Profile of a Nurturing College Professor

This paper describes a college professor who believes that being a good role model involves more than being professionally competent. It is argued that professors can improve the quality of teaching by becoming more sensitive to the students' needs and by understanding and appreciating their individuality. The paper discusses the role of the professor in creating an environment where the students feel comfortable being themselves and enjoy the whole experience of learning. In this environment students can feel that they are important, that their needs are important, and that other people experience joy in helping them get their needs met. It is also argued that when the teacher is able to focus on assisting the students in meeting their needs, the teacher's needs get met. To conclude, the author presents a personal reflection on his own experiences as an engineering student and professor.