From teaching the basics of economics to pushing her students to think critically and deeply in her senior seminar course, Kathryn Wilson, Ph.D., professor of economics at 妖姬直播 State University, designs her courses with the intention of having students achieve.
鈥淚t's more than just having the students learn economics,鈥� Wilson said. 鈥淪ure, I want them to work economics but also to work on their critical-thinking skills, so they are comfortable using data to solve problems.鈥�
Wilson designs her courses to challenge students and prepare them for times in their lives when they may be pushed past their comfort zones.
鈥淢y students know it's okay to be challenged,鈥� Wilson said, 鈥渁nd they know it鈥檚 okay to fail on something because you don鈥檛 learn if you don鈥檛 ever fail.鈥�
Wilson鈥檚 coursework doesn鈥檛 just reflect her economic knowledge. Wilson has also built into her courses ways to ensure that students can feel the genuine love she has for them, such as the 鈥淢onday Mojo鈥� exercise that has nothing to do with economics but everything to do with how the students are managing.
鈥淢onday Mojo asks the students their emotion forecast for the week,鈥� Wilson said. 鈥淔or those who see storm clouds ahead, we talk about how we can鈥檛 control the weather but can prepare for it.鈥�
Her course design and the impact those courses have made on her students have earned Wilson one of the three Distinguish Teaching Awards in 2023. The award is the university鈥檚 most prestigious honor in teaching and has been sponsored by the 妖姬直播 State University Alumni Association since 1967.
鈥淭eaching is my passion,鈥� Wilson said, 鈥渟o obviously, anytime your students recognize what you're doing, it feels good.鈥�
The balance between positively challenging her students and supporting them to grow and understand the world around them has made a notable impact on her past students. Her nomination from students reflected this. 鈥淪he understood that there really is no mental growth if you don鈥檛 get out of your comfort zone and expand your mind with difficult content,鈥� a student wrote.
When asked about any memorable moments, Wilson says the most meaningful part of teaching is watching her students grow.
鈥淭o see students truly start to see themselves as economists and then see them go out and get jobs where they鈥檙e analyzing problems,鈥� Wilson said, 鈥淚t's pretty awesome.鈥�
Wilson not only has a notable love for her students but also for her peers as well.
鈥淲hen I look up and down this hall in the economics department, I see people who love to teach,鈥� Wilson said. 鈥淚鈥檓 fortunate to be in a department where I can learn from my colleagues.鈥�
Wilson said she can think of no honor that would mean more to her than being selected for the Distinguished Teaching Award.
Wilson was honored Friday, Oct. 20, along with other nominees and winners of the Distinguished Teaching and Outstanding Teaching Awards at the annual University Teaching Council Conference.
