Psychology students enrolled in Dr. Bill McNeil鈥檚 courses are benefitting from their professor鈥檚 recent research in Israel.
McNeil, an associate professor of psychology, has returned from a year-long sabbatical in Jerusalem where he studied trauma and resilience.
鈥淚 have always wanted to go to Jerusalem, and I have been particularly interested in introducing my students to the Middle East鈥 said McNeil.
While in Jerusalem, he also studied the history of anti-Semitism and the Holocaust, and worked with children and families who experienced trauma. He studied at Hebrew University and Yad Vashem, the International Center for Holocaust Studies.
Prior to teaching at Nebraska Wesleyan, McNeil worked 20 years in clinical psychology as an adolescent psychologist, focusing on trauma and children. He was able to apply his experience and knowledge while in Jerusalem.
鈥淚n Jerusalem, the culture has really learned to deal with trauma and recovery,鈥 he said. 鈥淏y working at the International Center for Holocaust Studies, I was able to work with people who experienced trauma.鈥
McNeil described Jerusalem as being divided into quarters, generally by religion and ethnicity. While there he moved four times.
鈥淚 wanted to live in as many areas as possible,鈥 said McNeil, 鈥淚 lived in the Arab quarter, the Armenian quarter, and the Jewish quarter. Each area had a different subculture with its own cultural boundaries. It was a learning experience.鈥
McNeil鈥檚 research in Jerusalem closely relates to the courses he teaches at Nebraska Wesleyan. He has been able to incorporate his experience into the classroom, particularly in his 鈥淚ntroduction to Clinical Psychology鈥 and 鈥淎bnormal Psychology鈥 courses. He plans to develop a Liberal Arts Seminar about the Holocaust.
鈥淥verall, I would consider my sabbatical in Jerusalem as a very rewarding experience,鈥 he said.