Thirty Years of Service in Exchange for a Lifetime of Memories Gained Throughout Asia and the Pacific

Abstract

Dr. Skoog spent twenty-seven years at UOG as a philosophy professor: teaching, writing papers and publishing in multiple journals and books, making scholarly presentations from Malta to Madras, representing Guam at key academic and cultural events. He invested in learning about Guam and Micronesia culture, writing a children’s book that featured indigenous folklore stories from all over Micronesia. He made every effort to become part of Guam rather than stay apart or aloof from it and the students, staff, and administrators he worked with on a daily basis. Over the course of his time at UOG, he presented more than sixty papers, some on multiple occasions at academic and cultural events throughout the world. He became one of the top scholars in the country in the area of Jain philosophy and religion, leading him to speak at an exclusive gathering at Harvard University and later the UN, discussing the link between religion and environmental responsibility. After retirement, besides being awarded emeritus status and joining SERPS, he has continued to do research which includes updating and seeking publication of materials on Guam folklore and culture, presenting papers at international conferences, and finishing an important book on Jain Ethics.