Dr. Molly A. Swick
406 River Dr. DeKalb, IL 60115
847.420.1023
Education
Ed.D. Adult & Higher Education. Northern Illinois University
Dissertation Title: Paulo Freire’s Pedagogy of Hope: An Autoethnography in a Social Justice Classroom
Dissertation Chair: Dr. Jorge Jeria
M.S.Ed. Secondary Education. Northern Illinois University
Area of Licensure: Health & Physical Education
B.A. Radio/Television/Film. California State University, Long Beach
Teaching Experience – Higher Education
Adjunct Instructor, Kinesiology and Physical Education, Waubonsee Community College, Sugar Grove, IL. January 2022 – current
o Personal Wellness (F2F & Online)
Adjunct Instructor, Department of Physical Education, Aurora University, Aurora, IL. August 2021 - December 2022
o Strategies in Health Promotion
o Planning for Health Education
o Methods in Health Education
o First Aid/CPR/AED Essentials
o Philosophies of Adult Learning (Doctoral Students)
Instructor, Department of Leadership, Educational Psychology and Foundations, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL. August 2003 – August 2020
o Advocacy, Justice & Leadership in a Diverse Society (Educational Foundations)
o Education as an Agent for Change (Social Justice Education)
o Teachers as Ambassadors of Social Change (Themed Learning Community)
o Workshop in Education: Access for All? (Educational Foundations)
o Independent Study/Research in Foundations of Education (Supervising Faculty)
o Internship in Educational Foundations (Supervising Faculty)
Lecturer, School of Education, Health & Human Performance Program, University of Wisconsin Platteville, August 2018 – May 2019
o Consumer Health
o Emotional Health
o Outdoor Activities
o Lifetime Activities
o Teaching Human Sexuality, Alcohol & Drug Education
o Health Education
o First Aid/CPR/AED Essentials
o Fitness Assessment & Management
Instructor, Department of Public Health & Health Education, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL. January 2003 – May 2007, January 2015 – May 2018
o Current Issues in Health Education (Graduate)
o Introduction to Public Health (F2F & On-line)
o Contemporary Health Concepts
Instructor, Department of Adult and Higher Education, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL. (Doctoral & Master’s Level Courses) January 2005 – May 2018
o Critical & Feminist Pedagogy (Hybrid)
o Adult & Higher Education in a Social Context (Hybrid)
o Nontraditional Adult & Higher Education
o Adult Learning: Maturity through Old Age
o The Nature of Adult and Higher Education (F2F & On-line)
Instructor, Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL. January 2005 – May 2012
o First Aid & CPR
o Lifeguard Training
o Swim Conditioning
o Swimming I & II
o Learn to Swim
Instructor, Department of Health and Human Performance, McHenry County College, Crystal Lake, IL. August 1997 – December 2008
o Lifeguard Training
o Fitness, Health & Human Performance Professions
o First Aid – Responding to Emergencies
o Contemporary Health Issues
o Nutrition, Health & Safety for the Young Child
Adjunct Faculty, Kishwaukee Community College, Malta, IL. May 2008 – August 2008
o First Aid & CPR
o Emergency Response
Adjunct Faculty, Elgin Community College, Elgin, IL. August 2000 – December 2000
o Contemporary Health Concepts
Teaching Experience – K-12
Substitute Teacher, Community School District 428, DeKalb, IL. January 2023-current
Health Educator, Curriculum Developer, Acting Director of Education for JFK Health World, Barrington, IL. April 1995 – January 1996
o Developed and taught Health Education courses for K-8th grades
o Supervised Education Department
Health and Physical Education Teacher, School District 155, Crystal Lake, IL. 1993-1995
o Sophomore Health Education at Crystal Lake South and Cary-Grove High Schools
o Jr./Sr. Co-ed Physical Education at Crystal Lake South High School
Teaching Experience – Community
Lifeguard Training Instructor, 2006 – present
o City of Platteville Parks and Recreation, Wisconsin, May 2019
o Harvard Park District, Harvard, IL, May 2006 – June 2012
Training Specialist, American Red Cross of Greater Chicago, IL. 1996-1997
o CPR for the Professional Rescuer
o Community First Aid & Safety
o Community CPR
o Water Safety
o Lifeguard Training
o Preventing Disease Transmission
o HIV/AIDS Education
Certifications & Licensure
American Heart Association
o Basic Life Support
American Red Cross Instructor
o Adult & Pediatric First Aid/CPR/AED Essentials
o CPR for the Professional Rescuer
o First Aid - Responding to Emergencies
o Lifeguard Training
o Oxygen Administration for the Professional Rescuer
Association of College and University Educators (ACUE)
o Inclusive Teaching for Equitable Learning
o Effective Teaching Practices
State of Illinois 6-12 Professional Teaching License & Endorsements in Health Education, Physical Education and Social Science
Keynote Addresses/Panel Moderator – Invited
Diversity Dialogue – Re-Imagined (2017). Panel and Q&A Moderator. Examining Race
Relations on Campus. Altgeld Auditorium. Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL.
International Women’s Day Rally and March (2017). Featured Speaker. MLK Commons. Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL.
Embracing Love, Hope & Humility (2015). Keynote Address. 2nd Annual Latino Empowerment
Celebration. Duke Ellington Ballroom. Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL.
Let’s Get Crazy! Becoming a Leader by Reaching for the Stars and Traveling Beyond Perceived Limits (2015). Keynote Address. Illinois Residence Hall Association Annual Conference. Carl Sandburg Auditorium. Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL.
Be the Teacher Students Remember (2011). Keynote Address. Illinois Education Association
Annual Student Conference. Lisle, IL.
Creating a Loving Learning Environment (2009). Keynote Address. Student Education
Association Spring Conference. Western Illinois University, Macomb, IL.
No Laughing Allowed! Using Humor in the Classroom (2007). Keynote Address. Student
Education Association. Western Illinois University, Macomb, IL.
Northern Illinois University Service
o Academic Equity Committee Member, College of Education (2016-2017)
o Program Prioritization Academic Task Force Member (2015-2016)
o Developer and Coordinator, NIU Unity Conference & Celebration, Empowering Students
with Paulo Freire’s Pedagogy of Hope (2013)
o Developer and Educator, Themed Learning Community: Teachers as Ambassadors of
Social Change (2010-2012)
o Faculty Advisor, American Red Cross Club (2008 – 2011)
o Planning Committee Member, Black AIDS Awareness Day (2005-2008)
o Program Planning Committee Chairwoman (2004), Program Planning Committee (2005),
Annual Adult & Higher Education Retreat
o Graduate Student Representative, Adult & Higher Education Advisory Council (2004-2005)
o Graduate Research Assistant, Health Education (2003-2004)
McHenry County College Service
o Supervised HHP 150: Contemporary Health IssuesTele-course (1999-2005)
o Service-Learning Steering Committee (2001-2004)
o Fitness Advisory Council (2002-2004)
o Mentored new faculty members (2000-2008)
o Developed course proposal for HHP 202: Lifeguard Training(2000)
o Lead First Aid Instructor (1999-2007)
Honors, Awards & Scholarships
o Women Empowerment Award, NIU’s Alpha Sigma Omega Latina Sorority, Inc. (2018)
o Most Valued NIU Faculty Award, NIU’s Mortar Board Senior Honor Society (2017)
o Sharon Howard Women Who Make a Difference Award, NIU Presidential Commission
on the Status of Women (2015)
o Outstanding Mentor Award Honorable Mention, NIU Presidential Commission on the
Status of Women (2015)
o Outstanding Advocate for Latino Students, 2nd Annual Noche de Gala by NIU’s Latino
Resource Center and the Latino Student Association (2015)
o Ask Me... I Can Help NIU Spring Campaign, Nominated by NIU students (2015)
o Nominated, Sharon Howard Women Who Make a Difference Award, NIU Presidential
Commission on the Status of Women (2014)
o Northern Illinois University Annual Service Report for Instructor Evaluation: Score of 5 - Outstanding (2003 – current)
o Northern Illinois University College of Education Mentoring Appreciation (2013)
o Nominated, Outstanding Faculty Award, Northern Illinois University Black Student
Union Night of Black Elegance (2013)
o Nominated, Faculty of the Year, Northern Illinois University Annual Tribute to Black
Women (2012)
o Honorary Member, Northern Illinois University Chi Alpha Epsilon Honor Society (2012- current)
o Student Advocacy Award, Northern Illinois University, Student Association Senate
(2012)
o McHenry County Mental Health Scholarship for Public Health Officials (2005)
o Kappa Delta Pi: International Honor Society in Education, (2003 – 2014)
Most Valuable Professor (MVP) NIU’s Collegiate Athletics
o Football Team (2019)
o Men’s Soccer Team (2017)
o Men’s Baseball Team (2017)
o Women’s Softball Team (2016)
o Men’s Basketball Team (2015)
o Women’s Volleyball Team (2014)
International & National Conference Presentations – Refereed
First Aid for Mental Health Emergencies (2022). Co-Presenter: Tracy Metcalf. Illinois Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation & Dance Annual Conference. Tinley Park, Illinois.
Between Two Ferns: Using Humor to Teach Critical Media Literacy in a Neoliberal World
(2017). Critical Media Literacy Conference. Georgia Southern University, Savannah, Georgia.
Countering the Neoliberal Assault on Education with Freire’s Humanist Pedagogy and Language of Resistance (2016). International Conference on Paulo Freire. University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
A Reflective Narrative on Paulo Freire’s Pedagogy of Hope (2014). Assembly for Expanded
Perspectives on Learning Annual Conference. Laurentian University. Sudbury, Ontario, Canada.
Liberating Freire: The Challenges of Utilizing Freireian Ideals in American Teaching, Curriculum, and Society (2011). Co-Presenter: Joseph Flynn. American Association for Teaching and Curriculum Annual Conference. Denver, CO.
Hope and Love as Ontological Needs in Transformative Education (2007). Assembly for Expanded Perspectives on Learning Conference: The Emotional Life of Teachers. Estes Park, CO.
Embracing the Ideas of Paulo Freire to Create a Pedagogical Language of Hope (2006). Assembly for Expanded Perspectives on Learning Annual Conference: Writing for Reconciliation. Berea, KT.
Implementing ‘Engaged Pedagogy’ in the Classroom (2006). Student Illinois Education
Association Annual Spring Conference. Springfield, IL.
Examining the ‘Down Low’ Phenomenon and its Relationship to the Increase in HIV Rates in African American Communities (2005). 14th Annual African American and Latino(a) American Adult Education Research Symposium. Malcolm X College. Chicago, IL.
HIV/AIDS Treatment Disparities in African American Communities: The Role Socioeconomic Status, Race, and Ethnicity Play in Availability and Quality of HIV Treatment (2004). 13th Annual African American and Latino(a) American Adult Education Research Symposium. Malcolm X College. Chicago, IL.
An Urgent Need to Link Theory, Research, and Practice to Develop Adult Education Programs to Slow the Spread of HIV Infection in African American Communities (2004). Midwest Research to Practice Conference in Adult, Continuing and Community Education. Indianapolis, IN.
The Mental and Emotional Aspects of Living with HIV (2003). Illinois Counseling Association’s
Annual Conference. Springfield, IL.
Presentations – Invited
Using Humor to Teach Critical Media Literacy in a Post-Truth America (2018). Social Justice Summer Conference, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL.
We Don’t Need More Prisons! We Don’t Need a Wall! (2017). Latino Student Alliance 6th
Annual Student Empowerment Conference, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL.
Ending Violence against Women (2016). De Mujer a Mujer Student Association Meeting, Latino
Resource Center, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL.
Busting Down the Social and Economic Barriers of Attending College (2015). Conference for Young Women: Preparing Young Women for College & Leadership. Center for the Study of Women, Gender & Sexuality. Northern Illinois University. DeKalb, IL.
Want an Inclusive and Empowering Education for All Students? I’m Down with That! (2015). Latino Student Alliance 4th Annual Student Empowerment Conference. NIU, DeKalb, IL.
Enhancing Academic Advising with Paulo Freire’s Humanism (2014). College of Liberal Art and Sciences Advisor Meeting. Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL.
Social Justice Education (2014). Educational Philosophy course. Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL.
Why NIU’s College of Education? (2014). Bloom High School Campus Visit hosted by the
Latino Resource Center. Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL.
Advancing the Aims of Social Justice Education through Autoethnography: A Reflective Narrative on Paulo Freire's Critical Pedagogy(2013). Social Justice Conference: Strengthening our Campus Community while Developing Culturally Effective Students. Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL.
Transforming Students’ Lives through Engaged Learning Experiences (2013). Discover NIU Day: The Model Classroom. Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL.
Dare to Be Different: Paulo Freire in the Contemporary Classroom (2011). Student Education
Association. Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL.
Conflict in the Classroom (2010). Illinois Education Association Annual Spring Student
Conference. Bloomington, IL.
No Laughing Allowed! Top Ten Reasons for Using Humor in the Classroom. (2009). Student
Education Association Spring Conference. Western Illinois University, Macomb, IL.
Using Humor in the Classroom (2008). Student Education Association. Northern Illinois
University, DeKalb, IL.
Strategies for Education & Prevention (2007). Panel member. National Black AIDS Awareness Day. Northern Illinois University Health Promotion Program, The DeKalb Department of Public Health, the NIU School of Black Studies, the NIU Black Graduate Student Association, and the Black Male Initiative. DeKalb, IL.
Where is the Love? Creating a Loving Freireian Learning Environment (2007). Illinois Education Association/National Education Association Annual Fall Conference: Tomorrow’s Educators are Motivated, Bloomington, IL.
Engaged Pedagogy (2007). Student Education Association. Western Illinois University, MaComb, IL.
No Laughing Allowed! Top Ten Reasons for Using Humor in Your Classroom (2006). Illinois/National Education Association Annual Fall Conference: Bloomington, IL.
The Social Justice Theories of Paulo Freire as a Pedagogical Language of Hope (2007). Northern Illinois University’s Adult and Higher Education Annual Retreat. Algonquin, IL.
Women in Leadership (2006). Panel member. NAACP Chapter Meeting. Northern Illinois
University, DeKalb, IL.
The Life of Paulo Freire (2006). Educational Psychology and Foundations of Education. Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL.
The Current State of HIV/AIDS in Black America (2006). Panel member. National Black AIDS Awareness Day, Northern Illinois University Health Promotion Program, The DeKalb Department of Public Health and the NIU School of Black Studies. DeKalb, IL.
HIV/AIDS Update in African American Communities (2005). NAACP Chapter Meeting. Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL.
Prevention and Survival Strategies for Black Students Regarding AIDS and Other STD’s (2005). Center for Black Studies, Black Graduate Student Association, and the Health Enhancement Division of Student Affairs. Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL.
External Reviews
Critical Questions in Education: Academy for Educational Studies, Missouri State University (2013-current).
o “Race and Cultural Context in Urban Schools”
o “Understanding Poverty through Race Dialogues in Teacher Preparation”
o “A More Critical Pedagogy for Urban Working- Class Students: Are Teachers Receptive, and Do They Think it Could Help?”
Donatelle, R. (2006). Access to Health, 9th Ed. San Francisco, CA: Benjamin Cummings. Illinois.
State Board Reviews of Higher Education, Health Education Panel (2002 – 2004).
Professional Affiliations
o Academy for Educational Studies
o American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance
o American Association for Teaching and Curriculum
o American Heart Association
o American Red Cross
o Assembly for Expanded Perspectives on Learning
o Illinois Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation & Dance
o Illinois Public Health Association
o Illinois Latino Council on Higher Education
o SHAPE America: Society of Health and Physical Education
