Three IU Northwest professors receive teaching recognition

By Clint Wadsworth, editor, Northwest Phoenix student newspaper

The three professors are Geoffrey Schultz, an education professor; Roberta Wollons, chairperson of the Department of History; and Jon Becker, a mathematics lecturer.

Schultz said that he was very excited when he learned that he had been accepted into FACET. “I actually stood up and screamed,” he said.

Schultz, who instructs future teachers on special education and educational psychology, said his ability to bring course material to life is one of his strengths as a teacher.

Wollons said that she was honored to learn that the statewide FACET selection committee had accepted her as a member. “It’s special to be part of a statewide community of instructors who care about teaching,” said Wollons, who believes her strengths as a teacher lie in her ability to encourage all points of view in the classroom as well as illustrate the various points of view from which history is fashioned.

Becker said that he appreciates becoming a member of FACET because being a good teacher is very important to him. “It is deeply gratifying to be acknowledged as a good teacher by other good teachers.”

Becker, who earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at IU Northwest, said that his ability to relate to students and his sense of humor are his greatest teaching strengths.

Schultz, Wollons and Becker will be formally inducted into the FACET Academy during the annual retreat May 17-19, where they also will participate in workshops and discussions with other FACET members.