APU's First Book Signing Event: Unlocking Faculty Talents

On Wednesday, September 26, the APU Bookstore and the Office of Research proudly presented the first all-college book signing event.

The event offered a rich time of exploring the depth of knowledge that comes from faculty works. Their projects covered a variety of subject matter, and a broad spectrum of interests. Approximately 46 faculty authors roamed around the bookstore, identified by red carnation corsages.

While taking part in a table of coffee, lemonade, and Hors D’oeuvres - including tiny cucumber and curry sandwiches compliments of Hospitality Services - faculty mingled with each other and students, staff, and guests. It was a place where stories unraveled and lives adjoined with one purpose: unifying departments, subjects, and people whose vision and insight allowed them to bring their stories and knowledge to life to share with others.

Associate Professor of Christian Ministries, Steve Gerali, Ph.D., recently released his new book, Teenage Guys: Exploring Issues Adolescent Guys Face and Strategies to Help Them. Gerali, an experienced author, has written three books and contributed to six or seven others.

Kathleen Fletcher-Bacer Ed.D, associate professor of Education and creator/director of APU’s Online Master of Arts in Educational Technology Program, created her own subtraction method to aid elementary school teachers. Her method is highlighted in her book, Hands on Math: Learning Addition and Subtraction Through Manipulative Activities.

The faculty congregated in a circle to share pieces of the process of writing their books. Carole Lambert, Ph.D., professor of English and director of research, helped orchestrate the event, and shared her own persevering process of writing, as she discussed her book Is God Man’s Friend? Theodicy and Friendship in Elie Wiesel’s Novels.

Lambert's wealth of knowledge and experience serves as a gift for students and faculty at APU. She encourages a delicate balance for professors between time spent on research and time spent with students. Lambert shared that “students can learn from their professors, and their accomplishments, and not feel neglected.”

At APU’s first book signing event, a hidden treasure of knowledge was brought to the table. Whether math, Bible, or literature as the subject, the unspoken gifts of the faculty poured out to exude their depth of academic knowledge, passion, and heart. By doing so, these faculty authors displayed a high example of excellence through their works.

Posted: October 11, 2006