After teaching at KU for seven years,
Goldberg left to focus on other academic
and entrepreneurial obligations – but not
before he made a significant impact on
the students he taught. One former stu-
dent won the business plan competition
at KU and went on to participate in the
Pennsylvania State System of Higher
Education statewide competition.
Currently, he teaches at Temple
University and the Pennsylvania State
University Abington campus, where he
engages students with his unique teach-
ing philosophy. Goldberg hasn’t always
been a businessman; years ago, he started
out as a standup comic, and he brings to
the classroom the mindset that students
learn best when they’re also having fun.
His professional credentials, academic
training and personality infuse his teach-
ing with an irresistible joie de vivre.
“Some of the most important things
I’ve taken from my time at KU are the
relationships I’ve made,” he reminisced.
“I’ve actually remained in contact with
a number of former professors and class-
mates from my cohort. KU has a wonder-
ful faculty, the facilities are great and the
dean, Dr. William Dempsey, is a fabulous
leader. I have nothing but fond memories
of KU.”
COLLEGE OF
EDUCATION
JAIME WOHLBACH ’00, M ’02 paved
her way through a professional softball
career spanning 18 countries and four
assistant coaching positions, to become
the head coach for the University of
Delaware’s softball team. She arrived at
Delaware in July 2010, after a three-
season stint at Iona College, where she
led the team to its first NCAA Tourna-
ment berth and Metro Atlantic Athletic
Conference title. But it was off the field,
as a graduate student in KU’s student
affairs in high education program, where
she learned to unite her two passions –
softball and teaching – into a career.
“Judy Lawes [the head softball coach
at KU] told me to go to graduate school
right away because once I got a job it
would be too difficult to go back,”
Wohlbach, who was a starting catcher for
the Golden Bears during her undergradu-
ate years, recalled. “As an undergrad, I
majored in special and elementary educa-
Wohlbach recalls feeling frustrated at
not being able to provide input or com-
mentary during mock counseling sessions.
But, the experience ended up ultimately
beneficial for her career.
“With counseling, you have to sit
there, neutral, and not give much feed-
back,” she said. “At the time, it was exas-
perating. But now, with coaching college
athletics, I have to deal with a lot of my
athletes’ problems, and it’s something
you have to have open ears and dialogue
about. Those experiences in the classroom
ended up helping a lot!”
Wohlbach’s hands-on, compassionate
and helpful approach toward teaching has
proven effective – the student-athletes
she works with are going far. One former
student is currently playing with the
National Pro Fastpitch, the only profes-
sional women’s softball league in the
United States. Four others are currently
playing overseas – two in Italy and two
in New Zealand. But Wohlbach doesn’t
need any accolades. Seeing members of
her team succeed is reward enough.
“With softball, I had my path chosen
for me,” she revealed. “I kept playing
into my 30s, which is very unusual. I’m
living a dream at the moment. In return,
I’m able to line up some of my current
players to follow the same path. To
be able to help others follow in my
footsteps is very satisfying. And my
athletes keep me young!”
FEATURE
tion, but in graduate school my empha-
sis was more on how to teach softball.
I chose the program because athletics
is a significant component of student
affairs, and now I’m teaching a skill
that I love.”
One aspect about the student affairs
program that appealed to Wohlbach
was the professors’ willingness to
accommodate her interests and needs.
The late Dr. Frank Bucci, a professor
and KU’s first vice president of student
affairs, understood her need to link top-
ics in class to sports. In the classroom,
he helped connect theory and practice
for her by catering to her interest in
athletics. And Dr. Kelley Kenney, KU
professor of counseling and student
affairs, went to great lengths to make
sure Wohlbach could graduate on time.
“When you go overseas to play
sports, you need to be there in April,”
Wohlbach explained. “Dr. Kenney
worked with me so I could finish my
requirements on time. I wanted some-
one to understand what I needed out
of the program, and she did. She was
awesome – very personable, very patient.
Her personality was an inspiration –
she was a role model to me. She found
a positive aspect to everything, and I
think you need to do that when you’re
working in student affairs.”
In counseling classes, which were a
requirement for her master’s degree,
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF DELEWARE
12
TOWER
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Winter 2015
