Advisers and Staff
Senior academic adviser and program director, Josh Borowicz, Ph.D. , has been advising University students for 20 years, 10 years in individually-designed degree programs. His educational background, a B.A. in English Literature, an M.A. in Creative Writing/Editing, and a Ph.D. in American Studies, has emphasized interdisciplinary study and the use of personal writing to foster both educational development and curricular coherence.
Faculty director David Frank, Ph.D. , is a professor in the School of Mathematics, who has worked with PIL for two decades. He is committed to serving PIL, the University, and the diverse needs of all students.
Senior academic adviser JoAnn M. Hanson, Ph.D. , has a background in the social sciences, adult development and learning, program development and evaluation, social and immigration history, and museum studies. She has taught courses at the University of Minnesota, University of St. Thomas, Hamline University, Capella University, Minnesota Extension Service, and Metropolitan State University.
Associate Academic adviser Greg Laden, M.A., Ph.D. , is an anthropologist who has worked mainly in Africa, and an influential science blogger. He has taught at Harvard, Boston University, the University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee, Concordia, the University of Minnesota (Twin Cities) and elsewhere. His B.A. is from New York State's analog to the PIL program. Although he is new to the advising staff, he has been involved with PIL as a faculty adviser and a member of the Senate Oversight Committee for Individualized Degrees for several years. Greg is involved, as a writer and activist, in advancing K-12 science education, and addressing issues of race and racism both in the classroom and across society.
