M e e t y o u r

PROFESSORSProfessor Burns: involved,Quick-Witted and IndependentBy Caroline Sprague

A Niagara County Com­munity College faculty member for over 13 years, and now an Associate professor. She is someone who is well known in the business building and a champion of Angry Birds.

This person is none other than Professor Burns. Cur­rently with 3 degrees; a BA in Soc. from UB, a MS from Buff state in special education, and finally a MPS in profes­sional studies from Cornell in Hotel Administration,

Professor Burns has been one busy busy bee. She is the eldest of 6 children, 5 girls with the youngest sibling a boy. This explains the reason Professor Burns states, “Why I am so bossy”.

But how does one get 3 different degrees in 3 different majors, you ask? Professor Burns expresses that she was given 3 stages in her life. During her younger years she picked the University at Buffalo because money was tight, and through UB she was

able to find a job in Boces with Special education. This lasted roughly 7 plus years “mostly thought the 70s, “ she said.

While she was teaching, she decided to take on an educa­tion degree, part-time, and work as well. The 3rd stage of her life was to truck through a hard hurtle in her life. Surpass­ing this hurtle gave her the freedom to pursue anything in life in which she chose.

By a fluke, and to her luck the Grand Canyon National Park Lodge was holding interviews in Buffalo. Seeking out a new challenge in life, Professor Burns ac­cepted a job with the Grand Canyon National Park, and liked the work so much that she decided she would seek a degree in the Hospitality Industry at Cornell University.

The program required an internship to be accepted, so she returned to the Grand Canyon to intern in their Hu­man Resources department.

Once Professor Burns fin­ished her masters, she returned to the West Coast and held quite

a few jobs in the Hospitality Industry at the corporate level, and with a Management-Con­sulting firm. She did this until she says, “I reached a moment where I wanted to watch my nieces and nephews grow up.” Home is where the heart is, and her heart was with her big family. “I love being sur­rounded by family. Its the people, not the geography, that’s why I came home.”

An interesting fact she told me was that she went to Roy Hart and that the school has had a member of the Burns family attending the school since 1928, and still today in 2013. The future of a Burns attending Roy Hart will live on. Once back home, Professor Burns gained her Real Estate License, and was teaching part time until she was informed that the Business Department was hiring at NCCC. She has been at NCCC ever since. But with business comes pleasure, and her close friends call her the “crazy cat lady who will always have 2 pairs

Burns, page 6

Denise Reichard:An Inspiration

By Kate Murawski

Confidence, poise, risk tak­ing, and charisma, are all traits of what makes a great speaker, according to Professor Denise Reichard. With her Masters in Communications from the University of Pittsburgh, she is well educated in the art of public speaking. In a small high school located in Ohio, she discovered her interest in pub­lic speaking and took speech classes for all four years. She was inspired by Bob Cowan, English teacher and speech de­partment director of Louisville High School. “I was struck by the fact that he created such an elaborate speech department in a small school”.

As she moved forward with her education she was “continually attracted to com­munication on all kinds of levels”. She even thought about becoming a Psychology major, but her true passion was speak­ing in front of an audience.

Seven years ago she came across an ad in a newspaper that inquired about a speech instructor for NCCC’s Com­munications department. Before Professor Reichard

came to NCCC she was a high school English teacher for five years, not only does she have a background in teaching but she has a business of her own.

Twenty Five years ago Professor Reichard founded a public speaking business, Women of History. She has traveled through Canada, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and in the local Buffalo area. She makes presentations on the lives of important women throughout history to many historical societies. She said the most rewarding part of her presentations is developing a program and presenting it.

Professor Reichard also has a website that has more

information on herspeaking engagements.

www.denisereichard.com.

In fact ,the most memorable speech she has ever given was a speech about Eleanor Roos­evelt, because the audience was so receptive and responsive to the topic. However her favorite speaker is Pat Albright, a retired United Methodist Minister, “he cares about what the audience is thinking”. Pro­fessor Reichard also remarks that he is a well-researched speech giver that is witty and sensitive to his audience. The best advice Professor Reichard has for any prospective public speakers are to “be broad in

Reichard, page 6

Jon Williams: Professor, Role Model and Survivor

By Rachel Kocsis

“Even when you think you have it bad, someone has it worse” stated Jon Williams. This is what he considers one of the most valuable lessons to teach his students -along with perseverance, passion, and hard work.

Determination was not the only thing to bring Williams to NCCC in 1983, as he states that pure luck played the big­gest .factor. After getting laid off from a job in Public Relations, Williams found himself work­ing part-time at NCCC while attending graduate school.

Now, Williams is not only a full-time Communications professor and advisor but he’s also the program coordinator of Public Communications. As a professor, being a role

model and mentor is something that comes with the job. Actions speak louder than words and

Williams makes it clear that he will never ask students to do something that he would not or could not do himself. When asked “what do you feel that you have in common with your students?” Professor Williams didn’t hesitate to give a laundry list of similarities. A common ground between students and this witty, char­ismatic man is a passion for learning and improvement.

“Most students are here to learn and I learn from you guys. I like what I do.” In the classroom, Williams uses humor while teaching because a majority of students like to have fun, and he does too! Students recognize Williams as an understanding instruc­tor but also as someone who brings learning to life with his

corny jokes and helpful hints.College students struggle

with procrastination every day and if you think that teachers don’t struggle too, then Mr. Williams would beg to differ. Sometimes, he’s just as laid back as students.

Christina Preziuso,current student, describes Professor Williams as in­spirational, passionate, and someone who loves his job.

Former NCCC student, Jillian Warne, states that “his teaching is great, he brings a lot of fun into the classroom with his personal­ity and he really cares about how well each student does.”

Professor Williams has more in common with students than meets the eye. Some students are unsure about their career paths and according to Williams, it’s alright to change jobs and ca­reers to find the best fit for you.

While in college, he was one year shy of graduation before taking some time off. He worked different factory jobs and also had jobs in manage­ment training and technical production through the 70s.

After working 4 years in public relations, Williams received a phone call that would soon fulfill his childhood dream of becoming a teacher.

Almost 30 years later, he con­tinues to love his job at NCCC. For those who do not know Jon Williams, he is not only a mentor to his students but also a cancer survivor.

In a warm hearted inter­view, I was given a glimpse into his life and the events that have shaped his positive at­titude. Williams’s perseverance was put to the test when he was diagnosed with squamous cell skin cancer that attacked lymph nodes in his neck.

On a somber July day in 2011, Williams began treat­ment which would continue for the next seven weeks. After 35 exhausting radiation treat­

ments and two chemotherapy treatments, he was cancer free.

As Professor Williams and I sat in the cafeteria conducting this interview, surrounded by laughter and smiles, I listened to his inspiring journey and was surprised when he ut­tered “I went day by day, hoping that the sun came up and I was there to see it.”

As a professor who reminds his students to never give up, he too never gave up. With a tremendous support network of family and along with the help of man’s best friend, Jack the yellow lab, Williams soon sprung back to his cheerful and healthy self. Jon Williams is a man of many wise words, his encouraging support and hu­morous teaching style leaves a lasting impression on students.

Many titles can be given to one very deserving man, as a student he is my professor. As an individual, he is my mentor. From the mouth of Professor Williams, “take it seriously but don’t take it serious.” In life, always learn but have fun too.

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