PrepNow Tutor - Dick R.
Dick earned his undergraduate degree in philosophy from Adelphi University, where he was a member of the Philosophy Honor Society. He also studied Biology and Chemistry at Villanova University, where he was in the Pre-Med Honor Society. He received his MEd and PhD (ABD) with a Physiology major and Cardiology subspecialty from Temple University. He later earned an MBA in Management and Finance from Temple.
After completing his education, Dick started and grew four health services companies, the largest having 300 employees. He was elected vice president and then president of the Association for Worksite Health Promotion, the international professional organization to which he belongs. He represented that organization working with the U.S. House and Senate during President Clinton's Healthcare Reform initiative of the 1990's. He was also a founding member of two other healthcare organizations involved in research and lobbying. He has served as a member of the Board of Directors for seven organizations, both non-profit and for-profit.
Dick's experience in teaching, training and mentoring spans more than three decades. He loves working with young people and describes himself as both intellectually inquisitive and results-oriented. He started teaching Philosophy during his first undergraduate degree. When he did his second undergraduate degree, he tutored fellow students in Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy, Inorganic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry and Histology. While doing his graduate work in Physiology, he taught Human Anatomy, Human Physiology, Cardiology and Exercise Physiology to undergraduate, graduate and medical students. He has been an adjunct professor in Physiology at both Temple University and the University of Wisconsin.
As a business executive, he has mentored numerous individuals in a variety of business areas. During his business career, he has run the training for the International Health Insurance Division of a major insurance company. As a tutor for our sister company, StudyPoint, since 2006, Dick has taught academics and standardized test programs for students from 4th grade through graduate school.
"I feel that it is critical to make a connection with students and understand how they learn best," he says. He likes to teach in the Socratic style by asking students a series of questions designed to lead them to the answer. "An integral part of this process is 'constructive struggle,' which requires students to work at finding the answers," he says. "It is critical to get students engaged and an active part of the learning process." In the same way, Dick emphasizes the importance of holding students accountable for completing work, which he does--"in a non-Draconian fashion."
In high school and college, Dick was active in sports, student government and Boy Scouts. In high school, he ran track for one year and wrestled and played football all four years. He was the wrestling team co-captain. In college, he wrestled, and played football and lacrosse for all four years. He was the #2 wrestler in New England at the AAU Championships and played one pre-season of pro football! He also tried crew for two years while earning his second undergraduate degree. In Boy Scouts, he earned his Eagle Scout award.
Dick's varied interests now include canoeing, sailing, hiking, mountaineering, camping, gardening, and furniture refinishing. Fun fact: He started his first business at the age of 8! He designed, created and sold Christmas wreathes and garlands, and made $100 to $150 each Christmas season--"which was a lot of money for an 8-year-old!"
