LOW SERVES AS VISITING PROF IN ARIZONA

Joe Low Jr., professor of speech and theatre at Southeast Missouri State University, is blending vacation with professional development this summer.

Low is serving as a visiting professor in speech communication at Northern Arizona University (NAU) at Flagstaff where he is teaching public speaking and administrative communication in two five-week intensive summer sessions.

"This is kind of a regeneration for me," he said. "It gets you out of the old ruts. It keeps you on your toes. It's pushing me. I'm teaching out of two new textbooks, and I'm in new surroundings. It forces me to stay young."

Northern Arizona University is the third largest university in the state with about 16,000 students and is situated 7,000 feet above sea level, he said.

Low became interested in the visiting-teaching opportunity after being encouraged by Frank Besnette, a former Southeast business professor and currently NAU's administrative vice president.

"I'm enjoying it," he said. "It's work, but it's a change. I look at it as professional development and vacation at the same time. I think it would be instructive for all faculty to teach on another campus.

"It's refreshing for everyone to get away from the day to day, and it makes you appreciate how much you have at home," Low said.