Glenn Ricketts
	Professor, Political Science
	Humanities, Social Sciences & Education Department
	Office: S-339 Phone: 908-526-1200, Ext. 8372
	e-mail: grickett@raritanval.edu

Education

• Ph. D., University of Chicago
• M.A., Temple University
• B.A., Temple University

Educational Philosophy

Change and continuity are the most recurrent themes in my own educational experience as a teacher and as a student. A great deal has changed for instance, since the classics of Greek political philosophy were written more than 2000 years ago, yet Aristotle’s Politics never seem to become dated. Some issues, in other words seem to endure between various ages, civilizations and peoples, and can often provide a startling perspective for anyone who imagines that no one else may have come to similar crossroads.

Biographical Sketch

I have been teaching here at RVCC since the Fall of 1982, having previously taught at Triton College in Illinois, as I was pursuing graduate studies at the University of Chicago.  My dissertation was devoted to the US-Soviet Cold war relationship through five post WW II presidential administrations, as I sought to identify American views of Soviet motives during that lengthy confrontation.  Before I began teaching full time, I had a varied and highly instructive career as a forklift operator, material handler and warehouse foreman, as well as additional time as a short-order chef.  Very good opportunities to meet and mingle with a wide cross section of humanity, and an experience I value more and more as the years pass.  I am interested first and foremost in US foreign policy and international relations, but I have also continued to work in ancient and modern political theory, American government and politics, US Constitutional history and legal theory.  I also maintain an active interest in historical research, and have taught history at RVCC since I’ve been here.

Credit Courses Taught

• Introduction to Political Science
• American Government and Politics
• International Relations
• American Civilization I
• American Civilization II
• World Civilization II
• The Bill of Rights
• Comparative Government
• Global Patterns of Racism: Anthropological,Historical, and Literary Perspectives