CCSU Professors We’ve Had Over the Years

As we’re on our way out the door, now is the perfect time to take a look back and do a little recap of what it was like to sit through the worst of classes and have the privilege of attending the best. This is by no means a comprehensive list of the best and the worst classes and professors, but the accounts of two graduating seniors and their experiences over the last fours years at CCSU. While it is a purely subjective selection process, we’ve attempted to evaluate professors and courses on the content as well as the delivery, and it probably goes without saying that these lists are limited to only the classes we have taken. We hope our bests and worsts lists will steer you in the right direction as you prepare for courses in the future.

Melissa Traynor (English and Journalism, CCSU ’10)

I’ve been lucky enough to survive two majors without running into a single professor whom I could not stand – just a few duds. On the flip side, that means my transcript is marked by more good professors than I have room to talk about. For example, everyone loves Prof. Brian Folker in English, so he needs no additional praise. The same goes for Prof. Robert Dowling. But I think there are less recognized professors who are gems, and similarly off-the-radar professors whom everyone should avoid.

Best:

Barry Leeds (English): As one rateyourprofessors.com commenter posted, “Any man that recites poetry and shoots guns on weekends is worth a chance.” I absolutely loved the Norman Mailer class because it felt like we were just sitting around, hanging out and talking about books (which is about the best experience you can have as an English major).

Braden Hosch (Institutional Research & Assessment): If you’d like someone to show you the purpose, beauty and intricacies of poet John Milton’s  Paradise Lost, he’s your man. If you need someone to take you through Milton’s dry, preachy prose and hold your attention, he’s also your man.

Laurent Gareau (Music): I took History of Jazz with him a few years ago and would take the class again if possible. Beyond the novelty of it (he literally taught us one or two-note melodies by asking us to sing or hum along to Count Basie’s “Jumpin’ at the Woodside”), the class provides a great perspective on American history into the early twentieth century. And the music is great.

Clementina Verge (Journalism): Much like Professor Cannella, Verge’s experience in hard news reporting really brings a lot to the table. Not only does she teach she teach things that aspiring writers need to know, but her own clips and resume do well to demonstrate the importance of theory and good execution of journalistic judgment.

Worst:

Andrew Moemeka (Communication): The only good thing about my COMM 230: Intro to Mass Media was that I got it over with in a three-week span during winter break. While I admire the professor’s background and skills in the field, he is living proof that experience does not always translate to the ability to teach or pass on said skills.

Cheryl Chatfield (English): Her Intro to Composition course wasn’t difficult, but Chatfield was a little condescending and frustrating. Also – maybe because of her – I think that when a textbook is written by the professor, it should automatically be disqualified from the course required materials list. Especially when it adds nothing to the class whatsoever.

Jack Heitner (English): To the senior English majors: if you have some open elective spot, or world literature requirement, avoid this class at all costs. Yes, it is relatively easy, maybe too easy for a 400-level course, but you’ll also need a very open mind to appreciate it. It’s kind of like if all of the paranormal activity/religious TV programming became one entity, and is also now a college course.

Kim Scroggins (Journalism, CCSU ’10)

Throughout my four years I can only think of one professor whom I consider one of the best and the worst that I’ve had. Dr. Brian Kershner was the one who pushed my decision to drop out of the music department; he made me feel like an idiot who would never have made an effect music teacher. However, I still remember everything that man taught me. He’s brilliant and really strives for perfection from his students.

Best:

Campbell (Music): I took her Fundamentals of Music class before she left during my freshman year. She knew what she was doing but when she got pissed off, you knew it, and I absolutely loved her.

Anthony Cannella (Journalism): His classes and teaching methods are rather dry, but he’s always been able to give me a good laugh… it must have been all the folk music.

MaryAnne Nunn (English): Her class on British literature drove me to really think about literature and not to settle for anything that’s easy. At first I wasn’t thrilled with the thought of being forced to think when I read but I actually got more out of it that way.

Gerard Rosa (Music): This guy was a riot. In class it was easy for him to get off-topic, but was an easy teacher as far as music history is concerned. Give him a violin and he’ll school you. He’s brilliant.

Worst:

Thomas Mione (Biology): The biology class itself wasn’t too bad but he really creeped me out most of the time. I respect anyone who has a passion for something but sometimes he took things a little far.

Sylvia Schindelman (Mathematics): I hate math, but her class was pretty easy. However, she wasn’t a very pleasant woman and often favored the guys (she called one “delicious” once) and if she can’t hear you, she’ll yell at you until you’re basically yelling back at her.

John Adamian (Journalism): He was an adjunct from Wesleyan who taught Covering Arts and Media. I learned absolutely nothing. All we did was read articles from websites. It was a waste of three hours.

Samia Elsafty (Math): As previously stated, I hate math but it was impossible for me to really understand anything in this class because I had a terrible time trying to understand her. Nice woman, but I just couldn’t get through her thick accent.

Commence backlash in 3… 2… 1…