William Peace University appreciates the time and effort that our faculty pours into our students. Each month we will highlight one of our hard working professors with a Faculty Profile.
During the first week of class, a group of a dozen or more students gathered outside of Flowe Academic Building.
On a picture perfect day, it’s not uncommon on college campuses to see class being held outside.
For Dr. Katie Otis, Program Director of History and an Associate Professor of History, the change of scenery represents just one area of her unique approach to teaching.
“I want to create an environment where history is fun, they can let their guard down and I want them to excite them about it,” Otis said.
Teaching background
Otis received her Bachelor of Arts in History from William & Mary and her Masters and Doctoral degrees in History from UNC-Chapel Hill.
She came to William Peace University in 2014 as an adjunct professor, a newly minted Ph.D. Otis, who previously was a teaching assistant at UNC-Chapel Hill, was able to help revise the entire history program at Peace. She became a full-time faculty member in 2017 and was recently promoted to her current position of Associate Professor.
“After I got my Ph.D I was lecturing at Chapel Hill,” Otis said. “That’s a very different experience because you’re up on a podium, some of the classes were relatively small with 60 (students), but some of the classes were 250. As an introvert and a shy person it was trial by fire for me; it was really hard.”
By comparison, the student to teacher ratio at Peace is 13:1, and the average class size is 15 students.
Bigger picture
The content from her classes are important, and naturally she tests the students on the material. But students who step inside (or outside depending on the weather) her class are in store for much more.
“I feel like my bigger job is shepherding younger people into feeling comfortable in their own skin because I didn’t feel that way for so long,” Otis explained. “Now my teaching is sort of a combination of certainly content, but I cover less and less of it these days because I spend more time trying to create an environment of when we are in class we’re having fun together, we are learning together.”
Otis even said her favorite classes are the ones when “I don’t know a lot.” She’s learning along with the students, which makes the overall experience more enjoyable for both parties.
“Then you’re teaching not only the subject matter, but you’re teaching intellectual curiosity, the excitement of wanting to learn more,” Otis said. “I love learning new stuff, so to do that with students is much more enjoyable to me because I feel like we’re a team and we are exploring together, and I really like that.”
Favorite part of Peace
Otis did not hesitate when asked what was her favorite part about teaching at Peace?
“The students, hands down,” Otis said, her eyes lighting up. “I really like my colleagues, the faculty are great.”
But it’s the students in the classroom who can change her day.
“I’m such an anxious person, so I might have a really bad morning, a slow start, feeling anxious and I can feel anxious until I hit the classroom,” Otis said. “Being with the students, I think what I do well now, I think they can feel my authentic love for them. When I walk in there I want them to know that I truly care about them as people and as learners. I feel like we’re in this together.”
