The Visionary Course Pairing

Looking Beyond Ourselves: Writing for Action (WR 100)

Think about your favorite piece of writing -- what effect does it have on you? Effective writing has the strength to make someone laugh, think, learn and act. Your mission is in this course to write with strength and confidence. In this class, you will think about how powerful writing affects you both as a reader and a writer. Reading pieces by writers like Frederick Douglass, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Susan Casey will give you the chance to look through the lens of other writers in order to sharpen or refocus your own. Activities out of the classroom will serve to broaden your understanding of yourself in the context of your new community as well. In addition, you have the opportunity to take one of two tracks: the traditional path or the service-learning option. Service offers yet another text to integrate among our readings, discussions, and writing opportunities. On the service track, you’ll be asked to see yourself in direct relationship to those you meet at Tunbridge Charter School. Whether you opt for service-learning or not, you will have the opportunity to serve people outside our classroom through your writing. We will always try to contextualize our discussions beyond ourselves and to see how writers attempt to move their readers and affect the world around them. As you look beyond yourself, you will use your writing to envision who you wish to become. Along the way, you'll be writing for action.

Faculty biography

Dr. Andrea Leary is a Lecturer and the Internship Coordinator in the Department of Writing, where she has been teaching for the last 27 years. In all of her classes, her goal is to guide her students toward excellence in writing while keeping the Jesuit mission of “men and women with and for others” in their thoughts. Margaret Mead’s reminder guides her teaching: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."

Foundations of Philosophy: Resistance, Rebellion, and Reason (PL 201)

This semester-long course is designed to bring the ideas and writings from the Ancient Greek philosophers to students through conversation and in-depth discussions. The class will explore and come to understand Sophocles, Socrates, and Plato's ideas of Justice, as well as Aristotle's theories of virtue and political excellence.

Faculty biography

Professor Nina Guise-Gerrity is in her tenth year as Loyola faculty. She teaches in the Philosophy department as well as mentors interns from cross-disciplines. Her areas of study include ancient Greek Philosophy and Political & Economic Philosophy.

Mentor biography

Dr. Christina Spearman is the Assistant Vice President for Career Development. She started working at Loyola in 2007, and previously served in a number of roles, including Dean of Students. She received her B.S. in Communication from Emmanuel College, her M.A. in Counselor Education from Clemson University, and her Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from East Carolina University. Christina loves working with the team in the Rizzo Career Center and enjoys all things pop culture and musical theater.

Nikki Jefferson is the Records Systems Analyst for the Records department. Originally from the sunshine state of Florida, she received her B.A. in Advertising/Public Relations at Loyola University Maryland, and her MA in Emerging Media at Loyola University of Maryland. In her spare time she finds herself reading, traveling, and trying new cuisines.

Virtual Advisor

Both courses in this pairing satisfy core requirements (Philosophy and Writing) for all students and are taught with a service learning option.