Date:         Mon, 9 Jun 1997 15:50:08 CDT
From: Jackson Jeffrey A <C215RGR@SEMOVM.SEMO.EDU>
Subject:      FILL: My Bio, For what it's worth

So I noticed that it is customary to introduce one's self to this list
when a person first joins it.  I didn't.  Sorry.  I didn't notice until
after I had already been a part of the list for these past few weeks
and had already made submissions, etc.  I hope it's not too late.  Here
goes:

My name is Jeffrey Jackson (not Jackson, Jeffrey A).  I am currently
employed as a half-time administrator/half-time instructor at Southeast
Missouri State University, though my contract will be over as of the
end of July and funding is such that I will not be rehired for the
upcoming year.  In other words, I just found out that I lost my job.

It's all part of what has been a pretty stress-filled year:
Lost my job.
Marriage broke up after 22 years.
My father died after a long battle with senile dementia.

I'm thinking of relocating to St. Louis because there's nothing where
I am now and no real reason for me to stay, but then again I'll have to
find a job.

I have worked in academia for about 11 years, first as a grad assistant,
then as an instructor of English as a second language, then in my
present position, where I have taught literature, critical thinking,
and world religions.

During this past year (even in the midst of all the stress) I returned
to one of my first loves--acting.  I was on stage for the first time
in 13 years and had the male lead in two of the three plays I was in.
This summer I will be performing with a troupe of actors as we present
two (count 'em two) Shakespearean plays over the local public radio
station.  I will be playing Prospero in The Tempest and role(s) yet to
be determined in The Taming of the Shrew.  It should be fun.  Actually,
I got back to acting because I have been working on writing plays.  I
have one full length play finished and one one-act.  I am at work on a
second full-length, but have gotten distracted by writing other things--
like letters for a job, resumes, etc.  I've also been at work on a novel
of which I have completed the first 100 pages, more or less.

While doing doctoral work, I had the good fortune to work with Richard
Russo, whose fourth novel, _Straight Man_ was just published.  Rick
has also written _Mohawk_, _The Risk Pool_, and _Nobody's Fool_, which
was made into a film, starring Paul Newman.  I've only just started
reading his latest, but it seems great so far.  He was a wonderful
teacher and a helluva nice guy.

My background is rather odd.  I have a undergraduate degree with a
double major in philosophy and religion, a Master's degree in
theology, a Master's degree in English, and am ABD in twentieth cent.
American Literature, my dissertation on the use of the apocalyptic in
the fiction of Walker Percy.  Maybe someday I'll actually finish it.

I have had a few things published, mainly poetry, in The Cape Rock,
Phase and Cycle, and Studies in Contemporary Satire.  I've also had
a couple of notes published in The Explicator and had one accepted
for publication in English Language Notes.

That's my life, such as it is.  Thanks for letting me join the list.
I've been enjoying it (well, most of it) so far.

Enough!

Yours, etc.,

Jackson
Yours, etc.,

Jackson