Claire E. Martin

Lecturer

Office: 613 Hibbard Hall
Telephone: (715) 836-2319 or 2545
E-mail: martince@uwec.edu

Curriculum vitae

Spring 2008 Schedule:

• RELS 110, Basic Issues in Religion:
  T Th 12:30-1:45
• OFFICE HOURS: T Th 11:00-12:15 or by appt.

Background

• Married with four children

• Received A.B. in Art History in 1962 at Wellesley College

• Received M.A. in Religion in 1968 at the Catholic University of America (heavily scripture, workshop and religious education)

• 1963, two education courses at the University of Pittsburgh

• 1964, philosophy, theology, and liturgy at Notre Dame University

• Various courses and workshops in literature, film, social justice, and peace studies

Teaching

• 1998-Present: Lecturer, Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire

• 1995-1998: Instructor at the University of Akron, teaching English as a Second Language

• 1994 Spring Semester: John Carroll University, Department of Religious Studies, Course in the History of Christianity

• 1993 Fall Semester: Notre Dame College, Department of Pastoral Theology, Course in Principles of Morality

• 1978-1993: Instructor at the University of Akron, teaching Western Cultural Traditions.  This course, an interdisciplinary treatment of the development of western civilization involves history, philosophy, art, music, literature, and theology.  I am recognized as having particularly strong qualifications in the areas of art and religion.  Several times I have been invited to lecture on art and music to students brought together from many sections of the course.  I have also been hired to work on improving the quality of the art slides shown throughout the course.  My teaching in Western Cultural Traditions also draws in many ways on my theological education.

• 1979-1983: Instructor at the University of Akron, teaching English as a Second Language

Volunteer Work

• Between 1995 and 1998 I have worked as a Graduate ad liten for the Summit County Juvenile Court in Akron, Ohio.  A GAL is a court-appointed advocate for children who have been designated by the court as dependent, neglected, or abused.  My work involved becoming acquainted with the children and their situation, and making recommendations to the court as to what custody arrangements are in their best interest.  Since the court appoints no attorneys for these children, the role of the GAL includes creative investigations and the presentation of reports on all court hearings.  

• My Guardian ad liten preparation began with a training program and has included various in-services sessions sponsored by the county GAL office and by the state organizations (CASA) of which I am a member.  An important aspect of the GAL training is a mentoring system, which has been a great help to me during the course of my work on cases.

• I was active in an Akron, Ohio chapter of Bread for the World, a Christian ecumenical organization that works through political means to alleviate world and U.S. hunger.

• For two elections, I registered voters at an Akron hunger shelter.

• From 1993 to 1998, I worked as a volunteer on a regular basis at Pregnancy Care of Akron, an agency that gives free counseling, referrals, child-rearing education, and material goods to women with untimely pregnancies.

• Before moving to Eau Claire, I worked as a Director of Religious Studies in the following places:   St. Berard's Parish, Watertown, WI (1976-1977), St. Peter's Parish, Mendota, MN (1969-1970), and Sacred Heart Parish, Bowie, MD (1966-1969)