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Faculty Bios & Adjunct InstructorsPrint OptionsRelated Links |
Faculty Bios & Adjunct Instructors
Faculty Biographies Marilyn A. W. Gaar graduated Phi Beta Kappa in Slavic Languages and Literature from Indiana University. She also holds an A.M. in Political Science and an M.S. in Social Science Education from Indiana University. Professor Gaar served on the faculty at Stephens College, Columbia, Missouri, before coming to JCCC. At JCCC she teaches American National Government, Modern Russian History, and Introduction to Russian Culture. She is the recipient of numerous grants to study abroad including NDEA and NDFL grants to study in the Soviet Union, Fulbrights to study in the Netherlands and in Japan and grants to study at the Europaische Academie, Berlin. Professor Gaar is Secretary of the Russian and American International Studies Association which meets annually at St. Petersburg University, St. Petersburg, Russia. Professor Gaar also is active in local politics as well as local governmental and community affairs. She is a past President of the Johnson County League of Women Voters, a former Chair of the Johnson County Mental Health Center Board, a former Republican Party city chair, Johnson County Republican Party Committee Member, and alternate member of the State Republican Party Committee. You can reach her at mgaar@jccc.edu or http://staff.jccc.net/mgaar. Adjunct Instructors Lynn Marie Alexander is an adjunct professor at Johnson County Community College. She teaches Comparative Politics, Introduction to Political Science, American National Government, US History, and Western Civ. She received her MA in International Relations from Keele University, Staffordshire, England, and her BA in Modern European History from St. Louis University, St. Louis, Missouri. From 2002-2006, Ms Alexander served on the faculty of Ottawa University's undergraduate Business Administration program in Malaysia, Hong Kong, and Singapore. While in Singapore, Ms Alexander volunteered for the government’s democracy project called the Feedback Forum. Currently she is pursuing her Interdisciplinary PhD at the University of Missouri-Kansas City where she is focusing on Anglo-American relations and cultural constructs of empire. George Belzer received his BS in Business Administration from Pennsylvania State University, his masters in Public Administration from Golden Gate University, and is ABD in Political Science from the University of Kansas. Mr. Belzer served twenty-four years in the U.S. Air Force. Most of his career was spent abroad, including overseas assignments in France, Germany, Italy, Thailand, and with the governments of both Taiwan and Spain. Mr. Belzer is a graduate of the NATO Defense College, National Defence University, Armed Forces Staff College, the the Air Command and Staff College and earned numerous awards and decorations, including the Bronze Star. He has taught political science at William Jewell College, Emporia State University, and Webster University. Mr. Belzer teaches International Relations online. He founded the JCCC United Nations Club and under his guidance the JCCC U.N. won its first national awards. Mr. Belzer is active organizing UN teams in the Kansas City area. Mr. Belzer is married; he and his wife have two children. His avocations interests include golf, Kansas City jazz, camping, and fishing. His e-mail address is gbelzer@jccc.edu James R. Burns holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Missouri - Columbia. In addition he holds a B.A. in History and M.A. in Political Science from Central Missouri State University. His training is primarily in American Government & Politics, and International Relations. He has taught at Wichita State University, the University of Missouri at Columbia, William Jewel College, and Kansas City Kansas Community College. Mr. Burns has taught American National Government at both JCCC and through the College Now program at Eudora High School. He has also served as a guest lecturer in the College Now program at the Center for International Studies of the Shawnee Mission School District. Mr. Burns is a member of the honorary society of Phi Kappa Phi, the Missouri Political Science Association, the Midwest Political Science Association, and Pi Sigma Alpha (the national political science honor society). Bond Faulwell spent most of his working life in Federal Service, retiring in January, 2003. He began his career with the General Services Administration (GSA) as a Management Intern in 1969. In 1979, Faulwell was selected to be a member of the Senior Executive Service. Two years later he was moved to the Assistant Administrator level before returning to Kansas City in 1984. As the senior career employee in the region he developed and expanded many regional programs to national and worldwide significance. He received three Presidential Rank Awards for his performance, as well as GSA’s Commendable Service, Meritorious Service, and Exceptional Service Awards. The Inspector General’s Office recognized his work with the Public Service and Honor Awards. Faulwell received his B.A. from Grinnell College in Philosophy and Religion and his MPA from UMKC. He also studied philosophy at the University of Hull (UK), law at Harvard, and is a 1980 graduate of the Federal Executive Institute. He is a member of Phi Kappa Phi, Pi Alpha Alpha (national Public Administration honorary), Senior Executives Association (Charter Member), and the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA). The Kansas City Chapter of ASPA has presented several awards to Faulwell including Outstanding Graduate Student in Public Administration, Public Administrator of the Year, and L.P. Cookingham Award for career contributions to Public Administration. Thomas C. (Tim) Owens – Adjunct instructor of Political Science at JCCC. Courses include American National Government and State and Local Government. Prof. Owens’ academic credentials include a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Kansas State University and a law degree (J.D.) from Washburn University School of Law in Topeka, Kansas. Owens is also a graduate of the U.S. Army’s Command and General Staff College in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and retired as an Army Reserve Colonel in 1994. Prof. Owens currently serves in the Kansas House of Representatives where he has served since 2001. He served 24 years on the Overland Park, Kansas City Council from 1981 until 2005, including 6 terms as Council president. |
