At ǿմý, some of your most meaningful relationships are with the people who push you hardest. Here are eight professors students say challenged their thinking, opened their minds, and changed their lives.
1. Maggie Wentzell, Biology
“Teachers and professors want to see you succeed, but a lot of my professors here help me succeed. My anatomy professor, Professor Maggie Wentzell, holds office hours the morning before an exam and is running around answering last-minute questions for students, making sure we’ve correctly understood the material.” — Line Wisley ’26, allied health science and biology major.
“Professor Blaine is one of the professors you remember long after you finish taking her classes. Her outgoing personality and ability to teach complex ideas allowed me to succeed in my first college chemistry course.” — Devon Kuhn ’26, nursing major.
“My favorite class was Creative Writing with Professor Shannon Brennan. On our first day of class, I learned a wonderful rule that has helped me with all of my writing: make mistakes. This has helped me get outside of my comfort zone and explore new ideas without being afraid of messing up because mistakes can always be fixed. This class inspired me to write more and keep a journal, so I can get all of my ideas down.” — Zoey Kurka ’25, English and psychology major.
“Professor Zorn has helped me to succeed during this first year. I have him for two classes this semester, and the way in which he teaches is very encouraging and effective. He makes sure that no student feels dumb when they ask a question, in fact, he encourages any and all questions. Additionally, he is extremely enthusiastic with the topics he is teaching, which allows for students to enjoy what they are learning about.” — Jada Propst ’26, environmental science and management major.
“My relationship with Professor Yan Wang has been the best experience I’ve had in my career with a faculty/superior. She is always pushing me to grow and challenge myself, as well as supporting me in my struggles and worries. For example, the study abroad process can be very stressful, and judging self-language skills is a common barrier language learners face, but she always has words of wisdom that allow me to push my own limits and progress/grow as a student and as a person.” — Tyler Hunter ’26, Japanese major.
“One professor who really helped me succeed was Matthew Hougland. He’s not only a great professor, but also a great ear to those who need to be heard. He also always has such a great attitude, and it’s always so fun to be in his class.” — Emma Faucault ’27, musical theatre major.
“During the first semester, Professor Miller was honestly a funny guy, but he made the class very interesting as well, and the classes were simple and understandable. He also made sure to make everyone feel safe in the classroom, making us ask lots of questions and helping us answer them, too. ” — Arjay Yang ’26, psychology and communication major.
“My teachers have been great, particularly within the Physics Department. Professor Dahlstrom, in particular, was great at pushing me to reach for a deeper understanding of a topic than the required coursework.” —Logan Dales ’25, physics and art major.
This website uses cookies to measure traffic and improve your experience. Declining tracking cookies will set a single cookie to remember your preference. You can learn more by visiting our Privacy Policy.
