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ABOUT THE EPISODE: What happens when you put 3 mortuary school instructors in a podcast booth? Find out in episode 65. Faith Haug and Joe Finocchiaro join host, Gabe Schauf, in a candid discussion about how funeral education is evolving. Both share some of their experiences and provide opinions on where it might be headed and what we can all do to help make it better for everyone. Whether you have been in the profession for some time or are just starting out - If you're curious about the state of funeral education, this episode is for you.
ABOUT FAITH HAUG: Faith Haug is the Program Director of the Mortuary Science Program at Arapahoe Community College in Littleton, CO. She has 20 years of experience in funeral service working in firms large and small. Faith graduated from Worsham College of Mortuary Science, has a Bachelors degree in Health Services, a Master of Business Administration, and is currently working on a Doctorate of Education at Colorado State University. She also teaches online for Pierce Mortuary Colleges.
Faith considers herself fortunate to be a part of the future of funeral service and is deeply committed to helping students become the best practitioners they can. On a personal note, Faith loves coffee and poodles of any size, spending time with her 8 year old daughter, visiting New Mexico as often as possible, and hanging out at the auto shop she co-owns with her wife, CC.
ABOUT JOE FINOCCHIARO: Joseph Finocchiaro is the President of the Dallas Institute of Funeral Service. He is best described as an edutainer as he brings a passion for teaching and unique sense of humor to the classroom stage. For more than a decade he has taught lecture and clinical courses in funeral service education. Mr. Finocchiaro has served as a chapter editor for funeral service textbooks, published articles in funeral industry publications at both the state and national levels, and assisted a multi-national task force of plastic surgeons and was listed as a co-author on their study.
He was elected as President of the American Board of Funeral Service Education from 2023-2025. He is the owner of Mortifin Consulting and Training, LLC, and runs a popular YouTube channel. He holds professional memberships with the National Funeral Directors Association and the Independent Funeral Directors of Florida. He is a member of the Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice and the Association for Death Education & Counseling. He has served as a military program evaluator for the American Council on Education. He is a member of several philanthropic Masonic bodies, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity, and Pi Sigma Eta Honor Society.