Episode 60
Michael Fischler: 50 Years of 50 Years of Giving, Caring, and Empathy
Listen here:
https://feeds.podetize.com/ep/uiIGLln7C/media
Listen here:
Listen here:
https://feeds.podetize.com/ep/uiIGLln7C/media
In the midst of hate, I found there was, within me, an invincible love.
In the midst of tears, I found there was, within me, an invincible smile.
In the midst of chaos, I found there was, within me, an invincible calm.
I realized, through it all, that…
In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer.
~ Albert Camus
Michael L. Fischler lives in Holderness and is professor emeritus in the Department of Counselor Education and School Psychology at Plymouth State University, where he taught for 50 years.
Professor of Education; Distinguished Graduate Teaching Award in the MEd Program, 2004
BEd, MEd, University of Miami; EdD, University of Colorado
About Professor Fischler
Dr. Fischler has performed multiple roles on this campus. He currently teaches in the departments of Counselor Education and School Psychology; Educational Leadership, Learning and Curriculum; and Elementary Education and Childhood Studies. In 1975 he founded the Plymouth State University “Counseling and Human Relations Center,” and served as its’ Director from 1975-2015. He has served on PSU’s Homophobia Task Force; President’s Commission on Diversity; and is an advisor to the Black Student Union and Tau Omega sorority. His research interests include: cultural diversity; intercultural communication; social behavior; psychological counseling; multicultural education; and prejudice reduction.
Other achievements/honors:
Founder, PSU “Counseling and Human Relations Center,” 1975.
Co-founder of the “S-O-S” (“Support our Students”) Faculty Scholarship Fund, designed to assist PSU’s most financially at risk students
Creator, Plymouth State’s “A-B-C” (“A Better Campus Community”) program, designed to facilitate intercultural respect, compassion and civility.
“Distinguished Graduate Teacher Award,” 2004
Founder and past President, “First Star Tonight” (supporting area chronically and terminally ill children, young adults, and their families), 1986-2005
Presentations and Publications (recent or noteworthy):
PSU, Counselor Education and School Psychology Honors Society, Chi Sigma Iota, Inaugural Induction Ceremony, Keynote Speaker, “Bigotry and Racism… Time to See, Tell and Do,” April 13, 2012.
PSU, Counselor Education and School Psychology Honors Society, Chi Sigma Iota Induction Ceremony, Keynote Speaker, “Living a Meaningful Life,” March, 2016
Fischler, M. (1992). “Time to Talk Back,” Phi Delta Kappan. V73, 634-635.Fischler, M. (1999)
Fischler, M. (1999). “Reflecting on a Personal Visit with Dr. Viktor Frankl and His Wife Elly,” Education; Winter99, Vol. 120 Issue 2, p281
Fischler, M. (2012) “A Letter Long Overdue,” Annual Editions Multicultural Education. 16th
“The Cultural Triangle,” Invited Workshop, presented November 3, 2011 at the 21st Annual National Association for Multicultural Education Conference, Chicago , IL
CULTURE, CONFLICT AND CHANGE…MOVING FROM CRISIS TO GROWTH, Invited Paper, presented June 11, 2012 at the 12thInternational Conference On Diversity in Organizations, Communities and Nations, Vancouver, British Columbia
“Culture, Conflict and Change (2014), “From Crisis to Growth,” The International Journal of Community Diversity, Volume 12, Issue 2.
“Ethical Living,” presentation, International Conference on Conflict Resolution Education, George Mason University, June, 2015
“Crisis to Opportunity to Opportunity to Change,” paper presented March 22, 2016, “International Institute of Social and Economic Sciences,” Lisbon, Portugal.
Crisis to Opportunity to Change (2016), Published, March, International Academic Conference, Lisbon, Portugal (proceedings)
“From Crisis to Change,” TED Talk, “Outstanding Research Presentation, Certificate of Excellence,” April 11, 2016, Paris, France
Courses Taught
Social Behavior and Diversity
Social Behavior in a Diverse World
Foundations of Diversity
Cultural Diversity and American Society
Leadership in a Diverse World
How a Professor Was Punished for an Act of Citizenship
Decisions made at Plymouth State University threaten to undermine participation in America’s criminal-justice system.
By Conor Friedersdorf
Stephane Mahe / Reuters
SEPTEMBER 18, 2018
SHARE
About the author: Conor Friedersdorf is a California-based staff writer at The Atlantic, where he focuses on politics and national affairs. He is the founding editor of The Best of Journalism, a newsletter devoted to exceptional nonfiction.
Michael Fischler is an award-winning professor emeritus of education at Plymouth State University, a public institution in Plymouth, New Hampshire. He founded its Counseling and Human Relations Center, led it for four decades, and ultimately saw it officially renamed in his honor.
In the midst of hate, I found there was, within me, an invincible love.
In the midst of tears, I found there was, within me, an invincible smile.
In the midst of chaos, I found there was, within me, an invincible calm.
I realized, through it all, that…
In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer.
~ Albert Camus
Michael Fischler: 50 Years of 50 Years of Giving, Caring, and Empathy
When Michael Fischler retired in 2017 after 50 years of dedicated service to the Plymouth State College Community he was at the height of his career, when a firestorm erupted over allegations against a former graduate student for whom he (along with dozens of other former teachers and mentors) had written glowing recommendations. He did nothing wrong but the toxic atmosphere on campus and a timid board of trustees allowed a a hostile environment to be churned up on campus.
When Michael Fischler retired in 2017 after 50 years of dedicated service to the Plymouth State College Community he was at the height of his career, when a firestorm erupted over allegations against a former graduate student for whom he (along with dozens of other former teachers and mentors) had written glowing recommendations. He did nothing wrong but the toxic atmosphere on campus and a timid board of trustees allowed a a hostile environment to be churned up on campus.
What followed was a three-year struggle to assert his academic freedom and civil rights - with help from nationally acclaimed civil rights attorney John Meyer. Just when life should have become simpler. Mike Fischler was faced with the challenge of a lifetime. Today, with the worst of it behind, he reflects on his life and - for the first time - on the trauma that almost derailed his legacy.
Michael L. Fischler lives in Holderness and is professor emeritus in the Department of Counselor Education and School Psychology at Plymouth State University, where he taught for 50 years.
Professor of Education; Distinguished Graduate Teaching Award in the MEd Program, 2004
BEd, MEd, University of Miami; EdD, University of Colorado
About Professor Fischler
Dr. Fischler has performed multiple roles on this campus. He currently teaches in the departments of Counselor Education and School Psychology; Educational Leadership, Learning and Curriculum; and Elementary Education and Childhood Studies. In 1975 he founded the Plymouth State University “Counseling and Human Relations Center,” and served as its’ Director from 1975-2015. He has served on PSU’s Homophobia Task Force; President’s Commission on Diversity; and is an advisor to the Black Student Union and Tau Omega sorority. His research interests include: cultural diversity; intercultural communication; social behavior; psychological counseling; multicultural education; and prejudice reduction.
Other achievements/honors:
Founder, PSU “Counseling and Human Relations Center,” 1975.
Co-founder of the “S-O-S” (“Support our Students”) Faculty Scholarship Fund, designed to assist PSU’s most financially at risk students
Creator, Plymouth State’s “A-B-C” (“A Better Campus Community”) program, designed to facilitate intercultural respect, compassion and civility.
“Distinguished Graduate Teacher Award,” 2004
Founder and past President, “First Star Tonight” (supporting area chronically and terminally ill children, young adults, and their families), 1986-2005
Presentations and Publications (recent or noteworthy):
PSU, Counselor Education and School Psychology Honors Society, Chi Sigma Iota, Inaugural Induction Ceremony, Keynote Speaker, “Bigotry and Racism… Time to See, Tell and Do,” April 13, 2012.
PSU, Counselor Education and School Psychology Honors Society, Chi Sigma Iota Induction Ceremony, Keynote Speaker, “Living a Meaningful Life,” March, 2016
Fischler, M. (1992). “Time to Talk Back,” Phi Delta Kappan. V73, 634-635.Fischler, M. (1999)
Fischler, M. (1999). “Reflecting on a Personal Visit with Dr. Viktor Frankl and His Wife Elly,” Education; Winter99, Vol. 120 Issue 2, p281
Fischler, M. (2012) “A Letter Long Overdue,” Annual Editions Multicultural Education. 16th
“The Cultural Triangle,” Invited Workshop, presented November 3, 2011 at the 21st Annual National Association for Multicultural Education Conference, Chicago , IL
CULTURE, CONFLICT AND CHANGE…MOVING FROM CRISIS TO GROWTH, Invited Paper, presented June 11, 2012 at the 12thInternational Conference On Diversity in Organizations, Communities and Nations, Vancouver, British Columbia
“Culture, Conflict and Change (2014), “From Crisis to Growth,” The International Journal of Community Diversity, Volume 12, Issue 2.
“Ethical Living,” presentation, International Conference on Conflict Resolution Education, George Mason University, June, 2015
“Crisis to Opportunity to Opportunity to Change,” paper presented March 22, 2016, “International Institute of Social and Economic Sciences,” Lisbon, Portugal.
Crisis to Opportunity to Change (2016), Published, March, International Academic Conference, Lisbon, Portugal (proceedings)
“From Crisis to Change,” TED Talk, “Outstanding Research Presentation, Certificate of Excellence,” April 11, 2016, Paris, France
Courses Taught
Social Behavior and Diversity
Social Behavior in a Diverse World
Foundations of Diversity
Cultural Diversity and American Society
Leadership in a Diverse World
How a Professor Was Punished for an Act of Citizenship
Decisions made at Plymouth State University threaten to undermine participation in America’s criminal-justice system.
By Conor Friedersdorf
Stephane Mahe / Reuters
SEPTEMBER 18, 2018
SHARE
About the author: Conor Friedersdorf is a California-based staff writer at The Atlantic, where he focuses on politics and national affairs. He is the founding editor of The Best of Journalism, a newsletter devoted to exceptional nonfiction.
Michael Fischler is an award-winning professor emeritus of education at Plymouth State University, a public institution in Plymouth, New Hampshire. He founded its Counseling and Human Relations Center, led it for four decades, and ultimately saw it officially renamed in his honor.
