By Aldona Bird and Karen Bullock
Professor Robert Fessler’s gastronomic travel experiences inform not only his home cuisine, but also the structure of the cuses he teaches at Point Park. While researching a new cultural studies class on India, he became so involved in his research that he cooked indian meals-he had already sampled the cooking while traveling in India-for months.
Now the class incorporates different aspects of the culture whether it is indian, or japan or africa, in which Dr. Fessler immersed himself while preparing his lectures:literature, music, movies, as well as the food.
“I grew up eating really bland food, the highlight of the week would be Mrs. Paul’s fish sticks. Then I traveled and I discovered that I had taste buds, and so ever since I do all the cooking at home and I try and duplicate dishes from everywhere,” said Dr. Fessler.
Dr. Fessler received a B.A from Duquesne University and an M.A. from Miami University of Ohio. While writing his Ph.D. dissertation at Duquesne University, he worked in a mental hospital, but found that unrewarding. As a grad student he had enjoyed teaching, and so decided to enter a teaching career.
Upon completing his Ph.D. Dr. Fessler joined the psychology department at Point Park University, where he has been ever since. He has also traveled extrensively and taught with the Semester at Sea program.
The Semester at Sea program consists of about 100 days of classes conducted aboard a ship for 700 students per semester. The ship makes 10-12 stops at various ports where students take field trips. Dr. Fessler says one thing he especially likes about the Semester at Sea program is “…popping the bubble that most American students have lived in…You take somebody from Pittsburgh who’s never been anyplace and drop them into an untouchable village in India and they’re never the same again.”
Although Dr. Fessler does not have any specific future plans regarding the Semester at Sea program, he anticipates that he will be contacted for it again.
“Obviously the people who run the Semester at Sea program like me….so I imagine they’ll call me again,” says Fessler.
Travel has shaped Dr. Fessler’s approach to his courses, as well as to his commitment to the Global Cultural Studies program. He would like to increase the scope of the study abroad program at Point Park by takin students to places such as Cambodia, Africa, or India.
“We’ve been there and that’s part of the reason why we want to share the joy,” said Dr. Fessler referring to himself and other Point Park professors who want to see the program grow.
Dr. Fessler has hopes for the development and expansion of the Global Cultural Studies program at Point Park. He would like to see more global cultural studies courses become part of the core curriculum for all majors because he thinks “that this is just too important for the world today and for the future of the students.”
Dr. Fessler thinks global cultural studies classes raise students’ awareness “because they know they’re going to be living on a whole planet not just Pennsylvania.”
Dr. Fessler inspires students such as Regis Suess, a senior psychology major, and Eric Probola, a junior global cultural studies major to work hard and get the most from his lectures.
Dr. Fessler is a god-like hero to Suess. “The first time I saw him I thought he could read my mind…I could tell he was brilliant,” says Suess.
Seuss has appreciated sharing Dr. Fessler’s wide experience, from psychology to global studies, and knowledge in class. He has taken many of Dr. Fessler’s classes, including Theories of Personality, Abnormal Psychology, Cross-Cultural Psychology, Regional Studies:India, and Criminal Psychopathology . He enjoyed all the classes, but his favorite was Criminal Psychopathology because it went beyond normal criminal psychology and explored different areas of abnormal behavior.
According to Suess Dr. Fessler is a tough grader and his grueling tests cover everything taught in class. “He wants to see that you get as much from the lectures as possible,” said Suess.
Probola said all material in Dr. Fesslers class is covered on the exams, but “there is something about his lecture style, when you go to study, you feel like you know it all already…they are intense, but they always make you think. It is usually a class that I look forward to.”
Suess said that he works extra hard in Dr. Fessler’s classes and always receives A’s. He said, “I always wanted to do my best to show him how much I appreciate him.”
Dr. Fessler brings his real world cultural experiences to all his classes including his culture courses on Japan, India, and Africa.
Since leaving work at the mental hospital Dr. Fessler has been teaching and traveling. He has not only taught at Point Park University but also taught four semesters with the Semester at Sea program.
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