Meet our FAST
Fellows:
Donald
W. Nobbs, PhD
Donald Nobbs graduated
from the Fielding Graduate University in 2011. His research led to the development of a new theory entitled The Theory of Collective Understanding. The dissertation focuses on rethinking our
understanding of the relationship between social integration and system
integration for the purpose of improving organizational practice.
His research interests
include practice-based research, real-world complexity, open systems thinking,
and cognition. All of these have
implications for group and organizational learning, and for the creation of new
forms of institutionalized practice.
Donald’s consulting
practice enables corporate agents to understand the internal dynamics and
indeterminate nature of organizational practice. Enabling corporate agents to adopt a dialogical approach for
working with experience itself, Donald nurtures their ability to discern and communicate
new possibilities for organizational practice in a different and expanded way.
Ayanna Lewis, MS
Ayanna L. Lewis obtained a B.A. degree in
psychology from
Rutgers University in 2008 and a M.S. degree in counseling psychology
from Capella University in 2010. She is currently employed as a case
manager for the Mental Health Association in which she teaches,
assesses, and develops recover plans for individuals severing from
persistent psychiatric illnesses. Ayanna lives in New Jersey and is
beginning a fellowship for the Foundation for the Advancement of Social
Theory (FAST). Her interest in the field of psychology includes
qualitative and quantitative research, counseling in a group and an
individual setting with various culturally diverse populations, and
enhancement in sports performance through team cohesion and personal
development.
Juan Arango, MS
Juan Arango, MS believes in the possibility of a better
world. He was born in
Fredonia, a small town near Medellin, Colombia. He has lived in
different cities and today resides in Miami, USA. A mechanical engineer,
he has two graduates degrees, one in Technology Management and another
in Industrial Engineering. Since he is always reflecting on the
possibilities of improving life, he has found through his work, by
looking to improve communication with his clients in the information
area, that the essence of every living being is the result of its
information creation ability. He calls this information creation
ability: informational ability, or infoability. Juan believes that
humankind has started to understand that we are one team, a big living
being--the humankind living being. He assures we will see great
developments if we can understand the liability that our uncivilized
animal instinct poses against the improvement of our relationships.
Keith Brown, EdD
Dr. Brown has more than 20 years of experience teaching
English, English as a Second Language, English as a Foreign Language and
as a Learning Assistance Specialist. His experience includes more than a decade
of teaching in Japan.
Dr. Brown earned his Ed.D. in Educational Leadership and
Change from Fielding Graduate University in 2004. He has an M.A. in Humanities
with a focus on EFL/ESL Teaching. He also carries certificates in TESOL
teaching and Learning Community and Facilitator Development, plus International
Tutoring Association Certification.
If you are interested
dramatically improving the social sciences while advancing your
own knowledge and publications, consider applying
for a FAST Fellowship.
FAST Fellows Overview
The Foundation for the Advancement of Social Theory (FAST)
welcomes your participation as we strive to understand, analyze, and
advance social theory within and between disciplines such as
psychology, sociology, business, policy, and more. In this section, we
will outline the main areas where Fellows might expect to work
(Administrative, Analytical, and Exploratory). Each of these areas is
critical to the success of FAST and the rapid advancement of the social
sciences.
ADMINISTRATIVE
This area includes a wide variety of technical,
communications,
and related activities needed to help FAST run effectively. Fellows in
this area, depending on their contract, might engage in web-building,
database support, developing and/or sustaining linkages between FAST
and other organizations, marketing (or, “spreading the meme”),
recruiting new Fellows, fundraising, strategic planning, editing,
publishing, and more.
The general goal of this section is to provide personal,
organizational, and infrastructure support for Fellows who are working
to analyze and advance theory.
The skills you develop and apply in this functional area
will
prove useful in your career as a scholar or practitioner. Consider this
an “open” organization where you have the opportunity to define your
own job – and support others as they work to help the body of theory in
the social sciences!
ANALYTICAL
Fellows working in this area are doing some of the “core”
work of
FAST by an analyzing social theory. Work here includes: choosing a
theory (or body of theory), conducting rigorous, scholarly, analyses of
the target theories, and writing the results for publishing in academic
journals and in the FAST database.
One goal of this area is to help Fellows become published
authors
in the academic literature – with all the learning and experience that
entails. We do this to support your growth and prestige as a scholar.
Another important goal is to build a storehouse of theories
(and
their analyses) that scholars may draw upon for their research and
practice. By providing these analyses, we are serving the global
community of scholars and practitioners – providing them with critical
information about which theories to use—and why.
Fellows wishing to work in this area should already have a
Master’s level of understanding in some field of social theory
(economics, psychology, sociology, etc.). Before beginning their
analyses, Fellows must demonstrate proficiency in one of two areas of
metatheory (construction and analysis).
Critical Qualitative/Quantitative Metatheoretical Analysis
Here, specific criteria are applied to the analysis of
individual
theories and bodies of theory to determine their complexity,
robustness, and other related measures. The goal is to conduct analyses
that are rigorous, quantitative, and repeatable.
Critical Metatheoretical Construction
Here, multiple theories are integrated to create an
overarching
metatheory that includes and subsumes the constituent theories. Here,
it is important to make only connections that are clearly implied by
existing theories.
Using the analytical tools of metatheory, the next step for
a
Fellow is to write a paper for publication in the academic literature.
Using the specific tools within the analytical or the constructive
approach (or perhaps both) Fellows will investigate a topic of their
own choosing. This will include: Scanning the literature to determine
relevant articles, Skimming those articles to find useful theories,
Deconstructing theories into causal propositions, Analyzing those
propositions, and writing the paper using a template provided for that
purpose. Fellow will identify appropriate journals, submit the paper,
receive feedback, and revise the paper as needed.
FAST cannot guarantee publication of your paper. However,
we want
you to be succeed and will work with you at every step of the way to
maximize your opportunity for success. Your published paper will
provide a benchmark – a milestone for the advancement of theory in your
topic. The results of your analysis will also be added to our
database—a resource for scholars and practitioners in your field.
EXPLORATORY
Fellows wishing to work in this area should contact the
director
with a research proposal. Even if you have the start of idea, we would
be glad to talk with you about it – we appreciate your creativity!
TO APPLY
If you are interested in becoming a Fellow at FAST, please
submit
a CV and letter of interest to the Contact link below. We look forward
to hearingfa from you.
