Hello All!
Well, I would really like to take the time to talk about the Professors here at SMC because almost all of the Professors that I have had here have been absolutely incredible that they deserve some amazing recognition. These are men and women that have gone through intensive years of learning to become the skilled scholars in their content knowledge that they are. They are also professors that truly want us to learn and will go to amazing lengths to help any one of their students if they need the help. I am always amazed at the love and admiration that they all have for their students and for the subject that they teach. I am learning so much more than just knowledge from these Professors, but also the motivation and drive to want to learn more.
I would love to first talk about both of my advisor's because they are bot equally significant people in my education life and I feel that I have become such a great learner and college student because of them. The first advisor that I had here was George Dameron. He is a Medievalist that is so knowledgeable of the Medieval Ages and so much more. I am taking a course right now called the Historian's Craft, and it is amazing all of the information he knows outside of the Medieval Times. I was first attracted to his classroom because of the passions that he had for his subject and the fact that I would love to become a Medievalist some day because that is one of my favorite times in history. He is such an amazing teacher that he knows how to spark conversation. I have a three and a half hour long class with him once a week and he does an amazing job at it. He has picked a lot of great books that have been very interesting to spark some great classroom discussions. He just knows how to teach so well and I love having him as an advisor as well. Even once during a PowerPoint show, he added a picture of Homer Simpson to lighten the mood, so he is quite funny as well. He has such a nice dry humor that makes class interesting. Also the care he has about my advising is amazing.
He is constantly checking in with me to make sure that I have everything under control. He has always been very supportive of the classes I want to take and always offers great courses without saying I need to take them. He just knows what it takes to be a good student, since he was one at Harvard at one point, and he shares that drive with his students. He also has a class that has a good amount of work, but it is not a ridiculous amount at all. He just knwos how to teach so well that no matter what he is teaching in history I would be thrilled to take it because I know he will teach it well and somehow will get me to love it through his passion for the subject. He also makes sure that all his students are capable of doing well on their assignment. We have a 15 - 18 pages historiography paper due at the end of the semester and he is meeting with all of us on a one on one basis next week to make sure everything is going well and the topics are good. He is such a caring teacher, but my next advisor is equally very amazing.
My education advisor is Mary Beth Doyle. She is also one amazing education Professor and I can not even tell you the amount that I have learned from her. I have had a class with her as well, and she is equally just as amazing. She is very knowledgeable, caring, and has so much to offer for her students. She truly wants all of us to be the best teachers we can be and she even has sit downs to tell you your strengths and even weaknesses if necessary. I know she constantly encourages me because she feels I am going to be such a great teacher, and to have support like that makes me feel so good and confident about my career choice. She also has so much experience and knowledge to give I know she will be one of those Professors that I keep in touch with email about teaching because I will want to know her opinions. I truly look up to her as a role model because she is ridiculously organized and anal about things as I am. She is also one of those Professors that if I have a meeting with her and nothing else to do, we could talk for hours.
I just love talking to her because we do not just talk about education and the classes I need to take, but about my family and many opportunities around me with education. She is also funny and sarcastic and says things such as "ohh, sugar puffs!", so you have to imagine that I get a kick out of that lady. She also has such a passion for inclusion and students with learning differences that have the upset respect for her. It was also funny going into my advising meeting because I have misplaced my four year plan. So she made me sign my folder that said if I did not graduate on time she could not be held accountable. She has me sign it, but I know she will not allow me to not graduate on time. Thinking of it, while I was there we did not even talk about the classes I am taking, but she knows that I am organized and on track! God she is amazing!
I hope that you got from this blog that our Professors here are more than just Professors, they are very intelligent people who care about us and want us to succeed in life, no matter what career path we chose. I am very glad to be in the education and history departments because I love them both! I am learning so much and feel that I am going to have all the experience I need and then some from this perfect size liberal arts school. Again, I could not imagine going to a different school and having the same amazing experience, thank you Saint Michael's! (Faculty too!)
Joshua
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