Hi! I'm Susan Joel. Until 2023 I served as professor of sociology and youth development at Springfield College for about 25 years. I've lived in a number of US states - NYC (my hometown), Michigan, SoCal, and Massachusetts.

I am a sociologist by training and also it's how I've always looked and and experienced the world. My goal is to help students see how useful a sociological imagination and worldview can be, especially in these unpredictable times. At ACN I usually teach Introduction to Sociology and Environmental Sociology. The third course is hopefully something that gets us all thinking about the world and our lives in new ways. Students can take intro and the other courses at the same time. 

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Some reflections on Norway ‍

Being able to live and work in Norway one semester each year has been such an amazing and unexpected gift. It's a beautiful country - I've traveled a bit and continue to be amazed by the geography, the architecture, and the allemannsretten - the right to roam. I have done a lot of roaming - walking miles around Moss and Jeloy, Oslo, and all the places I've traveled. I also am an avid bicyclist so I've roamed around on 2-wheels, too.

As a sociologist, I've been fascinated by the culture and how it shapes how the government works and how people live. The principal of janteloven (no one is special and bragging isn't cool) which is so different from the US where self-promotion is a way of life (the squeaky wheel gets the grease). Norway is a welcoming country and I'm very curious about how new immigrants are going to reshape these ideas and how people live their lives. The pragmatism of Norwegians offers hope that integration of new members of Norwegian society will be smooth.

Semester highlights

This year, I taught during the spring semester which meant that I arrived in January. Even though I live in New England, I'm not such a fan of really cold weather. I was also worried about how I would handle the fewer hours of sunlight. My preference will always be for the fall semester, but it wasn't as hard as I thought it might be. One highlight of the semester was the trip to Svalbard - it made being at ACN in the winter worth it. We didn't see the Northern Lights or any polar bears but it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I stayed at an old miners' camp, tromped around in the cold and wind, and learned a lot about Arctic Life.

One of the highlights of teaching at ACN is the diversity of students - the variety of countries represented and student experiences means that there is much to talk about, share, and compare. I learn so much!

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Things I like about Moss and Norway

What I like about Moss: I don't miss having a car. I can walk pretty much everywhere I need or want to go. Thrifting, The pastries. Galleri F15. Cafe culture. The funky ice cream shop in the shopping center where I can get vegan ice cream. The cine where they always have at least one English language film

What else I like about Norway: southern Norway is relatively small so it's quick into Oslo and I love going there for food, museums, and wandering. The transit system, how bike friendly it is. How people are out and about so you get to see lots of folks doing life, instead of in their cars.

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All of the reasons I love ACN

The small classes, the diversity of experiences everyone brings, the staff (yay to Krista, Heidi, and Siv!) and the faculty I get to hang out with. Relaxed lunches and Thursday teas. The commitment to student success and collaboration to ensure student success and positive experiences at ACN, in Moss, and in Norway.

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