Ludmila V. Smirnova, Ph.D.

In Russia, my University community was my extended family. I devoted myself to its success. As Dean of the School of Foreign Languages, and even in my regular faculty roles, I promoted VSPU as a community of learners, playing whatever roles were necessary to make the institution succeed. Thus, contribution to the Mount is not a foreign concept to me. I have tried to immerse myself in the community as much as my teaching schedule allows. I have only begun to use my considerable group and organizational skills in my work to date.

At the all-college level, I served two years on the Library committee. I volunteered to step in as Chair of the Life Experience Committee in 2004 . It was a new field and involved new learning and experiences. I did my best to contribute my ideas and experience to this committee.

I am in my second year of being a member of Faculty Affairs committee and a represantative at an ATAC.

As a faculty member of the Division of Education, I have made contributions to the NCATE accreditation process, participating in all the meetings and committees established in the division as both leader and member. As reflected in our division minutes, I designed a number of tables, charts, rubrics, etc. Among my contributions was a suggestion that graduating students submit an electronic portfolio. I was chairing a Division committee that was responsible for Exhibit Room design and construction for the NCATE reviewers visit. I have submitted proposals to the Tech Department related to both the electronic portfolio and the electronic exhibit room (see Division Minutes).

More broadly within the Division, I have been an advocate for better course integration. I have begun a process of collaborative teaching to help establish this integration. I have discussed with the head of the Division of Education my ideas on involving students in research conferences, encouraging them to write and publish educational articles on the theory and practice of teaching and learning. I intend to implement this idea as a project during the upcoming semesters.

I was appointed to be a counselor for local Sigma Tau Chapter of Kappa Delta Pi International Honor Society in Education at the Mount in the fall of 2004. It was a responsible task. I devoted a lot of time and effort in helping the students to make this educational community successful and highly respectful. I inspired the Executive board and helped to design the chapter's website. I enjoyed this responsibility and am very proud of the results we achieved in 2004-2005 academic year. The International Headquaters of KDP posted a Thank you note to our chapter on the International web site.

I have also participated in all college events. I participated every year and ran a Workshop on Book Binding at a Literacy conference, held in April, 2002 at the Mount. And I spoke at new faculty orientation workshop in 2004 to share my teaching experience with the new faculty, or at the reception dinner and the book discussion with the new students on the Orientation Day of 2005.

As I make community contacts, I have begun inviting key resources such as Ms. Reynolds - a reading specialist- to my classes. I invited a Montessori teacher as a guest speaker to my “Methods” class, Emma Klimec of BOCES for “Basics of Planning,” and Dr. Michael Edelstein for “Social Interaction” class. I often invite my former students who graduated from the Mount and started their teaching careers to my Methods classes. When some of my colleagues come from Volgograd, Russia, I always use the chance to have them meet students and faculty in order to share professional views and educational experience. For example, in Spring 2002 the Rector (President) of my University back in Russia, while being as a guest at Ramapo College, visited Mount Saint Mary College, met with the President and Vice-President, Division of Education Faculty and the students of my classes. In fall 2002, Dr. Tatyana Andruschenko, the Dean of the School of Psychology and Social Work at VSPU, came as a visitor on the Trust for Mutual Understanding grant (see below). I not only invited her to address my classes, but we jointly gave a presentation on Play Therapy at BOCES for the teachers and parents of the special education department (who have organized “the Dreams Foundation”). As a result of this visit, there is a chance of a fruitful future cooperation between the Dreams Foundation and a parallel organization in Volgograd, Russia. One of my former student teachers Jennifer Resodo who is already teaching in the field became a regular guest speaker in my Methods classes.

Photos: Workshop on Play Therapy at BOCES(Click to Enlarge)

I have been collecting contacts with other exemplary professionals for future visits. I am well on the way to knowing the local educational landscape well enough to augment my courses fruitfully with the right guests.

Finally, as I make contacts and understand the community setting, I find more and more niches for my involvement. I have participated as a guest speaker in schools of Goshen and Newburgh on the topic of multiculturalism, Russian culture and traditions.

With my Russian students we met several times with the first graders of Balmvelle and other schools to present and teach the kids Russian games and folk tales, this became an inspiration for me to share some Russian customs and traditions with teachers, my college student, and children.

During two years (2002/2003), I volunteered as a model for fashion shows run by the local Greek Orthodox Church as a fund raiser for their programs.

Photo: Balmvelle Elemantary School (Click to Enlarge)

As I have time, I will avail myself of further opportunities to serve the community.

Finally, I am in the fifth year of sponsoring my former Russian students who came to the USA to work and study. I now have two students here. This project involves mentoring and supervising, as well as undertaking social and financial obligations.