American Studies

Name: Meghan Horleman, ’18

Major: Elementary Education (PreK-4)/Special Education (K-8), American Studies

Hometown: Long Beach Island, N.J.

Sports/Clubs/Organizations:

• La Salle University Ambassadors Vice President: Fall 2017
• La Salle University Ambassadors Social Chair: Fall 2016-May 2017
• Writers Matters Program Tutor La Salle University
• La Salle University Mentoring Program
• Co-Chair La Salle University Relay for Life
• Active participant in La Salle University LIVE programs
• Participant in Student Education Association
• Participant in American Studies Association
• Alpha Epsilon Alumni Honors Society

What helped you decide on your major?
I feel as though all young children, at some point, go through a phase of wanting to be a teacher; playing school, pretending to be the teacher, “grading papers.” I see myself as the girl who really never grew out of that phase. Since I can remember I have wanted to be an elementary school teacher. When I was applying to colleges I entertained the idea of other majors, maybe speech pathology, or communication, but something always drew me back to becoming a teacher; making a difference in the lives of young children. Throughout my educational experience, I have had some amazing and incredibly impactful teachers. I hope to someday serve as that same inspiration for the young children within my future classroom.

What was your experience like at La Salle?
Something that really drew me to La Salle was the reputation of their Education program. My experience with the program was nothing short of amazing. I was exposed to field experience starting the second semester of my freshman year, and had some type of experience every semester following. I was able to get myself into the classroom and observe the students and teachers to see if Education was truly the fit for me. I had the opportunity to work with a range of students from grades Pre-K through  third grade, which has really given me great experiences to take with me.

Who has been the most influential member of the La Salle community on your life?
The most influential member of the La Salle community on my life would have to be Kimberly Lewinski, Ph.D., one of the education professors here at La Salle. I had the opportunity to have Dr. Lewinski for three education courses, with each course better than the last. Dr. Lewinski brings her educational background and teaching experience into the classroom. Within her classes I always felt comfortable to ask any question I had, knowing no question was a dumb question. If you ever needed any type of resource for a lesson that you were teaching, or advice on how to teach something, Dr. Lewinski is always happy to help. My La Salle experience truly would not have been complete without her!

What is your advice to any high school students thinking about entering the Education program at La Salle?
My biggest piece of advice is to take advantage of every opportunity given to you. Entering the classroom for your first field experience can be incredibly terrifying. But, the most important thing I can say is to get to know your cooperating teacher and get involved with the students right away. They want to know you just as much as you want to know them. The more comfortable you make yourself, the more comfortable your students will be. Never let an opportunity pass you by because you were too scared to get involved!

Francis J. Ryan, professor of American Studies, is a cultural and intellectual historian of American education. He is also a former president of the Eastern American Studies Association. His research interests include the history of American education (particularly progressive education and Catholic education); American immigration and ethnicity; narcissism in American culture and literature; and the intersection of American history with American art and photography.

He is the co-author of Drowning in the Clear Pool: Cultural Narcissism, Technology and Character Education (New York, Peter Lang Publishing, 2002). He has published articles in Studies in the Humanities, The English Journal, Records of the American Catholic Historical Society, Vitae Scholasticae: Bulletin of Educational Biography, The Social Studies, Journal of Educational Thought, The Polish Review, The Clearing House, Educational Horizons, The British Journal of Educational Technology, The Education Digest, Journal of Technology and Teacher Education, Momentum, The ALAN Review, and The Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia.

My academic background and teaching experience have always reflected my belief in an interdisciplinary approach to course content and student learning. I earned my B.A. in English with a minor in Education from La Salle (1971), completing my secondary teaching certification (1972). I have masters’ degrees from Villanova University in English (1976) and Educational Administration (1978). I have taken doctoral level courses in Educational Leadership at Lehigh University, studied the use of technology in the teaching of writing at Temple University, and completed the requirements for the Pennsylvania superintendent letter of eligibility at Saint Joseph’s University.

Before returning to La Salle, I spent forty years in public and private education as a teacher, department chair, subject area supervisor, and principal at both the middle and high school levels. My experiences in each of those positions have proven to be invaluable to teaching at La Salle. Probably the most direct link from those years has been a team taught, interdisciplinary American Studies course that I co-wrote and taught with a social studies colleague. That course integrated content from the social sciences, the arts, and contemporary culture. My experience there, coupled with my time at La Salle, has confirmed the importance of an interdisciplinary approach in fostering authentic learning. In all of my courses I also provide instruction in and opportunities for students to develop their skills in various modes of written and spoken communication.