July 15, 2024 • 20 mins
On this episode of Speaking Of…College of Charleston we talk to Dr. Rénard Harris, associate professor of management in the School of Business. Dr. Harris is the host of Teachable Moments, a radio program about education topics for parents and students on South Carolina Public Radio.
Teachable Moments airs every Friday at 6:44 a.m., 8:44 a.m., 1:33 p.m., and 4:48 p.m., but you can listen any time on South Carolina Public Radio.org or today.charleston.edu/podcast.
Launched in April 2024, Teachable Moments covers topics that range from cell phones in the classroom to getting ready for college to teacher shortages. This is a great partnership between the College of Charleston and South Carolina Public Radio for many reasons, one of which is the opportunity to showcase the expertise of our faculty to the 315,000 weekly listeners across the state.
“The College of Charleston is proud to partner with S.C. Public Radio on educational content that will inform and, maybe, even entertain its listeners,” says President Andrew Hsu. “Professor Harris is a gifted teacher-scholar and he can pack a lot in only a minute of instruction!”
Dr. Harris says he loves hosting Teachable Moments because each episode is a conversation with the wider community. “It’s not about high-end research. Nobody’s going to get tested on it, nobody’s going to fail, we’re just having a conversation in the studio,” he says. “It’s a teachable moment that hopefully inspires listeners to talk about with their neighbor, family and community and hopefully those discussions will make those spaces better.”
Sean Birch, director of South Carolina public radio, says Teachable Moments aligns with their mission to keep South Carolinians informed and connected to the world around them in a way that’s entertaining and accessible.
“Dr. Harris’ energy and positivity – not to mention the tasty licks of his harmonica – are a natural fit for our public radio style. We are proud to partner with the whole College of Charleston team and look forward to growing our shared efforts in the future.”
Featured on this episode:
Dr. Rénard Harris is an Associate Professor of Management in the School of Business at the College of Charleston. He holds an Ed.D in teacher education. Since his time at the College of Charleston and several years prior, he has explored multicultural education, diversity, equity and inclusion, storytelling, cultural relevance and leadership. He is often called upon to serve as a keynote speaker, inclusion facilitator and consultant for businesses and educational institutions.
Resources from this episode:
· S.C. Public Radio and the College of Charleston launches “Teachable Moments”
· Rénard Harris Celebrates International Blues Day on Harmonica
· MTA's 'Music Under New York' program
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Unknown (00:01):
You're rolling.
amy stockwell (00:04):
Hello and Welcome to Speaking of College of
Charleston. I'm Amy Stockwell,associate director of public
information and media relationsand Podcast Producer in the
Office of University Marketingand Communications. I'm here
with Dr. Renard Harris,Associate Professor of
Management at the college. We'rein the studio today because
(00:26):
we're thrilled to announce thatDr. Harris is the host of
teachable moments, a one minuteradio program about education
topics for parents and students.
teachable moments is aired every
Friday at 6:44am 8:44am 1 (00:39):
33pm and 4:48pm. But you can listen
anytime on South Carolina publicradio.org or
today.charleston.edu/podcast.
teachable moments was launchedin April 2024, covering topics
(00:59):
that range from cell phones inthe classroom to teacher
shortages. This is a greatpartnership between the College
of Charleston and South Carolinapublic radio for many reasons,
one of which is the opportunityto showcase the expertise of our
faculty to the 315,000 weeklylisteners across the state.
(01:21):
We're so grateful to Dr. Harrisfor contributing not only his
dulcet voice, but his harmonicamusic to teachable moments. So
without further ado, let me turnthe mic over to Renard. Stop.
That doesn't make sense, becauseI still have another question.
So can I record just that lastsentence?
Unknown (01:47):
Yeah. Oh, yeah. You don't? Yeah, I can. I can edit.
Okay, so the flow is that we'regoing to have Bernard play
amy stockwell (01:56):
after I yeah, I just. Okay. Can we start with?
We're so grateful. Yes. So let'ssee. We're so grateful to Dr.
Lynch. teachable moments period.
Dr. Yours. Thanks so much forYeah, then I want to jump to Dr.
Harris recording a
Unknown (02:18):
short clip. Could you play? Yeah, right. Better with
we're so grateful.
amy stockwell (02:24):
Okay. Okay. We're so grateful to Dr. Harris for
contributing not only his dulcetvoice, but his harmonica music
to teachable moments. Dr.
Harris, thank you so much forjoining us on speaking of the
College of Charleston, we justfinished recording new episodes
of teachable moments that willair in July and August. Your
(02:44):
harmonica playing is featured inthe intro and outro of teachable
moments. But it's a short clip.
And I'm sure listeners wouldlove to hear a little more.
Could you play a little for us?
Sure.
(03:27):
Thank you for that I love it'sreally fun to listen and watch
you play. And just so listenersknow we're recording video so
that the listeners will get tosee you in action playing. Can
you tell us a little bit aboutyour musical background?
Unknown (03:43):
Yeah, definitely. So it's been great. I'm a huge
lover of music, but I think I'dprobably have to give credit to
my mother probably we used tohave a brother and sister and
she would wake us up in themorning we would get dressed to
music, she would crank the radioand we would get dressed dancing
and dancing to music and andthat was like the 70s the 60s
and 70s. So r&b was huge. Funkwas huge, right? And Michael
(04:06):
Jackson and Gladys Knight so Igrew up around that but also
growing up around onegrandmother that was Amazon, one
grandmother that was Baptist,and then a rural Mississippi,
and I went to a Catholic school.
So I had everything coming at meat the same time from Ave Maria
to wade in the water to lining,you know, on your knees for
long. So it's just, I just beenaround music and sound for so
many years. That became part ofme and my mother bought us a
(04:30):
piano she went to the pawn shopand bought me a trumpet and I've
tried guitar and so just beenaround music and sound is to me
music is just absolutelybeautiful. So I'm a part of it's
a part of me.
amy stockwell (04:43):
What a great way to wake up. I think that all
parents should should use thatto get their kids going in the
morning. Like what a great wayto get going.
Unknown (04:50):
I agree. You know grew up around Soul Train and dancing
and making a soul train in yourhouse. It's just it's healthy,
right? It's a healthy way to getdressed and get ready for
school.
amy stockwell (04:58):
Do any of your siblings play music? No,
Unknown (05:00):
we all play around music right? People ask me if I
play something and we trippedover a lot of instruments so we
can all dabble in differentthings, but I think it hit me
the most to move it further. Butwe've all like sound we all like
dancing and music, though. Andthen
amy stockwell (05:13):
did you didn't Did you specifically study music
ever in college? It's all selftaught. So
Unknown (05:20):
yes, awesome. So I even you know, being a bit of a bit
of a wanderer, I think I changedmy major like five times in
college and it was I was a musicmajor once investor knew nothing
about music, but just in lovewith music, but no, never really
formally studied enough to know.
I think even when I tried toself teach myself like theory,
I'll get to page six and quit.
So just the sound it's moreabout feel for me. I know a
(05:42):
little bit around music, butit's just the feel and the sound
the communication. And then doyou
amy stockwell (05:46):
play at all like in do you go and play with bands
or clubs or anything like
Unknown (05:51):
that. So before I'm coming to South Carolina, living
in Tennessee, and Tennessee wasa great place to be around
music. So start off in bluesjams going to bars and jams and
I played in a band for 10 years,and I lived in Knoxville, I
played on the subway for years,I lived in New York City. Well,
wait, stop
amy stockwell (06:05):
there. Say that, again.
Unknown (06:06):
I've played the last part, I lived in Harlem I played
there's a New York City, this issome years ago, you could
audition to play on the subway,and you would send in a tape or
CD. And they would invite youand they would have auditions
once a year in Grand CentralStation. And they see you they
put you behind this room.
There's all types of artists inthis one room, all types, and
they will call you out and thenewspapers would be there and TV
(06:28):
stations, and you'd have fiveminutes to do what you do. And
they will send you a letter andaccept you or not to play on the
subway that
amy stockwell (06:36):
is so Oh, I had no idea. It was like actually,
like regulated. Yeah, and
Unknown (06:42):
Music Under New York mun why they will give you a
little sign you still buskingbut they will give you a sign
and a place to play on thesubway? And I did that and it
was I would never give that timeback. Amazing. That
amy stockwell (06:54):
that is very, very cool. Yeah. What a great
experience for sure. Way to putyourself out there and be
vulnerable in front of justrandom strangers,
Unknown (07:03):
I think so in your in your you're playing for change,
right. So they might give you aquarter they might give you a
download. But you're you're outthere busking for money and
communicating with people a lotof conversation in New York
City, you haven't 1000s ofpeople walk past you. And so
yeah, it's you decide if youlove it or not by doing.
amy stockwell (07:21):
So from there, then what led you to to
education?
Unknown (07:24):
Yes, I think they both happen at the same time. So
growing up around music andending up, get my master's in
education in Tennessee. And soTennessee is great for
storytelling and music. And so Ithink it was all happening at
the same time that these thingsmarry, I fell in love with blues
and a friend told me I thinkyou're as interested in the
culture of blues as you are themusic as much. I think he's
(07:46):
right, that whole story ofAfrican Americans and that
having nothing but having powerat the same time. And being in
Tennessee with all thestorytelling so to kind of my
professor kind of led me downthat path. So that's what led me
to teaching and multiculturaleducation and culturally
relevant pedagogy was allhappening at the same time. So
I'm going to use my harmonicaand that that route as a kind of
(08:07):
like the sword I wield throughall of this, because it's all
connected to me. Music story,narrative culture, it's all one
big space for me. So they kindof marry each other at the same
time, as I developed as aneducator.
amy stockwell (08:19):
And then from Tennessee, how did you end up at
the college?
Unknown (08:23):
Right? So I went to a conference in Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania, and the College ofCharleston had a booth there.
And I was I just finished mydoctorate getting ready to
finish my doctorate. And I metsome professors here and I gave
them my CV and they said, whydon't you come in interview at
the College of Charleston. And Iflew in to interview and fell in
love with it. I mean, the peoplethe place the energy of the
students, the liberal arts idea,I just fell in love with it.
(08:45):
Unfortunately, they invited meto fourth position at the
College of Charleston. So I camehere, you know, and became a
professor so a lot what when wasthat? How long ago? 2005 2005.
Wow, so good here since
amy stockwell (08:58):
and, and your path has your path has kind of
changed a little bit recently atthe college. Your doctorates in
teacher education, but you'renow teaching a class on one
class on leadership and anotheron managing diversity at the
business school. So what isthat? Like? Tell us about that
your new role over there.
Unknown (09:19):
So I was fortunate to be in administration here at the
College of Charleston, fromteacher education to
administration. So I had theprivilege of working under
amazing presidents here at thecollege. So after telling the
last president, I worked on it,I wanted to return to faculty.
Well, where do you go after thisexperience of being in
leadership, and the Dean of theSchool of Business, Dean
Schwager, and the associatedean, Dr. Kerry muscles. So we
(09:41):
may have a place for you overhere, in terms of, you know,
meeting our accreditation, butwe think we have a place in
terms of leadership and ofcourse call managing diversity.
But of course, you had to bevetted by your colleagues and
professors and I had to meetwith them and then go through a
few steps. But they were kindenough to accept me into the
department. It's been fantasticbecause I've always been around
education So now I'm aroundbusiness majors, right? But but
(10:02):
at the same time, you're stillteaching. And that's where the
power is. And so the idea ofteaching leadership, so I have
all these experiences, workingin administration at the
college, all these stories, andconnecting them to a text, and
taking this text and saying,I've got a story that fits with
that. So I'm able to go in andout of my personal experience
and leadership, and this tax inthese books and different
sources we use to teach them. Sothat's been amazing. At the same
(10:25):
time, I have amazing studentswho are getting ready to walk
out the door. And you don't haveto be at a you know, a high end
industry to be a leader, you cando a right now you can explore
some of these concepts. Sothat's been fascinating to have
that conversation with students.
And then of course, managingdiversity is which definitely my
lane, it's the same typeconversation, but with business
students about how you navigatewhere everyone feels seen, with
(10:47):
no matter what industry, you'rea part of where everyone takes
their culture as a resource tonavigate the world. So it's that
conversation, it's a positiveconversation, it's not a
negative conversation, becausediversity is a powerful positive
thing, not a negative.
amy stockwell (11:03):
And how do you?
How do you facilitate that?
Like, do you have speakers comeinto your classroom,
Unknown (11:09):
public speakers are fantastic, I adopted a course
I'm Dr. Carrie missile, and shehad speakers prior. And I
continue to do that. And when welook at the feedback from the
students, students love speakerswho play in those spaces. So I
continue to do that I've hadsome amazing speakers that have
come in and share theirknowledge as volunteer, they're
sharing their time and space,and knowledge. So that's been
great. And also from speakers topersonal experiences, to
(11:33):
connecting it with texts. And sothese courses, leadership and
managing diversity are thingsthat start almost with you, as
an individual as a human being,I try not to explore much into
the politics and the macro,because it's about you now. And
so it's not about what you canbe what you will be what you
might change this about rightnow, the ownership, you have to
(11:53):
engage with these topics,leadership and diversity to
separate courses. But you canplay with the now and explore
now. So no matter what you do,when you walk out this door, you
have that tool and resource inyour in your in your bailiwick.
And
amy stockwell (12:05):
I would think those those classes could be
taught in any school at thecollege and that they're
applicable to students acrossthe entire college those skills
are our necessary skills to besuccessful.
Unknown (12:17):
Yeah, I think you're spot on, I think I think you're
spot on and think because I'm inthe School of Business, I use
business, you know, journals andideas and concepts. But you're
right, these ideas fit anywhere,but you're trying to fit it
within the context. So studentscan connect the dots to finance
to to accounting, but it'sthere. If they put me in the
School of Music, it would bethat through music, right. So it
(12:38):
moves an educator moves withinthe context, but the same core
is there. I agree with that.
That's interesting.
amy stockwell (12:43):
Yeah. Yeah. So to move a little bit to teachable
moments to segue, because we'reso excited about launching this
program with South Carolinapublic radio. You are our host.
And so you're speaking on avariety of topics that go from
(13:04):
teacher shortages to what kindof Corona type you are, we
talked about all sorts ofthings. And one of the topics
that we recently covered isteacher shortages that are
happening across the wholecountry. So from your
perspective, as a teacher, whatadvice would you give a student
(13:25):
who's interested in teaching,but maybe has concerns about
some of the challenges?
Unknown (13:31):
That's a great question, I think you have to be
careful what you hear abouteducation, because there is a
there's a business side ofeducation with administrations
and districts, etc. But the artof teaching is something
different. The art of teachingis if you're interested in
engaging and taking somethinginanimate, from a piece of
paper, from a digital side,however you look at it, and make
(13:51):
it live to a human being to makeit part of their life, if you
want to explore that skill setthat I can take what we're
reading, and communicate to youin such a way and build such a
relationship with you that thisis part of your life now. And
I've helped you kind ofcultivate that as you move
forward. That's what teaching isit no matter how you look at
It's about relationship andcommunication and engulfing this
(14:12):
information so that you arebetter than you were the day
before. If you look at it thatway, yes, there's a lot of
politics, etc, about teaching,but the art of teaching is about
that. And it's an art, it's askill set is something you
explore, you never get to thelast page of that exploration.
It's always it's almost, it'spretty competitive, because I
want to get to you as a student,and I want you to get to me. And
(14:33):
although there may be 1520 30people in this classroom, this
is about you and me, this isabout you and me, it's the next
person, this is about me and youand you're doing it all at the
same time. So it's a bit of aparadox that happens, but it's
about that relationship todevelop as a human being. That's
how can you how can that be abad thing that is powerful and
beautiful. There is another sidepolitics, etc. But the teaching
(14:54):
art, that there's power in thatso for whoever's interested in
that exploration, I wouldencourage Judy get involved with
teaching. That's
amy stockwell (15:01):
beautiful. That's very encouraging. And I think it
just makes me think about all ofthe the people that you remember
when you're going through acertain moment of your life, if
you're graduating from collegeor something, and you're
reflecting on your life aboutwho mentors and people who have
really meant something to you.
So often, we think of thoseteachers who, in our lives who
were really meaningful, who didsomething said something that
(15:25):
stuck with us that we hold onto, there's
Unknown (15:29):
something powerful in that, because I mean, you
realize that your ego has beenput outside the door, you're not
looking for immediatesatisfaction, you know, did I do
something on my part of yourlife, it happens later down the
road, you know, when you'redoing something like I remember
Mr. or Mrs, or such and such,then how they influenced me to
do that. So it's not about youand your ego. And it's not about
if I had if it hadn't been forme, this wouldn't have happened
to you simply not true. You juston someone's journey, you're
(15:52):
part of someone's journey, andthey are stopping in momentarily
to explore that with you. Andhopefully, if you do it right,
you will impact that journeypositively. And they'll move on.
And so it's not about who didwhat for whom it's about being a
part of someone's journey anddoing your part to make it
better. There's power in that,that's, it's empowering. It's an
empowering field.
amy stockwell (16:10):
That's beautiful.
That's really beautiful. And sowe're getting close to the end
of our time. We've all been inthe studio for a long time this
morning. But I want to closewith just asking you, what
what's been fun. What do youenjoy about being the host of
teachable moments, and this issomething that we are, we're so
grateful that you agreed to dothis for us too, because it's
(16:31):
it's time consuming. And we comeinto the studio, a you know,
every couple of months andrecord a bunch of sessions and
we send them up to Colombia. Andyou're doing this out of the
generous SNESs of your heart.
And so what what do you likeabout it and have any of your
we've only started, we launchedin April. So it, it hasn't been
(16:54):
happening for too long. But hasanyone any of your friends or
family stopped you and said,Hey, I heard you, Andre. Yeah.
Unknown (17:01):
I've gotten calls from family members, like, I wish
with like a cell phone from myknee, you know, my daughter?
Yeah. conversations like that.
But I gotta be honest with you,this is, you know, I'm working
with you. You're fantastic. Youknow, got Jesse is producing is
that the term is that the properterm? Jesse producing,
engineering, engineering. Youknow, this is the epitome of
collaboration, you know, it isbecause it's, there's three of
(17:23):
us in this space, and this couldhave gone anyway, of course, you
you do your part, you read youryou do your role. But it's it's,
it's, it's free, it'sconversation. And more
importantly, for teachablemoments. This is higher ed, but
we're communicating with ourlocal community and beyond it's
conversation, it's not about thehigh end research. It's not
about, you know, what cited,what review, it's about human
(17:43):
beings driving down the streetor listening saying, I've been
thinking about that, you know,or smiling or questioning or
creating a discussion. So it'snothing you have to run to your
computer to check. It's aboutthat conversation, that we all
have those teachable momentsthat we question that we need to
know more about. So for me, it'sjust beauty in the core of
humanity, right? We were justhaving a conversation, nobody's
(18:05):
gonna test on it, nobody's gonnafail, nobody's gonna pass. It's
just that, hey, this is ateachable moment. Let's talk
about it. And so the way it'scrafted the way it's written,
it's just the way you writethem. It's just for me, it's
powerful. Because we're nottrying to challenge you, we're
not trying to argue with you,we're just dropping things on
you, that are teachable momentsthat maybe you should consider
discussing with yourself withyour neighbor with your
(18:25):
community, and hopefully makingthose spaces better. So one of
the reasons I love it is becauseit's all plus plus, plus,
there's no negative in it. It'sall how can we add to the
community, to develop acommunity for our neighbors to
make things better, that you cancall me in for that at any time.
Sign me up for that, in terms offamily and friends, I've gotten
(18:46):
calls and it's been fun. peoplereaching out and saying it, I
heard your voice like I thinkthat's him, you know, because I
know people but it's just beenit's just been fun. And they're
fun to listen to for me too.
It's fun, because you know, tosit here and develop it with
you, but then hear hear it lateron such a powerful network.
Right. So kind of a publicradio. I mean, who who hasn't
wrapped their arms around NPRbefore and said, this is this is
(19:08):
healthy. So it's just it's goodall around 100%. Well,
amy stockwell (19:12):
we agree 100% Me and Jesse that this has been
equally, equally fun andinspiring for us in so many
ways.
Unknown (19:21):
I just want to say before we close, you and Jesse
are atop my book, I think,again, I don't know who I'd be
working with them. They asked meto do this, but this is the
perfect trifecta. And you youtwo of you are fantastic. So
thank
amy stockwell (19:33):
you and we're gonna go on the road. Yeah,
Unknown (19:36):
we should take this. We could do a live podcast. We
should. We should tour theuniversities. You
know, I'm thinking from foodtrucks in this podcast truck.
Just go to different festivals.
Just roll up the size. That'sright, and just drop them
teachable moments. That'd benice. I
amy stockwell (19:57):
love it. I love it. Thank you. So I think you've
been such a great such a greatmorning thank you quite welcome
thank
Unknown (20:04):
you oh thank you yeah
You're rolling.
amy stockwell (00:04):
Hello and Welcome to Speaking of College of
Charleston. I'm Amy Stockwell,associate director of public
information and media relationsand Podcast Producer in the
Office of University Marketingand Communications. I'm here
with Dr. Renard Harris,Associate Professor of
Management at the college. We'rein the studio today because
(00:26):
we're thrilled to announce thatDr. Harris is the host of
teachable moments, a one minuteradio program about education
topics for parents and students.
teachable moments is aired every
Friday at 6:44am 8:44am 1 (00:39):
33pm and 4:48pm. But you can listen
anytime on South Carolina publicradio.org or
today.charleston.edu/podcast.
teachable moments was launchedin April 2024, covering topics
(00:59):
that range from cell phones inthe classroom to teacher
shortages. This is a greatpartnership between the College
of Charleston and South Carolinapublic radio for many reasons,
one of which is the opportunityto showcase the expertise of our
faculty to the 315,000 weeklylisteners across the state.
(01:21):
We're so grateful to Dr. Harrisfor contributing not only his
dulcet voice, but his harmonicamusic to teachable moments. So
without further ado, let me turnthe mic over to Renard. Stop.
That doesn't make sense, becauseI still have another question.
So can I record just that lastsentence?
Unknown (01:47):
Yeah. Oh, yeah. You don't? Yeah, I can. I can edit.
Okay, so the flow is that we'regoing to have Bernard play
amy stockwell (01:56):
after I yeah, I just. Okay. Can we start with?
We're so grateful. Yes. So let'ssee. We're so grateful to Dr.
Lynch. teachable moments period.
Dr. Yours. Thanks so much forYeah, then I want to jump to Dr.
Harris recording a
Unknown (02:18):
short clip. Could you play? Yeah, right. Better with
we're so grateful.
amy stockwell (02:24):
Okay. Okay. We're so grateful to Dr. Harris for
contributing not only his dulcetvoice, but his harmonica music
to teachable moments. Dr.
Harris, thank you so much forjoining us on speaking of the
College of Charleston, we justfinished recording new episodes
of teachable moments that willair in July and August. Your
(02:44):
harmonica playing is featured inthe intro and outro of teachable
moments. But it's a short clip.
And I'm sure listeners wouldlove to hear a little more.
Could you play a little for us?
Sure.
(03:27):
Thank you for that I love it'sreally fun to listen and watch
you play. And just so listenersknow we're recording video so
that the listeners will get tosee you in action playing. Can
you tell us a little bit aboutyour musical background?
Unknown (03:43):
Yeah, definitely. So it's been great. I'm a huge
lover of music, but I think I'dprobably have to give credit to
my mother probably we used tohave a brother and sister and
she would wake us up in themorning we would get dressed to
music, she would crank the radioand we would get dressed dancing
and dancing to music and andthat was like the 70s the 60s
and 70s. So r&b was huge. Funkwas huge, right? And Michael
(04:06):
Jackson and Gladys Knight so Igrew up around that but also
growing up around onegrandmother that was Amazon, one
grandmother that was Baptist,and then a rural Mississippi,
and I went to a Catholic school.
So I had everything coming at meat the same time from Ave Maria
to wade in the water to lining,you know, on your knees for
long. So it's just, I just beenaround music and sound for so
many years. That became part ofme and my mother bought us a
(04:30):
piano she went to the pawn shopand bought me a trumpet and I've
tried guitar and so just beenaround music and sound is to me
music is just absolutelybeautiful. So I'm a part of it's
a part of me.
amy stockwell (04:43):
What a great way to wake up. I think that all
parents should should use thatto get their kids going in the
morning. Like what a great wayto get going.
Unknown (04:50):
I agree. You know grew up around Soul Train and dancing
and making a soul train in yourhouse. It's just it's healthy,
right? It's a healthy way to getdressed and get ready for
school.
amy stockwell (04:58):
Do any of your siblings play music? No,
Unknown (05:00):
we all play around music right? People ask me if I
play something and we trippedover a lot of instruments so we
can all dabble in differentthings, but I think it hit me
the most to move it further. Butwe've all like sound we all like
dancing and music, though. Andthen
amy stockwell (05:13):
did you didn't Did you specifically study music
ever in college? It's all selftaught. So
Unknown (05:20):
yes, awesome. So I even you know, being a bit of a bit
of a wanderer, I think I changedmy major like five times in
college and it was I was a musicmajor once investor knew nothing
about music, but just in lovewith music, but no, never really
formally studied enough to know.
I think even when I tried toself teach myself like theory,
I'll get to page six and quit.
So just the sound it's moreabout feel for me. I know a
(05:42):
little bit around music, butit's just the feel and the sound
the communication. And then doyou
amy stockwell (05:46):
play at all like in do you go and play with bands
or clubs or anything like
Unknown (05:51):
that. So before I'm coming to South Carolina, living
in Tennessee, and Tennessee wasa great place to be around
music. So start off in bluesjams going to bars and jams and
I played in a band for 10 years,and I lived in Knoxville, I
played on the subway for years,I lived in New York City. Well,
wait, stop
amy stockwell (06:05):
there. Say that, again.
Unknown (06:06):
I've played the last part, I lived in Harlem I played
there's a New York City, this issome years ago, you could
audition to play on the subway,and you would send in a tape or
CD. And they would invite youand they would have auditions
once a year in Grand CentralStation. And they see you they
put you behind this room.
There's all types of artists inthis one room, all types, and
they will call you out and thenewspapers would be there and TV
(06:28):
stations, and you'd have fiveminutes to do what you do. And
they will send you a letter andaccept you or not to play on the
subway that
amy stockwell (06:36):
is so Oh, I had no idea. It was like actually,
like regulated. Yeah, and
Unknown (06:42):
Music Under New York mun why they will give you a
little sign you still buskingbut they will give you a sign
and a place to play on thesubway? And I did that and it
was I would never give that timeback. Amazing. That
amy stockwell (06:54):
that is very, very cool. Yeah. What a great
experience for sure. Way to putyourself out there and be
vulnerable in front of justrandom strangers,
Unknown (07:03):
I think so in your in your you're playing for change,
right. So they might give you aquarter they might give you a
download. But you're you're outthere busking for money and
communicating with people a lotof conversation in New York
City, you haven't 1000s ofpeople walk past you. And so
yeah, it's you decide if youlove it or not by doing.
amy stockwell (07:21):
So from there, then what led you to to
education?
Unknown (07:24):
Yes, I think they both happen at the same time. So
growing up around music andending up, get my master's in
education in Tennessee. And soTennessee is great for
storytelling and music. And so Ithink it was all happening at
the same time that these thingsmarry, I fell in love with blues
and a friend told me I thinkyou're as interested in the
culture of blues as you are themusic as much. I think he's
(07:46):
right, that whole story ofAfrican Americans and that
having nothing but having powerat the same time. And being in
Tennessee with all thestorytelling so to kind of my
professor kind of led me downthat path. So that's what led me
to teaching and multiculturaleducation and culturally
relevant pedagogy was allhappening at the same time. So
I'm going to use my harmonicaand that that route as a kind of
(08:07):
like the sword I wield throughall of this, because it's all
connected to me. Music story,narrative culture, it's all one
big space for me. So they kindof marry each other at the same
time, as I developed as aneducator.
amy stockwell (08:19):
And then from Tennessee, how did you end up at
the college?
Unknown (08:23):
Right? So I went to a conference in Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania, and the College ofCharleston had a booth there.
And I was I just finished mydoctorate getting ready to
finish my doctorate. And I metsome professors here and I gave
them my CV and they said, whydon't you come in interview at
the College of Charleston. And Iflew in to interview and fell in
love with it. I mean, the peoplethe place the energy of the
students, the liberal arts idea,I just fell in love with it.
(08:45):
Unfortunately, they invited meto fourth position at the
College of Charleston. So I camehere, you know, and became a
professor so a lot what when wasthat? How long ago? 2005 2005.
Wow, so good here since
amy stockwell (08:58):
and, and your path has your path has kind of
changed a little bit recently atthe college. Your doctorates in
teacher education, but you'renow teaching a class on one
class on leadership and anotheron managing diversity at the
business school. So what isthat? Like? Tell us about that
your new role over there.
Unknown (09:19):
So I was fortunate to be in administration here at the
College of Charleston, fromteacher education to
administration. So I had theprivilege of working under
amazing presidents here at thecollege. So after telling the
last president, I worked on it,I wanted to return to faculty.
Well, where do you go after thisexperience of being in
leadership, and the Dean of theSchool of Business, Dean
Schwager, and the associatedean, Dr. Kerry muscles. So we
(09:41):
may have a place for you overhere, in terms of, you know,
meeting our accreditation, butwe think we have a place in
terms of leadership and ofcourse call managing diversity.
But of course, you had to bevetted by your colleagues and
professors and I had to meetwith them and then go through a
few steps. But they were kindenough to accept me into the
department. It's been fantasticbecause I've always been around
education So now I'm aroundbusiness majors, right? But but
(10:02):
at the same time, you're stillteaching. And that's where the
power is. And so the idea ofteaching leadership, so I have
all these experiences, workingin administration at the
college, all these stories, andconnecting them to a text, and
taking this text and saying,I've got a story that fits with
that. So I'm able to go in andout of my personal experience
and leadership, and this tax inthese books and different
sources we use to teach them. Sothat's been amazing. At the same
(10:25):
time, I have amazing studentswho are getting ready to walk
out the door. And you don't haveto be at a you know, a high end
industry to be a leader, you cando a right now you can explore
some of these concepts. Sothat's been fascinating to have
that conversation with students.
And then of course, managingdiversity is which definitely my
lane, it's the same typeconversation, but with business
students about how you navigatewhere everyone feels seen, with
(10:47):
no matter what industry, you'rea part of where everyone takes
their culture as a resource tonavigate the world. So it's that
conversation, it's a positiveconversation, it's not a
negative conversation, becausediversity is a powerful positive
thing, not a negative.
amy stockwell (11:03):
And how do you?
How do you facilitate that?
Like, do you have speakers comeinto your classroom,
Unknown (11:09):
public speakers are fantastic, I adopted a course
I'm Dr. Carrie missile, and shehad speakers prior. And I
continue to do that. And when welook at the feedback from the
students, students love speakerswho play in those spaces. So I
continue to do that I've hadsome amazing speakers that have
come in and share theirknowledge as volunteer, they're
sharing their time and space,and knowledge. So that's been
great. And also from speakers topersonal experiences, to
(11:33):
connecting it with texts. And sothese courses, leadership and
managing diversity are thingsthat start almost with you, as
an individual as a human being,I try not to explore much into
the politics and the macro,because it's about you now. And
so it's not about what you canbe what you will be what you
might change this about rightnow, the ownership, you have to
(11:53):
engage with these topics,leadership and diversity to
separate courses. But you canplay with the now and explore
now. So no matter what you do,when you walk out this door, you
have that tool and resource inyour in your in your bailiwick.
And
amy stockwell (12:05):
I would think those those classes could be
taught in any school at thecollege and that they're
applicable to students acrossthe entire college those skills
are our necessary skills to besuccessful.
Unknown (12:17):
Yeah, I think you're spot on, I think I think you're
spot on and think because I'm inthe School of Business, I use
business, you know, journals andideas and concepts. But you're
right, these ideas fit anywhere,but you're trying to fit it
within the context. So studentscan connect the dots to finance
to to accounting, but it'sthere. If they put me in the
School of Music, it would bethat through music, right. So it
(12:38):
moves an educator moves withinthe context, but the same core
is there. I agree with that.
That's interesting.
amy stockwell (12:43):
Yeah. Yeah. So to move a little bit to teachable
moments to segue, because we'reso excited about launching this
program with South Carolinapublic radio. You are our host.
And so you're speaking on avariety of topics that go from
(13:04):
teacher shortages to what kindof Corona type you are, we
talked about all sorts ofthings. And one of the topics
that we recently covered isteacher shortages that are
happening across the wholecountry. So from your
perspective, as a teacher, whatadvice would you give a student
(13:25):
who's interested in teaching,but maybe has concerns about
some of the challenges?
Unknown (13:31):
That's a great question, I think you have to be
careful what you hear abouteducation, because there is a
there's a business side ofeducation with administrations
and districts, etc. But the artof teaching is something
different. The art of teachingis if you're interested in
engaging and taking somethinginanimate, from a piece of
paper, from a digital side,however you look at it, and make
(13:51):
it live to a human being to makeit part of their life, if you
want to explore that skill setthat I can take what we're
reading, and communicate to youin such a way and build such a
relationship with you that thisis part of your life now. And
I've helped you kind ofcultivate that as you move
forward. That's what teaching isit no matter how you look at
It's about relationship andcommunication and engulfing this
(14:12):
information so that you arebetter than you were the day
before. If you look at it thatway, yes, there's a lot of
politics, etc, about teaching,but the art of teaching is about
that. And it's an art, it's askill set is something you
explore, you never get to thelast page of that exploration.
It's always it's almost, it'spretty competitive, because I
want to get to you as a student,and I want you to get to me. And
(14:33):
although there may be 1520 30people in this classroom, this
is about you and me, this isabout you and me, it's the next
person, this is about me and youand you're doing it all at the
same time. So it's a bit of aparadox that happens, but it's
about that relationship todevelop as a human being. That's
how can you how can that be abad thing that is powerful and
beautiful. There is another sidepolitics, etc. But the teaching
(14:54):
art, that there's power in thatso for whoever's interested in
that exploration, I wouldencourage Judy get involved with
teaching. That's
amy stockwell (15:01):
beautiful. That's very encouraging. And I think it
just makes me think about all ofthe the people that you remember
when you're going through acertain moment of your life, if
you're graduating from collegeor something, and you're
reflecting on your life aboutwho mentors and people who have
really meant something to you.
So often, we think of thoseteachers who, in our lives who
were really meaningful, who didsomething said something that
(15:25):
stuck with us that we hold onto, there's
Unknown (15:29):
something powerful in that, because I mean, you
realize that your ego has beenput outside the door, you're not
looking for immediatesatisfaction, you know, did I do
something on my part of yourlife, it happens later down the
road, you know, when you'redoing something like I remember
Mr. or Mrs, or such and such,then how they influenced me to
do that. So it's not about youand your ego. And it's not about
if I had if it hadn't been forme, this wouldn't have happened
to you simply not true. You juston someone's journey, you're
(15:52):
part of someone's journey, andthey are stopping in momentarily
to explore that with you. Andhopefully, if you do it right,
you will impact that journeypositively. And they'll move on.
And so it's not about who didwhat for whom it's about being a
part of someone's journey anddoing your part to make it
better. There's power in that,that's, it's empowering. It's an
empowering field.
amy stockwell (16:10):
That's beautiful.
That's really beautiful. And sowe're getting close to the end
of our time. We've all been inthe studio for a long time this
morning. But I want to closewith just asking you, what
what's been fun. What do youenjoy about being the host of
teachable moments, and this issomething that we are, we're so
grateful that you agreed to dothis for us too, because it's
(16:31):
it's time consuming. And we comeinto the studio, a you know,
every couple of months andrecord a bunch of sessions and
we send them up to Colombia. Andyou're doing this out of the
generous SNESs of your heart.
And so what what do you likeabout it and have any of your
we've only started, we launchedin April. So it, it hasn't been
(16:54):
happening for too long. But hasanyone any of your friends or
family stopped you and said,Hey, I heard you, Andre. Yeah.
Unknown (17:01):
I've gotten calls from family members, like, I wish
with like a cell phone from myknee, you know, my daughter?
Yeah. conversations like that.
But I gotta be honest with you,this is, you know, I'm working
with you. You're fantastic. Youknow, got Jesse is producing is
that the term is that the properterm? Jesse producing,
engineering, engineering. Youknow, this is the epitome of
collaboration, you know, it isbecause it's, there's three of
(17:23):
us in this space, and this couldhave gone anyway, of course, you
you do your part, you read youryou do your role. But it's it's,
it's, it's free, it'sconversation. And more
importantly, for teachablemoments. This is higher ed, but
we're communicating with ourlocal community and beyond it's
conversation, it's not about thehigh end research. It's not
about, you know, what cited,what review, it's about human
(17:43):
beings driving down the streetor listening saying, I've been
thinking about that, you know,or smiling or questioning or
creating a discussion. So it'snothing you have to run to your
computer to check. It's aboutthat conversation, that we all
have those teachable momentsthat we question that we need to
know more about. So for me, it'sjust beauty in the core of
humanity, right? We were justhaving a conversation, nobody's
(18:05):
gonna test on it, nobody's gonnafail, nobody's gonna pass. It's
just that, hey, this is ateachable moment. Let's talk
about it. And so the way it'scrafted the way it's written,
it's just the way you writethem. It's just for me, it's
powerful. Because we're nottrying to challenge you, we're
not trying to argue with you,we're just dropping things on
you, that are teachable momentsthat maybe you should consider
discussing with yourself withyour neighbor with your
(18:25):
community, and hopefully makingthose spaces better. So one of
the reasons I love it is becauseit's all plus plus, plus,
there's no negative in it. It'sall how can we add to the
community, to develop acommunity for our neighbors to
make things better, that you cancall me in for that at any time.
Sign me up for that, in terms offamily and friends, I've gotten
(18:46):
calls and it's been fun. peoplereaching out and saying it, I
heard your voice like I thinkthat's him, you know, because I
know people but it's just beenit's just been fun. And they're
fun to listen to for me too.
It's fun, because you know, tosit here and develop it with
you, but then hear hear it lateron such a powerful network.
Right. So kind of a publicradio. I mean, who who hasn't
wrapped their arms around NPRbefore and said, this is this is
(19:08):
healthy. So it's just it's goodall around 100%. Well,
amy stockwell (19:12):
we agree 100% Me and Jesse that this has been
equally, equally fun andinspiring for us in so many
ways.
Unknown (19:21):
I just want to say before we close, you and Jesse
are atop my book, I think,again, I don't know who I'd be
working with them. They asked meto do this, but this is the
perfect trifecta. And you youtwo of you are fantastic. So
thank
amy stockwell (19:33):
you and we're gonna go on the road. Yeah,
Unknown (19:36):
we should take this. We could do a live podcast. We
should. We should tour theuniversities. You
know, I'm thinking from foodtrucks in this podcast truck.
Just go to different festivals.
Just roll up the size. That'sright, and just drop them
teachable moments. That'd benice. I
amy stockwell (19:57):
love it. I love it. Thank you. So I think you've
been such a great such a greatmorning thank you quite welcome
thank
Unknown (20:04):
you oh thank you yeah
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