photos by Alex Ledet
writing by Benjamin VanHoose
Paul Meyer spends most of his waking minutes working. Meyer is a part-time faculty member of sociology at Kent State, but the nearly 50 students and two night courses he teaches aren’t his only responsibilities. By day Meyer works as a lawyer, practicing in both criminal and civil cases across Portage, Summit and Cuyahoga Counties. “Some days I’m busy from dusk until dawn,” he says.
Living in Kent, Meyer finds himself driving more frequently than he would prefer. In just one day, it’s not unheard of for him to commute back and forth from Kent to Cleveland. “I have a good car,” he jokes. Meyer is matter-of-fact and organized the way only a seasoned lawyer can be. He schedules his days down to the minute, allotting little time for extraneous activities. Meyer does make time to run each day, which he calls “rewarding and necessary.”
Why choose a working life that involves endless car rides, packed schedules and minimal free time? Meyer says it’s not the money but his passion for teaching. “It’s a way to give back to younger people. I like the connection to younger people; they have good ideas and a lot of energy,” he says. “I (also) like to think I have something to offer.”
With a bachelor’s, a master’s and a law degree, what Meyer offers to the Kent Part-Time Faculty Alliance is a history with unions: “As far as legal assistance to KPTFA, my background and experience is useful.” He says he decided to join the unionizing efforts not for his sake, but for the compensation of his colleagues who depend on adjunct work to survive. “(Teaching) is somewhat of a calling,” he says. “Education is a profession like law or engineering or medicine: not just anybody can do it. I’ve enjoyed it and I value my experience.”
