 "Photo:")
Papers are scattered on a desk, almost, but not quite covering pictures of family, friends, and students. A book on the history and roots of jazz sits on an adjacent seat. Two framed Monet prints adorn the walls. On the edge of the desk is a framed photo of a group of Perspectives I students.
Sometimes one's personal space can represent the facets of life that are the most integral to existence.This certainly is the case with professor Brian Braman. The things he holds as important to him are represented in his office in a way that highlights his priorities.
For more than a decade, Professor Braman has been teaching here in the philosophy department at Boston College.
Before he received his Ph.D. in philosophy, professor Braman pursued a variety of interests. He has lived all over the United States, from Wyoming to California, and has gone through many vocational phases.
He has worked as an assistant sales manager, and his resume includes things as varied as time spent in military service with the Army Security Agency. During his time in the military, Braman took his first philosophy course through the University of Maryland. He remembers, "I really didn't like it all that much, and I swore I would never take another philosophy class at long as I lived."
Now, it is this same professor who is the director of his own philosophy program, Perspectives, a series of courses that are offered for six credits each.
Braman has also taught Capstone and Philosophy of the Person. All of the courses that professor Brian Braman teaches are inspirational, thought provoking, and, shall we say, philosophical. As the director of the Perspectives Program here at BC, Braman has created this course to reflect some of his personal interests and passions.
"I love jazz and classical music, and I actually teach a class on it," Braman responded when asked about his interests outside of the classroom. He is refering to his course, Perspectives II Modernism and the Arts, which focuses on modern literature and integrates some art and jazz. In addition to Perspectives II, Braman has also taught Perspectives I and IV.
Besides his love of music, Braman is, as he mentions so enthusiastically, a "golf fiend." He also enjoys movies, going to the theater with his wife, and reading. The latter comes as no surprise when one views the packed bookshelves in his office in 21 Campanella Way.
He participates in Halftime and leads BC's Silent Retreat. Braman regards retreats as an important part of what he does outside the classroom, and considers the Halftime retreat to "come at a time when students are seeing how life unfolds."
College proves to be a tumultuous and chaotic time in the lives of many students, and it is seldom that they have the time or the energy to reflect on their experiences. Halftime provides the opportunity for these reflections, and as a Halftime MC, Braman is able to "be present to students outside of the classroom," and guide them by his own example and experience.
In addition to Halftime, Braman is involved with leading a Silent Retreat over the winter break.
Professor Braman "sympathizes with the struggle of college students," and feels that he relates to these retreats directly.
He views them as a part of "a long tradition of being educated by Jesuits" that he has retained from Gonzaga University, Gregorian University in Rome, and BC. It is clear that Braman's love of philosophy transcends the classroom to his personal life.
"If I could be any superhero, it would have to be Batman as played by Michael Keaton. He was a person who really understood both sides of the good and evil conflict." says Braman.
While professor Brian Braman may not own a bat mobile, he is no doubt regarded as another kind of superhero to those who know him as a philosopher, educator, husband, and mentor.
Be the first to comment on this article!