Accomplished Fursich; Accomplished Tod[d]

Here, another posting about some VIPs in Mama's life. If you've read the previous entries, you'll understand that I agreed to allow Mama, not to dictate my content per se, but to share news of the accomplishments of a few of her former students, her friends & colleagues. Fursich & Fraley each are experts in their particular scholary specialities.

I would be remiss if I neglected to include a shot illustrating one of my own [examples of expertice in my particular speciality].

Elfriede Fursich, Associate Professor, Boston College, worked with Mama on 2 graduate degrees. Her Master's research led to "Science Journalism Under Scrutiny: a textual analysis of science times," in Critical Studies in Mass Communication. Elfriede's dissertation expanded the definition of journalism, analyzing travel programs heretofore relegated to entertainment genre.

She has travelled the world, on her own, with her husband [also a well-known scholar in his own field] and now with their young son who bears the lovely & lucky name, Felix. One instance of the quality of her teaching is the scholarly publication she co-authored with an undergraduate student [in the complex halls of academia, an uncommon achievement for an undergrad]. She is fluent in German & English, with German as her first language. Mama tells me she is among the top 5% of English writers that Mama has encountered in her [I won't say how many] years of working with doctoral students.

One special instance of her generosity: she invited Mama and Allan [at 16, the very apogee of tedious teendom] to visit her during one of her brief, infrequent holidays at home. She & the Fursich family welcomed Mama and Allan very warmly, indeed. Their stay remains a highlight of their tour of the Continent in both their memories.

Meet Todd Fraley, Assistant Profesor, East Carolina University, & his beautiful wife, Alisa.

Mama tells me many stories about Todd. For example, he gave her the Peeps lights that hang on the dead tree that graces our screened-in porch [I couldn't make this up.] He likes Halloween [& has passed that dubious preference along to his VIP children; but refer to my entry of October 31, 2006], surprise parties and giving out Mama's unlisted phone number [I made up that last].

But there is more to know about Todd than a few anecdotes, more even than his brilliant family.

He too worked with Mama on his 2 graduate degrees. He wrote a thesis, subsequently published as “Fred Hampton, Revolutionary Leader or Deviant Thug,” Howard Journal of Communication 15:3 147-67. And, a dissertation examining the independent media movement from a grassroots perspective. He has edited at least one book [that I know of] ; here see its beautiful cover [I admit I cannot read].

I know for a fact that his teaching skills have attracted numerous prestigious awards.

Infer from the quality of Todd's picture above, Mama was the photographer. Pauvre Mama. I prefer this shot. It depicts Todd's personality which can only sketched with words such as: smart, witty, thoughtful, kind, caring, and commited to students, family & friends.