Faculty Profiles
 Christina Frederick-Recascino
Associate Professor of Human Factors and Systems, Daytona
Beach campus
Who had the greatest influence on your career?
You mean I can only list one person? Well, then, it's my father, George Frederick, my biggest fan and my hero. He expected me to work hard and achieve highly, and college was a given in our house. Even when I was in college, he never complained that I was a psychology major and bound for a few more years of graduate school before I could be gainfully employed.
What was your worst teaching experience?
I haven't had any so bad that I cowered under the desk yet. However, in my first introductory psychology class I had a real blooper. I was teaching about sensory experience and the sensory organs. Instead of asking which gender has the best sense of smell, I threw out, "Who smells better, men or women?"
Why do you teach?
It is my calling and a gift that I have been given. 'Nuff said.
What is it about teaching that gives you the biggest kick?
To take the student who is less than stellar or has become apathetic, and see the topics I teach come alive for him or her, even if it only occurs once a semester, always gives me a thrill. I also like the "stump the teacher" aspect of teaching. I have never yet had a class when I haven't learned at least one new fact, usually from a challenging student.
What would you do with an anonymous grant for $500,000?
First, I would take a sabbatical, go to Florence, Italy, learn Italian, and write about a dozen books about psychology, education, and teaching. Then I would come back to Embry-Riddle, refreshed and enthusiastic, spend some of the money to equip and staff a research institute and begin to do all the research projects I have had on the back burner forever. If I still had money after that, I would set up an endowment to support sabbaticals for mid-career faculty who have great ideas, but need time to engage in scholarly pursuits or just rejuvenate their enthusiasm for teaching.
What's the least-understood thing about your discipline?
Psychology professors are not all therapists, and psychology is not just about abnormality. It drives me crazy when people look at the surface of my field and assume we all want to analyze everyone. A large part of psychology is about teaching and scientific research; just look at the field of human factors research. We are interested in the greater goal of understanding human behavior and positively impacting human life. However, please don't ask me for therapy.
How are college students today different?
College students today are very techno-savvy. I didn't even know what a computer was until I was in grad school. That gives you an idea of how old I am. My first computer was an Apple IIC. Yeah, I know, a what?
What do you do for fun?
Walk on the beach, play with my husband and 4-month-old son, and read mysteries and other fiction. With a 4-month-old, though, who has time for leisure? I also like to go out with a few friends, have great food, a little wine, and then just sit and talk for hours.
James Peters
Principal Scientist and Engineer, International Space Station and Space Shuttle; Part-time instructor at the Extended Campus center in Houston
Who had the greatest influence on your career?
Jim Buchli, a former Naval Academy graduate, wrestler, fighter pilot, astronaut and mentor. I liked his leadership style and learned a great deal about the shuttle and Space Station programs from him. He was enthusiastic about hiring me in Houston to work station operations and assisted with my astronaut application as a mission specialist.
Why do you teach?
It's particularly rewarding to lead students through the learning and discovery process. In addition, I learn a tremendous amount from my students through their own expertise, experience and research projects. This enables me to maintain and build upon my skills and knowledge base.
What gives you the biggest kick in teaching?
The teachable moment, when students are eager, receptive, and willing to learn. These are the times when optimal learning and self-discovery take place. I'm also very proud to watch my students graduate and achieve a major goal in their life.
What would you do with an anonymous $500,000 grant?
I would apply the grant toward microgravity research on the Space Station. Biomedical study is the area of research I find most intriguing. Imagine how much life on earth would be improved if discoveries were made that found a cure for cancer, diabetes, AIDS, or even prevented the flu. Perhaps one day we will be able to grow three-dimensional organs in space for transplant candidates, using their own tissue, thereby minimizing the risk of rejection. After working with scientists in these areas, I believe these are real possibilities in the future.
What's the least understood thing about your discipline?
It's the importance of teamwork and people working together effectively. The technical environment dominates the field of space exploration, often at the expense of considering personal relationships and human interactions. Most problems tend to result from human error more than mechanical failure. Yet we spend most of our time focusing on and training for technical or mechanical breakdowns. This trend is slowly changing, driven by our necessity to work with our multiple international partners in the Space Station program.
How are college students today different?
By far the biggest difference is access to information and their computer skills. There are more adults now over the age of 25 continuing their education than at any point in history. This is exciting, and demonstrates the importance of education. As a result, students tend to be older and more capable of sharing their experiences with the class and enhancing the overall learning process.
What important changes have you made in your teaching?
I've reduced the lecture time I spend in class to less than 25 percent. Instead, I focus more on a collaborative or participative learning environment that is more conducive to adult learning. I emphasize more discussion, exercises, learning teams, case studies, simulations, and role-playing. These techniques have dramatically increased the number of teachable moments.
What do you do for fun?
I enjoy spending time with friends water-skiing or snow-skiing. I also enjoy flying or cruising my Harley or 1955 T-Bird. If all else fails, I head to the beach and surf.
Randall Shaffer
Associate Professor of Electrical Engineering,
Prescott campus
Who had the greatest influence on your career?
My Ph.D. adviser, Malcolm Daniels, allowed me to do a lot of independent study in the area of motors and nonlinear control theory. The results led to my patent for an AC motor controller.
What was your worst teaching experience?
I was assigned to teach an EE course under the direction of another professor and I had to use his syllabus and assignments. The assignments were completely unreasonable, and both courses quickly turned into disasters. I finally rebelled, tossed the syllabus, and made up my own assignments.
Why do you teach?
I teach because of Embry-Riddle, Prescott. I enjoy the job and the community of Prescott. I probably would not have gone into teaching had I not encountered this campus. This is where I belong.
What is it about teaching that gives you the biggest kick?
Preparing for class isn't any fun, and lecturing isn't much fun, but helping students individually, seeing the light in their eyes when they understand and get the help they need, that's a good kick.
What would you do with an anonymous grant for $500,000?
First I'd leverage the money with grants from industry and turn it into a few million. Then I'd set up a research/industrial park on the Prescott campus where companies could build facilities and set up shop. In exchange for the real estate space, the companies would provide jobs, scholarships, and co-ops for students and hire faculty for research.
Then I'd expand our existing solar energy plant to have more solar energy, wind energy, solar thermal, and other renewable systems. The energy farm would include a visitor center to showcase energy and future transportation technologies. Inside the building we'd have hands-on exhibits, demonstrations, Imax theatres, lecture rooms, and conference rooms. I'd also have a hotel and restaurant for traveling visitors.
What's the least-understood thing about your discipline?
The least understood thing is the difference between the work of an engineer and that of a technician. The engineer designs, while the technician does the troubling-shooting and repair. The engineer and technician rely on each other but are generally unskilled in the other's craft. It's like the difference between an A&P mechanic and a pilot. I remember after getting my master's degree, my uncle said, "I hope you can fix my TV now."
What important change have you made in your teaching?
I stopped grading assignments. I post the solution to the assignments and have students grade their own work. It's been very successful because students can see if they've done something wrong and can learn why and fix it before they turn it in. It's been a welcome time-saver for me and a great morale- and grade-booster for the students.
What do you do for fun?
I like to play guitar. My dad recently gave me a Martin guitar - one of the best brands of guitars. I also like to scuba-dive, but there's not much opportunity for that in Arizona.
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