M.J. Albacete, Canton Museum of Art Director, Becomes 'Professor for a Day' at Walsh University

Thinking back to his days writing reviews of the Canton Symphony Orchestra for the Canton Repository, M.J. Albecete recalled the stress of finding just the right words to express himself — and doing so on a very tight deadline. 

For the longtime writer, the intense laboring over an orchestra review made sense. For others, like Albecete's wife, it did not.

"My wife would come in and say, 'Why do you kill yourself on this? You don't get paid enough to do it ... Why do you do this? Why do you punish yourself this way?'" Albecete said. "And my answer was, 'Because I love it.' Tomorrow morning I'll pick up the paper and there will be that review with my name on it."

Albecete would pride himself on the impact he had on his readers and would love hearing their responses — both the good and the bad.

Albecete, now the executive director of the Canton Museum of Art, shared his writing experiences as well as advice on public speaking at Walsh University this week as part of the school's "Professor for a Day" program. The annual program brings in Walsh University graduates to share their real world experiences with current students.

North Canton Patch caught up with Albacete Wednesday inside Professor Ron Scott's class, "The Modern Rhetoric."

Albecete encouraged the students to hone their public speaking skills and seek out opportunities to speak.

"One thing I do — and this is top secret — I talk to myself," Albacete said. "Interview yourself; pretend like you're going to be on a radio station and somebody's asking you questions."

He told the students that when you hear your own voice in practicing, the words will come more easily during your speech.

"You work out your thoughts in that fashion, and it really helps a great deal."

Albecete was one of more than 50 area professionals and Walsh alumni to guest-lecture during Walsh University classes Tuesday and Wednesday. Other speakers include Akron-Canton Airport President and CEO Rick McQueen and Scott Haws, Plain Township Trustee and project manager at Diebold.

In 2012, North Canton Patch featured Hoover High English teacher Darrell Woods, and in 2011, Stark County Assistant Prosecutor Darci Knight.