From Student to Teacher: A Q&A with Theodora Sakellarides

Theodora Sakellarides, adjunct instructor in English and Sociology, chatted with us about her love of all things Valley-related and how teaching two different disciplines affects her perspective on her profession.

 

How and when did you become interested in your field?

My commitment to interdisciplinary research and teaching was actually first birthed during my time at LVC as an undergraduate student, when I was given the wonderful opportunity to double major in English and Sociology, and complete intensive research projects in both the humanities and social sciences. 

 

What is your current area of research?

I recently published an article about masculinity in Teaching Sociology, and co-published an article in The Black Scholar analyzing Rachel Dolezal and the construction of blackness. I am very interested in issues of race and gender. More broadly, the majority of my work is centered around narrative—in a variety of forms, on macro and micro levels. I work with narratives in literature (the novel, short story), and Sociology (field research and even data collection is its own kind of narrative). In my Social Work graduate program, I am studying individual narratives in a clinical context, and exploring how they fit into the larger “story” of society. 

 

What is the best thing about working at The Valley?

The students are undoubtedly the best part of working at The Valley. LVC's uniquely small class size allows me to form close connections with students. Each semester I find myself greatly inspired and motivated by a group of truly engaged and thoughtful people. 

 

What would you tell prospective students interested in your field?

I would tell students considering either of my fields that both offer the opportunity to think deeply about what it means to be human, and to closely examine theory and a variety of “texts” that can influence their lives far beyond the classroom. 

 

What do you enjoy as a hobby outside of work?

When I am not working, I enjoy all types of outdoor activities: swimming, hiking, walking my dog, and gardening.