Frederick L. Jenks
Encyclopedia
Frederick L. "Rick" Jenks is a professor emeritus at Florida State University
(FSU), having joined the faculty in 1971. As a member of the faculty of the College of Education, he designed and directed the internationally-recognized doctoral and master's programs in Teaching English as a Second/Foreign Languages (TESL/TEFL), which he led for more than twenty years. Jenks served as major advisor for fifty doctoral dissertations and more than 300 master's degree
recipients. He founded and directed The Center for Intensive English Studies (CIES) at FSU from 1979 to 2002. Presently, he's an adjunct professor at Flagler College
, a Fulbright Senior Specialist, a legal expert witness in second language assessment and an advocate in the Florida legislature for public-school English language learners.
In 1982, he designed and directed the first MA-TESOL program delivered by an American university totally outside the United States
. Sponsored by ARAMCO, the Saudi Arabian oil company, the innovative program graduated 72 students during the five-year contract. He and Dr. James D. Brown, the program coordinator, were assisted by numerous TESOL experts including Drs. Stephen Gaies, Thomas Buckingham and David Eskey.
campus in the Panama Canal Zone which, via a long-term contract with the U.S. Department of Defense, served as the Canal Zone's primary university, offering degree programs to military personnel and families, Canal Zone employees and residents, and Panamanian citizens. His mission was to seek ways for the university to continue operations after the reversion of the Canal Zone to the Republic of Panama in late 1999. The politically sensitive goal was achieved with support from the President and Legislative Assembly of Panama, USAID, Panamanian alumni and the U.S. Embassy. Former U.S. Ambassador to Panama, Simon Ferro, stated in 2000 that "The largest remaining U.S. footprints in the Republic of Panama are the Embassy and Florida State University-Panama." Jenks was instrumental in acquiring from the Panamanian government exclusive use of the former campus of the Panama Canal College, formerly the Canal Zone's community college. Today, FSU-Panama is chartered as a private Panamanian university, offering degree programs under an academic accord with FSU.
His professional writing can be found in journals ranging from Classical Outlook to TESOL Journal, and in numerous books, festschrift and anthologies. A popular speaker, Jenks has delivered over 100 keynote addresses and papers at international and national conferences.
A former member of the Executive Board of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages
(ACTFL, NAFSA-ATESL, and Chairman (1978) of the Southern Conference on Language Teaching, Jenks served on numerous committees of TESOL (Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages), most recently as a founding member of TESOL International Research Foundation (TIRF). From 1987 to 2004, he was actively engaged as a member of several ETS-TOEFL committees including the Policy Council, Research Committee and TSE revision committee.
As an Academic Specialist for the U.S. Department of State, Jenks completed three assignments in the former Yugoslavia
(1983, 1984, 1989) and one in East Germany (1991). In 1987, he was chosen as the first U.S. TEFL professor to offer in-service teacher training in the former Czechoslovakia
in 31 years of USSR occupation. That same year, he was appointed Distinguished Visitng Professor of English and International Studies at the University of Tennessee, Martin. In 1993,he was selected as a Fulbright Senior Scholar at Universidad Autonoma de Heredia, Costa Rica
, thereafter joining and chairing the Fulbright EFL Selection Committee.
Jenks was awarded the Ph.D. by Wayne State University
, having previously earned a Master of Arts degree from Case Western Reserve University
(1966) and the Bachelor of Arts in Modern Languages from Grove City College
in 1963. Jenks received the Heinle & Heinle Award for Excellence in Teaching from the Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) in 2002.
Florida State University
The Florida State University is a space-grant and sea-grant public university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a comprehensive doctoral research university with medical programs and significant research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation...
(FSU), having joined the faculty in 1971. As a member of the faculty of the College of Education, he designed and directed the internationally-recognized doctoral and master's programs in Teaching English as a Second/Foreign Languages (TESL/TEFL), which he led for more than twenty years. Jenks served as major advisor for fifty doctoral dissertations and more than 300 master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
recipients. He founded and directed The Center for Intensive English Studies (CIES) at FSU from 1979 to 2002. Presently, he's an adjunct professor at Flagler College
Flagler College
Flagler College, is a private four-year liberal arts college in St. Augustine, Florida, USA and celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2008.The college has been named in recent years by US News & World Report as one of the southeast region's best comprehensive liberal arts colleges, and is included on...
, a Fulbright Senior Specialist, a legal expert witness in second language assessment and an advocate in the Florida legislature for public-school English language learners.
In 1982, he designed and directed the first MA-TESOL program delivered by an American university totally outside the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Sponsored by ARAMCO, the Saudi Arabian oil company, the innovative program graduated 72 students during the five-year contract. He and Dr. James D. Brown, the program coordinator, were assisted by numerous TESOL experts including Drs. Stephen Gaies, Thomas Buckingham and David Eskey.
Panama Canal Branch
From late 1996 through 2000, he was the Director of Florida State University Panama Canal BranchFlorida State University Panama Canal Branch
Florida State University-Panama, or FSU-Panama is one of FSU's international campuses located on the isthmus of Panama. FSU has operating a broad curriculum program in Panama City of the Republic of Panama for over 50 years...
campus in the Panama Canal Zone which, via a long-term contract with the U.S. Department of Defense, served as the Canal Zone's primary university, offering degree programs to military personnel and families, Canal Zone employees and residents, and Panamanian citizens. His mission was to seek ways for the university to continue operations after the reversion of the Canal Zone to the Republic of Panama in late 1999. The politically sensitive goal was achieved with support from the President and Legislative Assembly of Panama, USAID, Panamanian alumni and the U.S. Embassy. Former U.S. Ambassador to Panama, Simon Ferro, stated in 2000 that "The largest remaining U.S. footprints in the Republic of Panama are the Embassy and Florida State University-Panama." Jenks was instrumental in acquiring from the Panamanian government exclusive use of the former campus of the Panama Canal College, formerly the Canal Zone's community college. Today, FSU-Panama is chartered as a private Panamanian university, offering degree programs under an academic accord with FSU.
Works
He was founding editor of the quarterly American Foreign Language Teacher from 1969–74, edited twenty books and monographs on language education for Advancement Press of America, and served as editor of Heinle & Heinle's Foreign and Second Language Education series from 1978-81.His professional writing can be found in journals ranging from Classical Outlook to TESOL Journal, and in numerous books, festschrift and anthologies. A popular speaker, Jenks has delivered over 100 keynote addresses and papers at international and national conferences.
A former member of the Executive Board of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages
American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages
The American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages is an American organization aiming to improve and expand the teaching and learning of all languages at all levels of instruction...
(ACTFL, NAFSA-ATESL, and Chairman (1978) of the Southern Conference on Language Teaching, Jenks served on numerous committees of TESOL (Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages), most recently as a founding member of TESOL International Research Foundation (TIRF). From 1987 to 2004, he was actively engaged as a member of several ETS-TOEFL committees including the Policy Council, Research Committee and TSE revision committee.
As an Academic Specialist for the U.S. Department of State, Jenks completed three assignments in the former Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
(1983, 1984, 1989) and one in East Germany (1991). In 1987, he was chosen as the first U.S. TEFL professor to offer in-service teacher training in the former Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
in 31 years of USSR occupation. That same year, he was appointed Distinguished Visitng Professor of English and International Studies at the University of Tennessee, Martin. In 1993,he was selected as a Fulbright Senior Scholar at Universidad Autonoma de Heredia, Costa Rica
Costa Rica
Costa Rica , officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east....
, thereafter joining and chairing the Fulbright EFL Selection Committee.
Jenks was awarded the Ph.D. by Wayne State University
Wayne State University
Wayne State University is a public research university located in Detroit, Michigan, United States, in the city's Midtown Cultural Center Historic District. Founded in 1868, WSU consists of 13 schools and colleges offering more than 400 major subject areas to over 32,000 graduate and...
, having previously earned a Master of Arts degree from Case Western Reserve University
Case Western Reserve University
Case Western Reserve University is a private research university located in Cleveland, Ohio, USA...
(1966) and the Bachelor of Arts in Modern Languages from Grove City College
Grove City College
Grove City College is a Christian liberal arts college in Grove City, Pennsylvania, about north of Pittsburgh. According to the College Bulletin, its stated three-fold mission is to provide an excellent education at an affordable price in a thoroughly Christian environment...
in 1963. Jenks received the Heinle & Heinle Award for Excellence in Teaching from the Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) in 2002.