Dr. Thao joined the UW-Whitewater faculty from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee where he recently served as a visiting lecturer. His teaching experience includes classes such as computer applications, database development, and assembly language programming. He has impressive technical skills including a comprehensive understanding of programming and scripting languages as well as a wealth of experience with software development.

What is his favorite thing about UW-Whitewater so far?

The campus is beautiful.  The environment is very friendly.  The faculty and students feel like family.  The First Year Program made me felt welcomed.  My involvement with the students through student organizations allows me to know the students better.  On Thanksgiving dinner with the Southeast Asian Student Organization, the students packed me lots of food to take home.  They always invite me to their activities. 

What made him want to teach?

When he was young, he did not think about teaching. His father was a teacher in a refugee camp in Thailand and indirectly influenced him to become a teacher.  He believes that by teaching he can contribute more to society.  He can serve as a role model for students who share similar background especially those who are the first generation to go to college or former or children of refugees.  He also discovered that he liked teaching while he was in graduate school.

What is his approach to teaching and what can students expect in the classroom? 

He uses both lecture and in-class exercises that allow students to apply the skills they are learning. Sometimes these exercises involve team work. He enjoys challenging the students. He wants the students to be ready for the real world by pushing the students to solve difficult problems.

 What is something that students would be surprised to learn about him?

Most students probably do not know that he was a former refugee from Laos.  He spent a decade in a refugee camp in Northern Thailand.  He arrived in the US at the age of 14 with a third grade education and spoke some English.  Because of his background, his experiences in high school and in college are very different from most students.

What is one experience that occurred during his undergraduate or graduate school experience that made a definite impact on his approach to his academic career?

His teaching is influenced by his former professors. One example of this is that he doesn’t use PowerPoint in his lectures.  Dr. Thao adopted that approach because he enjoyed his professors’ lectures and the way they made him apply the concepts through practice and projects. 

What does he like to do outside of work?

He likes spending time with friends, and family.  He likes the outdoor and often goes mountain biking.  In the winter, he skis.  Last winter, he went to Colorado for a ski trip at Copper Mountain.

Dr. O’Brien joined the faculty at UW-Whitewater from the University of Colorado at Boulder where he taught courses such as Introduction to Sociology, Drugs in U.S. Society, and Deviance in U.S. Society. His areas of interest include criminology and delinquency, social control, and social psychology. He has been a member of the Society for the Study of Social Problems since 2005.

Now that you have completed your first year as a faculty member at UW-Whitewater, can you share one reflection in the year?

I am very lucky to have found myself here at UW-Whitewater.

 What is his favorite thing about UW-Whitewater so far?

The people – because everyone is very nice and accommodating. The university is not too large and the communication is very open and the students are great as well.

What made him want to teach?

Dr. O’Brien grew up in a teaching family.  Both of his parents are teachers. He enjoys being in the classroom, the energy, and the ability to break through traditional beliefs and thoughts.

What is his approach to teaching and what can students expect in the classroom?

 He uses both lecture and in-class exercises that allow students to apply the skills they are learning. Sometimes these exercises involve team work. He enjoys challenging the students.  He likes to keep the classroom laid back so that the students feel comfortable talking about any  topic, and to ensure that there is a definite sense of respect and that students feel they are treated fairly. Additionally, students will encounter lectures that lead into tangents where Dr. O’Brien gets very animated about the subject matter. 

What book would he recommend to his students?

The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemmingway because it’s a book he has read multiple times and it’s fantastic literature.

What does he like to do outside of work?

 He enjoys traveling, trying new restaurants and bars as well as seeing live music, hiking outdoors, riding around on his motorcycle, and enjoying the sunshine.

Dr. Karnes comes to UW-Whitewater with graduate and undergraduate teaching experience from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Her Ph.D. research focused on psychology and exercise physiology with her dissertation titled “Motivational Interviewing for Physical Activity Promotion.” Recent professional experience includes serving as a program evaluator and clinical coordinator for Midwest Rehabilitation Associates.

Now that you have completed your first year as a faculty member at UW-Whitewater, can you share one reflection on the year?

I am struck by how much my students inspire me and give me energy.  Even though this year I have endured many sleepless nights because of the two young people in my life, through my students I find that each day I am overflowing with enthusiasm for my role at UW-Whitewater. 

What is her favorite thing about UW-Whitewater so far?

The friendliness of the students and campus community.

What made her want to teach?

While Dr. Karnes was in her doctoral program, she had opportunities to give teaching a try, and found that she enjoyed it quite a bit. She likes to be able to pay it forward – take what she’s learned from her mentors and provide it to her students in a similar way.

What is her approach to teaching and what can students expect in the classroom? 

She prefers to be a facilitator rather than a teacher. She tries to guide students to find answers on their own and explore their own ideas instead of telling them what to get out the course. They can expect that she will provide the tools to learn. She likes to ask students to find a scholarly article to bring to class to share with their peers and have a critical discussion with the class about concrete topics in their specific areas of interest.

What is one experience that occurred during her undergraduate or graduate school experience that made a definite impact on her approach to her academic career?

The most impactful experience was very early in her undergraduate career as she explored a career in psychology. Dr. Karnes had very strong mentorship from a doctoral student mentor who she worked with as a research assistant.  It was here where she learned how much she enjoyed research and saw the value in being an academic.

What book would she recommend to her students?

GIMP by Mark Zupan and Tim Swanson.  It’s about a college athlete’s journey to accepting his new identity as a quadriplegic. The book helps students to see that when embraced, adversity can lead to personal growth

What is something that students would be surprised to learn about her?

She plays on a recreational roller derby league and used to play it competitively.

What does she like to do outside of work?

She has two young children, family, and rescue dogs that she likes to spend time with.  She is also a jogger.