Faculty Detail

Dr. Barbara J. Cook

Associate Professor of English
B.A., Texas State University San Marcos
M.A., Utah State University
Ph.D., University of Oregon
Office: Main Building, Faculty Wing Room 6
Phone Number: 814-886-6494
Email: bcook@mtaloy.edu

I like to think of teaching as an interactive process–one of mutual inquiry, one that both students and teacher have the opportunity to learn from, one that causes us to question and look at our world, ourselves, and our ideas from new angles of vision. Implementing these teaching goals is something I revisit as I prepare for each new term and each new course. I want the classroom to be both an open and bounded space that is hospitable and challenges students to think critically, not just learn a few facts to recite back on a test or in an essay. I tell them I want to “see them thinking.” I ask the students to participate inwardly as well as verbally. Therefore, in my teaching I attempt to strike a balance between a student-centered and a subject-centered pedagogy and guide that pedagogy through student feedback, both non-verbal and verbal. I believe that a passion for the subject centers the subject and consistent comments that appear on my student evaluations are “she cares about her subject” or “she is passionate about the literature.”

Personal Web Site:

http://mypage.mtaloy.edu/~bjcfa1/