Matthew Westra
 Social Sciences Division
Metropolitan Community College - Longview
  (formerly: Longview Community College)
 500 S.W. Longview Rd.
 Lee's Summit, MO  64081-2105
 (816) 672-2374
Matthew.westra@mcckc.edu

EDUCATION
Master of Science - Psychology - CSU, Los Angeles
Post M.S. Study   - Human Services - CSU, Fullerton
Post M.S. Study   - Speech Communication Graduate Program  - CSU, Fullerton
Bachelor of Arts   - Psychology  - CSU, Fullerton
                minor    - Anthropology
Associate of Arts  - Liberal Arts Transfer - Golden West College

TEACHING EXPERIENCE  Full Time
Metropolitan Community College - Longview (institutional name change effective October 2005)
Longview Community College, Lee's Summit, MO 64081-2105
 August 1990 to Present
  Institution does not provide nor recognize faculty ranking - all have title of "Instructor."

Courses: General Psychology, Adjustment & Personality, Child Development, Industrial & Organizational Psychology, Behavior Management, Interviewing & Interpersonal Communication, Adolescent Psychology, Developmental Disabilities, General Anthropology, Cultural Anthropology, Honors Seminar: "Deconstructing Tarzan" (Spring 1999), Honors Seminar: "The Disney Phenomenon: The Man, Myth, and Marketing" (Spring 2001).

Committees: The Plague - LV Common Reading Initiative (2008-2009); Convocation 2008 Planning Committee; North Central Association Accreditation Committee on Mission and Purposes; GenCAT Writing Assessment/Writing PAGE; District wide Writing Intensive Task Force; Faculty Excellence Committee (chair 1992-1994); Developmental Education Initiative, Advisory Committee; Parking Ticket Appeals Committee; Longview Faculty Association Executive Committee; Faculty Resource Center Committee; Youth Worker Certificate Development Committee; Developmental Disabilities Worker Certificate Committee; Faculty Senate (1998 - 2001); Faculty Advisor for Longview Psychology Club, New Faculty Mentor.

Special Assignment: Peer Teaching Review Coordinator. As part of the the Faculty Resource Center, 3 hours release time to develop and institute a program to help faculty use the experience and expertise of their colleagues to improve and/or review various aspects of their teaching.   (Academic year 2000 - 2001).

Psychology Discipline Coordinator:  Select, oversee, schedule, and evaluate adjunct professors in Psychology. Participate in hiring and annual review committees for the college and the district. Provide first level response for student comments and complaints regarding psychology faculty. (Aug. 2003 to Dec. 2007)

Part Time / Adjunct
 University of Missouri, Kansas City, MO.
 North Shore Community College, Beverly, MA.
 Cerritos Community College, Norwalk, CA.
 North Orange County Community College District - Adult Education Division, Fullerton & Cypress, CA.
 Coastline Community College, Fountain Valley, CA.

Courses Taught as an Adjunct Faculty
 Psychology:
   General Introduction to Psychology
   Psychology of Adjustment - Emeritus
   Adjustment & Personality
   Developmental Disabilities (senior level)

 Human Services:
   Theories & Case Discussion
   The Human Services Worker

Special Education:
   Human Sexuality for the Developmentally Disabled
   Concepts for the Developmentally Disabled
   Sensory-Motor Development
   Adaptive Physical Education
   Social Studies - Emeritus
   Current Events

Assist with Course
 Crisis Intervention - Human Services Program - CSU, Fullerton

High School Dual-Enrollment Substitute
 Covered 11 week leave for dual credit General Psychology course at Hickman Mills High School, Kansas City, MO.  January 26 to April 5, 2000.

SABBATICAL - Fall 1997
 Worked in conjunction with area governmental and private agencies in developing an MCC certificate program and new course for persons training to work providing supports for individuals with developmental disabilities.

CLINICAL EXPERIENCE
  Institutional
 Hogan Regional Center - Community Living Unit - Hathorne, MA.
 "Senior Psychologist (level III)" Responsible for the psychological, behavioral, psychiatric, and neurological needs of clients with mental retardation and multiple handicaps. Developed and monitored behavior plans and data collection; inserviced staff on behavior modification plans, provided training on psychological issues; participated in discipline review, contributed to interdisciplinary team approach; reviewed and selected referred clients as part of a team; selected, trained, and supervised
 Psychologist I's; served as "Potentially Aggressive Client" (PAC) trainer.

Individual and Group
  Health & Educational Services, Inc. - Topsfield, MA.
 Individual and group psychotherapy with dual-diagnosed clients.

  Developmental Disabilities Center of Orange County -and-
  Harbor Regional Center (Southern Los Angeles County)
 "Educational Consultant"  Provided counseling for developmentally disabled persons individually and in groups, regarding issues of sexuality, mature interpersonal interactions, sexual abuse resistance, and related concerns.

  Schick Centers for the Control of Smoking and Weight
 "Senior Therapist"  Provided behaviorally oriented treatment of smoking, overeating, and obesity-prone eating patterns. Trained new staff, served as guest speaker for local schools and colleges, and wrote weight treatment manual and informational pamphlets.

  American Cancer Society - Orange County, CA Unit
 Cancer Support Group at Lucky's Supermarket Headquarters

  California State University, Fullerton
 Led training groups in Crisis Intervention
 Supervised leaders for training groups in Crisis Intervention
 Co-Leader in a Personal Growth Group as part of a course.

PUBLICATIONS

Bringing Psychoanalytic Ideas to the Undergraduate Classroom:Resources for Instructors
Web page operated by the American Psychoanalytic Association.
Contributor: Several statements on teaching psychoanalytic concepts in non-psychoanalytic courses.
http://www.teachpsychoanalysis.com/   

"The Pursuit of Happiness" (May 28, 2004)
Lee's Summit Journal, May 28, 2004, p. 5, Guest Column.

"Busy Professional Involved Dads" - in press.
 A chapter in a book on fathering. Addresses ways that men can be devoted to both job and active involvement in their children's lives.

"What is Common Sense?"
 web site: http://www.mcckc.edu/longview/ctac/psychology/commonsense1.htm
 An investigation of, and commentary on, the concept of common sense. Published on the Internet as part of the Longview Community College Critical Thinking Across the Curriculum Project, this series of pages includes an interactive test, explanations of counter-intuitive examples, and fallacies that might lead one to think of something as common sense.

Active Communication. (1996) Brooks/Cole, Pacific Grove, CA.
 An interdisciplinary text which assists students with becoming competent in therapeutic listening and speaking skills. An active, hands-on, approach to learning.

Instructor's Manual for Active Communication. (1996) Brooks/Cole, Pacific Grove, CA.
 An instructor's manual to accompany the above text. Includes Teaching philosophy for a course in therapeutic listening, teaching suggestions, exercises, and test questions.

"Encounters with Oedipus Rex" (1995)  Full Time Dads. No. 13, Jan/Feb 1995. pgs 1, 14, 15.
 An examination of Freud's concept of the Oedipal Conflict and how it played out in the author's relationship with his oldest son.

"Fatherhood's Future: A Special Report - A Divided Future" (1994). Full Time Dads. No. 9,  May/June, 1994. pgs. 9, 10.
 One of a collection of essays by various authors, on the future of fatherhood.

Weight Treatment Manual
 An in-house publication for the Schick Centers written to standardize treatment for all national Schick Centers.

Weight Treatment Information Pamphlets - Schick Centers
 A collection of pamphlets on weight loss, healthy diet, and other topics, published in-house for clients.

WORKSHOPS, PRESENTATIONS, and INSERVICES

"Cultural Climate in the Classroom"
MCC Adjunct Faculty Workshop Series, co-presented with Susan Benoit. September 29, 2008.

Commencement Address
2008 L.E.A.R.N. Homeschool Graduation. Kansas City, Mo. May 3, 2008

"Child Rearing in West Africa - A Curriculum Module for Child Development (Psych 245)"
Presentation as part of MCCA/MCGE Title VI-A Grant.
Globalizing the Curriculum - Faculty Development Workshop II. Springfield Mo., April 11, 2008

"The Psychology of Terrorism"

Convocation 2008 - Keynote Presentation to MCC district-wide faculty. February 20, 2008.
Repeated by Request: All Employee District-Wide Inservice Day. October 14, 2008.

"The Pursuit of Happiness: Why Joy is so Elusive"
International Association of Administrative Professionals, Hallmark Chapter, Kansas City, MO.  January 8, 2008.
Presentation on behalf of the Longview Speakers' Bureau.

"The Pursuit of Happiness: Why Joy is so Elusive"
Shepherd's Center of Independence, MO. December 7, 2007.
Presentation on behalf of the Longview Speakers' Bureau.

"Intermediate
Behavior Modification"
Casco Area Workshop Inc.,
Harrisonville, MO. Part of an all day In-Service training for staff who work in a behavioral section. November 12, 2007.

"Introduction to
Behavior Modification"
Casco Area Workshop Inc.,
Harrisonville, MO. Part of an all day In-Service training for all facility staff. November 12, 2007. 

"The Psychology of Terrorism"
Invited Lecture at Des Moines Area Community College.
September 25, 2003,  February 12, 2004; September 30, 2004; February 24, 2005;  October 6, 2005; January 31, 2006; October 17, 2006; February 20, 2007; October 11, 2007; April 8, 2008; October 21, 2008.

"Common Sense - There's No Such Thing!"
 Lee's Summit Optimist Club at John Knox Village. June 21, 2007
Presentation on behalf of the Longview Speakers' Bureau.

"Common Sense - There's No Such Thing!"
National American University. May 7, 2007.
Presentation on behalf of the Longview Speakers' Bureau.

“Words Can’t Describe” – Using Creative Response Assignments
Longview WAC Professional Development Offering. March 22, 2007

"Sexuality and Disability Services"
Presentation for The Whole Person, Kansas City, MO.  January 19, 2007

"Charisma: The Power of a Personality"
Address for the Induction Ceremony of Phi Theta Kappa, the Community College Honor Society. October 1, 2006.

"Active Listening and Speaking"
Presentation to the Mid America Assistance Coalition (MAAC) Training Conference. Sept. 27, 2006
Presentation on behalf of the Longview Speakers' Bureau.

"Common Sense - There's No Such Thing!"
Presentation to the Mid America Assistance Coalition (MAAC) Training Conference. Sept. 27, 2006
Presentation on behalf of the Longview Speakers' Bureau.

"
Lasting WAC: Creating Multiple Access Points"
Mary McMullen-Light, Matthew Westra, and Janet Wyatt
WAC 2006 - 8th Annual  International Writing Across the Curriculum Conference. Clemson University, South Carolina. May 18, 2006.

"Integrity and the Cracker Jack© Diploma"
Keynote Address at the MCC-Longview Awards Ceremony. May 7, 2006   (link to speech notes) 

"Common Sense - There's No Such Thing!"
Presentation to the Annual Regional Meeting of the International Association of Administrative Professionals, April 24, 2006.
Presentation on behalf of the Longview Speakers' Bureau.

"Communication Skills and Strategies for Staff"
Presentation to the Longview Staff Association.  April 20, 2006; repeated April 11, 2007.

"Common Sense - There's No Such Thing!"
Presentation to the International Association of Administrative Professionals, 2005.
Presentation on behalf of the Longview Speakers' Bureau.

"Common Sense - There's No Such Thing!"
Presentation to the South Kansas City Rotary Club, September 28, 2005.
Presentation on behalf of the Longview Speakers' Bureau.

"Communication Skills and Strategies for Staff"

Presentation to the Longview New Staff Mentoring Program. April 13, 2005, repeated April 21, 2006

"What Psychology can Provide for the Classroom Teacher"  (with Stephanie Schoening)
MASCIS (Muslim American Society Council of Islamic Schools) 4th Annual Education Conference. Kansas City, MO. October 2, 2004

"Board & Card Games: The Benefits to Education"
Presentation to the L.E.A.R.N. Home School Support Group. Kansas City, MO.  September 27, 2004.

"Dividends Beyond Pay - or - If You’re So Smart, How Come You Ain't Rich?"
Keynote Address at the Longview Community College Awards Ceremony. May 2, 2004 

"Talking with your Kids about Sex."
LEARNapalooza Home Schooling Conference.  Kansas City, MO. May 29, 2004

"You want to do WHAT?: When one Parent thinks Home Schooling is a Bad Idea."
LEARNapalooza Home Schooling Conference.
Kansas City, MO. May 29, 2004

"Home Schooled Kids in College"
LEARNapalooza Home Schooling Conference.  Kansas City, MO. May 29, 2004

"Worst Case Scenario Handbook: What to do When Staggering Budget Cuts Threaten to Undermine Your WAC Program"
Mary McMullen-Light, Matthew Westra, Terry Davin
Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC) From an International Perspective. St. Louis, MO. May 22, 2004

"The Pursuit of Happiness: Why is Joy so Elusive?"
Research and recommendations on theories of happiness and satisfaction.
Longview Community College, Community Education. October 8, 2003

"Extended Time on Examinations and the Level Playing Field"
Poster Presentation with Mary Ellen Jenison, of Longview C. C.; and Jim Russell of Webster U. in St. Louis MO.
40th International Conference of the Learning Disabilities Association of America. Chicago, IL, February, 2003

"How Children Learn and Un-Learn Prejudice"
Missouri State Conference for La Leche League. November, 2002.

"Longview's Journey to 'College of the Year'"
Panel with Mary McMullen-Light, Matthew Westra, Gene Fenster, and Janet Wyatt.
Consortium for Community College Development (CCCD)
Organizational Change and Development: Where's the Beef?
Kansas City, MO.  June 17, 2002

"Parenting, School, and a Busy Life"
Presentation for the Re-Entry Center and the Single Parents' Organization.
Longview Community College, March 20, 2002.

"Writing Across the Curriculum at Longview and MCC"
Informal presentation/discussion for faculty at Richard J. Daley College, Chicago, IL. March 13, 2002.

"Setting a Course for Collaborative Leadership: The Path to College of the Year."
Panel with Mary McMullen-Light, Matthew Westra, Brian Mitchell, and Dick Diklich.
Chair Academy's 11th Annual International Conference for Community College Leaders. Kansas City, MO. March 2, 2002

"Clinical Pastoral Education: Communication Skills Building."
Presentation as part of CPE course work, also made available as inservice education hours for hospital staff.
Driscoll Children's Hospital, in association with University of Texas. Corpus Christi, Texas. November 15, 2001.

"Mastery Teaching: Reconnecting Your Discipline with Your Soul."
Workshop on course design, syllabus design, and teaching strategies as part of the Professional Development for Adjunct Faculty 2001 Workshop Series. April, 2001.

"A Time-ly Achievement: Writing Assessment in the New Millennium."
Co-presenter with Ann Dvorak and Cindy Herbert.
The 2001 Summer Assessment Academy of the Council of North Central Two Year Colleges. Flagstaff, AZ. July 30, 2001.

"Strangers in a Strange Land: Experiences teaching a dual credit course in an area high school." 
(co-presented with Keet Kopecky)
Longview Community College - Faculty Resource Center.  April, 2000

"Fathering: Where Does Dad Fit in with a Mothering-Intensive Breastfeeding Parenting Style?"
Missouri State Conference for La Leche League. November, 1999.

"Lunch and Dessert with Matthew Westra and the Longview Critical Thinking Web Site"
Critical Thinking Conference, sponsored by the Longview Critical Thinking Assessment Committee and the Kansas City Professional Development Council.
September 18, 1999

"Achieving Happiness in the New Millennium"
Address for the Induction Ceremony of Phi Theta Kappa, the Community College Honor Society. March 28, 1999

"What Works?: A Faculty Forum on Course Projects"
Longview Faculty Resource Center. Co-presenter, Mary McMullen-Light, WAC Coordinator. February 17, 1999

"The Involved Parent: Working and Parenting" (with Megan Hannan)
Missouri State Conference for La Leche League. November, 1998.

"Sending Clear Messages" (with Cheryl Westra)
Missouri State Conference for La Leche League. November 14, 1998.

“Fathers in the Nursing Family”
Overland Park La Leche League Group. October, 1998

"Critical Thinking Across the Curriculum"
West Shore Community College, Scottville, Michigan.
Co-presenter, Michael Connelly, Philosophy Instructor. September 4, 1998

"Rewards and Punishment"
Teaching Demonstration. Longview Community College Fall Opening Day Inservice. August 21, 1998

"Transtheoretical Model of Behavior Change as Applied to HIV Risk Populations."  (with Steve M. Cohen)
 Kansas City, MO Health Department, Communicable Disease Control Division.  December, 1997

"Fathering: Challenges and Opportunities."
 Missouri State Conference for La Leche League. November, 1997.

“Communicating as a Couple”
    Missouri State Conference for La Leche League. November, 1997

"Intercultural Communication"
 Central Missouri State University, Social Work Graduate Organization conference on Racial and Ethnic Harmony.  March 13, 1997.

"Fathering Toddlers: a general discussion exploring a father's expanding role in his child's life."
 Missouri State Conference for La Leche League. November, 1996. Repeated November, 1997.

"The Psychology of Terrorism"
Guest lecture for "PolSci 380A - Politics of Terrorism" course at University of Missouri at Kansas City. May 22, 1996, updated and repeated July 3, 1997.

"Raising Socially Responsible Children"
Prairie Star District Annual Conference. Kansas City, Mo. April, 1996

"Communication for Couples"
 Missouri State Conference for La Leche League.  November 1995

"Encounters with Oedipus Rex"
 International Education Forum & International Men's Day. 1994

"Assertiveness in Social Services and Social Work"
 National Association of Social Workers, CMSU Chapter. 1993

"Disability - Defined by Access"
 National Organization of Human Services Educators. 1993

"Exercise Programs: Why people stay, why people stray"
 Longview Recreation Center. 1993

"Personality Profiles" (The Myers-Briggs Types and their Use)
 Longview Recreation Center. 1991, 1992, 1994.

"Potentially Aggressive Client (PAC) Training"
 Hogan Regional Center. Two presentations in 1989.

"Overview of Behavior Modification"
 Hogan Regional Center. Several presentations in 1989.

"Transitional Adjustment"
 Hogan Regional Center. Several presentations in 1989.

"Human Awareness" (Sexuality Issues among Institutional and Group Home Residents)
 Hogan Regional Center. Several presentations in 1989.

"Masculinity - Exploring a Changing Sex Role"
 North Orange County Community College District. 1988.

Radio talk show guest - Station KCEB, Norwalk CA. 1988.
 Life issues radio show. Discussed my work on sexuality and people with disabilities.

"Crisis Intervention with Cancer Patients"
 American Cancer Society - Orange County CA Chapter. 1986, 1987, 1988.

"Sexuality and the Disabled Elderly"
 Holiday House, Ltd. 1987

"Sensory Deprivation and the Disabled Elderly"
 Beverly Manor Convalescent Hospital, Anaheim, CA. 1986.

MISCELLANEOUS & MEDIA

National Geographic Logo  National Geographic Channel - Taboo
 Commentator on at least the episodes "Touching Death," "Extreme Healing," "Supreme Devotion," and "Trial by Fire" of the fifth season of the program Taboo.
         Interviewed January 30, 2008, New York, NY. Programs aired beginning August 6, 2008.

National Geographic LogoSpokesperson for National Geographic Channel - Taboo
    Provided live and recorded interviews on radio to inform audiences about the premiere of Taboo. Monday, August 4, 2008.
8:05am ET - 8:20am ET: WMJI (Independence{Cleveland}, OH)
8:35am ET - 8:50am ET: KQRS (Minneapolis, MN)
9:00am ET - 9:10am ET: Mancow Muller (national)
9:25am ET - 9:40am ET:  KTRH (Houston, TX)

"KC Media Watch Dogs" on KKFI Community Radio in Kansas City, MO.
    Interviewed regarding the psychology and trends of school shooters. October 9, 2006.

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
Contacted by BBC-TV2 producers for the show Horizon for research and comments on an upcoming program. July 4, 2006.

"Up to Date" on KCUR, Kansas City's National Public Radio station.
Guest with Kriss Miller on the topic of Home Schooling and the LEARNapalooza home schooling conference.
Kansas City, MO. May 25, 2004. Up to Date link here.   Archived for streaming audio at this link. 

National Geographic Logo  National Geographic Society Television
  Commentator on the episode "Extreme Living" of the third season of the program Taboo. Interviewed March 19, 2004. Washington, D.C.

"American Styles of Homeschooling" Co-Presented with Cheryl Westra
Informal interaction with members participating in the U.S. Dept. of State's International Visitor Program, in a series of events titled "Teaching Methodologies that Promote More Effective Learning"
Participants were education professionals and governmental officials from Algeria, Egypt, Morocco, Oman, Syria, West Bank, and Yemen and their two translators. February 6, 2004.

TEXTBOOK and CHAPTER REVIEWER
Review and assess textbooks and chapters in Psychology,  Human Services, and Anthropology. Publishers include Brooks/Cole, Wadsworth, Harcourt Brace, Prentice Hall, HarperCollins, Longman, Houghton Mifflin, and others.

AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS

Governor's Award for Excellence in Teaching, 2005-2006
Criteria include: nomination and selection by faculty peers, effective teaching and advising, service to the school community, commitment to high standards of excellence and success in nurturing student achievement.
Unprecedented second award given to one faculty member.

Governor's Award for Excellence in Teaching, 2003-2004
Criteria include: nomination and selection by faculty peers, effective teaching and advising, service to the school community, commitment to high standards of excellence and success in nurturing student achievement.

MCC Foundation Board - for "Vision Campaign" Leadership. 2004

Princeton Review / Time Magazine College of the Year, 2000-2001
Recognition for the college was based on the extensive Writing Across the Curriculum program at Longview. I have been a core member of the WAC team and process that brought the college this recognition. The award reflects the immense team efforts. I was interview for, and quoted in, the article announcing the award.

Who's Who Among Human Services Professionals 1987
Who's Who Among American Teachers, 3rd Edition, 1994
Who's Who Among American Teachers, 8th Edition, 2004
Who's Who Among American Teachers, 9th Edition, 2005

COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES  &  VOLUNTEER  WORK
Member of the Board of Directors, Global and Multicultural Education Center (G.A.M.E.) 2002 - present.
G.A.M.E. Newsletter Editor, 2006 - present.

Sexuality Education Trainer. Our Whole Lives (OWL)  Curriculum for grades 7 - 9, developed by Unitarian Universalist Association and the United Church of Christ.
Train-the-trainers workshop (March, 2000), Plan and Deliver curriculum as part of a teaching team, 26 session program, repeated beginning April 2000, January 2002, December 2003, January 2006, January 2008.

Librivox.org - Reader for H. G. Wells "The Country of the Blind" for public domain audio recording.
Access & Download here: http://librivox.org/librivox-short-story-collection-vol-021/ 

Librivox.org - Reader for "A Plea for Captain John Brown" by Henry David Thoreau for public domain audio recording.
Access & Download here: http://librivox.org/short-nonfiction-collection-vol-009/

Sierra Club Lemonade Stand - SantaCaliGon Days in Independence, MO.  Every September since 1991 (except 1997).

New Fathers Support Hotline, North Shore Birth Center (9/89-8/90)

Fathers' Support Group - Leader, North Shore Birth Center (Developed and implemented program.)

FOREIGN EXCHANGE STUDENT HOSTING
Student from Japan - 1 month exchange, July / August, 2006.
Student from Germany - 1 year exchange, 2000-2001.
Student from Finland - 2 month temporary emergency placement, August - October, 1999.
Student from Germany - 1 year exchange, 1998-1999.
Student from Germany - 1 year exchange, 1995-1996.

CALIFORNIA TITLE V CURRICULUM REVISIONS
 Coastline Community College, Fountain Valley, CA.
 Participated in revisions for Psychology, Anthropology, Sociology, and Political Science.

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
 American Psychological Association Division 2 - Teaching of Psychology
 Council of Teachers of Undergraduate Psychology (CTUP)
 Organization for the Study of Communication, Language, & Gender
 The ARC
 Federation of Small Anthropology Programs (FOSAP) of the American Anthropological Assn.
G.A.M.E. - Global and Multicultural Education Center (Board Member 2002 to present), (Newsletter Editor, 2006 to present)
Missouri Community College Association (MCCA)

POLITICAL and RELIGIOUS AFFILIATIONS and ACTIVITIES
Active, but not appropriate to address here.

LINK TO Matthew Westra's HOME PAGE


Last Updated: October 21, 2008