2009 Outstanding University Teacher Award Winner Category I
Margaret Nauta, Ph.D.
- Ph.D. in Psychology (Counseling) from the University of Iowa (1997)
- Professor, Department of Psychology
Teaching philosophy
The establishment of a strong student-instructor relationship–characterized by trust and respect–allows students to take risks that are necessary for learning to occur.
Three most valuable approaches that I bring to my teaching practice
Demonstrating enthusiasm and helping students get excited about what they are learning, being approachable and interested in students, and setting challenging but attainable standards.
Best compliment from a student
A very strong student indicated she had decided to major in psychology after her interest was piqued in an introductory course I taught. She’s now in a Ph.D. program, and the thought that I had a small role in the development of a future leader in my field is so gratifying.
My motivation to become a college professor comes from
A desire to remain in an academic environment. Universities are such exciting places because discovery and innovation take place daily. I was able to prolong my experience as a student by pursuing a graduate degree, and then I just couldn’t imagine leaving academia after that. It was an easy decision to become a faculty member because it allowed me to remain in an environment where I am surrounded by others who are passionate about learning.
From a challenging teaching moment I learned
The importance of altering my pedagogy to fit the needs of students and characteristics of the class.
