Paul-Rene Tamburro

Department Chairperson

Paul René joined the Indiana State University community in August 2012. He has taught at and been Director or Chair in the academy for over 20 years. Paul René is involved with many diverse communities cross-culturally especially the Amerindian and Hispanic. He is enrolled in Abenaki (Vermont) First Nation. He taught and been field student instructor in Social Work programs since 1990 in both the Canada and the USA. He has several graduate degrees including a PhD (IU –Anthropology), an MSW (Salem State University) and an MA (UNH – Social Linguistics and Refugee Programs). During the 1970’s and 1980’s his work included employment in addictions, child welfare, immigrant / refugee services, school social work, developmental disabilities and mental health. During the 1990’s and 2000’s he maintained clinical and consultant direct practices. He is a parent of a biological child, is an adoptive parent of two and a grandparent of four.

Teaching philosophy and practice

My teaching philosophy and practice utilizes a combination of methods such as lecture, multi-media (video/DVD and internet based), community based learning opportunities, and the incorporation of multicultural themes. For the past several years I have increased my use of the internet and distance education including the development of an online course for WebCT / Blackboard. I prefer to center learning on the needs of individual students as much as possible in the various settings I have taught.

I also believe in empowering students to make choices based on their own goals and encourage them to choose their own projects to meet academic expectations. I enjoy working with individual students around their learning goals and abilities. In a classroom-based learning environment, I attempt to combine lecture with discussion, multimedia, and community-based activities through fieldtrips, guest speakers and experiential “hands on” learning when possible. I use several forms of evaluation including exams to encourage students to read the material. Also, I use creative essay writing, research papers, reading reflections, and individual and group class presentations and projects to demonstrate knowledge of classroom material.

I find it valuable to involve students with research and service projects in community settings and including research with Native American, Hispanic and Asian communities. Distance education has been part of my teaching experience and I feel it has created opportunities for students who do not have regular access to campus-based education. When possible, I also enjoy working collaboratively with other faculty in team teaching or co-teaching models, especially in courses that have community-based components.

COURSES TAUGHT (University of St. Francis, Joliet Illinois)

Human Behavior and the Social Environment, Social Work Practice III: Social Work Practice with Communities, Social Work in a Pluralistic Society , Readings in Social Work

COURSES TAUGHT (Thompson Rivers University, Kamloops, B.C.)

De-colonizing Practice with First Nations, Addictions, Introduction to First Nation Issues in Social Work, Social Work Field Practice, Models of Social Work Practice, Child Welfare Practice, Community Development, Human Development.

COURSES TAUGHT (Indiana University, Bloomington & IUPUI, Indianapolis)

“Human Behavior in the Social Environment”– Micro (1x) and Macro (3x) (MSW Program), “Understanding Diversity in a Pluralistic Society” (BSW Program), “Cultural Anthropology” (Anthropology Program, IUPUI), X150 - “Managing Resources for Learning” (Education), X155 – “Critical Reading & Writing” (Minority Scholars Program).

CURRICULUM TAUGHT (Reservation Based Program at The Evergreen State College)

1997-2000 Designed curriculum program leading to 16 credits / quarter - 48 credits year:
1997 Program at TESC delivered on site to 4 reservation communities; entitled "Healthy Communities” focused on Health & Social Issues in American Indian communities.
1998 Program entitled "A River of Culture". This 48-credit yearlong program focused on culture and cultural change in the NW.
1999 This program was developed jointly with the faculty team I put together. We offered a 48 credit year long program focused on Indian political relationships: "Warriors in the 21st Century: Intergovernmental Relations and Communication".

COURSES TAUGHT (at Heritage University, Yakama Reservation, WA)

Language, Culture & Society, Human Behavior/ Social Environment, Social Policy I & II, Social Work Practice II & III, Introduction to: American Indian Studies, Introduction to Social Work, Introduction to Anthropology, Introduction to Dysfunctional Families, Introduction to Family Services for early childhood professionals and Psychopharmacology.

Selected Presentations

Tamburro, P. R. (November 2012). Calling the spirit on Turtle Island: Aboriginal language use today for healing in North America. Paper presented at the ISU Conference on Spirituality.

Tamburro, A., & Tamburro, P. R. (2010). Indigenous studies and anthropology: A more multicultural cross-disciplinary perspective for Social Work? Paper presented at the American Indian & Alaskan Native Social Work Educators Association, in conjunction with the CSWE national conference, Portland, Oregon.

Tamburro, P. R. (April 12, 2007). Talking with Aboriginal Youth about Drugs. Invited Public Presentation. White Buffalo Society, Kamloops, BC.

Tamburro, P. R. (February 4, 2005). Aboriginal Post-Colonial Stress: a Multigenerational Perspective on Drinking. Paper presented at the "Let’s Talk about Addictions" conference, Thompson Rivers University, Kamloops, BC.

Tamburro, P. R. (2004). A Multidisciplinary Teaching Model for Community-Based Language Teachers. Paper presented at the Revitalizing Algonquian Languages Conference: Sharing Effective Language renewal Practices II, Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, CT.

Tamburro, P. R. (May, 1995). Overview of the Heritage College Indian child welfare curricula experience - a third year perspective. Paper presented at the Indian Child Welfare and Integrating Cultural Pluralism Across Campus Curricula Conference, Yakama Nation Cultural Center, Toppenish, WA.

Tamburro, P. R. (April 1995). Development of Social Work curriculum on Indian child welfare. Paper presented at the 13th Annual "Protecting Our Children" National American Indian Conference on Child Abuse and Neglect, Minneapolis, MN.

Tamburro, P. R. (1995). Group work with American Indian People. Paper presented at First Nations Social Work Scholars Conference, University of Kansas. Lawrence, Kansas.

Tamburro, P. R. (1992). Attitudes toward mental health in the migrant Hispanic community. Paper presented at the Washington State NASW conference, Seattle, Washington.

Tamburro, P. R. (1987). Infant medical neglect in prenatal hospital settings, a child welfare perspective. Paper presented at the Prenatal Conference 1987: Achieving Positive Pregnancy Outcomes, Concord, NH.

Selected Publications

Clark, N., Drolet, J., Arnouse, M., Derrick, J., Tamburro, P. R., Armstrong, J., . . . Walton., P. (2010). Decolonizing field education: “Meliq'ilwiye” coming together: An exploratory study in the Interior of British Columbia. Critical Social Work, 11(1).

Tamburro, A., & Tamburro, P. R. (2010). Community Determined Higher Education: A model for First Nations empowerment. Currently unpublished: submitted for publication.

Clark, N., Drolet, J., Mathews, N., Arnouse, M., Tamburro, P. R., Michaud, V..., Derrick., J. (2009). “Melq’ilwiye” Coming Together in an intersectional research team - using narratives and cultural safety to transform Aboriginal Social Work and Human Service field educations. Pimatisiwin: A Journal of Indigenous and Aboriginal Community Health, 7(2), 293-317.

Tamburro, P. R. (2006). Who determines what housing is ‘Best’ for the Roma: Socio-Cultural considerations from the North American Indian experience. In A. Mušinka (Ed.), Stará Teheľňa – súčasný stav a možnosti riešenia (pp. 213-217). Prešov, Slovakia: Centrum výskumov.

Tamburro, P. R. (2006). Ohio Valley Native Americans speak: Indigenous discourse on the continuity of identity. PhD Dissertation, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA. Retrieved from http://proquest.umi.com/pqdlink?Ver=1&Exp=09-25-2014&FMT=7&DID=1147181121&RQT=309&attempt=1 Available from Dissertation Abstracts International (journal) volume issue 67-04A on page 1414, UMI Dissertation Abstracts ( No. 3215218), and the digital ProQuest(r) Dissertation and Thesis database.

Tamburro, P. R. (2004). An American Indigenous perspective in what we label the study of language in culture: Is it “Anthropology” or “Linguistics” and does it matter? . Lingua Humanitatis, 6, 109-145. (A journal in Korea)

Tamburro, P. R. (2002). "Traditional Authenticity" and Its relationship to "Indigenous Identity". Lingua Humanitatis, 2(1), 43-74. (A journal in Korea)

Tamburro, P. R. (1982). Resource guide for teaching ESL to Lao refugees. New Hampshire adult basic education and refugee resettlement program. Concord, NH.

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