By Christian Berry
CCC Journalism Program
BLACKWOOD – This school year, Camden County College History/Political Science/Philosophy Department Professor Jennifer Hoheisel will be celebrating her 13th year of teaching at CCC.
Professor Jennifer Hoheisel is a professor in Camden County College’s History/Political Science/Philosophy Department. By Christian Berry, CCC Journalism Program
After reading The Miracle Worker, the story of teacher Anne Sullivan and her educational work with Helen Keller, Hoheisel was inspired to pursue a career as an educator. In 1983, Hoheisel completed her undergraduate program at the College of William and Mary before attending St. John’s College Annapolis and graduating with a master’s degree in liberal arts in 1989.
“It was at St. John’s College where I fell in love with philosophy,” states Hoheisel.
It was in 1989 when she began teaching at Trinity Washington University. In 2000 Hoheisel concluded her student journey by graduating from Georgetown University with a master’s degree in philosophy and began teaching at CCC.
While Hoheisel has taught at numerous colleges and universities – Wittenberg, Villanova, Rowan – she has a deep devotion to CCC. Hoheisel is the director of the CCC honors program, which she founded six years ago. Every October, Hoheisel organizes and conducts transfer/financial aid workshops at CCC to help students gain a better understanding of how to fund and plan for their education. In 2010, Hoheisel was granted the CCC Lindback Award for her teaching excellence and contributions at CCC.
Additionally, Hoheisel is the coordinator of the Autism Initiative offered through the college’s Center for Civic Leadership and Responsibility. The initiative presents a variety of autism-related talks for educators and families with members with autism spectrum disorders or ASDs on the Blackwood and Camden campuses.
“We hope to pool our knowledge and help each other,” says Hoheisel, who has a child with autism. Hoheisel is also the president of the Southwest New Jersey chapter of the National Autism Society.
Hoheisel’s devotion to CCC includes a deep commitment to the Camden campus.
“The high school I graduated from was one of five schools involved in the landmark Brown vs. Board of Education case,” explains Hoheisel, “I witnessed an excessive amount of educational and opportunity inequalities, which are unfortunately still relevant today.” These inequalities motivated Hoheisel to dedicate herself to CCC’s Camden campus, where she remains actively involved.
While Hoheisel keeps busy through coordinating events and teaching courses, she also plans to develop an updated version of the philosophy of religion course offered at CCC.