Isabella Jeso
Adjunct Professor
Biography
PROFESSIONAL GOALS
Teaching:
In her continuing research and writing as a scholar, Dr. Isabella Jeso’s primary goal is to harness the intellectual resources provided by her education, training, and extensive experience in the humanities; along with knowledge from her recently completed Master of Business Administration studies, to apply her expertise toward helping in the creation, and maintenance, of learning environments that nurture diverse and inclusive learning communities.
Dr. Jeso has a history of excellence in teaching and wishes, at various levels of higher education, to continue to cultivate engaging and progressive learning experiences for all her students. Of particular interest to Jeso are learning models and best practices that bring together, for the student: academics, and professional development, that nurture the following learning competencies (skills and traits) in students: Analysis; Collaboration; Diversity and Inclusion; Global and Cultural Understanding; Creativity (and Communication); Inquiry (asking deep/meaningful questions, to help students become a self-guided learners); and Integration (of ideas).
Dr. Jeso has enjoyed many years as a college professor, lecturer, researcher, as well as in academic advising. In addition to her current role teaching part-time at Champlain College; Jeso has also taught at the University of Vermont, the University of Zimbabwe, the University of Texas, Arlington, the University of Tulsa, Oklahoma, and at St. Michael’s College, Colchester, Vermont. She spent a memorable year in San Diego, California, preparing new Americans for employment in the United States.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Areas of Expertise in the Humanities:
Literature: World Literature in Translation, and Literature in English from Commonwealth Regions
Literary Theory: Introducing students to theoretical perspectives in these areas Deconstructionism;
New Historicism; Colonization/Post-Colonialism; Feminism; and Justice.
Intellectual History, focusing on the classics and how those ancient viewpoints dialogue with modern mindsets.
A Trained Teacher, with expertise in education theory, knowledge that makes her exceedingly at home with
undergraduate college students in the classroom.
Writing and Communication: Jeso is a published author of creative writing.
Scholarly Research and Writing:
Basing her research on multi-disciplinary studies of the theory of the mind, Dr. Jeso has developed expertise in advanced intellectual explorations that position Africanist imaginative writing as a potentially effective translator of how African spiritual traditions function as the watershed of knowledge systems that are uniquely African in nature, in as far as these knowledge systems are significant determinants in the distribution of political, economic, and social power. Jeso thus explores how the same systems could be utilized as important resources for creative writers and artists who wish to give a more original voice to the African character. This research, for our Champlain students’ experience and learning, has evolved and translated into courses that Jeso offers, COR-104: Making Garments/Doing Justice, and COR-202: Philosophical Ways of Knowing.
Creative Writing:
Jeso has written and published poetry, informed by her experience growing up in rural Zimbabwe. From her education and training as an elementary school teacher in Zimbabwe (then, Rhodesia), Jeso has also written a children’s literature book series for K through 8th grade. Together with her son, she currently develops and maintains a digital Children’s Newsletter for the series.
EDUCATION
Dr. Jeso’s educational background includes a Ph.D. from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst; a Master of Arts from the University of Vermont; a Master of Business Administration degree from Champlain College, Vermont; a Bachelor of Arts from St. Michael’s College, Colchester, Vermont; an Associate of Arts degree from Cottey College, Nevada, Missouri; and Teacher Certification from Mt. Silinda Teacher’s College, Chipinge, Zimbabwe.
PERSONAL:
Jeso has one son, who earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management from Champlain College, where he is continuing his education as a Cyber Security student; while working full-time. The Jesos reside in South Burlington, Vermont.
Publications & Abstracts
Bitney Adventures Book Two: Bitney on the Island of the Mists
Zimbabwean Collectibles
