Fall 2019 Edition
Alumni & Friends Magazine
Prized profs
鈥淭eaching, for the most part, is a mystery,鈥� says Tim Vickers. He鈥檚 managed OHIO鈥檚 University Professor Award program for 21 years.
By Kelee Garrison Riesbeck, BSJ, CERT 鈥�91 | October 19, 2019
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University Professor awardees are nominated, interviewed, and selected by undergraduate students annually. The award recognizes professors who have a flair for connecting the subject matter with students in a way that inspires and delights. Awardees often says it鈥檚 the most meaningful professional award they receive.
What does it take to get the distinction? To embody a specific realm of knowledge and be able to connect it to today鈥檚 discerning (and increasingly distracted) students? Vickers, director at the Office of Instructional Innovation鈥檚 Center for Teaching & Learning, can鈥檛 put his finger on it, but has seen throughout his career the impact gifted teaching can have.
鈥淪till to this day, I don鈥檛 know what that is. There鈥檚 indicators, predictors of what will make a good teacher,鈥� he says. 鈥淭he impact on their students is beyond the content of the course. It鈥檚 a way of turning someone on to a major that they didn鈥檛 know existed or just to a way of thinking or being in the world.鈥�
In the newest Ohio Today Radio podcast episode, 鈥淕ifted,鈥� we track down 2019 University Professor awardee Jana Houser, two-time awardee James Petrik, and a few students to uncover what a gifted teacher does before, during, and after class that earns them the respect and attention of students in today鈥檚 higher ed market.
