Some more things about me
One of my favorite smells is burning biomass. The Ohio River runs through my veins. And, no matter how far I travel, the hills of Kentucky are never too far away. I don’t meditate by sitting in silence and listening to my breath. I dig holes. I know how to sweat. The best compliment that I’ve ever received was when a student told me that I was “10 pounds of cool in a 5 pound bag.” I believe that the combination of solitude, manual labor, and doing hard things the hard way is a gateway to self-enlightenment. I’m suspicious of power tools and labor-saving devices. Successfully dodging water from a sprinkler still puts a smile on my face. One of my life goals is to earn the descriptor of “wise elder”. My current anthem is “Glory” by Maverick Sabre. I garden (native perennials are my specialty), build obstacle courses, and throw projectiles (knives, axes, and spears). I’m still trying figure out the why of the last one. I like things simple and understated. I like to get to the point. Hence this website’s austere look and feel. I repeatedly whisper two mantras to myself throughout the day of every day:
- “Trust your life”
- “Quietly create something beautiful”
There are times (possibly too many) that I believe that my wounds are the only wounds. I need good people around me to keep me in check. Watching a dog jump into the back of a truck is one of the most glorious sights to behold. I collect fitness tests, pump up songs and generous adjectives. And, finally, one question that’s always on my mind is “How can I wring as much humanity out of this 5 foot 8 inch frame?”
My Blog
I believe good things can come from radical transparency. That is, being vulnerable and sharing one’s insecurities, darkness, and shame. My blog is where I do all of that. It is where I explore my humanity, trek into my inner-life, and scrutinize my decisions to live this life as a teacher, father, mentor and a man. I also write to give halftime speeches, articulate my personal pedagogy called Rewilding, and explore the Do’s and Don’ts of being a Do-Gooder. I stagger from topic to topic. Sometimes manual labor. Sometimes gardening. Every once in a while I’ll get a bit fiery (see here, here and here). Otherwise, my writing is pretty contemplative.
You can hear my voice by listening to these interviews:
- “Tribal Teaching and Creating a Culture of Commitment in the Classroom” (Economic Rockstar Podcast)
- “How to Start Massive Online Social Good Movements (with $50 or less)” (Shin Fujiyama Podcast)
- “Two Dollar Challenge|WVTF” (Here and Now|Radio IQ)
- “The Do-Gooder Industrial Complex” (The Good Problem Podcast)
Here’s my biography
Born and raised in North Bend, OH, I earned my BA in Economics from Earlham College (Richmond, IN), my MA in Economics at Virginia Commonwealth University (Richmond, VA), and after having read Douglass C. North’s Institutions, Institutional Change, and Economic Performance I headed to Washington University in St. Louis to study under Doug. Doug would go on to my dissertation advisor for my PhD in Economics.
My first position was in the Economics Department at California State University San Marcos. My wife Kyra and I lived in San Diego (specifically, Hillcrest). When we got pregnant with our son Dillon, we headed to Virginia to be with family. We live in Richmond. Most of my free time is spent in the garden (my specialty is native perennials) and building obstacle courses.
I am currently an Associate Professor of Economics at the University of Mary Washington, founder of the Two Dollar Challenge and author of the Sidekick Manifesto. I am also currently on the Board of Directors of Students Helping Honduras and a judge and board member of the Social Impact Media Awards.
I am the past founder of La Ceiba Microfinance, the Month of Microfinance, and the Poverty Action Conference. I am also a former Clinton Global Initiative University mentor, an Opportunity Collaboration alum, a 2014 Feast on Good Speaker and the da Vinci Center’s first Change-Maker in Residence at Virginia Commonwealth University (2018).
Here’s my 3rd Person Biography
Shawn (aka the Blue Collar Professor) is the founder of IMAGINE U, the Two Dollar Challenge, and author of the Sidekick Manifesto. His blog explores issues facing social innovators and entrepreneurs. He challenges the conventional wisdom of social entrepreneurialism with his Do’s and Don’ts for Do-Gooders and motivates do-gooders with his Half-time Speeches. At the core of Shawn’s philosophy is his Rewilding Pedagogy – a unique pedagogy that’s hell bent on transforming his students into change-making animals.
So, that’s me. Maybe not in 5 minutes. Maybe, more like 7 minutes.
Questions or comments? Send me an email: shumphre@umw.edu.
