Newspapers / St. Andrews University Student … / Nov. 3, 2008, edition 1 / Page 4
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4 NOTABLE KNIGHTS Featured Sections By Blair Garnett This year The Lance is hosting a new section dedicated to featuring a different student, professor, and club in each publication. The intended purpose is to expose you, the student body to those around you. Hopefully these short question and answer sessions will expose new information and invoke interests by providing a unique glimpse into the nature of our campus and its affect on these individuals (or clubs). Recommendations are welcome for future candidates, so if you know a certain individual (professor or student) who deserves recognition or you think embodies desirable characteristics please do not hesitate to nominate. If you are involved with a certain club or activity on campus which you believe also deserves adequate attention, again, feel free to send an email to the- lance@sapc.edu. Dr. Loftus. What is one piece of advice you would give to newcomers to our school? My advice to newcomers would be to take advantage of the opportunities presented to you. Get involved on cam pus with clubs or athletics and stay motivated. Transferring to a new schoo was not easy, but I don’t regret it. I enjoy the small college setting as opposed to my previous school—it has been easier to make friends, establish relationships with professors, and get involved on campus. If you have taken any trips since coming tc St. Andrews, to where have you journeyed why, and what kind of outward-bound exploration would you advise to those new to the area? I am currently planning on traveling to Italy at the end of the semester to visit the students that are studying abroad at Brunenberg. Friends and I have also trav eled to Charlotte, NC and to the beach in Wilmington, NC on a few different week ends. Featured Student: Alyson Trovato What brought you to St. Andrews? (Why did you choose this school in comparison to other options, what., made you stay, and how has this school shaped your college education thus far)? Athletics first brought me to St. Andrews—I was given the opportunity to run cross-country and track on schol arship. I have stayed at St. Andrews because of Dll athletics, the friends I have made, and the relationships I have acquired with my professors. I feel that all of these aspects have posi tively influenced my education and my overall experience here. What is your most cherished memory/experience at St. Andrews? Photo courtesy of Alyson Trovato.. It is too difficult to choose one memory from St. Andrews that I cherish the most. My experiences in cross-country traveling and racing with my team have been some of the best times of my life. The NCAA Nationals meet in Missouri last year was an incredible experience, as well as a highlight of my running career. What is your major, how did you choose your major, and what would you say have been your favorite class and professor? My major is Liberal Arts, with concen tration in Biology and English. For a while I had no idea what career path I wanted to pursue. I did an internship with two surgeons at Scotland Memorial Hospital and volunteered at a surgery center back in Texas. These experiences have inspired me to work towards a career in medicine. I cannot choose a favorite class or professor; there are several classes I have enjoyed. Many of my professors have shaped my education and encouraged me to never settle. A few of my favorite classes include: 2D Design with Stephanie McDavid; WWII Homefronts with Dr. Melton; and John Milton with Featured Professor: Dr. Edna Ann Loftus What brought you to St. Andrews? (Why this school and not others and what has made you stay?) As an undergradu- ate, I attended a small, private college of the liberal arts and sciences - Sweet Briar College in Virginia. I loved every aspect of that experience and truly found my own vocation and profes sional direction in that learning envi ronment. When I completed my graduate work I wanted to teach in an environment similar to the one which had been so important and influential for me. As a Presbyterian, the church connection also was important to me. Education has always been impor tant to Presbyterians and also the concept of vocation - that one’s job can and should be a calling. Teaching at St. Andrews is a way to live the commitment to service and also the challenge to love God with one’s mind that is central to my faith. I have stayed at St. Andrews because I am committed to its mis sion and to the colleagues and stu dents I have come to know and care about here. St. Andrews is a chal lenging and exciting environment - the interdisciplinary curriculum, the opportunity to teach in new areas, and the role of the faculty in college governance has enabled me to learn many things I probably would not have had the opportunity to experience in a larger institution where my role would have been more narrowly focused on the area of my graduate research. I enjoy learning new things and developing new interests; St. Andrews has given me many wonderful learning opportunities! I have grown to care deeply about this college; it is hard to imagine being anywhere else. What has been your general experience with teaching at a small private school such as ours? What do you suppose are the benefits of a St. Andrew’s classroom in comparison to a larger university? St. Andrews has been a wonderful place to live and grow as a profes sional. I have had many wonderful opportunities for teaching and lead ership that I may not have had at larger institutions. I have chaired the English Department, the SAGE pro gram, the Humanities and Fine Arts Division, and served as Associate Academic Dean. I have developed courses in King Arthur, Southern Women Writers, and Shakespeare and I have learned so much from the opportunity to teach in various areas within SAGE. I have had the opportunity to be a part of a unique undergraduate Creative Writing pro gram College Press and have trav eled to England, Italy, Israel, Egypt, Jordan, Kenya, and Brunenburg with students and faculty colleague: and spent a wonderful summer in Ecuador. For students, I think the benefits are much the same - a chance to grow and develop many different skills, the opportunity for independent work with faculty menn- bers, the emphasis on classroom discussion, as well as numerous opportunities for leadership. What has been your most rewarding and memorable experience at St. Andrews? It would be impossible to pick just one experience - every day is rewarding and has moments to cel ebrate. I think the daily interactions with colleagues and students are the most precious aspects my time at St. Andrews. I learn from them every day. If you could please describe your role at St. Andrews in regard to your department, your favorite class to teach, and your role as Associate Dean? I currently serve as Chair of the Department of English, Creative Writing, and Foreign Language. I have wonderful faculty colleagues with whom I work to plan curricu lum, develop new courses, support the activi- ("See LOFTUS, page 7) Photo Courtesy of
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