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As you sit in class and think about how boring lectures are and how pointless PowerPoint slides are, remember that there are two sides to every story.
Kirstin Dow, an associate professor with the geography department, represents the other side. As a professor, Dow said she does a lot more than just teach.
“People don’t see a lot of our responsibilities beyond those in the classroom,” Dow said.
Apart from teaching, most professors are also involved in research and their communities.
Dow’s focus is in human-environment relations, specifically focussing on vulnerability due to climate change. Dow said the importance of the Copenhagen Climate Change
Conference in December makes her classes and research more relevant than ever before.
Dow said her goal is for students to “leave her class with a better understanding of environmental issues, and how society acts to shape those issues.”
Since information on climate change is in high demand, Dow spends many hours a week reviewing grant proposals as an expert source and working with national committees to which she belongs.
“It seems my day isn’t complete without a conference call,” Dow said.
Dow also has to fulfill obligations within the University. Between faculty committees, making curriculum choices and creating new classes, logistics take up a lot of her time.
“We want to provide the right classes for our students right now and continue to advance our programs so they’re as effective and current as possible,” Dow said.
Despite all of these responsibilities, Dow said being a professor still comes first.
“A lot of people do crazy things to keep from missing class,” said Dow. “You avoid letting things interfere with teaching and if you can’t avoid that, then you plan ahead for it.”
Dow spends a few hours each day reviewing student work and preparing for the day’s lecture.
“If you work on climate change, things change fast,” Dow said. “It’s important to keep material updated and to bring current examples into the classroom.”
Dow’s hard work to make her lectures relevant is evident to her students.
“She’s very passionate about the environment and wants everyone to work together to save the planet,” said returning student Grant Taylor. “She is very optimistic about what we can accomplish.”
“She really cares that we learn something from her class,” Megan Watford, a fourth-year international studies student said.
Watford said she especially enjoyed the material on population growth and food supply.
“It’s where our generation is at and something we’re going to have to deal with,” Watford said.
Dow encourages her students to take lectures beyond the classroom.
“I like to see that they’re thinking about concepts,” Dow said. “I want to make sure the big things aren’t just things people write down but also recognize in other context.”
From challenging students to try three new things to help the environment for three weeks, to making current environmental news a regular part of class, Dow’s class is far more than just a lecture.
Dow’s favorite part of the job is the exchange of ideas.
“I love that I get to talk to my colleagues and students about ideas that are interesting and exciting,” Dow said.
While Dow is one of only many professors at the university, her typical duties and passion for what she’s teaching represent many others.
She also offers one last piece of advice to students that she feels many professors would appreciate.
“It is a compliment to your professor to ask them questions after class and it also makes the job more rewarding,” Dow said. “It’s wonderful when we get to share something we really love with our students.”
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