POLAR WHERE?

Michael Smith | Chief Editor: F. Scott Fitzgerald once observed that American lives have no second acts. The odyssey of Michael Smith refutes Fitzgerald’s claim. Born into a strict conservative family, Smith became one of the founders and intellectual leaders of the New Left in the 1980’s. Then, as the result of a tragedy that was both personal and political, he became profoundly disillusioned with the radical movement and its social vision. In the 1990’s he began a second career as a conservative intellectual, establishing an educational center in Los Angeles, writing a series of books, and launching several magazines that played an influential role in the culture wars the 1980’s had spawned.

Joan Ward | Co-Editor: Joan joined PWM at its founding in 1994. She was the Chief of Research at the Center and is now the editor of the PWM Russia Weekly, an electronic newsletter on contemporary Russia, and editor of the Ward's Russia List. Ms. Ward is co-editor of Current Issues in U.S. Defense Policy and has published in a number of newspapers and magazines, including the The New York Times, Newsday, National Catholic Reporter, World-View, USA Today, The Christian Science Monitor, and The Washington Post. She has traveled frequently in the former Soviet Union and also visited China. Ms. Ward has prepared many issues of PWM’s publications.

Salma Shutes | Co-Editor: Shutes, Salma M.A. (Spanish) SUNY Albany 1988, M.A. (English) C. W. Post Campus LIU 1990–Composition, Comparative Literature–HEOP Staff–Doctoral candidate in Comparative Literature at SUNY Stony Brook–Has published papers on "Christianity through Thoughts and Deeds in [Miguel de Unomuno's] St. Manuel the Good," and "Clyde Griffith, Protagonist of An American Tragedy"; Has published editorials in the Buffalo News and creative writing in The Spirit; Has given conference paper on "Shakespeare: Alive and Well Behind Prison Bars." Ms. Shutes has joined our organization in 1995 and has been a great asset since.

Jake Shaper | Writer: Shaper, Jake, M.A. Attended the Campus of Long Island University—Journalism and School Counseling—Associate Director of Academic Counseling Center. Before getting his prestigious job, he worked as an intern at the psychology department helping professors with research and academics. He joined Polar Where? Magazine in 1997 after deciding to work as a freelancer. His tasks include, but are not limited to, research, reports, editing, traveling and interviewing. His previous experience as a writer was for The Washington Sky, The Daily Report and The New Jersey Black & White.

Marleen Stone | Writer: Marleen, Stone M.FA. U of Michigan 1998–Rhetoric and Composition, Creative Writing–Writing Program Administrator (Director of Composition and Director of the Writing Center)–Author of the poetry books Blue and All Begin Guy Walks into a Bar; Author of a poetry chapbook series including Lake Diary, Chaos & Other Love Songs, and Field; Author of the article "So It Was This Beautiful Night: Infecting the Hybrid" and of poetry in CALYX, Fence, Washington Square Journal, and other journals; Has given conference paper on "Hyperlinking the Process: Writing Center as Text" and "(When the Center Holds): Sex, Suicide and Scholarship"; Editor of Ideas in Disciplinary Writing.

Patrick Colman | Photographer: He is the man behind Creative Arts Photography. Patrick has twenty years experience as a professional photographer. He graduated Fauquier High School in Warrenton, Virginia in 1975. After leaving his first career as a Virginia state trooper, he attended Fairmont State College in 1982 where he quickly discovered his artistic abilities. He earned a Bachelors Degree in 1986, specializing in Graphic Fine Arts and Photography, joined the Virginia Professional Photographers Association in 1991, and became a member of Professional Photographers of America in 1993. He joined Polar Where Magazine in 1995 as a part-time photographer then full-time in 1997.

Heidi Cooks | Photographer: Heidi earned her Certified Professional Photographer (CPP) designation in 1994. The CPP is awarded to only those photographers who meet the highest professional and ethical standards. To become certified, a photographer must successfully complete a rigorous examination to evaluate the quality and consistency of his work. Further, the photographer must participate in continuing education to keep his/her skills up to date and his/her work must be reevaluated periodically to maintain the certification. Worldwide, only 1,600 photographers have met the stringent requirements to become a Certified Professional Photographer. Heidi has been a member of our team since 1998 and we are glad she still is.