John R. Van Ausdall
Academic Biography:
My B.A. is in theatre, with a strong minor in English. As a young man, I aspired to be an actor, but I discovered that I could put my acting talents to use as a teacher. I had a successful, 33-year career as a high school teacher of composition, speech, drama, and debate. I graduated from a small liberal arts college, Morningside, in Sioux City, Iowa, (Go, Mustangs!) similar to Monmouth College. I firmly believe in the small-college experience. After my retirement from the Monmouth school district, I was approached to teach a writing course for the Political Economy and Commerce Department. Having taught research-style writing to college-bound seniors for 30 years, I thought this was a perfect fit for me to keep teaching but still be mostly retired. The experience has been rewarding.
Research Interests:
While my background is mainly in the arts and humanities, I have found myself eager to read more and more about business and the world economy. Part of this has been driven by the necessity of learning more about those two subjects because of the nature of the course I teach, but the recent state of the economy has also been a driving force. I further believe that my knowledge of history, my age, and experience all add significantly to my effectiveness in the classroom.
Courses Taught:
PEC218 Business Writing
Education: B.A. Morningside College 1972
Contact Info:
Office: Rm 311 McMichael Academic
Email: jvanausdall@monmouthcollege.edu