Professor of Biology develops teaching methods relevant to student interests
Regan Driscoll
Equinox Staff
Dr. Susan Whittemore of the Biology Department received the 2012 Distinguished Teacher Award presented annually by the Alumni Association to recognize excellence in teaching, encouragement of independent thinking, rapport with students, and effective student advising.
Whittemore will be starting her twentieth year here teaching biology, animal physiology and endocrine disruption, a course she created because the unit she had was so interesting.
In the classroom she adapts her methods and teaching style to fit each and every student.
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“We all learn differently,” Whittemore said. She commented that when she first began teaching, she taught for her learning style, but a lot of students aren’t the same, so she needs to reach them in other ways.
Whittemore took an opportunity to get involved in a grant program at Landmark College and teach there for a semester, which, according to her, helped in her teaching methods. Landmark College is dedicated to students with learning disabilities.
There she learned different organizational techniques such as handing out an agenda or outline for class so students who have a hard time focusing can keep track of where the class is at and know how many things are left.
She noted that she spends a lot more time trying to help keep students organized.
To improve upon her courses, Whittemore began breaking assignments down more so one project isn’t worth a huge portion of a grade.
Instead, she organizes them in stages, which she said helps her keep track of individual students and how they’re doing and their progress so she can intervene earlier if needed.
Whittemore brings in current relevant topics so students can relate more to the material.
She said “as much hands-on science we can do is the best,” but when the professor does lecture she asks questions and tries to make it as interactive as possible.
She also tries to have a lot of points for group activities, “so if the student who doesn’t do well on exams can contribute to the class in other ways,” she said.
“You can not be a good test taker, that doesn’t mean you can’t be a great scientist some day and also you can be a great test taker but not have the confidence to go into the lab and do problem solving,” she said.
Whittemore loves having both the lab and the classroom to teach in because she says she is providing opportunities for all kinds of students.
She offers her utmost support and guidance because she said she would have done more in college and not taken this long winding path had she felt connected to faculty members more.
She wants to make sure students take advantage of all that is available at school and really likes helping freshmen with the transition of high school to college life.
One of her students, J.P. Dustin, said, “Last year was my first year coming back as a student after 13 years and as you can imagine I was fearful and nervous. The caliber and quality of her teaching eased that and helped me understand the material and is why I chose her as my mentor.”
Another student, Julia Pinette, commented on Whittemore.
Pinette said, “I had trouble transferring my freshmen year and she was kind of a bulldog for me. Whatever I needed she got for me and I’d only had her for one semester. I don’t know where I would have gotten without Dr. Whittemore. She’s a really good advisor and person.”
Chair of the Biology Department, Kristen Porter-Utley, said when she first started teaching at KSC she often sought advice from faculty who would direct her to Whittemore because, “she’s one of the most innovative teachers we have here.”
She went on to say Whittemore “would always have an interesting and unusual new way to try and engage students and was willing to sort of take risks and try something new she thought would help student learning.”
Porter-Utely noted this continues today and Whittemore is always up to date on the newest education strategies.
She said Whittemore is always attending workshops and taking courses, “so she’s super active in trying to learn new techniques.”
Porter-Utely continued, “She’ll have a new idea and be the first one to try it out and then she’ll say what worked and what didn’t, so she’s not just teaching students, she’s teaching us.”
Whittemore also received numerous letters regarding her nomination.
She said it was her colleague who died three years ago from cancer who started it and worked with two of her students to put together this packet and get letters.
A previous student, Amy Hollar, wrote how much it would mean to people if Whittemore were to receive the award, “in particular Dr. Hanna Kolodziejki of KSC, who sadly passed away,… felt very strongly that Dr. Whittemore should be honored with this award,” she said.
“For some reason I feel like honoring Dr. Whittemore with this award would also honor Hanna’s memory in a way,” Hollar wrote.
All of the letters discussed the immense influence she has had in all of their lives and how dedicated she is, valuing “her sincere passion for what she does and her consistency in always challenging her students to see what we’re truly capable of.”
Whittemore said “a lot of people don’t have the confidence to go to grad school or take the next step, they say, ‘no I couldn’t do that’ and I say, ‘yes, yes you can.”
Hollar also wrote, “She saw things in me that I couldn’t see on my own…I’m now on a path to a future that I never thought I could have…She embodies everything that an effective professor should. She is hard-working, intelligent, inspiring, and deeply devoted to her students and her commitment as an educator.”
Holler concluded in her letter, “She inspires students to work hard in their classes, to look past these next few years and into a future after graduation, to think creatively and independently, and to never underestimate themselves. She has changed my life, and I am honored to call her my teacher, my mentor, and my friend.”
Regan Driscoll can be contacted at
rdriscoll@keene-equinox.com