Meet the new faculty in the Maxwell Becton College of Liberal Arts and Education
Get to know the new faculty members in the Maxwell Becton College of Liberal Arts and Education!
FDU: How did a failure, or a seeming failure, lead you to future success?
Jane Greenway Carr: Before I answer, let me just applaud this as a fantastic question! In my experience, navigating failure, or what we perceive to be a failure, is one of the most crucial ingredients of future success. My answer is going to sound a little bit like that line from “The Sound of Music”—when Julie Andrews says, “When the Lord closes a door, somewhere he opens a window.” Years ago, I was finishing a postdoctoral fellowship and was a finalist for what felt at the time like a dream, tenure-track job at a nearby university. When I didn’t get that job, I was crushed and furious at myself. It felt like I’d had the chance to seal the deal on nearly 10 years of effort, and I’d blown it somehow. My fellowship time was running out, I needed a job, and I felt lost.
But a matter of weeks later, a CNN.com editor I’d worked with on a collaborative project during my postdoc reached out to see if I’d consider joining his team as an editor for social and cultural commentary. It was a presidential election year, and I’d never worked for a major news outlet before. In addition to feeling intimidated, I was confused why he’d want an academic on his team. His response? He’d watched me during our project and could see that I could help writers find their best voice and frame conversations about important topics in ways that sparked productive debate (in other words, I knew how to lead a class discussion, right?). So instead of leading discussions in seminar rooms, I’d get to guide them in the public sphere. Honestly, I wasn’t sure I could do it, but I knew I wanted to try. A couple of months later, I started that new job at CNN, where I’d help to cover some of the most momentous events in our world for nearly a decade. Two lessons: One, always be your best self when collaborating, because you never know who’s watching you and noticing your potential. And two, take a deep breath and recognize failure as an important part of success. Remind yourself not to let it break you down or hold you back. Rinse and repeat when necessary. If I had gotten too bogged down in my perceived failure in not getting that university job, I would never have had the confidence to embrace my CNN adventure as the life-and-career-changing opportunity it would turn out to be.
FDU: What bucket list item do you most want to check off in the next year?
JGC: I’d love to go on a road trip across the South, where I grew up, where the destinations all include great food and independent bookstores: Judy Blume’s Books & Books in Key West, Ann Patchett’s Parnassus Books in Nashville, and so on. Plus, I hope the next year can finally be the year that my family brings a dog into our midst. And I love going to live music with my daughter, so definitely a big concert or two (she‘s angling for Olivia Rodrigo, naturally, but I haven’t been able to make it happen yet).
FDU: What brought you to FDU?
JGC: I think the most honest answer is, in equal measure: good fortune, great students and a hunger to get back into the classroom. In 2024, I’d been a scholar-journalist working outside a university for nearly 10 years, and I’d been what I like to call a “humanities practitioner“ for even longer, working with scholars, experts, personal essayists, artists, changemakers. But I missed working with students, especially after the pandemic. One of my hands-down best writers at CNN was an FDU professor (shoutout to Professor Alaimo!), and she invited me to teach a storytelling class that spring as an adjunct here at Florham. I was blown away, both by my students’ curiosity and by the opportunity to bring my entire professional self (not just the “academic” part or the “journalist” part) to the table week after week. So, when the chance to join the faculty at Florham full-time came my way, it was a no-brainer — I jumped at it, and I’m thrilled to be here!
FDU: What’s the best advice anyone has ever given you?
Jeremy Marousis-Bush: The best advice I ever received was to never give up and never accept defeat. The difference between winning and losing is a mindset. A person who relentlessly refuses to accept defeat will pull themselves through hardships that swallow those who give in. You can even the playing field with the right mindset, even if you face overwhelming odds, grave setbacks and crushing opposition.
FDU: What is the best dish you can cook?
JMB: I can cook chicken and dumplings. It is a delicacy from my home state of Kentucky. They are so good!
FDU: What brought you to FDU?
JMB: Lynn Reid, associate professor of rhetoric and composition, and I met through FDU’s Freshman Intensive Studies (FIS) program. I was an adjunct at Montclair State University, and I received notice that FDU needed a writing and learning strategies specialist. Reid brought me on to help, then transitioned me to an adjunct faculty member position. Now, I’m here as a lecturer of writing. One thing always leads to another, and I’m so happy it did!
FDU: Who inspires you and why?
Michele McCormick: I’m constantly inspired by my students, especially those who, despite tremendous hardships and roadblocks, show incredible determination and grit. Helping students embrace their identities as capable college students and scholars is why I arrive at campus with a smile on my face. I approach each day with gratitude that I have the good fortune of interacting with students, staff and faculty who work together to serve the student body.
FDU: If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?
MM: I’d love to explore the southwest region of the United States as it seems unique and relatively close. I also love Tex-Mex cuisine, or at least our Northeast version of it, so I’d love to prioritize finding great, authentic versions of some of my favorite eats!
FDU: What brought you to FDU?
MM: My introduction to the Metropolitan Campus was working for the EOF Summer Program three years ago. I fell in love with the campus, the staff and the students during that program. I appreciated how caring the staff was and how they aimed to help the whole student acclimate to the college environment. At Metro Campus especially, I’ve felt such a warm embrace and collective sense of responsibility for folks to collaborate and care for each other. I fell in love with the Florham Campus several years ago when I started teaching in the Foundational Writing program. Walking around the Florham Campus in the fall, noticing the trees changing colors as the semester unfolds stimulates a visceral reaction of joy and peace — a vibe I try to carry through into the classrooms I teach.
FDU: What are you working on right now?
Jennifer Toole: I’m settling into my new role at FDU and really enjoying getting to know my students this semester. I’m always keeping an eye on the latest social media trends and am staying current with Canva and design tools so I can bring real-world examples, current skills and fresh ideas into the classroom. After 15+ years in Florida, I’m also really looking forward to fall. You’ll probably find me around campus taking pictures of the leaves!
FDU: What song or album could you listen to on repeat?
JT: I’ve had 90s and 2000s pop and rock on repeat lately. Definitely leaning into the nostalgia as summer comes to an end!
FDU: What brought you to FDU?
JT: This is my first semester as a faculty member at FDU, but I’m not new to FDU. I’m an FDU alumna, and the professors who encouraged me, challenged me and gave me opportunities made a lasting impact on my life and career. Coming back to FDU feels like coming home. I attended the Florham Campus, and I’m enjoying settling into the Metropolitan Campus and finding that same sense of community I experienced as a student. I’m excited to be back at FDU and to have the opportunity to make a similar impact on my own students.