Middle Georgia State MVP: James Sisson
Author: News Bureau
Posted: Monday, October 7, 2013 1:46 PM
Category:
Finding Greatness
Macon, GA
Full Name: James Henry Sisson Jr.
Residence: Macon.
Originally From: Athens. "Raised in a small town that now resembles the Third World, Union Point."
Job Title: Lecturer of English.
Degrees: Master of Divinity from Mercer University’s McAfee School of Theology; Master of Sacred Theology from The Chicago Theological Seminary; doctoral work at University of North Texas.
Year he joined the Middle Georgia State (Macon State) faculty: 2007.
Some of his teaching career highlights are … "Probably any class or extracurricular activity where I see students cast aside feelings of shame and embarrassment and realize the courage that is rightfully theirs as empowered, educated adults. One example that comes to mind is when students recently petitioned to get a dance at Warner Robins. It felt good to see students realizing just how much power they really have. By speaking up, they get questions answered and stand to enjoy the rewards of attending a college that is a real community, not just a place to go pay for a degree. Another highlight would have to be co-directing Howard Zinn’s 'The People Speak' with Sydney Chalfa last year. It was an unbelievably inspiring piece. I saw students inspired, and it was contagious. It is an odd dimension of human nature, but we do have to remind ourselves to be inspired on a daily basis in every class we attend. This means that we get to be just as creative as we are called to be."
He enjoys teaching at Middle Georgia State because … "We really can live up to the ideals of a university as articulated by the likes of John Henry Cardinal Newman, or especially Ralph W. Emerson ,when he says colleges 'can only highly serve us, when they aim not to drill, but to create; when they gather from afar every ray of various genius to their hospitable halls, and, by the concentrated fires, set the hearts of their youth on flame.' I’d Love nothing more than to see this place erupting with inspired students. And with the unprecedented growth we’ve experienced with the consolidation process, I feel that this drive toward inspiration is becoming a reality. What we are up against is a temptation to cynicism and despair that must be confronted with passionate, and perhaps most importantly, compassionate learning together. Ken Sessions recently called this place a family, and I think he is exactly right. It is often hard to do (be compassionate, be a family), but we should strive to remind ourselves of the real dignity of coming together to improve our lives and give back to the communities we come from. This place is gonna ignite."
His favorite course to teach is … "Probably all of them, really. I like the feeling of welcoming students to what college looks like in English 1101. English 1102 is like a blank check really. It’s fun to look at poems, plays and fiction and I am always tinkering around with that syllabus. In fact, I’m covering a play this semester I never dreamed I would! World and American Lit classes are always a challenge - especially when new editions of textbooks come out. I get to re-learn everything right along with the students. Learning becomes a real partnership that way. Any class that feels like a community is fun to teach."
One thing people don’t know about Middle Georgia State is … "You can get a solid education here at an unbeatable price. I did not have a very realistic impression of Macon State during my time at another school here in Macon, but I knew of Middle Georgia College thanks to high school theatre competitions. The arts and theatre community here at our combined campuses is most impressive. Just take a class from Ward, Burkhalter, or McElheney. Students here have had a LOT of life experiences that change everything in the classroom, for their peers and for their professors."
One thing people don’t know about him is … "I’m painfully introverted. It may not show in class, but I usually have to run and hide after being around a lot of people. Don’t get me wrong, I love people, but I have to make sure I have 'down time' from being around them."
In his spare time he likes to … "Read fun books. Ricoeur, Tillich and Kierkegaard are among my favorite writers, though I have recently discovered Anais Nin. It is fun to travel to places that come up in books discussed in my classes; then I can just add more realism to the class discussion."
The one person he'd most like to meet is … "This is the fun one! I want to assemble all the famous military leaders of history around a table: Patton, Napoleon, Haig, Alexander the Great and Mountbatten, then have Mother Teresa ask them all: 'What were you thinking?' Of course it goes without saying that Anne Hathaway would be seated by my side holding a river otter on a teal-colored leash. I’d also invite Thom Harrison to this meeting."
If he wasn’t a college professor he would be ... "Unemployed. But I have always thought it would be cool to be a detective. But I don’t like guns. I could see myself going back to seminary, or opening up a lingerie store, or both."