One can say that every student at Jacksonville University has heard of William Shakespeare. One of his several famous quotes says, “All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players: they have their exits and their entrances; and one man in his time plays many parts, his acts being seven ages.”

A person at JU who would know this quote by heart is Richard “Dick” Gibson, Ph.D., professor of English. Dick, as he likes to be called by his students, received his doctorate in renaissance drama from the University of North Carolina.

As he comes close to finishing off the last semester of his teaching career, Gibson looks forward to the future in his hometown of Deland, Fla. and will retire with fond memories both in and out of the classroom from when he first began teaching in 1965.

He did not come into the teaching route when he first entered college. He had originally planned to study psychology but after taking a few introductory courses, Gibson changed his mind.

“I found out it was about statistics and rats and boxes and I thought it was about people,” he said. “I said that’s not what I want. So I went over to the English department, and that’s when I became an English major.”

He received a Woodrow Wilson Scholarship to attend graduate school in English and decided on UNC where he also received his doctoral degree.

“There was no point where I fell in love with English, but in retrospect that’s what I should have done,” he said. “Actually what I really love is renaissance drama, Shakespeare. I always liked plays.”

Gibson is a one-of-a-kind professor with his 47-year teaching experience. He has come across all types of students– from ones that would rather sleep their classes away to ones that would never miss a class. He admits to seeing a downfall in the quality of his students over the years.

“Well 50 years ago they were much better prepared than today’s students are,” he said. “They had stronger linguistic skills partly because almost all Americans were acquainted at least with the King James’s version of the Bible, which is 400- year-old English.”

Many Americans today are monolingual and are not even familiar with an older version of English, Gibson said. Being this is North America, he feels as if Spanish and French languages are something at least a majority of Americans should know. Not knowing more than one language means Americans are unprepared for a global economy.

“I truly don’t see how a lot of these people are going to have jobs not just linguistically,” he said. “They seem absolutely shocked to be required to actually read something. They seem unprepared to read any difficult material, and again a large part of this is cultural.”

Gibson believes that if a person’s main form of communication is Twitter or texting, it makes the person by definition linguistically-challenged. Dick himself is actively learning German, which he says is extremely easy except for the noun system.

Fifty years is a long time to do the same thing over and over again, but Dick has found ways to keep himself and his students interested. He considers that to be the most rewarding part of his career, working with students on active projects. Walkies, sword fights, singing, acting and cheering on your classmates as loud as you can are all part of Gibson’s courses here at JU.

He enjoys having the creativity and energy in his classes. Some of his students have even written plays and put them on.

“I am constantly surprised by what students come up with when I give them assignment to take a text and turn it into a play or a song or whatever,” he said. “Every semester people do things that I think, ‘Dang, I never would have thought of that.’”

As his career comes to a close, Gibson leaves with some fond and some not-so-fond memories. He will definitely not miss grading papers, he said.

A couple of the most memorable moments of his teaching career were the second performance of “The Tempest,” a play by William Shakespeare.

“We did a performance at lunch which was a good try but didn’t make it,” he said. “But then that night it absolutely all came together. And the exact same thing happened when we did “A Midsummer’s Night Dream.” At night when we did it for an audience; the audience all wore glow lights, we wore glow lights and it was really cool. The whole thing just fell together; just a really beautiful, really wonderful thing.”

When it comes to what his students have taught him, Gibson simply says “lots and lots of stuff.” He thinks most of what he learns in classes is mostly negative in the sense that he ends up trying a new approach the following semester.

“As for learning stuff from students, giving them assignments and working with them and seeing the kind of interesting, creative things they come up with, when you tell them to do an assignment rather than tell how to do it, it’s a whole different way,”Gibson said.

Gibson’s love for teaching is just as immense as his love for Shakespeare. His office, once filled with literature and culture books is now almost empty. He has given a lot of the decoration pieces he owns away for free, as he has done with his several art, literature and language-learning books from all over the world. Gibson is ready for retirement, but he has made sure he keeps busy after his big sign-off at JU.

He has two major books written. One is a World War II combat novel that is centered around Mount Olympus, an area he knows pretty well with from his several study abroad trips.

“It’s bloody and gutsy and in a lot of ways is a men’s action novel,” he said. “But the two heroes are committed gay lovers. And also just completely unexpectedly it wasn’t supposed to be funny but it turned out to.”

Even though the whole book is completed, Gibson calls it a “sprawling mess” and something that needs review are the characters. The other book he has already finished is a textbook on diction, which is how to pronounce English.

There has not been a new book in that for 70 years and the last one was very elitist, he said. His concept with this textbook is to democratize American diction for the stage. Since his speciality is Shakespeare, Gibson based his textbook on his works.

Something else Gibson is going to keep busy with– a series of little murder mysteries set in St. Johns County in St. Augustine and a fantasy novel set in Northern Africa where in the 19th century Africans threw out the British, French and the Germans and history is altered.

Gibson’s time at JU has been memorable. During his career, he has come to love more than just his students. He mentions how he will miss JU as a whole, especially the old oak trees that stretch across the alley outside the Council building where his office is located.

“I will also certainly miss some of my colleagues, I will miss some of my students, but that happens anyway,” he said. “I don’t know what else because it hasn’t happened yet. Frankly, at this moment I am just ready. It’s like senoritis.”

Gibson may be ready to leave and move onto to the next stage, but his former students have mixed feelings about him leaving. He understands why it may be difficult for some but he uses a simple metaphor to explain why he is excited about retiring after 50 long years of hard work and dedication.

It’s like a house, he said. When you get a new house, your heart is into it, but after awhile for some reason you have to sell it and move on to another house and all you care about is the new house.

Gibson’s footprint has been engraved in the Council building where he holds his classes. The familiar sounds of his afternoon classes cheering, singing and sword fighting will be missed. His keen nature and love for his students has helped many develop a love for literature, or at least appreciate it.

He has played his part on the JU stage, and now it’s time for him to move back to Deland with his partner. But before he leaves, he does have some words of advice for his colleagues at JU.

“I am trying to think what Spock used to say, peace and prosper,” Gibson said. “For students my last word would be, wake up, take foreign languages, start working at your studies if you want to do what you think you are going to be able to. And for faculty I would say let the students learn the content at home and in class, let them show how they can work with that content.”

Photo Courtesy of Ginger Sheridan

The art of photography involves more than pointing a camera and pushing a button. One has to develop the skill of it. One has to be creative about it. One has to be willing to spend time with it. One has to have the desire and passion to turn the hobby into a successful career.

Professor Ginger Sheridan, assistant professor of photography at Jacksonville University, seems to have found her true calling in the art and field of photography. She graduated from JU in 1976 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in art history.

She went on to receive her Master’s of Science in counseling from Southwest Missouri State University, a master’s in history and criticism of art from Florida State University and a master’s of fine arts in photography from Ohio University in 1983, 1992 and 1993 respectively.

Before joining JU in 1999, Sheridan worked as an assistant curator at the Springfield Art Museum in Ohio and was an instructor at the Alternative Photographic Workshop in Czech Republic and Ohio University.

Sheridan’s love for photography began because of the swinging 60s. It was the youth, fashion and fun in black and white, she said.

“Later I realized it was David Bailey, a fashion photographer that the Antonioni classic ‘Blow-Up’ was based on,” Sheridan said. “Austin Powers was loosely based on the ‘Blow-Up.’”

Ginger Sheridan’s talents have been displayed in Italy, Belgium, Scotland, England, France, Czech Republic and several states in the U.S.

Sheridan admits to being a fan of international travel and regularly takes JU students on study abroad trips to Europe. If she wasn’t a professor, she said she would have gone into the counseling profession.

Her passion for teaching comes from the fact that she considers it a rewarding career.

“It is the reason I am at JU,” she said. “Before I taught at much bigger schools and did not get as much emphasis on teaching. I like small classes so I can get to know my students.”

Interacting with students is definitely important to her. She wants to teach them to become good citizens, something she said is more vital than photography. Having fun comes along with it all.

When it comes to picking her own favorite photographer, Sheridan seems to have a tie between two well-known photographers.

“Roy Decarave because of his ability to print black and white below middle gray, or Sir John Herschel because he was so generous,” she said. “He Invented a lot of photography and gave it away freely.”

In her spare time, Sheridan likes to remain active by hiking, playing dominoes or xeriscaping her yard.

Professor Sheridan is also an active member of  Blue Sky Gallery Membership, College Art Association, Duval Art Teachers Association, Light Works, Phi Kappa Phi, Society of Photographic Educators, Professional Photography Society of North Florida and Southeastern College Art Conference to name just a few.

Her love for teaching, her students and her passion for photography go beyond her classroom at JU. She believes in instilling good values and morals in students rather than just the subject material for the day and sees her students as the best part about JU.

“The relationships we have, I love them. They make my life better. They make me confident that the future is in good hands.”

American Congresswoman and social activist Bella Azbug has said that whether or not a person can hold a job has nothing to do with the arrangement of his or her chromosomes.

The month of March is universally accepted as a month put aside for women’s appreciation. March 8 is International Women’s Day, which is also celebrated as Mother’s Day in some countries. The Arab world celebrates Mother’s Day on March 21 while the entire month is known as Women’s History Month in the United States.

In order to help commemorate women who have made significant contributions to Jacksonville University, the 13th Women’s History Month luncheon was held on March 27 in the Kinne Center. The event was organized by the Women’s History Month Committee of JU, faculty and administrators from across the campus.

The luncheon was first held in 1999 at JU. It began as a way to provide a venue for students and the JU community to celebrate Women’s History Month and to honor the women in our lives who have been mentors or have inspired the Dolphin community.

Carole Barnett, Ph.D., an organizer for the event, was certainly pleased with the turnout.

“I think that the event was a huge success,” she said. “We were booked to capacity and have just about outgrown our facilities.”

The event began at 12:15 p.m. with a speech from JU’s president, Kerry Romesburg, Ph.D. In his speech he mentioned the late Florence “Flo” Davis, a longtime member of JU’s Board of Trustees and the first female chair of JU.

President Romesburg asked his audience to remember Mrs. Davis with a round of applause rather than a moment of silence.

“She was a 101 when she died,” he said. “If some woman lived a full life, it was her.”

Senior Lidia Lyssenko attended the event and thought the personal stories President Romesburg and Debbie Pruitt shared created a warm atmosphere.

“I think it is a much needed event to recognize the great women at JU,” she said.

Dr. Barnett said that the most difficult part of planning the event was selecting the recipients of JU’s Women’s History Month Awards simply because “there are so many talented students, faculty and women of our community who have made outstanding contributions.”

Kristie Gover, Ph.D, assistant dean of students and director of retention services, won the JU Woman of the Year Award at the luncheon. She sees it as a joy to serve students and work alongside so many talented faculty and staff members who dedicate themselves to the development of the JU community.

“This very special award pays tribute to women who have made a difference at JU, and I am truly honored to be in the company of those who have been recognized as ‘JU Woman of the Year,’” she said. “I am so fortunate that I was able to celebrate this special moment with my amazing husband, Rob, and many of my colleagues and students.”

The award for JU Community Woman of the Year went to Debbie Pruitt, who was the keynote speaker and also volunteers in the community with the Dreams Come True program in Jacksonville. Abbie Beates, a member of Green Key and Beta Beta Beta honor societies, was honored for her academic achievements and leadership roles on campus by winning the JU Student of the Year Award.

The luncheon was a great success and helped remind the JU community how important it is to appreciate the women who have helped shape our lives as a whole. For Dr. Barnett, an inspirational woman is one of her former students.

“She had lost both parents, grew up with relatives and forged her own way through life, working several jobs to complete her education at JU while maintaining a high GPA and yet still found time to volunteer at a local shelter for women and families,” she said. “She was always smiling and helping others.”

Others find inspiration right at home in the comfort of the loving arms of their own mother. Dr. Gover said her relationship with her mother blossomed into the two becoming best friends during her college years.

“She is a very smart, strong woman who is committed to serving others and taking care of her family,” she said. “She has always encouraged me through the tough times and celebrated with me during the good times. I hope my children can say the same about me someday.”

Photo courtesy of Nick Boucher

Acting involves more than just reading lines from a script. A good actor has the ability to blend the personality of one’s character with one’s own persona and make people laugh, cry and otherwise emote all at the same time.

For Nick Boucher acting is not only his desired career but a dear passion of his. Boucher is a junior theater arts major and has taken part in several of the theater art’s productions on the Jacksonville University campus.

The veteran student actor’s major was one of the reasons he chose to attend JU, but the small class size is something he considers a “terrific plus.” Boucher said that his professors knowing him by his full name rather than as a measly number on a piece of paper is always a great feeling. It has helped make his university experience a true one and has provided a much better education.

“This university has given me the chance to step outside my comfort zone and try things that I’ve never tried before,” he said. “It has also given me the chance to develop who I am as a person and what I truly want to be when I walk through those doors into the real world.”

The real world that he is excited to step into, Boucher mentions, is the acting profession, an endeavor that he has been preparing for since he was in elementary school. He remembers putting on movies ranging from “The Lion King” to “Hocus Pocus” and going around the living room acting one of the parts or simply coming up with a character all on his own.

“My mother always told me that I would either be the next Steven Spielberg or Robin Williams,” Boucher said. “I guess it was just the fact that I could be anything I wanted to be. There’s nothing like the idea of being something your not and walking onto that stage and just having fun.”

His most recent performance was in the JU production of “Laughter on the 23rd Floor” where he played the part of the charmingly psychotic comedian Max Prince quite brilliantly.

Boucher is also the president of Alpha Psi Omega, JU’s Theatre Honor Society, and a community leader with Residential Life. His dream is to head out to the big city and start working.

“I would love to be apart of a national tour of some hit Broadway production and be able to tour around the country,” he said. “Just the thought of being in a different theater every week is very exciting. After that, I do plan on attending grad school for my MFA.”

When he is not acting, Boucher can be found playing on his Xbox 360, watching a good movie, making people laugh or simply working out in spin class. He also enjoys teaching someone something new every now and then and, had he not been into acting, would have gone into the education department instead.

For now Boucher, his peers and professors are glad he picked acting as a profession. He has received rave reviews throughout his career at JU, and he plans to keep it up.

“There’s nothing like the idea of being something your not and walking onto that stage and just having fun,” said Boucher. “I always believe that the moment you find the thing that makes you smile from the moment you start doing it, that is the thing you will carry with you for the rest of your life.”

Aries (March 21 – April 19)

When blues hit hard, remember to hit up a close friend or mentor. Sometimes you just can’t do it all by yourself. If you think you can, think again. Their listening ear will help you stay on top of things.

Taurus (April 20 – May 20)

Immerse yourself in your surroundings. Then add in your own factor throughout the week in preparation of the weekend. Be fearless. Set aside some down time on Friday. You deserve some “you” time.

Gemini (May 21 – June 21)

Starting late Tuesday or early Wednesday, ideas flow for you, and the stars give you more wiggle room to sort out your world. Plus you’re attractiveness will make it all more fun!

Cancer (June 22 – July 22)

On Friday, you’ve got your chance; energy, imagination and just plain hotness are all yours! Dang, you look good. Put on that outfit you’ve been unsure about and work what you got.

Leo (July 23 – August 22)

Don’t set anything in stone just yet. Think it all over very very carefully. This is a huge decision and it will take lots of planning on both your part and others. Think before you act.

Virgo (August 23 – September 22)

You’ll love a small book group, a wild party, a hot date, whatever – and if you’re putting it together, it’ll be a smashing success. Don’t plan too much for Sunday, though; plenty will be happening without your interference.

Libra (September 23 – October 22)

Plans may go astray during the weekend; it’s just the stars’ way. As for how you let it affect you, that’s for you to determine. Be spontaneous and have a sense of humor. Things will come together before classes resume Monday.

Scorpio (October 23 – November 21)

Your stellar ability to focus and analyze comes in handy now. Bring both logical and emotional intelligence to a certain situation on Saturday, and you’ll very likely save the day.

Sagittarius (November 22 – December 21)

It takes effort to buckle down and tackle work and errands as this week begins, so start small. Take baby steps. One little accomplishment can be a big motivation. If you do, you’ll finish everything before the big weekend.

Capricorn (December 22 – January 19)

Change of all kinds is more than likely going to happen on Friday and last through the weekend. The question is whether you will freak out or you will see that this alteration could bring fun and learning. Let your initial reactions evolve!

Aquarius (January 20 – February 18)

If the week begins with more of a yawn than a bang, you’re just the one to add a little zest to the week. Pick up a new book or a new idea, get out and about instead of being a vegetable inside, and you’ll feel better about yourself.

Pisces (February 19 – March 20)

Those who hesitate might just miss out as the week begins. Don’t wait until later to tell someone how you feel or do something fun! Apply your imagination, which is bountiful, prior to doing anything.

Photo courtesy of Mark Alarbi

A trip to a dentist’s office is usually accompanied with fear, thoughts of pain, wishes of no plaque and most importantly gentle hands. The dentists at Jacksonville University offer caring hands and the experience and touch of true professionals, all headed by Mark Alarbi, Ph.D., the program director and chair of the JU school of orthodontics.

Dr. Alarbi was born and raised in Syria where he received his dental degree. He obtained his postgraduate degree in orthodontics from Marce, France. He originally came to JU as an assistant professor in 2003 and, in 2009, got his National Board of Orthodontics certification.

For Alarbi teaching is something that came naturally. He began tutoring in Syria and found he had a real liking for it. He even gave language lessons during his residency in the south of France. After getting into the orthodontics field, he found it quite exciting to correlate real world experience and clinical concepts to his lectures.

“I guess part of me has always been very passionate about the teaching of the young,” he said. “The momentum and dynamic[s] that [are] created with this type of format is so exciting because you don’t just go into the classroom and do a PowerPoint or give an assignment. You are actually going, discussing and exchanging ideas being challenged by doctors who are almost your peers.”

Alarbi said it is a process, and toward the end it is always something that makes him better. Another joy he receives from teaching is seeing his students “blossoming and growing.”

“We have had around seven classes graduate, and they are all doing really well in practices,” Alarbi said. “The feedback you get, the recognition, the gratitude is very fulfilling, and I think all of us here as teachers, that’s why we do it.”

In order to become true professionals in the field of dentistry, Alrabi feels there is more than just a good education that comes into play. One of his personal characteristics is honesty about learning. He said that in the medical field this translates into ethics.

“We are good at teaching concepts, explaining concepts and training people, but the nuance of teaching is also being honest with yourself and with your patients, because you are dealing with the public,” he said. “It is not just about being a health professional and making it just another job.”

He sees honesty as a step toward evolving into a sophisticated doctor that can present options to the patients and be what he calls an ethical doctor.

When Dr. Alarbi is not working, he is being active elsewhere. He is a swimmer and owns a road bike, of which he is a big fan.

“Unfortunately, I am too passionate about it,” he said. “I had an accident two years ago and broke my wrist.”

Coming from a multicultural background has also influenced his love for culture, traveling and world politics. Alarbi, a Syrian native, described how the recent conflicts affect his life in the U.S.

His parents still live in Syria, and their level of stress is something that easily translates to Alarbi.

“Emotionally, it does affect you and gives you anxiety,” he said. “In a way I feel that, yes, it’s unfortunate that this is all happening, and I use it here to inspire students and tell them not to take freedoms and educational opportunities for granted.”

Alarbi sees the fight for democracy as a mixed blessing and hopes the region turns out for the better. He even reads up on philosophy because he sees it as a way to improve his teaching skills.

It is clear that Alarbi wants to see his students being held to the highest standards of the profession. He provides them with a perspective from around the world to motivate them and make them more than just professional dentists by explaining how there is always a lesson toward the end.

“We can always teach people the technical stuff but the reasoning, the art of communicating with patients, is something we really think we are proud of.”