FEATURE
STORY
‘ Peace Professor ’ Paved Way for Progressive Programs at PHSC
Drum circles are a popular activity during the College ’ s annual Peace Week celebration .
By Carmine Bell , Ph . D ., PHSC Professor Emerita
The late Mike Sadusky , professor of psychology ; Karen Davis , associate professor ; and Bob Bade , now Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs and Enrollment Management
Karen Cuccio Davis acquired a strong work ethic from her small business owner father , John , and a love of reading from her homemaker mother , Gloria . Elder sister , Santine , inspired a penchant for adventure . These family gifts kept on giving , prompting Karen to earn a Master of Arts degree from Rutgers University , where she taught for seven years before moving to Florida and transitioning to community college teaching . In 2023 , after 33 years , she retires from PHSC , leaving a rich legacy of countless students who have benefited from her classroom instruction and her enterprising role in extra-curricular activities .
Davis is known for supporting the development of a peace studies curriculum , the vision of Stanley Giannet , Ph . D ., then North Campus Provost , now the Executive Vice President and Chief Academic Officer / College Provost . She earned a post-graduate certificate program for community college educators at the U . S . Institute of Peace in Washington , D . C . The new credential prepared Davis to instruct an interdisciplinary elective course , Introduction to Peace Studies , which teaches students the advantages of positive over negative peace and provides them with methods for resolving conflicts at home and at work . Students responded enthusiastically in 2009 when Davis proposed offering the first Peace Week at the West Campus in New Port Richey . She won the support of then
Associate Dean of Student Activites and Engagement Bob Bade , Ed . D ., now Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs and Enrollment Management , who cites Peace Week as among his favorite events . Both Bade and Davis credit Professor Michael J . Sadusky ( 1945-2014 ) and current Associate Dean of Retention and Student Life Jessica White for their pivotal roles in creating Peace Week . The first Peace Week featured a ceremonial Peace Pole raising , guest speakers , music , art , and creation of a sand mandala by Buddhist monks . The week ended with the monks ’ dissolution of the sand mandala , symbolizing impermanence , but ironically , Peace Week has endured as an annual event , now celebrated on all PHSC campuses and open to the public .
Davis ’ accomplishments laid the foundation for # ItTakesUs and other PHSC programs that address social justice and equality . “ At PHSC , I felt free to pursue my own professional development ,” said Davis . “ The College trusted me to create new ways to expand student learning — in and out of the classroom .” She is confident that Peace Week and programs like # ItTakesUs will continue to thrive at PHSC . For now , she looks forward to traveling and spending more time with Paul , her husband of 40 years , also a teacher ; her three adult sons ; and her two grandchildren in France .
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