Richard Gelm Richard Gelm, professor of political science, can proudly say that he has been to all 50 United States of America. And he has not just flown to them, he has driven through them, he will clarify. In addition to domestic travel, Gelm has visited about 15 foreign countries. One of his excursions outside the country was a trip to Cuba he took with a group of students from ULV. Through interdisciplinary core classes, Gelm has had the opportunity to combine politics with other subjects and travel to places like Cuba and Hawaii to learn about them. “To have an opportunity to immerse yourself in another culture is extraordinary,” he says, although he feels he really only gets to experience these places as a tourist because it is not really a vacation; it is a class and requires work. “History, politics, whatever it is, there’s a lot to be learned by being in the culture. That’s what makes it so exciting.” Gelm hopes to have the opportunity to set up more trips in the future. And while he says there is nothing planned as of yet, “I’m always game.” When it comes to traveling, Gelm loves to read about and then explore new places. “I love following my nose and seeing what comes up along the way,” he says, What often comes up is a sporting event. Gelm is a baseball fan, faithfully rooting for the San Diego Padres, for whom he owns partial season tickets. He enjoys living close enough to San Diego that he can catch frequent games. Although he says many of his students are Dodgers fans, and they have taken him to games. Also a fan of horse racing, Gelm attended the Kentucky Derby in 1999. “Charismatic won that year,” he remembers. “Paid $63. Unfortunately, I didn’t bet him.” Gelm has always loved politics and can remember discussing the topic at the dinner table growing up. Yet somehow when he got to college he decided to pursue math. “I always assumed, ‘how could you make a living with a politics degree?’” he says. But he ended up switching his major and returning to his passion. He says he has always known that he wanted to be a teacher. “I love teaching. It’s the best job in the world. I think I bring a lot of passion and excitement to it. I hope that will rub off on students; I hope my students pick up that I love my job.” Gelm admits he is a tough teacher who sets high standards, but says he does so with the students’ best interest in mind. “It’s to their benefit because if they don’t strive and reach for higher goals, they won’t succeed,” says Gelm, who wants to help his students reach that standard. Teaching American government and politics, Gelm finds political parties and interest groups to be his greatest interest. “The election process, to me, that’s where the excitement is,” he says. “The competition of the election season is exciting.” Gelm enjoys trying to figure out how and why people vote the way they do. “The issue of what it is that shapes people to think politically and the way they behave,” Gelm adds talking about an article he recently read on the brain and how people approach an issue which is often conditioned by an emotional state. “The idea of emotions and shaping the way people approach their politics is fascinating. I had always thought there was a connection.” Along with reading multiple newspapers a day, Gelm enjoys reading political science journals, books and texts to keep up with his field. When he finds something truly interesting, like the article on “The Evolutionary Thinking of Politics,” he is quick to copy it off and share it with his students. “This is a great place to teach,” Gelm says of La Verne. He loves the smaller class sizes and the liberal arts curriculum that provides students with a broad exposure. He also enjoys the ability to have friendships outside the political science department with professors in other disciplines. Gelm has been a student at La Verne himself, taking piano lessons for a year after a 30-year hiatus from the instrument. RETURN TO FACULTY LISTmailto:gelmr@ulv.edu?subject=HELLOHome.htmlshapeimage_1_link_1
Richard Gelm Click on the picture to send an e-mail