The Adjunct Files

Send us Fan Mail History is being made at FGCU. In this episode of The Adjunct Files , Jon and Maggie sit down with Emily Chaikin and Jessica Carter Peer , the first adjunct faculty members ever elected to the FGCU Faculty Senate—making FGCU the first university in Florida to formally include adjunct representation in shared governance. Emily and Jessica share their journeys at FGCU, what motivate...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Adjunct Files, John and Maggie sit down with Brian Rist—founder of Storm Smart, longtime entrepreneur, philanthropist, and adjunct faculty member at FGCU—fresh off receiving an honorary Doctor of Laws at commencement. What unfolds is far more than a business success story; it’s a reflection on purpose, resilience, and the transformative power of education. B...

Send us Fan Mail What do adjunct faculty really need to know about campus safety—and who should you call when something doesn’t feel right? In this episode of The Adjunct Files , Jon and Maggie sit down with Officer Christine Hoffman of the FGCU Police Department for a candid, informative, and surprisingly fun conversation about safety, resources, and community policing on campus. Officer Hoffman...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when two first‑time adjunct faculty bring not just expertise—but life-changing experiences—into the classroom? In this episode of The Adjunct Files , John and Maggie sit down with Rosario Welle and Kristoffer Doura to unpack their first semester teaching at FGCU—and the powerful personal journeys that led them there. From Rosario’s path as an immigrant, entrepreneur,...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Adjunct Files , John and Maggie head straight to the heart of campus collaboration—the FGCU Library. Joined by four librarians, the conversation pulls back the curtain on what librarians actually do and why adjunct faculty should see them as teaching partners. They will bust myths about the library, highlight underused tools and services and  emphasize one c...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Adjunct Files , hosts John Roth and Maggie Hohne are joined by Ashleigh Droz , Director of Internships and Cooperative Programs at Florida Gulf Coast University, interim leader in Career Development Services, and fellow adjunct faculty member. Ashleigh pulls back the curtain on why internships are one of the university’s most powerful high‑impact practices —...

Send us Fan Mail What can adjunct faculty learn from a veteran journalist dropped into the deep end of FGCU’s Eagle Media? In this episode, we sit down with George Lang , former entertainment editor, long‑time reporter, and now advisor to Eagle Media’s three student‑run platforms. George shares what student journalists are facing today, how media literacy affects every discipline, and why the most...

Send us Fan Mail In this special Give Day bonus episode of The Adjunct Files , John sits down with three dedicated FGCU adjunct faculty— Marsha Oenick , Jessica Carter Peer , and Andrew Berkow —to talk openly about their journeys, their challenges, and the powerful community that has formed around adjunct teaching at FGCU. Together, they reflect on how much has changed: ✨ the creation of adjunct...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Adjunct Files , John and Maggie sit down with the incomparable Jamie Wilson—FGCU alumna, faculty member, and faculty–community matchmaker in the Office of Service Learning & Civic Engagement. Jamie shares the history behind FGCU’s unique service‑learning requirement, why it remains central to the university’s identity, and how even the busiest adjuncts c...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Adjunct Files , John and Maggie sit down with Marissa Caldwell, Assistant Director of Instructional Support at Villanova University’s College of Professional Studies. They dig into what it really takes to support more than 180 online adjunct faculty—from one-on-one onboarding conversations to low‑stakes discussion groups and a newly built asynchronous orient...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Adjunct Files , John and Maggie are joined by Alia Criddle and Kristin Morley from Salt Lake Community College’s Faculty Teaching and Learning Center. Fresh from the 50th POD Network Conference, they share how SLCC is building a comprehensive, paid professional development pathway for adjunct faculty—from orientation through an Adjunct Faculty Institute. The...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Adjunct Files, we sit down with Nikki Kirdahy, Director of Prevention and Wellness at FGCU, to explore what holistic wellness really means for students—and for faculty. Nikki breaks down the eight dimensions of wellness, shares practical ways instructors can support student well-being, and reminds us why modeling healthy habits matters. From tackling stress...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Adjunct Files , we sit down with KC Culver—Assistant Professor at the University of Alabama and Associate Director of the Delphi Project—to explore the evolving landscape of higher education. KC shares her journey from non-tenure-track writing instructor to national advocate for improving faculty roles, explains the concept of “vital faculty,” and highlights...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Adjunct Files , John Roth and Maggie Hohne sit down with Courtney Crimmins from Montclair State University—one of this year’s Delphi Award winners alongside FGCU. Courtney shares how Montclair built a comprehensive, collaborative model to support its 1,400 adjunct faculty, including initiatives like the 360° Support Network, professional development funding,...

Send us Fan Mail In this inspiring episode of The Adjunct Files , John Roth and Maggie Hohne welcome Brenda Thomas, former FGCU Colloquium Director and current Faculty Development Specialist at Appalachian State University. Brenda shares her journey from adjunct to advocate, detailing her work with VITAL faculty—visiting, instructor, teaching, adjuncts, and lecturers—and the challenges they face....

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Adjunct Files , John and Maggie sit down with Matt Losey, Creative Commons Lab Coordinator at FGCU’s library, to explore how the library is so much more than a place for books. From 3D printing and CNC milling to podcast studios and a massive data visualization wall, Matt shares how these cutting-edge resources empower students and faculty alike. Learn how a...

Send us Fan Mail In this inspiring episode of The Adjunct Files , Andi Clemons—director in the Provost’s Office, doctoral candidate, and first-time adjunct—shares her multifaceted journey through higher education. From managing academic budgets to surviving hurricanes and navigating dissertation stress, Andi brings a unique perspective to the classroom and campus culture. She discusses the importa...

Send us Fan Mail In this engaging episode of The Adjunct Files , FGCU adjunct Chad Cumming shares his unconventional journey from tax accountant to attorney and educator, blending real-world experience with a passion for teaching. Chad discusses how he brings business law and ethics to life for his students—using memes, current events, and historical context to foster critical thinking and adaptab...

Send us Fan Mail In this inspiring episode of The Adjunct Files , hosts John Roth and Maggie Hohne sit down with two retired physicians turned FGCU adjunct professors: Dr. Lou Broslovsky (OBGYN) and Dr. Andrew Berkow (Radiologist). What began as a post-retirement golf friendship evolved into a shared passion for teaching anatomy and physiology to the next generation of healthcare professionals. Th...

Send us Fan Mail In this engaging episode of The Adjunct Files , co-hosts John Roth and Maggie Hohne sit down with Dr. Paul Dosal , a fourth-generation Floridian and seasoned higher ed administrator, to explore his journey from Latin American historian to student success champion. Dr. Dosal shares his personal and professional background, including his academic roots in Tampa and Tulane, his tenur...

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Penny Edwards from University of Rhode Island discusses her dissertation research on Adjunct Faculty Vitality and her passion and advocacy for adjunct faculty with Maggie and John.  There are many similarities between her discoveries and the experience of adjunct faculty and department chairs.  Theme music composed, performed and produced by James Husni.  Adjunct Nation is a c...

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Peter Bergerson joins Maggie and John to discuss his more than 50 years of experience teaching higher education and with politics, seeing in the recent years a shift toward more difficulty having civil discussions with students.  Bergerson shares his experience as an intern with Mayor Daily in Chicago, his time at the 1968 Democratic Convention in Chi town, and his years at SE...

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Glenn Whitehouse and Patricia Rice join Maggie and John to discuss the new Quality Enhancement Program (QEP) at the university - transferrable skills. What is it? Well, employers are looking for skills like leadership, communication, teamwork, but most of our courses don't have that in their title, though students are learning these and many more skills that are vital.  A...

Send us Fan Mail Jose Carballo Gomez, an adjunct professor who oversees students in nursing clinicals, talks to John and Maggie about how we can better support both nursing students and their clinical directors. Jose has the unique perspective with a Masters in Nursing Education.   For a transcript of this podcast, use this link:  Transcript of Adjunct Files with Clinical Nursing.docx Theme music...

Send us Fan Mail Falia Justima of the FGCU Runway Program in the School of Entrepreneurship at FGCU speaks with John and Maggie about how the runway program and other offerings in entrepreneurship may benefit adjunct faculty a their teaching.  She also shares he life story and  experience as an adjunct faculty member.   For a transcript of this podcast: Transcript of Adjunct Files Project Runway.d...