GEORGE PAYNE Phone: 585-703-9230 george@gandhiearthkeepers.org
1026 Exchange St Rochester, NY
EDUCATION MTS Emory University, Philosophy of Religion Thesis: Bob Dylan and the Jewish-Christian Polemic Director: Dr. Stephen Kraftchick
May 2009
MA
Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School, Systematic Theology Thesis: A Whiteheadian Interpretation of the Book of Revelation Advisor: Dr. Melanie May
May 2006
BA
St. John Fisher College, History of Philosophy First Generation Scholar Minored in American History
May 2004
HONORS, AWARDS AND GRANTS NY Council for the Humanities Community Conversation Grant
2015
NY Council for the Humanities Reading and Discussion Series Grant
2013
Community Service for Peace Award to the M.K. Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence staff from the Center for Dispute Settlement. 2012 The U.S. President’s Volunteer Service Award presented by the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation. 2010 Department of the Treasury Outstanding Public Service Award granted through the SPEC (Stakeholder Partnerships, Education and Communication) VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly Programs. 2007 Winthrop S. Hudson Award for Academic Excellence and Teaching Potential, Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School, 2006 Fannie Constantino First Generation Scholarship, St. John Fisher College,
2000
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TEACHING EXPERIENCE Finger Lakes Community College, Canandaigua, NY May 2011 to present Adjunct Professor, Humanities Department • Taught Introduction to Philosophy, an undergraduate course averaging 20 students per semester, covering the following topics: Metaphysics, Logic, Epistemology, Ethics • Developed quizzes, exams, and homework • Revised the syllabus to meet accreditation standards • Taught Philosophy of Religion, an undergraduate course averaging 20 students per semester, covering the following topics: Theism, Evil, Miracles, Myth, The Afterlife • Taught Moral Philosophy, an undergraduate course averaging 20 students per semester, covering the following topics: Social Contract, Utilitarianism, Deontology, Feminism, Virtue Ethics M.K. Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence, Rochester, NY May 2010 to July 2014 Peace and Justice Educator • Taught The Philosophy of Nonviolence, a public seminar averaging 10 people, covering the following topics: War and Peace, Mohandas Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jr., Nonviolence Movements • Screened films, designed interactive activities, and delivered lectures Advisees Joseph Gardella (University of Rochester) Kauffman Entrepreneurial Year (KEY) Fatima Bawany (University of Rochester) Gandhi Service Fellowship Ling Rao (University of Rochester) Gandhi Service Fellowship Ola Oladoyin (University of Rochester) Meliora Leaders Program Husain Bawany (St. John Fisher College) Gandhi Service Fellowship
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PRESENTATIONS AND INVITED LECTURES Presented at the Arnett Public Library in Rochester, NY. March 2015. Climate Change and the Age of Miracles Presented at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Amherst monthly “Green Cuisine” night. Amherst, NY, February 2015 Presented at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Rochester, NY. The Fight for a Homeless Bill of Rights Presented at the 2014 Iona College Keynote Address at “St Francis Day.” Gandhi and Francis: Two Spiritual Masters Who Talked to Animals Presented at the 2013 Peace and Justice Studies Association Conference at Waterloo, Ontario. Interfaith and Principled Nonviolence Presented at the 2012 SUNY Brockport Diversity Conference: “Understanding Religious Diversity through Interfaith Dialogue”. Keynote speaker at the 2011 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Celebration at Hobart William Smith Colleges, Geneva, NY. “Goodman Street Talks” at Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinty School, Rochester, NY, March, 2008. PROFESSIONAL TRAINING
The Hickey Center for Interfaith Dialogue at Nazareth College, Rochester, NY 2012 Train the Trainers: Understanding World Religions and Interfaith Relations. The Center for Nonviolence at the University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 2011 Introduction to Kingian Nonviolence Five Day Core Curriculum Monroe Community College, Rochester, NY 2010 Mentors in Violence Prevention: Campus Leadership Initiative Training M.K. Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence at the University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 2010 Advanced Training in Nonviolent Communication
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Emory University, Decatur, Georgia 2009 Introduction to Nonviolent Communication Seminar Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School, Rochester, New York 2006 Independent study with Dr. Kenneth Cauthen University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 2004 Philosophy of Free Will with Dr. Richard Feldman SUNY Brockport, Brockport, NY 2003 Creative Writing Workshop with Dr. Stanley Rubin PROFESSIONAL SERVICE Board Member of the Interfaith Alliance of Rochester Active trustee, 2014-present M.K. Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence at the University of Rochester Peace and Nonviolence Educator, 2009 – 2014 Associate Program Coordinator, 2009 – 2014 Rochester Americorps, Rochester, NY Member 2009-2010 Summer Internship through the Center for Teaching and Learning at Finger Lakes Community College. June 2013, Rochester, NY. Coordinated First Annual “Sacred Texts and Human Contexts” Symposium at the Hickey Center for Interfaith Studies and Dialogue. Panelist at Haverford College’s Collection Committee forum on “Hydrafracking.” December 8, 2012. Presenter at the College at Brockport’s 12th Annual Diversity Conference “Building Community Through Diversity.” September, 2012 Delegate, 8th Annual Gandhi-King Conference on Peacemaking: A Living Movement Toward a World of Peace, Solidarity and Justice at Christian Brothers University. October 21-23, 2011, Memphis, TN Delegate, International Peace & War Summit convened by the Inamori International Center for Ethics and Excellence at Case Western Reserve University. October 25-October 30, 2010
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COMMUNITY SERVICE Educator, Children’s Defense Fund Freedom School at Charles Lundsford School #19, Rochester, NY (Summer 2013) Organizer, Davis Project for Peace “Voices for Hope” Leadership Retreat, Rochester, NY (Summer 2013) “Make Peace, Don’t Frack” International Day of Peace Rally in Cobbs Hill Park, Rochester, NY. September, 2012 Americans Who Tell the Truth art exhibit in the Link Gallery at the Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County. January 30-April 4, 2011 Facilitator of the M.K. Gandhi Institute Fall Intensive at the University of Rochester, November 10-12, 2011. Facilitator at the Rochester Chapter of the Sierra Club’s Annual Environmental Forum at First Unitarian Church in Rochester, NY. April 22, 2010. “Growing Together” Community Gardening Conference at Rochester City Hall on January 16, 2009. Organizer and moderator of the First Poverty Truth Commission in the history of Rochester, NY. Sponsored by Poor People United at Colgate Rochester Crozer School of Divinity. December 17, 2005. Internship with the Rochester Democratic Headquarters, Rochester, NY. Worked in Hillary Clinton’s New York State Campaign headquarters on East Avenue in downtown Rochester, NY. Prepared press releases and helped videotape some media events. LANGUAGES English: Native Language Koine Greek: Intermediate Reading and Writing COMPUTER SKILLS Microsoft Word
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Microsoft Publisher Microsoft Office PowerPoint Constant Contact E-mail Marketing Windows Movie Maker ACADEMIC COURSEWORK (Note: I have not cross-listed courses that fall into more than one category. Each course is listed only under its primary category.) Ethics, Moral Psychology, and Political Philosophy William James: S 2009: Dr. James Snarey Psychology of Moral Development: S 2009: Dr. James Snarey Literature on Trial: F 2009: Dr. Shoshana Felman Dietrich Bonheoffer: S 2008: Dr. Noel Erskine Wisdom Literature: S 2008: Dr. Carole Newsome New Testament Ethics: F 2006: Dr. Gay Bryon Introduction to Political Philosophy: S 2003: Dr. Tim Madigan History of Philosophy Aquinas’ Summa Contra Gentiles: S 2008: Dr. Jack Zupko Augustine, Kant, and Wittgenstein: S 2008: Dr. David Pacini The Reality of God: A History of the Ontological Argument: F 2008: Dr. David Pacini Philosophy of Education: F 2004: Dr. David White Renaissance Philosophy: F 2004: Dr. Charles Natoli Medieval Philosophy: F 2003: Dr. Charles Natoli Ancient Greek Philosophy: F 2003: Dr. Charles Natoli Language, Logic, Metaphysics, and Philosophy of Science Philosophy of Time: F 2009: Dr. Stephen Kraftchick (Colloquium) Interfaith Conversations about Process Theology: F 2009: Dr. Thee Smith Philosophy of Alfred North Whitehead: F 2006: Dr. Kenneth Cauthen (Independent Study) Koine Greek: F 2005: Rev. Robert Hill Philosophy of Science: S 2004: Dr. Robert Brimlow Symbolic Logic: F 2004: Dr. Charles Natoli Epistemology and Philosophy of Mind Free Will: F 2002: Dr. Richard Feldman
REFERENCES Melanie May Professor of Systematic Theology Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School Rochester, NY mmay@crds.edu Harry Murray Professor and Chair Nazareth College
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Hmurray9@naz.edu 585-389-2700 *Stephanie SauvĂŠ Dean of Women and Gender Studies Professor of Systematic Theology Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School 585-340-9589 ssauve@crcds.edu
*Jon Palzer Associate Professor of English Finger Lakes Community College 585-785-1224 Jon.Palzer@flcc.edu
Muhamma Shafiq Executive Director in the Hickey Center for Interfaith Studies and Dialogue Professor in Religious Studies 585-389-2963 Mshafiq5@naz.edu
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