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MCC Daily Tribune

Another day of student thanks: Spotlight on English and Philosophy Faculty!

Today, we turn our attention to the spectacular faculty members of the English and Philosophy Department. Enjoy student thanks, in their own words.

James Senden, English

  • Professor Senden is a hard-working dedicated teacher. He is very compassionate, honest, and fair.  He is not only there for a job but also cares about his students. He makes sure to give everyone a fair chance.  He makes his students feel welcome and warm. He cares not only about you but you as a person. Yes, he is still strict and must make sure that you do your assignments in a loving and caring way. I would love to have all my professors like him.

Amy Burtner, English

  • (faculty submission) Kudos to Amy Burtner for her continued work in upholding the Teaching and Creativity Center (TCC) as a resource for equity and belonging. Her collaborative efforts with the TCC committee to present a statement to our college that denounces anti-LGBTQIA+ legislation; coordinated attacks on public education, DEI initiatives, and academic freedom; and incidents of hate and threat, and affirms our commitment to support and protect our LGBTQIA+ students, faculty, and staff are exemplary of our mission as a community college.

Tokeya Graham, English

  • (faculty submission) Dr. Graham is an excellent mentor that has supported me during my transition into MCC. Her knowledge and experience with the college environment and teaching have been an invaluable resource. She goes above and beyond to ensure that I feel supported. 
  • (faculty submission) Thank you for your dedication to 3AG.  Your work is valued and appreciated! 

Elizabeth Johnston, English

  • Professor Johnston has been so helpful to me this semester. It’s actually my first semester and she is an amazing teacher but goes beyond that. She helped me choose the correct courses to take next semester and is so quick to help out. She is always rooting for me when I do good in her class. In class she made me feel seen and excited to do English work even though I struggle with that class the most.
  • Dr. Johnston has gone above and beyond to help me not only with my coursework but my overall college experience. She is always willing to help in any way she can to ensure a student’s success.

Yulanda McKinney, English

  • Professor Mckinney is an exemplary educator who spares no effort in ensuring her students' comprehension of the curriculum. Her class is a delightful learning experience as she encourages students to voice their opinions without fear of reproach. Personally, I relished every moment of her class this semester.
  • Professor McKinney is a truly exceptional educator who is committed to the success of all her students. She goes above and beyond to ensure that each student feels supported and receives the guidance they need to excel in English. Whether you are struggling with grammar, vocabulary, or writing, she is always there to provide clear explanations, helpful feedback, and additional resources to help you improve. Her dedication to teaching is evident in the way she tailors her lessons to meet the needs of each student, and the way she creates a positive and engaging learning environment. It's wonderful to have a teacher like her who is so invested in your success and who truly cares about your growth as a student and as a person. We all appreciate you. 😊  

Maria Brandt, English

  • Maria has been such an inspirational and supportive professor for me this past semester. Her teaching style is relaxed and constructive in a way that motivates my writing pursuits and keeps me interested and engaged. Maria is just one of those professors that truly cares about the students she teaches and pushes me to continuously strive for academic excellence. 
  • She's been incredibly understanding when it came to struggles dealing with mental health and not being able to make it to class some days and has also listened to my accommodations and has just been an amazing supportive person for the class (creative writing). She supports any of our ideas or writing pieces and seems genuinely interested in what we are writing about. She's also very very kind and personable and easy to talk to.

Catharine Ganze- Smith, English

  • Professor Smith takes great care of her students and motivates them to succeed. She always has a positive attitude and it brings joy into the environment.
  • Miss Smith is exceptional at teaching English due to her deep understanding of the language and her innovative teaching methods. She has a natural talent for making complex concepts easy to understand, and her ability to relate to her students on a personal level makes the learning experience all the more enjoyable. The professor's approach to teaching has helped to make college studies more pleasant, as her positive attitude and engaging lectures create a fun and interactive learning environment. Additionally, having her class in my schedule has been a tremendous source of stress relief, thanks to her lively and joyful nature. She not only imparts knowledge but also inspires her students to enjoy the learning process, making her one of the most sought-after professors on campus. If only time travel was possible I would go back and do this class again. :)

Scott Rudd, English

  • He truly cares about your class work and provides you with so many resources and information to reach your full potential in writing. The feedback he gives is very helpful and lets you improve every single time. Glad to have him as my professor. 
  • Professor Rudd has completely changed the way I view myself as a student. Coming from a barely passing grade in English 101 with another instructor, to over a year later being invited to honors English courses after being a student with Professor Rudd, I have gained confidence in my academics that I've never had before. He's given me the opportunity to see what mutual respect looks like within a school setting and how to be a thorough, conscientious person overall.
  • Articulates the enduring importance of literature and arts with a clear passion for the subject matter and in an engaging and informative manner.

Robert Muhlnickel, Philosophy

  • Professor Muhlnickel was an important part of my journey; he made a big difference in the way I saw education with his patience and knowledge. A great role model to follow who inspires with his kind work.
  • Professor Muhnickel is the type of professor that truly cares about his students in every aspect. He unabashedly cares about what you have to contribute to the class and gives unbiased consideration to every opinion. For me personally, he saw my potential when I thought I was struggling, encouraged me, and recognized my efforts and achievements. He encouraged me to participate in the MCC essay writing contest, an event I would have never considered joining on my own, and I ended up winning second place in the philosophy category.  I think Muhlnickel embodies the attributes every professor should have; considerate, inquisitive, encouraging, understanding, and ambitious. He doesn't shy away from the tough content and is more than willing to meet one on one, talk after class, zoom, and email if you have any questions. He also gives thorough feedback on what you did well with and what you should improve on. He made a tough course very enjoyable.

Amanda Colosimo
Teaching and Creativity Center
05/17/2023