Samuel Joeckel

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Samuel Joeckel
Academic background
Alma materUniversity of Nevada, Las Vegas
Baylor University
Claremont Graduate University
Doctoral advisorMarc Redfield
Academic work
DisciplineEnglish language
InstitutionsPalm Beach Atlantic University

Samuel T. Joeckel is an American author, professor of English, and accomplished mountain biker.[1] He is one of the world's top experts of author C. S. Lewis.[1] Joeckel is the author of two books, The C.S. Lewis Phenomenon and The Christian College Phenomenon. He has also published many articles on 18th Century British Literature.[1] He is also the co-editor of a volume about Christian colleges. He taught at Palm Beach Atlantic University for over 20 years until his termination in March 2023.

Life[edit]

Joeckel earned a B.A. from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.[2] He completed an M.A. at Baylor University.[2] He earned a Ph.D. from Claremont Graduate University.[2] His 2002 dissertation was titled, "The fiction of happiness": eighteenth-century experience, epistemology, and aesthetics.[3] Marc Redfield was his doctoral advisor.[4]

Joeckel was a professor of English at Palm Beach Atlantic University's School of Liberal Arts and Sciences for over 20 years.[2] On February 15, 2023, his contract was put on hold after the university received complaints regarding his teachings on racial justice.[5] Dr. Joeckel stated that he was notified of his contract investigation the same day Governor Ron DeSantis would be arriving on campus to give a speech.[6] After stepping out of his classroom, Dr. Joeckel's dean and provost were waiting for him, and the dean handed him an envelope notifying him of the investigation. Joeckel stated, "The letter inside [the envelope] was to notify me that my contract was being delayed pending a review of the material I use in my racial justice unit" as part of his Composition II course.[7] He taught about Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X and Frederick Douglas in the racial justice unit.[8] Soon, Dr. Joeckel posted on Instagram that his position was on hold pending an investigation on his course materials.[8] Soon, PBAU school provost Chelly Templeton stated in a leaked internal university memo, " 'Faculty are free to choose a theme that unifies their Composition II course, . . . [h]owever, it is important that the Composition II objectives remain the focus of the course.' "[6] When questioned as to what was wrong with Joeckels' unit on racial justice, Robert Lloyd, Palm Beach Atlantic University's Dean of Liberal Arts and Sciences,[9] told Joeckel he was "indoctrinating students".[10] On March 15, the university terminated Joeckel's contract, stemming from a complaint received from a student's parent directly to the college president, Dr. Debra A Schwinn,[11] about his unit on racial justice.[12] The parent complained he was " 'indoctrinating' students by teaching about racial justice".

Diversity is stated as one of Palm Beach Atlantic university's core values, where they aim to promote racial equality for all.[13] They state that, "no form of racism, racial supremacy, ableism, or ethnic bigotry will be tolerated at Palm Beach Atlantic University.[13]

Joeckel stated the reason behind his contract non-renewal was because, "his university was “'influenced' by the 'toxic political ideology' of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R)."[14]

Palm Beach Atlantic University offered Joeckel no hearing, no meeting, or no panel discussion. The complaining parent never spoke with him, nor was he given any reasonable explanation for his termination. They do not offer tenure protection to professors at Palm Beach Atlantic University, no matter how long they've served in their positions.[7]

Selected works[edit]

[7]

  • Joeckel, Samuel; Chesnes, Thomas, eds. (2012). The Christian College Phenomenon: Inside America's Fastest Growing Institutions of Higher Learning. Abilene Christian University Press. ISBN 978-0-89112-284-5.
  • Joeckel, Samuel (2013). The C. S. Lewis Phenomenon: Christianity and the Public Sphere. Mercer University Press. ISBN 978-0-88146-437-5.[15]
  • Joeckel, Samuel (2016-05-26). Golden Notes. Tressler Press. ISBN 978-0-692-69418-3.

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c "Author makes literary leap from English lit to rock 'n' roll - Palm Beach Florida Weekly". Palm Beach Florida Weekly -. 2016-06-30. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
  2. ^ a b c d "Faculty Details". www.pba.edu. Retrieved 2023-03-17.
  3. ^ Joeckel, Samuel T. (2002). "The fiction of happiness": eighteenth-century experience, epistemology, and aesthetics (Ph.D. thesis). Claremont Graduate University. OCLC 49621643.
  4. ^ "Redfield, Marc". vivo.brown.edu. Retrieved 2023-03-22.
  5. ^ Jaschik, Scott (2023-02-20). "Professor's Job Endangered for Teaching About Race". Inside Higher Ed. Retrieved 2023-03-17.
  6. ^ a b "PBAU fires professor whose racial justice lessons prompted a parent complaint". The Palm Beach Post. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
  7. ^ a b c Jaschik, Scott (2023-02-20). "Professor's Job Endangered for Teaching About Race". Inside Higher Ed. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
  8. ^ a b Cardenas, Victoria De (2023-02-22). "'Attacks on our educators:' Former PBAU student backs professor under fire". WPEC. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
  9. ^ "Faculty Details | Palm Beach Atlantic University". www.pba.edu. Retrieved 2023-03-24.
  10. ^ Jakeway, Tara (2023-03-17). "Palm Beach Atlantic University professor says he was fired, accused of 'indoctrinating students'". WPBF. Retrieved 2023-03-24.
  11. ^ "Office of the President | Palm Beach Atlantic University". www.pba.edu. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
  12. ^ Lynch, Jamiel; Rose, Andy (2023-03-16). "English professor in Florida says university terminated his contract after a complaint over his racial justice unit". CNN. Retrieved 2023-03-17.
  13. ^ a b "Values | Palm Beach Atlantic University". www.pba.edu. Retrieved 2023-03-24.
  14. ^ Gans, Jared (2023-03-17). "Florida English professor fired after parent complaint over racial justice lessons". The Hill. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
  15. ^ Reviews of The C.S. Lewis Phenomenon:
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