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SABBATICAL REPORT
Fall 2006; Spring 2007
Mary Docter
Background
My last sabbatical, originally scheduled for 2003-04, was postponed at the request of the provost due to departmental searches, a scheduling conflict with a colleague’s sabbatical, and most importantly, my involvement planning, recruiting for, and leading our first Westmont in Mexico group (Fall 2004), which required my presence on campus for four consecutive semesters. I therefore took my sabbatical in Spring 2006 and Fall 2007— split between two semesters with a reduced teaching load in each.
Despite the unusual arrangement—the semesters were not consecutive as originally planned and committee work was ongoing—I was happy with what I was able to accomplish.
Research & Writing Projects
Over the course of my sabbatical semesters, I presented papers at four conferences and prepared two more, which I presented the following semester. Of the six conferences, three were international, two national, and one local:
· “The Evolving View of the Indian in Cabeza de Vaca’s Relación”
Conference on Christianity and Literature (CCL) Western Regional Meeting
Pepperdine University, March 2006.
· “A Case for Cross-Cultural Studies in the Foreign Language Curriculum”
North American Christian Foreign Language Association 16th Annual Meeting
Baylor College, March-April 2006.
· “Developing Intercultural Competence: Preparing Students for the Study Abroad Experience”
American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese (AATSP) 88th Annual Conference
Salamanca, Spain, June 28-July 1, 2006.
· “Assessing the Liberal Arts: A Faculty Perspective”
The Seventh Annual Conversation on the Liberal Arts, Gaede Institute for the Liberal Arts
Westmont College, February 2007.
· “Araceli Ardón: A New Voice From Mexico’s Heartland”
VII Congreso Internacional de Literatura Hispánica (CILH)
Cuzco, Peru, March 2008.
· “Strengthening Intercultural Competence Abroad and Back Home”
AATSP 90th Annual Conference
San José, Costa Rica, July 2008.
I published a lengthy article, a piece for Westmont’s Liberal Arts, and began work with Dr. Montgomery on what would become a book chapter (published in 2010):
· “Enriched by Otherness: The Transformational Journey of Cabeza de Vaca.”
Christianity and Literature 58:1 (Autumn 2008), 3-27.
· “Assessing the Liberal Arts: A Faculty Perspective.”
Liberal Arts 6:1 (June 2007), 93-100.
· “‘With Open Eyes’: Cultivating World Christians Through Intercultural Awareness.”
In Transformations at the Edge of the World. Ed. Ronald Morgan & Cynthia Smedley.
Abilene, Texas: Abilene Christian University Press, May 2010.
(co-authored with Laura Montgomery)
Additional Professional Work
· I travelled to Los Angeles to be part of a panel discussion (set up by the chair of USC’s Spanish Department) on the work of 17th century Mexican writer, Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz.
· Additionally, I engaged in regular consulting, editing, and translation work for a Spanish-speaking news magazine, Nuevas Fronteras.
Westmont Service
Although thankfully not the norm, because my sabbatical was “shared” with a reduced teaching load, I continued to do committee work at Westmont over the two year period between the spring of 2006 and the fall of 2007. I only mention it here because the work over this time period—which included my “sabbatical” semesters—was unusally onerous. During this time, I served in the following roles:
· Chair of Modern Languages Department and chair of departmental search
· Member of the Presidental Search Committee
· Program review Assessment Coordinator
· Member of WASC Steering Committee
· Memer of Long Range Planning Task Force, Faculty Recruitment & Retention
· Member of Long Range Planning Task Force, Housing
· Member of Diversity Committee
· Co-coordinator of Westmont in Mexico program
I also served as the faculty advisor for Sigma Delta Pi, gave two presentations in faculty forum, led a Reel Talk film discussion, participated on panels for Admitted Students Day and Preview Days, and gave presentations to the Potter’s Clay core team and the Emmaus Road class, among other things.
Reflections and Gratitude
I am deeply grateful to the college, its administration, and the Board of Trustees for granting me my sabbatical. As I reflect upon this time, I think of it as one of “letting go” and “inviting in.” Professionally, I had to let go of some of my expectations—which I realized were unrealistic given my committee work and family concerns—as well as certain perfectionistic tendencies and fears. Because of this, however, I was able to be more flexible, take more risks, and allow some of my goals to shift and other projects to surface. I invited in helpful feedback from colleagues and new, vibrant collaborations which have enriched my research and my life. On a personal note, I am grateful for the extra time my sabbatical afforded me to process the extremely difficult time of transition for me and my family. Most importantly, this extended time of reflection allowed me to be more fully present to God’s transforming and abundant grace.