Joshua J. Kurz

As an Assistant Director in the Office of Community-Engaged Leadership at Appalachian State University, my primary duty is to create and facilitate leadership development opportunities for students. I focus on 1st and 2nd year students in three programs: an extended orientation program for incoming 1st years called the Trailhead Experience, a 1st year Residential Learning Community called Leadership in Action, and the 1st and 2nd year students in the Plemmons Scholars program. As part of this role, I also teach courses as an adjunct professor in the Leadership Studies minor.

As Deputy Convener I am responsible for much of the day-to-day administration of the Global Studies major at NUS. My duties include curriculum development, managing student requests/appeals, staff meeting facilitation, and documenting program activities for the university administration. I have also advised more than 200 students' study plans.

My primary duty is to research, write, and deliver in-person and online university courses on globalization, visual culture, popular culture, and other topics. I also manage teaching assistants, advise students, and supervise student research. Finally, I act as liaison to the NUS career center, work with Global Studies alumni, and serve as the Global Studies Honors Coordinator.

As a postdoc, I taught courses on a variety of topics about globalization, conducted research, and published scholarly articles.

As an adjunct instructor at CCAD, I taught a section of Introduction to Philosophy to approximately 25 students. Using a common textbook across sections, I designed my section's syllabus, weekly discussion topics, seminar agenda, and assignments.

As a GTA, I taught a variety of courses for the Department of Comparative Studies, including cultural studies seminars, undergraduate writing classes, and an introductory class on globalization. Courses were capped at 25 students per term. I was solely responsible for selecting texts, designing the syllabus and assignments, and all grading.

As a GTA in the Department of Educational Leadership, I taught one section of “School and Society” to approximately 25 students per quarter/semester. I was solely responsible for selecting texts, designing the syllabus and assignments, and all grading. Discussion format was rooted in principles of democratic inquiry, and assessments often provided students to choose among multiple formats, such as traditional essays or creating art/music, to demonstrate their knowledge of the course.

Between my MSc and PhD, I worked as a Camp Counselor and Property Manager for the Girl Scouts of the Jersey Shore (NJ). I supervised the boys’ unit at Camp Sacajawea Day Camp as a counselor, and on weekends I provided on-site management of the property for private groups and events. I also provided instruction in archery and boating to campers.

While completing my MSc in College Student Personnel (a.k.a. Higher Education/Student Affairs), I worked at the Miami University Women’s Center. My primary duties were to supervise the Ambassador Program (9 student staff members), edit/publish the weekly newsletter, and manage special projects. The Ambassadors were peer educators who facilitated discussions about gender-related issues in classrooms across the university, as well as developed programs such as the Clothesline Project and the LunaFest film festival.

As an AmeriCorps Program Manager for the Partner’s Project at Gonzaga University, I recruited, trained, and placed college student volunteers in three Spokane public schools as tutors and classroom assistants. I supervised 3 staff members and grew the program’s volunteers 400% in one year. In addition, I supervised an Alternative Spring Break trip to San Antonio, TX.

As an intern with Gonzaga University Student Affairs, I initiated a project to outreach to men on campus to raise awareness about sexual assault prevention and issues of masculinity and social expectations. This project culminated in a one-day Men's Retreat that brought together students, staff, and faculty to have discussions relating to campus culture, masculinity, and identity. As part of this internship I also advised the student organization Men Against Rape.

As an AmeriCorps Program Manager for the Pipeline Project at the University of Washington, I recruited, trained, and placed over 600 college student volunteers in over 100 Seattle-area K-12 schools. In addition, I supervised the delivery of the Literacy Through Photography curriculum at Jefferson Middle School, and an Alternative Spring Break trip to the Makah Indian Reservation at Neah Bay, WA.