and Challenges.” March 24, 2010, Hong Kong Baptist University, with Hedley Freake. Panel Presentation. Articulation between community college and 4 year institutions in the U.S., Federation of Continuing Education, Hong Kong, March 17, 2010.

    “General Education Science Course Development: Opportunities and Challenges.” March 16, 2010, City University of Hong Kong, with Hedley Freake.

    “Innovators in Experiential Learning: An Interactive Panel Discussion.” Panel at Randolph College, Lynchburg, VA, November 12, 2009.

    “Building Campus Sustainability on the Strengths of Institutional and Cultural Identities: An Example.” Presented at the Greening of the Campus Conference, Ball State University, September 7, 2007 (with Gail G. Heffner and Clarence W. Joldersma).

    “Transforming Liberal Arts Education through Engaged Scholarship.” Presented at the Outreach Scholarship Conference: Transformation through Engagement, University of Georgia, October 4, 2005 (with Gail Heffner and Claudia Beversluis).

 
“Educational theory and practice have changed dramatically in the past fifty years and moved from rote learning to an emphasis on high impact practices that are often described as involving ‘engaged learning.’”