Entered Pacifica: 1998

Current Occupation

    Professor of Education, Mount St. Mary's College,

    Los Angeles

Where You Live

     Arcadia, California

What Brought You To Pacifica?

      I was considering a new direction for my working life and embarked on this journey with my best friend. We visited Pacifica on  weekend of torrential rain. I had thought I would pusue myth but found my place to be in depth psychology. Myth, an amazing program, had the focus on fairy tales that I wanted to explore but depth had the focus on Jung which was where I wanted to spend more time.

   

How Has Your Pacifica Degree Served You Professionally In Your Occupation/Vocation?

    My work in depth has opened up new possibilites for research that bridges education, history of science, and women's studies. I began my work getting to know Spinoza and other alchemists but found my way to the women alchemists whose stories have become my passion. I am writing a book about them. I also infuse Jungian concepts in my teacher ed classes and students respond enthusiastically, sensing that their students have needs that transcend test scores.

How Has Your Degree Served You Personally?

   I strengthened my voice at Pacifica and found my world expand. I had the opportunity to explore areas of study that I might not have approached before.

What Was The Meaningful Or Memorable Part Of The Pacifica Experience For You?

    It was wonderful to be taught by some of the brightest and most interesting people I have met. My classmates are the best and I found friends I hope to know a lifetime. There is much more and I am truly grateful for making my way to Pacifica with all its beauty and even its shadow, which keeps it balanced.

Dissertation Title

    Murder of Spinoza and Other 17th-Century Alchemists: A Contemporary Look at a Long-ago Mortificatio Tale 

Other Publications

•Gordon, R. L. (Winter 2007). Making use of story to teach science and mathematics. Ladder, 10-13.

•Gordon, R.L. (Spring, 1998). How novice teachers can succeed with  adolescents. Reprint in Annual Editions: Educational 

      Psychology.

•Gordon, R.L. (April 1997).  How novice teachers can succeed with adolescents. Educational Leadership,54 (7), 56-58.    

•Dupuis, A.D. & Gordon, R.L. (1996).  Philosophy of education in historical perspective (2nd ed). Lanham, Mass: University Press of

     America.         

Areas of Interest

    Alchemy, history of science, miscellaneous esoterica, Kabbalah, teaching, natural philosophy.

Contact Information

     robinlgordon@gmail.com

Robin Gordon,  Ph.D.