Columbia College

The Honors Program is lucky to have many inspiring, innovative faculty who teach a variety of honors courses across disciplines. A few who have taught in the program recently are listed below.

Faculty Testimonies

Below are a few honors faculty members testimonies about their experience with the honors program:

I love the challenge of teaching the Honors Seminar. What I enjoy the most is having students from a variety of majors exploring issues and concepts. Having an interdisciplinary approach to teaching is one thing, but having an interdisciplinary group of students is quite another. It is such a rich learning community. In addition, I can count on the students to do their “homework” and bring their own ideas and perspectives to class along with their information. ~Dr. Lynne Noble

I’ve had the pleasure to teach a unique course titled “World of the Imagination: Exploring Creative Processes in Dance & Art” What an intellectual treat! Teaching an honors course is a stimulating experience… I enjoy looking back through the student projects I save- they are inspiring! ~Marcy Jo Yonkey-Clayton

I especially enjoy teaching the Honors Seminar and count co-teaching with Dr. Joyce Fields a seminar on Film, Literature, and Family and developing a seminar on Paris, Film, and Literature as two of my most satisfying teaching experiences at Columbia College. Dr. Zubizarreta, the Honors Program Director, has been a crucial mentor to me over the years, and I have learned from his example how to create deep and meaningful learning experiences for students. A community of learners develops in an honors class, and I enjoy building and being part of that community. I recommend the Honors Program to all high-achieving students interested in a unique and innovative academic experience. ~Christine Hait

Although I have only taught 2 honors courses, I have experienced consistency in both groups of students with regard to strengths such as conscientiousness, motivation and self awareness. They are inquisitive and genuinely invested in class discussions; they participate in a collaborative way in engaged and collaborative learning experiences such as role plays, simulations, skills development exercises, and problem based learning. Honors students also tend to ask stimulating questions that require critical thinking by the instructor as well as the other students! They are a pleasure to teach and it is evident that strong, supportive relationships exist among the Honors students. ~Dr. Diane Thompson