2018 Teaching Excellence AwardDr. SuJean 鈥淪usie鈥� Choi, professor of biomedical sciences in the College of Health Sciences and recipient of a Rev. John P. Raynor, S.J., Faculty Award for Teaching Excellence, says that her motivation for teaching is to prepare her students to be as successful as possible in their careers and their lives.
鈥淚 think the important thing is that everyone learns to think on their feet, and that鈥檚 what I emphasize in my class,鈥� Choi says. 鈥淚 teach basic critical-thinking
methods and logical approaches to problems that will serve the students no matter what career they pursue.鈥�
Choi says her teaching style comes from the struggles she had when she was a student.
鈥淚 remember what it was like to be on the other side of the classroom,鈥� she says, 鈥渁nd I wish I had someone that would have helped make those connections and allusions for me. There are moments when light bulbs should click, and those came much later for me. Now as a teacher, I am motivated to find ways to address my students鈥� approaches to learning.鈥�
Choi鈥檚 students appreciate her style, her attention to detail and her personal commitment to teaching. In Choi鈥檚 nomination packet, one student wrote: 鈥淒r. Choi is able to captivate her class and draw in students; she inspired me to understand the material and to participate. Dr. Choi fuels fascination and inspires learning, even of the most challenging material.鈥�
鈥淎s faculty 鈥� as teachers 鈥攚e have a responsibility to these students who we put forth in this world, because they鈥檙e the ones who will lead us into the future,鈥�
Choi says. 鈥淚 may not be directly curing diseases or working with patients, but I want to put forth students who can think on their feet and be problem solvers.鈥�
