Craig Mealman
Title:
Assistant Professor
College of Professional Studies and Advancement
School of Social and Behavioral Sciences
Programs/Classes Taught:
Applied Behavioral Sciences, Bachelor of Arts Degree
ABS 300 Adult Development and Learning Assessment
ABS 340 Effective Interpersonal Relationships
ABS 331 Dynamics of Group Behavior
ABS 309 Critical Thinking and Writing
ABS 407 Applied Communication in Society
ABS 400/401 Methods of Inquiry and Independent Inquiry
ABS 426 Critical Perspectives of Difference
ABS 406 Leadership in a Changing World
ABS 435 Senior Seminar
Adult Education Masters and Doctoral Programs: Advanced Adult Development and Learning;
Life History; Learning in Groups; Principles and Methods of Group Communication; Critical Reflection; Research Design and Methods;
Theses and Dissertation Advisor, Chair and member of committees;
History and Philosophy of Adult Education
HED 591 Field Experience in Higher Education: Becoming a College Educator
Areas of Expertise:
Adult Learning; Transformational Learning; Cohort-based Learning in Higher Education; Collaborative Learning; Spiritual Growth and Development; Higher Education Degree Program design, planning, implementation and evaluation; Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome and Healing associated with Cranial-sacral therapy; Visioning, personal vocation planning; Yoga Philosophy, Meditative Walking and other Contemplative Practices; Mindfulness and Heart-Centered Teaching Processes; Native American Flute- Vibrational Healing and Journeying
Biography:
For the previous 37 years I have worked for National Louis University as faculty in the Applied Behavioral Science, Adult and Continuing Education, Leadership in Higher Education Departments in the College of Professional Studies and Advancement. I earned a Bachelor's Degree as a non-traditional student at Governor's State University (GSU), focusing on adult and alternative education, human services, psychology and sociology.
At GSU I earned the Master of Arts in Interpersonal Communication; Therapeutic Communication, with special concentration in Transpersonal Psychology. I earned the doctorate in Leadership Studies in Adult, Continuing Education from Northern Illinois University, with cognates in adult learning, human inquiry and transpersonal education/psychology.
My journey has also included an equally important series of non-formal, informal, incidental and self-directed learning projects. I have been learning, experientially, that is, directly from the natural world and all of its elements. In fact, my most important teacher has been and continues to be the dynamic interaction between me and the ecosystems that I find myself living in. Additionally, I have taken a number of classes, seminars, and workshops from Tom Brown's Tracking and Nature School, Teaching Drum Outdoor School, the Shavano Institute, Prescott College, and Northland College. Many authors have spoken to me and engaged me at various levels. The interaction and the relationships (which arise out of the stream of people whose path intersects with mine) provide an amazing connection to the web of life, to my very being, I am grateful for my interactions with all dimensions of the web of life.
Educational Philosophy: I believe in the integrity of the individual learner to participate and be directly involved in one’s own learning, whether formal, informal, or incidental in nature. Therefore, I take the role of facilitating learning and growth in formal learning contexts. While I acknowledge my own substantive expertise, I value highly what each learner and a group of learners bring to a given educational context; thereby, I draw on the richness of those experiences in the planning, implementing and evaluating learning processes and strategies. Heron classifies learning or knowledge outcomes as theoretical, practical, and experiential in nature. I value each of these forms of knowledge equally and integrate all into my teaching and personal self-learning process.
I value all dimensions of persons in the learning context: intellectual, affective, spiritual, and physical. Teaching from the heart and honoring each person's completeness and wholeness, I strive to establish and nurture learning contexts/environments which support integrated learning. Teaching is both an art and a science. I have studied education and learning for forty years and draw on my research, the theory available, my practical knowledge base and on my experiences. In my teaching practice, I employ intuition to balance the art and science dimensions of my preparation and implementation of learning experiences. I value all dimensions and phases of the learning process; somewhat like the seasons of a year, where each phase calls for appropriate vision and unique strategies. So too, each time I teach the same course, it is not the same because the learners have changed, the season has changed and hopefully I have grown and learned since and from the previous times that I have facilitated that course. Personal Direction/Vocation: My vision involves working with individuals and groups of people who are in transition and actively engaged in changing and enhancing their lives. My role is to enter their lives, offer what I can and allow them to leave in their own way and time, drawing what they will and co-create learning opportunities from our collaborative interaction. I humbly serve for the benefit of all living creatures on this planet and within an ecosystem perspective where all elements and life interact in the great mystery.
Education:
Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois Ed.D. in Adult Continuing Education, 1991 Dissertation Title: "Incidental Learning by Adults in a Non-traditional Degree Program: A Case Study" Governor’s State University, University Park, Illinois M.A. in Communication Science, 1981 Major: Interpersonal Communication: Therapeutic communication, Transpersonal Psychology B.A., 1980 Concentrations in Psychology, Sociology, Adult Education, Human Services Elgin Community College, Elgin, Illinois A. A., 1978, Human Services: Mental Health Northern Prairie School for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork, Inc. Sycamore, Illinois Diploma, 600 Hours, 1999
Research and Interests:
Collaborative and Adult Learning in Cohorts; Transformational Learning; Intentional Life Change through Higher Education; Mindfulness Learning and Teaching Healing from Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome through cranial-sacral and myo-fascial release therapies; Healing of physical and somatic trauma through cranial-sacral therapy; Spiritual Retreats, Yoga and Labyrinth Walking; Meditative walking and Mindfulness Practices; Eco-spirituality
