It’s Monday, and its another edition of Meet A Deac! Today I am pleased to be introducing a faculty member from the Education department, Adam Friedman.

Adam, so glad to have you as this week’s Meet A Deac! Will you please tell me your job title? My title is Director of the Instructional Technology Group and Professor of Social Studies Education in the Department of Education.Wake Forest faculty and staff headshots, Tuesday, May 8, 2018.Adam Friedman, Education.

And how long have you worked at Wake? This is my 15th year.

Tell me about your educational background. I received my B.A. in Economics/Social Studies Education from SUNY Geneseo. Then I went to the University of Virginia, where I received my M.Ed. in Social Studies Education, and my Ph.D. in Instructional Technology/Social Studies Education.

How would you explain your job in layperson’s terms? I have two different roles: as Director of the Instructional Technology Group, I work with 13 amazing Instructional Technologists in different departments in the College as we work with faculty to support their teaching and research. I also teach several courses in social studies education and often teach a FYS (First Year Seminar) that I created about 10 years ago, called Sports, Culture, and Geography, which combines my passions of social studies and sports.

Speaking of teaching, I know that the COVID pandemic really stretched everyone in the classroom. Talk about that for a moment. The toughest challenge was teaching online; there is no substitute for in-person teaching in my opinion.

What do you like best about working at Wake Forest? Amazing students and wonderful colleagues. I also really enjoy that my spouse [Jackie Friedman of CLASS] works here as well, and we get to see each other frequently.

Do you have a favorite place on campus? The Quad; there is nothing like it on a spring day. It’s everything a college should be.Tulips bloom on Hearn Plaza, on the campus of Wake Forest University

Now let’s switch gears…what advice would you give our students if they asked you? Talk to your professors, ask questions!! We all want to help you succeed. My other piece of advice is to study abroad; you will learn a great deal about yourself living in another country.

Any advice for parents and families? The Wake community is truly caring, and your child will be supported!

Ready for the lightning round questions?

Book(s) you are reading nowStamped from the Beginning by Ibram X. Kendi.Stamped from the Beginning by Ibram Kendi (book cover)

Favorite music: I like it all! I’m from Long Island, so Billy Joel is a requirement I suppose, but I really do like everything!Billy Joel's Greatest Hits album cover

Favorite TV/movies/Netflix, etc.: Just finished Ted Lasso, which I loved. I also really like Line of Duty.Ted Lasso

Websites you frequentNew York TimesESPNmets.com

What’s an indulgence you really love? Ben & Jerry’s ice cream; I could eat a pint a night!Ben & Jerry's ice cream logo

Introvert or Extrovert? Definitely extrovert.

Something most people don’t know about you: I think most people know I am married, we have three awesome sons and an especially sweet golden retriever, and that I love all sports and particularly like to play tennis. What some people may not know is that I’m a first generation American. My mother is from England, so I have been there many times. My absolute favorite experience at Wake was teaching at the Worrell House in London and helping students immerse themselves in English culture by studying British and American schooling.

Many thanks to you, Adam, for all you to do help our students have an exceptional education – in and out of the classroom!

Reminder to all – the Meet A Deac archive is here.

– by Betsy Chapman, Ph.D. (’92, MA ’94)

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