Willis D. Heusser

Cypress College

9200 Valley View St.

Cypress, CA 90630-5897

Email: wheu@charter.net

Homepage: http://socialscience.cypresscollege.edu/~wheusser

 

Education                  University of Rochester, Rochester, NY

                                    M.A. Philosophy, June 1998 (3.97 G.P.A.)

                                    Thesis Exam in the History of Modern Philosophy

 

                                    University of California, Los Angeles, CA

                                    B.A. Philosophy, September 1994

 

                                    Pierce College, Woodland Hills, CA

                                    A.A. Liberal Arts, Graduated with Honors, June 1991

 

Areas of Specialization:

History of Modern Philosophy and Ethics

 

Areas of Competence:

Metaphysics, Critical Thinking, Elements of Logic, Philosophy of Religion
 

Experience                Cypress College, Cypress CA

                                    Assistant Professor beginning August 02

Teach Intro, Ethics, History of Ancient Philosophy, Religions of the East, Logic and Critical Thinking. Developed Curriculum for first Online Philosophy course on campus. Served on Academic Senate. Sponsored Muslim Student Association and Hare Krishna clubs.

 

Mount St. Mary’s College, Los Angeles, CA

                                    Philosophy Instructor August 00 to May 02

Taught and developed lesson plans in the conventional format as well as in the Weekend College format.

 

Santa Monica College, Santa Monica, CA

                                    Philosophy Instructor January 00 to August 02

Taught and developed lesson plans in Intro, Ethics, Logic, and History courses. Developed online courses since Spring 02

                                   

Sepulveda Middle School, Los Angeles, CA

                                    Math and Computer Teacher, August 99 to January 00

Taught 6th & 7th grade mathematics at a math and science magnet and Title I school. Taught Mac/PC computer lab using MS Office

 

                                    University of Rochester, Rochester, NY

                                    Philosophy Instructor, August 97 to January 98

                                    Taught and developed lesson plans for informal logic course.

Teaching History:

I have taught sections of the following courses: Introduction to Philosophical Analysis, Critical Thinking (i.e., Logic and Critical Thinking), Reason and Argument, Religions of the East, Symbolic Logic, Elements of Logic, Ethics: Theory and Practice, and History of Ancient Philosophy (i.e., Early Philosophers), History of Modern Philosophy (i.e., Modern Philosophers).

Some Departmental, University, Professional Service, and Activities:    

·        Served on numerous committees at Cypress College (TBA)

·        Member of Professional Ethics Committee of Academic Senate (SMC) ‘01-‘02

·        Presented for a Mount St. Mary’s Graduate School Forum. Topics: Standardized Exams and the Financial Aid Process April ‘02

·        Presented for a Faculty Workshop: “Evaluating Online Medical Web Resources”, March ‘02

·        Awarded State Teaching Grant at Northridge for ‘99 school year

  • Chess Club Sponsor for 1st tournament club ’99 at Sepulveda Middle School
  • Weekly ESL volunteer tutor at Van Nuys Middle School 98-99
  • Awarded University of Rochester Graduate Fellowship 96-97
  • 2nd place: American Open Chess Tournament 1988 “A” Division (of » 450 players)
  • Top Senior – 1989 Southern California H.S. Chess Championship

Affiliations:

·        American Philosophical Association (APA)

·        National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM)

·         United States Chess Federation (USCF)

 

Skills and Interests:          

  • Speak, read, and write Spanish at an intermediate level
  • Programming in Java, C, HTML, and FrontPage Web Development
  • Proficient in MS Office Suite including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint Presentations (including web slide shows), ClarisWorks for Apple, and MS Works
  • Active in chess (expert rating), basketball, surfing, biking, and hiking