Ten years ago while on the job market, Joseph Keim Campbell and his wife drew up a list of universities that met their criteria. The location had to be out West — specifically in the Northwest. It had to be in a smaller town with outdoor activities: no cities. They got what they wanted. The Campbells landed jobs at Washington State University and the University of Idaho.
“I feel lucky; my wife has tenure at U of I, we got jobs where we wanted to live, it has met up with our expectations and I like the area and WSU!” said Campbell, associate professor of philosophy.
Since arriving on the Palouse, Campbell has made his mark, from innovative research to numerous publications to advising and teaching.
“He’s great, always so full of ideas and a huge inspiration to me,” said Antonie Bodley, a graduate student in the English department.
This spring, the university is extending a formal “thank you,” naming Campbell the Marian E. Smith Faculty Achievement Award recipient for 2005-06.
Perhaps Campbell’s greatest achievement while at WSU began three years ago, when he submitted a proposal for a new course, Philosophy 490. This course is centered on the annual Inland Northwest Philosophy Conference (INPC) and uses distance technology to bring the greatest minds in philosophy into one WSU classroom a couple times a week. As the culmination of this course, students actually meet the philosophers at the INPC.
However, like all great accomplishments, this seminar could not have come to fruition without the help of a few key people.
“It would not have been possible to teach this seminar without the help of Wade Lafferty, the computer coordinator for the College of Liberal Arts, and a grant written by my chair, David Shier,” noted Campbell.
“His success to stimulate students to learn is unbelievable!” said Shier, associate professor and chair of the philosophy department. “He’s just irrepressibly infectious and you can’t help but be engaged. This is what makes him a remarkably effective teacher and so deserving of this award.”
