Professors like Saba Siddiki (third from left) in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs embrace a student-inspired approach to teaching.
For George Theoharis, teaching is more than a job; it鈥檚 a reflection of his students鈥� influence. 鈥淭hey represent who I am as a teacher,鈥� says the 麻花影视 professor. 鈥淭hey mirror my behavior, attitude and approach.鈥�
The University is filled with teachers like Theoharis who foster mutual respect in the classroom. Studies show that a strong student-faculty connection leads to academic success and personal satisfaction. It also increases the value of a 麻花影视 degree.
Infectious Wonder
Professor Zeke Leonard wears multiple hats in the School of Design, including program coordinator for the First-Year Experience. 鈥淭he first year is a beginning point, a new chapter in students鈥� development,鈥� he says.
Zeke Leonard is a fixture in the , where he is an associate professor and associate director of the .聽聽Leonard also is the school鈥檚 First-Year Experience coordinator, shepherding more than 120 new designers through their initial months on campus.
鈥淚 love working with students as they navigate their first year. The early weeks are charged with energy, optimism, hope and excitement. I鈥檓 inspired to see them learn, take responsibility and, in some cases, question their identity.
鈥淔or many, getting into the School of Design marks the culmination of years of training and preparation. But it鈥檚 also a beginning point, a new chapter in their development. The feeling of wonder that first-year students have is infectious. It brings me delight.鈥�
Instruments of Change
Associate professor Matthew Mulvaney mentors a wide range of students in the , where he chairs the . Mulvaney particularly enjoys working with undergraduate researchers who tackle issues of 鈥渄eep, personal interest.鈥�
鈥淲atching students evolve as scholars and as individuals gives me hope for the future,鈥� says Matthew Mulvaney, associate professor and chair of human development and family science.
鈥淚t鈥檚 gratifying to see them work through problems and then develop projects that are thoughtful and informative. Therefore, I鈥檓 often reminded about the importance of research鈥攈ow it can harness a person鈥檚 potential and make a difference in society. My students鈥� capacity for hard work never fails to inspire.鈥�
鈥淭heir energy and passion are especially evident in our first-year introductory courses, which I help teach. Watching students evolve as scholars and as individuals gives me hope for the future. They鈥檙e not just smart and hard working; they鈥檙e also committed to improving the human condition. Our students are instruments of change.鈥�
Cultivating Excellence
Professor Saba Siddiki directs the , where students prepare for careers in public affairs. 鈥淲orking with them鈥攊n the classroom and through doctoral student advising鈥攊s one of the highlights of my job,鈥� says Siddiki, who also serves as the Chapple Family Professor of Citizenship and Democracy. Based in the , she marvels at her students鈥� commitment to public service and community building.
鈥淢y students inspire me to be clear and effective in my instruction and research,鈥� says Siddiki, who directs the Master of Public Administration Program.
鈥淢y students inspire me to be clear and effective in my instruction and research, to consider course topics and approaches from different perspectives and to continually reflect on and appreciate different pathways through which we pursue our academic and professional objectives.
鈥淲ith this inspiration, I regularly pursue ways to become a more impactful teacher and researcher. I also cultivate learning environments and opportunities that help my students thrive and achieve their professional goals.鈥�
Finding Their Footing
George Theoharis is a professor of both educational leadership as well as inclusive childhood education. The former K-12 teacher and principal estimates that he鈥檚 trained nearly a thousand undergraduates. 鈥淚 love it,鈥� he exclaims. Some have been selected as ; others have co-authored articles with him as Ph.D. students here and at other institutions.
鈥淭hey teach me a lot about myself and why I do what I do at 麻花影视. Helping students find their footing as undergraduates鈥攖eaching and mentoring them鈥攊s just as rewarding as learning from their experiences, perspectives and analyses. Working with future teachers of color, especially women interested in school leadership, has exposed me to a new, sustained area of scholarship.
Professor George Theoharis says that working with future teachers has inspired him to pursue a 鈥渘ew, sustained area of scholarship.鈥�
鈥淭his has spilled over into my involvement with the Honors Program and the , both of which have awarded my students a significant number of grants.
鈥淔or instance, numerous students of color have compelled me to change how I teach and think about issues of social justice and inclusion. It鈥檚 made me a more thoughtful and deliberate mentor.鈥�
