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MCC Daily Tribune

Day 1 of our gratitude series: Kudos to you, MCC Faculty and Staff!

The Teaching and Creativity Center is excited to present the semi-annual kudos to recognize and celebrate the success of the MCC community. I always enjoy reading and sharing these kudos across the college. You all inspire me!

I would also like to express my appreciation to everyone who has supported the programs of the Teaching and Creativity Center and exchanged pedagogical resources with me. Your contributions are invaluable. Please stay tuned for an announcement about the Spring 2025 Participation Form. As always, I look forward to your input for future programming and resources.

Lastly, and most importantly, celebrate your learning journey and successes. The end of the semester can be challenging, but you’ve got this! Take this opportunity to reflect on your growth and make sure to take time for yourselves.

Kudos from Students to Math Faculty:

Brigitte Martineau (Mathematics)

  • While she is teaching, she makes sure everyone is following along, and she makes sure that she answers everyone's questions, even if she has to give the answer a class later. If you miss a class, she makes sure you get the material that you missed. She goes out of her way to make sure you have everything you need to succeed not just in her class but in college as well. She cares about your success and will help you in any way she can.

Mary Cameron (Mathematics)

  • Professor Cameron is an exceptional teacher. As someone who often struggles to keep up while taking notes, I’ve found her meticulously prepared note packets to be an absolute lifesaver. She assigns homework after every class, which is always graded and returned by the next class without fail. The dedication and effort Professor Cameron invests in her teaching are evident, and it’s clear that she genuinely wants every one of her students to succeed.

Michael Rhoda (Mathematics), Receiving 8 Nominations

  • I’ve had professor Rhoda for two semesters and in both he has helped me gain an understanding of the material in this subject which has in the past evaded me.
  • Dr. Rhoda is an amazing teacher. I have had absolutely no troubles learning statistics with him as my teacher. Previously in high school I took AP stats and I did not do too well. With Dr. Rhoda as my teacher, I have received a 99 and above on every test! He explains things extremely well and makes sure the class understands it before moving on. He also has a great personality and makes class very entertaining and fun! Although I am quiet in the class, I truly appreciate everything he has done for me and others. Thank you for being great Dr. Rhoda!!
  • Mr. Rhoda fosters clear and friendly learning environment that allows his students to excel. He goes the extra mile in attending to each individual student’s needs, and helps all of us thoroughly whenever we need it.
  • I have had the privilege this semester to be a student of professor Rhoda's. I genuinely consider this experience to have been a privilege! I am lucky enough to be in his stats for the social sciences class, and it has become a favorite class of mine! That is not necessarily something I ever thought I would say regarding a math class. However, professor Rhoda makes all the difference. It is clear that every student in the classroom is comfortable, being it asking for help, or asking other stats questions, and this is a subject, many of us psych majors are not particularly comfortable with. However, again professor Rhoda makes all the difference! His patience and understanding is second to none. As a returning adult student to MCC, my perspective is perhaps a bit more unique, as I am closer in age and experience to some of my professors than I am to some of my peers. That being said, I can see the effort and the passion professor Rhoda brings in every day to the classroom! If he has ever had a bad day, I haven't seen it! Teaching clearly is more than just a job for professor Rhoda, it is a passion! I respect him immensely for that! Also, I feel as though I have learned much from him this semester, in fact, I am certain I have! I no longer skip the data section of my psych research papers out of fear of not being able to understand them. Where before these sections would prove to be an overwhelming data dump, they now, are far more approachable! I am in my second semester here at MCC, and I have aspirations to continue my education as far as grad school, and I can say with complete confidence, professor Rhoda has made a mark, and has had a phenomenal impact on my education! Be it six or eight more years of education ahead of me, I will remember professor Rhoda, and I will remember this class! I am beyond grateful that I was lucky enough to have had him as my stats professor this semester!
  • Mr. Rhoda is the kind of professor that you'll always have a great class with, no matter what subject is at hand, I’ve NEVER had a problem with Mr. Rhoda.
  • Professor Rhoda has performed a miracle! As his student I have gained a full understanding of statistics. This is a subject that has been difficult for me in the past. Rhoda has an excellent "cadence “when teaching. The balance of information layout, pace and pauses really lets your brain process new information well. His reassuring, calm style of teaching extinguished my math anxiety.
  • Best professor!
  • I've never been great at math, and it always makes me anxious. Mr. Rhoda has been amazing at making complicated mathematics subjects easier for me to understand, and I feel really fortunate for him to have taught me this semester.

Kudos From Colleagues to STEM Faculty and Staff:

Deb Ake (Engineering Science and Physics)

  • Every day she goes above and beyond for faculty and students alike. I love coming to MCC knowing I get to work with remarkable, dedicated people like her.

Anne Pyrak (Engineering Science and Physics)

  • Anne works hard every day making sure our engineering students have every piece of equipment that they need. Even when our robot competition board is a delicate glassware shop and our students are bulls, Anne only complains a very small and reasonable amount! It is great to have them on the team!

Ben Schermerhorn (Engineering Science and Physics)

  • Ben is a passionate educator and one of the most positive people that I have ever met. If you ever pass through the science building, you will notice how Ben’s students enjoy learning with him. He is co-facilitating the second-year faculty series this semester in addition to his busy schedule. The second-year faculty really enjoys reflective conversations in teaching and learning. Thanks for everything you are doing, Ben!

Glenna Lechner (Chemistry and Geosciences)

  • Glenna always brings cheerful energy every day to the Chemistry and Geosciences Department! Her wit and eagerness to assist others makes the department a great place to work. Thanks for the good vibes every day, Glenna!

Amanda Colosimo (Chemistry and Geosciences)

  • Amanda is a brilliant educator who truly cares about her students and the MCC community. No matter how busy she is, she is always available exchange thoughts about professional development resources for the growth of faculty and professional staff. From the bottom of my heart, thanks for everything you are doing for the Teaching and Creativity Center and MCC.

Melis Kural
Teaching & Creativity Center
12/11/2024