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BIOGRAPHY: Marlene has taught intercultural communication, public speaking, interpersonal communication and introductory courses for U.S. American and international students at PGCC since 1980. Working with and learning from her students is one of her greatest enjoyments! She is also Coordinator of the new International Center – Academic Support, coming to Lanham Hall 117. The center serves students born in other countries who live in the Prince George’s County area and brings US and international students together through programs such as Learning Our Viewpoints monthly discussions and the International Student Speaker’s Bureau. In her faculty role, she has also served as Coordinator for the College's oral Communication Across the Curriculum program, providing instructional support to all faculty disciplines in ways to strengthen classroom communication. From 1988-90 and 1991-95, she provided faculty administrative support in College Advancement and Planning, applying those speaking and listening skills to coordinating a college wide marketing council, writing brochures and speaking on behalf of the college to the community. In her spare time she’s a part-time graduate student, writing a dissertation on international student needs for her Doctorate of Arts degree in Community College Education at George Mason University in VA. She directed the Jewish Cultural School of Machar in Washington D.C. for six years and helped to organize celebrations and community service programs. Determined to get immersed in intercultural communication, Marlene grabbed an opportunity to teach speech communication in Malaysia, Southeast Asia, for Indiana University in 1990-91. She and her family experienced adapting to a new culture first hand and developed a great appreciation for people who relocate in a new country. Originally from Ohio, Marlene lives with her husband Michael Kidwell, son Alexander, a dog and a rabbit in Silver Spring. She and her husband are both former university debate coaches who manage to keep household debating to a minimum. She was lead author of four volumes of Multicultural Activities for the Speech Communication Classroom, working with colleagues at Prince George’s Community College. They are published by Houghton Mifflin Publishing Company. She earned her Bachelor of
Science degree from The Ohio State University in Secondary Education, with
Speech and Theatre and English double majors, as an honors student, and earned
her Master of Arts degree in Speech Communication from the University of
Michigan. STATEMENT OF TEACHING PHILOSOPHY Increasingly I feel the desire to strengthen the teaching of listening within my communication courses. So many people seem to feel unheard in their lives, even as they are afraid or at least unaccustomed to really listening to others. As a communication professor I am excited to have to opportunity to bring students together and help them increase their willingness to learn from one another, as they learn more about themselves. The content of a speech communication should be so relevant to the lives of its students. My task is to provide learning experiences that connect to students' lives across their gender, age, religious, racial, economic, occupational and social differences. Some students begin a speech communication class as strong listeners but anxious speakers. Their ideas have gone unheard and their feelings often unexpressed. For them, the growth in their level of confidence is sometimes satisfyingly visible through a semester. So my goal is to challenge students to stretch their speaking and listening experiences and strengthen their skills as they learn about communication's strategies and impact. I try daily to provide a safe, supportive and relaxed atmosphere in which students can take increased risks to speak and listen. Talking about our cultural backgrounds is a crucial part of who we are. I like using my classroom to allow people to explore each others’ cultures and learn more about their own cultural influences in the process.
Marlene Cohen Professor, Communication and Theatre Queen Anne Fine Arts Building, Room 107
Coordinator, International Center –
Academic Support Opening Spring 2005 (301) 322-0177
The information contained on faculty web pages does not necessarily reflect the official viewpoint of Prince George's Community College. The college is not responsible for, and does not guarantee, the accuracy of any information on a faculty member's web page.
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