By Irene Starygina
Every campus has that token faculty member who will come up in conversation long after her students graduate, probably due to her classroom antics and quirky stories. Our campus reps interviewed their favorite educators and asked them candid questions for your viewing pleasure. Turns out there are still plenty of excuses you can use for not submitting your paper on time, like falling out of a trailer and having two computers break in the same day. There’s even one staff member who likes to hunt aliens from his office.
Janet Alexander introduces us to Phil. He’s a notable professor at Pitzer and a favorite with the students. He teaches “general social stuff” (sociology) and loves his clogs. “Put that into your Lord of the Rings bong and smoke it!”
Dr. Rebecca Thomas, professor of German at Wake Forest University, really believes in hands-on learning. An eight-hour hike through German mountains, anyone? Here’s a sneak peek at what study abroad with the Dr. would be like, by Kevin Duck.
At the University of Pittsburgh, Dr. Ray Jones, business ethics professor, gets a lot of confessions in the 1-page papers he assigns. He’s read everything from students admitting to crimes to fraternity secrets, by Adam Peniazek.
Watch Part 1 of the interview with Dr. Ray Jones, where he talks about ethical dilemmas as a professor.
Despite the recession, the communications and art fields have had no shortage of eager applicants. These professors know a thing or two about the uber-competitive industries.
Art professor Liz Murphy Thomas at the University of Illinois at Springfield had to write a letter of recommendation for a student to get blood from a slaughterhouse for a project, by Karen Nickerson.
This associate professor of cinema studies believes that mo’ money is, indeed, mo’ problems. Michelle Stewart, who founded the major at SUNY Purchase, gives us the lowdown on why she rejected a job offer from Amherst College and a hefty salary boost, by Alex Rossin.
Music students, it doesn’t get more authentic then Professor Magnanini of The University of Miami, who knew he wanted to be a musician since age 10. He has special nicknames for his students and even lets them take naps in his office closet, by Matt Eisenberg.
Public Relations is one of the most popular majors at Georgian Court University, and professor Nancy Winecek breaks down the major for future publicists, by Felicia Compian.
Thinking about making it big in advertising? Heed the advice of professor Susan Northey from Marquette University, by Andreana Drencheva.
UNC-Chapel Hill communications professor Michael Waltman personifies Tar Heel Southern friendliness, by Megan Gill.
Foreign language professors are often considered the most charming and most entertaining, and we can see why.
What IS Ojibwe, anyway? Helen Roy, Ojibwe professor at Michigan State University, teaches us a few things in the Native American language. She also makes Tim Schafer sing, by Tim Schafer.
At Colgate University, Associate Professor of French Patrick Riley shares his embarrassing and hilarious wardrobe malfunction, by Kate Archer.
At Reed College, professor of French Hugh Hockman says that he’s fortunate that this was the only job he got. He also hates Easter Peeps, by Emily Kirkpatrick.
Mizzou freshmen should definitely take Spanish with Carlos Mendez, by Becky May.
Math isn’t as boring as you think, especially if you’re in a class with any of these three.
Can math and art be related? At Franklin and Marshall University, Professor Annalisa Crannell does her best to alleviate the fear of math in freshmen, by Min Zhao.
Another mathematics professor, Alice Deanin, lives and breathes her subject at Villanova University. Her office is a mini-geometry museum, by Lauren Piro.
University of Arizona mathematics professor Kim takes the doldrums out of counting numbers with his Games of Strategy, by Erin Sperling.
These gentlemen are the front-runners in their [social and life] science departments.
Bowdoin alum and professor Potholm has been teaching government at the college since 1970 and had Vietnam vets in his classes. More students vote in his mock elections then in the actual student government elections, by Abbie Mitchell.
Ecology professor Peter Bowler is also in charge of the UC Natural Reserve System. He first came to UCI in 1970 and has been one of the favorite professors here for 3 decades, by Kareem Barghouti.
How does one become a lecturer in the Princeton religion department? Steve Bush, who has a 1-year contract with the university, explains, by Mackenzie Luzzi.