The University of Findlay - Raymond J. McCandless, D.A.

Dr. McCandless' work as a Professor and as the Academic Technology Services Director may appear to be quite diverse roles, but actually complement one another very well. Since he has been at Findlay College/The University of Findlay since 1980, Dr. McCandless has witnessed an incredible amount of growth and positive development at this institution. The number of our faculty has more than tripled during that time period, new buildings constructed, and there has been an increase in the availability of resources to support teaching and scholarly activities.

In his faculty member role, he has been active in the work of our Faculty Development Committee. This experience has reinforced his long-held perspective that in order to remain excited and current regarding teaching, faculty members do need to continue to be engaged in research and professional activities. Our Faculty Development Committee’s resources have grown consistently, providing useful opportunities for our faculty. Through resources such as this, Dr. McCandless has been able to pursue my own research in the areas of terrorism, genocide studies, and international relations. Without exception, he has been able to bring his research work back into the classroom and even involve many of his students in these endeavors.

Dr. McCandless work in the Academic Technology Services (ATS) area has been a logical and easy connection with his professor role. The mission of ATS is to support the effective teaching and research endeavors of our faculty, and to assist UF administration/staff with the integration and utilization of newtools needed to perform tasks efficiently and competently. Many times, this translates into the introduction and training of UF faculty/staff in the use of new technologies and applications. For example, professors and their students are no longer contented to simply use the overhead projectors to enhance class presentations. The adoption and utilization of online resources, PowerPoint presentations, DVDs and other multimedia tools are not only useful for the classroom but also for research projects and responsibilities. Dr. McCandless states that "it has been extremely fulfilling to be so directly involved in helping my colleagues both procure and learn to use new tools that assist with multiple aspects of their professional life."