Ph.D., Emory University
Professor
Office: Living Learning Academic 128
Phone: (828) 262-2442
E-mail:
gerberle@appstate.edu
Leslie E. "Bud" Gerber is in his thirtieth year at Appalachian (Fall 2005). This comes as a surprise to him, for wasn't it just last week that he was donning catalpa-leaf underwear for yet another "End-of-Epoch Event" in the old United Nations curriculum?
He's still obsessed with obtaining an Arnold Schwarzenegger physique even though people urged him recently to audition for the Icabod Crane role in "Legends of Sleepy Hollow." The impression is setting in that the only thing he and Arnold really share is the ability to speak German.
Which brings us to the potentially limitless topic of Bud's roles and achievements. Besides coordinating the German Studies Program, he's still teaching in Watauga College , usually paired up with someone who is well organized. Recent courses include "Peoples of the Book: Historical and Contemporary Inquiries about Literacy, Communities and Texts"; "Silenced Voices: Restorative Justice and Human Rights"; "Everyday Ethics: Character, Conduct and Moral Vision(s) in Postmodern America," and "Hollywood Theology: Jewish and Christian Themes in Blockbuster Movies."
You've guessed that Bud is still part of the Anglican Underground in Interdisciplinary Studies, trying to turn Watauga into Jesus College . (Don't laugh! Jesus Colleges exist at Oxford and Cambridge , and Leighton Scott is Fellow of the latter.) Bud actually received a Master of Theological Studies degree from Duke University in 1997, which, while it confers no rights to preside over mysterious rites, does let him pretend that he can teach ethical and Biblical subjects.
Bud's latest big publication was "From Mengele to Kervorkian? The Significance of Nazi Euthanasia for the Contemporary Right-to-Die Debate," in Issues in Integrative Studies . His recent paper, "What Child Is This? Christian Parental Virtues and ADHD," will soon go out to The Anglican Theological Review .
"Dr. G." -- as he is called by the great Harry Williams -- is married to Ann Munch Gerber, a ESL and German teacher. He has four stepsons to go along with wonderful Noël McFadden-Gerber. Noël is in her third year of Medical School at UNC-Chapel Hill.
Bud still has a few memory cells left and thus urges alumni to write or call. They will get a response within twelve months -- for sure.
