Originally from Montreal, Canada, after a long time at Syracuse University in Central New York Professor James Mock relocated to UCO in 1992. His Canadian accent seems inextinguishable regardless of Herculean attempts to crush it. This has led on many recent occasions to his having to point out to those who object to immigrants (he is serious about this) that he has an Honorable Discharge from the U.S. Air Force, a Vietnam War Era National Defense Service Medal, and a Certificate of Appreciation from the Disabled American Veterans for "valuable and devoted service and performance of duty while serving in the Armed Forces of the United States of America during time of conflict."

He did nothing whatsoever heroic, unless you count enlisting at the height of the Vietnam War as heroic. He never wants to hear about the immigrant thing again but is quite sure it is not going to go away. He has had extensive graduate study in English literature and received degrees in art history, information studies, and philosophy, with a specialization in aesthetics.

His interdisciplinary PhD centered on the philosophy of representation. He has been a ‘rather good’ painter, focusing on minimalist realism, a decent ceramicist, dedicated to surrealist sculpture, and an often joyful electric guitarist. He is hopeful that all of this allows him to bring a hands-on enthusiasm to his classes in aesthetics, philosophy of music, and American humanities.