By CARSON POLK, Student Reporter
March is Women’s History Month, and to show appreciation to female professors on campus, three Northwestern students talked with the News about their favorite female professors.
Peyton Lucas, a senior psychology major, said his favorite female professor is Dr. Mistie Kline, a psychology professor.
“Mistie Kline is my favorite,” he said. “She’s super caring and understanding of the stress college students have.”
Caitlyn Pray, a senior agriculture major, said professor Kimberly Weast, a theater professor, is her favorite.
“Professor Weast … has the most spontaneous, outgoing, fun personality,” she said. “At the same time, she also has compassion for her students and is very personable and relatable.”
Ella Freyman, a freshman nursing major, said her favorite female professor is Dr. Cornelia Mihai, a chemistry professor.
“She is so hard working and stuck out to me as one of the most informative and passionate professors for chemistry,” Freyman said.
QUALITIES OF A GOOD EDUCATOR
Lucas said Kline’s tests are different than other professors’ tests, and they are helpful.
“Teaching-wise, her tests are super low-stress, no time limit and open-book, note and internet,” Lucas said. “I know that she loves the subject matter she teaches on.”
Pray said what makes Weast a good teacher is her excitement for education.
“She expresses it in every class, matched with her attention to detail and keen insight into where students are coming from and how to help them most – even when they don’t realize it,” she said.
Freyman said what makes Mihai a good teacher is how much she challenges her students.
“Dr. Mihai is a great professor because she pushes her students to work hard to get the grade they want,” she said. “She teaches that being lazy will get you nowhere, and hard work is needed to achieve your career goals.”
Students also talked about their fondest memories of being in class with their favorite professors.
Lucas said it was finding out about Kline’s past.
“In general psychology, I found out she listened to Green Day, Korn, and used to be goth,” he said.
Pray said Weast’s teaching technique of walking is her favorite memory.
“One of my favorite memories in class would have to be watching her animated demonstration of how people walk differently and then telling us we were going to do the same thing,” Pray answered. “She can make even something like studying walking fun.”
Freyman said her favorite memory is experiencing Mihai’s humor.
“One of my favorite memories in Dr. Mihai’s class would be the jokes she makes during her lectures,” she said. “She’s always trying to make people laugh and keep them engaged in her class.”
The students also talked about meaningful lessons their professors have taught them.
Lucas said Kline talked about failing classes and how she got to where she is today.
Kline told students that she failed 16 credit hours in college, and she’s now able to overcome trying to be a perfectionist.
“Perfection is an impossibility,” Lucas said.
Pray said Weast’s relationship with God has stuck with Pray.
“Professor Weast taught me so many things, one being worth isn’t greater on those who are the source of attention on center stage, but we all have roles God has given us to play in this world that genuinely stand out when we live them and don’t try to copy someone else,” she said.
Freyman said Mihai’s idea that hard work is worth it means a lot.
“The thing that Dr. Mihai has taught that stuck with me was that, with hard work and consistency toward your goals, it will always be rewarding in the end,” Freyman said. “She also shares that, coming from Romania and having to learn in such a different way, she was still able to achieve her goals of becoming a chemistry professor with hard work and intelligence.”
Lucas said Kline helped him realize he is where he was meant to be.
“Through her, I know that I have a unique perspective when it comes to psychology, and I know that I want to work with LGBTQ youth because of her,” Lucas responded. “I am so thankful that, on the first day of general psychology my freshman year, she showed me that she was an ally, and from that day on, I knew that I was in the right place in life, and that she was going to help me succeed in any way that she could.”
Pray said Weast has shown her how to be a better person.
“She has taught me what it means to be joyful in hope, patient in affliction and faithful in prayer,” she responded. “She will always be a role model to me in these ways as a professor that showed all these virtues and inspires me to strive to love more like them every day.”
Freyman said Mihai has impacted her life by being a good professor who makes her students work.
“Dr. Mihai impacted my life by providing material that was challenging and having us always be sure of our answers,” she said. “Hard work is needed to pass her class, but it is always well deserved.”
