Professor Jamileh Stroman celebrated 35 years of service to Dallas College, Brookhaven Campus this past fall. In 1989, Stroman initially applied for a job at El Centro, but “Brookhaven called instead,” she said. Stroman said she was drawn to the Brookhaven campus at that time because she saw how happy everyone was. With no plans of slowing down, let alone retiring, Stroman remains a strong presence on the Brookhaven campus as a former student stopped to say hello to her while walking from one building to another.
Sabi Mounirou, a Brookhaven student who is a former student of Stroman’s, said in email to The Courier: “A memorable lesson was about food consumption…she emphasized our responsibility in choosing products wisely. Since then, I’ve been more mindful of my purchases, this was valuable information. [Stroman] is a patient and inspiring teacher. She explains concepts clearly, encourages critical thinking, and is always available to guide her students when needed, leaving a lasting impact on them.”
Stroman teaches English for speakers of other languages here at Brookhaven. When asked what languages she speaks, Stroman replied “English.” Stroman earned a triple bachelor’s degree in arts from the University of Oregon in the subjects of German, Spanish and history in 1976. Stroman earned a master’s degree in theoretical linguistics, also from the University of Oregon in 1979. Finally, in 2004, while teaching at Brookhaven, Stroman earned a Ph.D. in Community College Leadership from the University of Texas at Austin; Stroman was encouraged to earn this final degree by former Brookhaven president, Walter Bumphus.
Stroman served as interim dean at Brookhaven “as a favor” to a former president. Many colleagues thought Stroman would apply for the permanent position, but she was adamant about the position being temporary. At the time, Stroman was working toward her doctorate degree and said, “If I stay here as dean, I will never finish the doctorate.”
Stroman has taken many classes as a student at Brookhaven, while teaching; sometimes she’s even been enrolled in more classes as a student than the number of classes she is in the role of teacher. In 2017, Stroman earned an associate’s degree in music with a concentration in voice from Brookhaven. This is the degree Stroman is most proud of because she mainly earned the degree for herself, rather than for others – like her parents, and because it was the most difficult degree for her to earn, she said, since she is shy and afraid of performing.
Stroman credits the following women as heroes: Stroman’s mother and grandmother, Rosa Parks, and Mother Theresa. Stroman said Mother Theresa taught her to not fight against something, but, rather, to fight for something. Stroman added that this approach puts less stress on her and that she does have the responsibility to fight against some things. Stroman also met Rosa Parks and said that Parks was uncompromising in her request to be referred to as Mrs. Parks, not Ms. Parks.
Fellow Brookhaven professor, Sharifeh (Sheri) Van Court, who also teaches English for speakers of other languages said she and Stroman became “fast friends.” Van Court also said the following of Stroman: “this is a person who has no prejudices…. everyone is equal to her….. she loves every one of her students… she’s full of love and passion.” Stroman demonstrated this love and passion when Van Court’s sister was diagnosed with breast cancer. Not only was Stroman a source of support to Van Court and Van Court’s sister, but, Stroman made a huge gift basket for Van Court’s sister.
Stroman said she is very grateful for the weight lifting class for seniors, here on Brookhaven campus, saying that she needs “to do things for [her] own health.”
Stroman said if there was one thing she could change about Brookhaven, it would be “the copy-machine problem on campus. Professors across many disciplines and academic areas are extremely frustrated at not being able to print essential materials for their classes such as: quizzes, exams or information sheets to use for ‘teachable moments.’”
Stroman said her most important accomplishment while at Brookhaven was “Making Brookhaven College the first institution of higher education in the state of Texas to offer Native American languages for ‘foreign language’ credit with the blessing of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and the cooperation of local universities and our sister colleges like Richland… I didn’t do it alone. I worked with Diane Duck from the registrar’s office at the request of students and parents of the First Nation’s Inter-Tribal Council – a student group at Brookhaven.” After contacting Dallas College, it was discovered that these courses are no longer offered.
