Today’s Faculty Friday interview is with Dr. Paul Hoard, Associate Professor of Counseling Psychology.
Dr. Paul Hoard is a licensed counselor, clinical supervisor, and psychoanalytic psychotherapist who holds a doctoral degree in Counselor Education and Supervision from Regent University. A “third culture kid,” he was raised in Ankara, Turkey and has provided mental health counseling and clinical supervision in the United States, Ukraine, and Turkey. His research and scholarly work primarily focuses on the intersection of perpetration trauma, Lacanian psychoanalytic theory, eucontamination, white-body supremacy, and board games. Links to his work can be found on his substack at https://substack.com/@paulhoard
Dr. Hoard teaches courses focused on Lacanian psychoanalytic theory, play, helping relationships, and social and cultural diversities.
What are you currently reading?
Conversations with Lacan by Sergio Benvenuto
Christian Atheism by Slavoj Zizek
Who’s Afraid of Gender by Judith Bulter
Disorganisation and Sex by Jamieson Webster
What have you been listening to lately?
Not much. I have a few random playlists that I cycle through depending on my mood. Most recently I’ve been enjoying Frank Turner’s latest album.
What research do you find yourself drawn to at the moment?
I am currently writing a book with my sister, Willa (Billie) on our concept of eucontamination (contamination for good) for Cascade Books. We are looking at Jesus as the Way, the Truth, and the Life through a eucontamination lens wherein each of those (way, truth, and life) are seen as contaminating vectors for good. I am also working on projects around the nature of play and board games in particular through the lens of Lacanian psychoanalytic theory as well as a project on the nature of discourse and identification in the Academy today.
Any exciting summer plans?
I will be presenting at Wild Goose with my sister this summer on eucontamination.
If you could have dinner with any person, dead or alive, who would they be?
Nasreddin Hoca
If you weren’t in your current profession, you’d be…?
Classic rock radio morning show host or board game designer.
Who is your literary or living hero?
Gandalf