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Marketing and University Communication UW-Green Bay, CL 815 2420 Nicolet Drive Green Bay, WI 54311-7001 (920) 465-2626 E-mail: hildebrs@uwgb.edu Last update: 9/27/07 |
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In
the News Archive - Year:
September 10, 2004 School Zone: UWGB instructor makes learning personal Colleagues honor UWGB's Gurung for excellence By Cynthia Hodnett "Instead of saying, 'Hey, you in the back of the class,' I can call
them (students) by their names, which makes them feel a part of the class,"
said Gurung, who is in his mid-30s. "I strive to care a heck of a lot
about whether my students are learning or not. With 300 or so students,
some do slip through. But I try to reach as many as I can."
It's these teaching methods that recently earned Gurung one of UWGB's
2004 Founders Association Award for Excellence. He was one of six employees
at the university to receive awards for teaching, scholarship, institutional
development, community outreach, academic support and classified staff.
There were 125 nominations and most of those were for the teaching award,
according to university officials. Criteria for the teaching award includes
length of time teaching at the university, number of students taught,
number of independent or learning projects presided over and student evaluations.
Gurung also was recognized for his selection as a Wisconsin Teaching
Fellow and service as chairman of the Instructional Development Council.
Gurung was nominated for the Founder's Award by seven colleagues and
students who described him as "an effective, enthusiastic, inspirational
and admired teacher."
"I used to get letters, unsolicited commentary from students in how
he changed their lives," said Fergus Hughes, dean of liberal arts and
sciences who nominated Gurung for the award.
"He connects with students like I've never seen before. He's also a
scholar. ... He's had some of his work published. Not only is he concerned
about teaching his students but he's also concerned about ways to improve
teaching."
A native of Bombay, India, Gurung came to the United States in 1987
to attend Carlton College in Northfield, Minn.
He later earned master's and doctoral degrees in social psychology from
the University of Washington in Seattle before taking a research position
at the University of California, Los Angeles. He came to UWGB in 1999.
A career in medicine was Gurung's initial career goal. But he switched
after taking a psychology course from a professor who made learning fun
and exciting.
Gurung, who teaches two introductory psychology courses and a course
in culture development and health, said he wants to bring that same excitement
about learning to his students.
To do that, he often incorporates humor and his own life experiences
in his teaching.
"There's a textbook, which I expect students to read, but learning isn't
only about what's found in a book," said Gurung, who also is chairman
of the human development department.
"There's data and facts, but I want to have a conversation with (students),
to get them to think and question what's there. We have lived life. We
all have life experiences to share."
Although he realizes psychology may not invoke the same passion in his
students as it did in him, Gurung wants them to complete his courses with
more than just a grade.
"The biggest thrill is every semester when someone comes up and says,
'You've totally changed what I expected' or 'I got a C in your course
but I still am thankful for what I learned,' " he said.
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