Tartan

Issue date: 3/24/05 Section: News

Media Credit: Kimberly Kowalski Dr. Steve A. Young

Dr. Steve A. Young, Instructor of Philosophy, Religions of the World, Bible as Literature, Introduction to Ethics, and other Philosophy topics, heads up a department of our philosophy-teaching giants. Dr. Young began his career as a singer of sacred music at the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, Illinois, received a Master of Divinity from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, and attended McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago, before earning his Master and Doctorate in philosophy at Drew University of Madison, New Jersey. He has taught at Passaic County College, Fairleigh Dickinson University, Seton Hall University, Montclair State University, and Drew University, where he is a Doctor of Ministry Project Supervisor - Global/Online Project Advisor, and presently a respected leader of the Department of Philosophy at McHenry County College.

Steve and wife, Ellen, a teacher at Woodstock High School. have a son, Jesse (16) a daughter, Kate (14), and reside in Woodstock, Illinois; Steve came to McHenry County College in 2001 and has found a home teaching Philosophy, Ethics, World Religions, and Bible as Literature and serves as department chair.

When asked what changes he would like to see for the future of his department, Steve hoped that there would be more religion-based course offerings, and encouraged the expansion of learning community teaching where courses such as ethics and philosophy are combined with composition or other dynamic English studies.

When asked, "What effectively brings you the most joy in your teaching experience?" Steve paused for quite some time, and then thoughtfully responded, "I think it's the moment I know that students are there for the learning, and not for the grade. I know that students who do this receive the power of education which changes their lives forever. It's a wonderful thing to see."

Dr. Young is a strong proponent of the IAI (Illinois Articulation Initiative), a guarantee that courses will transfer when students move on to additional education. It was clear as this interview came to a close that Dr. Young continues to dedicate his entire life to the welfare of his students. We are fortunate to have Dr. Steve Young at McHenry County College.

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