MCC Daily Tribune

Day 2 of our gratitude series: Kudos to you, MCC Faculty and Staff!

I would like to highlight the faculty members who received two kudos from students in today’s post. Please stay tuned for more kudos recognition throughout the week.

From Faculty to Staff to MCC Faculty:

MCC faculty support students whether teaching on-campus at 8am Monday mornings or 10pm Tuesday evenings or 6pm Friday nights or 9am Saturday mornings. They reply to emails at all hours of the day and night as well as meet with students on Zoom well beyond the normal work hours to accommodate online, hybrid, and face-to-face student needs. MCC faculty support student success not only within and outside of the classroom through collaborative learning, high impact practices, meaningful discussions, field experiences, research opportunities, co-curricular activities, etc. but also via advising, listening, and guiding students through their academic programs and personal struggles. Kudos to all MCC faculty!

Amy Witt (Mathematics), Receiving 2 Nominations:

Professor Witt has a passion for making sure every student hits their academic goals. She goes above and beyond to ensure students are motivated, well prepared and confident to continue with higher math course. Witt provides an excellent environment and provides resources for students to excel beyond measure. Professor Witt has changed my perspective on math for the better and I have her to thank for this new found confidence in math.
Professor Witt is a great teacher. She is funny, patient and she takes the time to explain the math to you. She goes out of her way to make this math class work for me. I have been up to get help from her many times this semester, she has been a great help to me to get to know the math better, I am not that great in math and it takes me a few minutes to get the hang of it. She is a great teacher in my book.

Bobby Wright (Mathematics), Receiving 2 Nominations

Professor Wright takes the time to get students ready for their final exams. He very clear when explaining complex math and makes learning easier.
Professor Wright deserves to be commended for his outstanding efforts to teach this class when there was no one else to do it. He also goes above and beyond to help us understand the curriculum of College Algebra. I would not be passing this class were it not for Professor Wright. Thank you!!!

Carl Silvio (English and Philosophy), Receiving 2 Nominations:

Silvio is simply the best; the class atmosphere is always fun and casual. As corny as it is, our class feels like a large family get-together. There's no pressure and we all talk about the material, taking in everyone's views and genuinely learning from one another. When he reviews our essays, he provides genuine feedback and makes us feel pride in our work; often he gets excited when he can see our skill as writers grow. Everyone deserves a teacher who shows that they care about your success, and that is the exact kind of teacher Professor Silvio is.
Professor Silvio has continuously cultivating a learning environment in which all students, active or passive learners, feel supported and safe. Silvio does not hesitate in establishing mutual respect as a cornerstone of his classroom management methodology, as well as understanding and advocating for his students when they may need a bit of leniency in terms of due dates or interpretable assignment guidelines. Silvio provides opportunities for both creativity and rigidness, harboring an equitable environment where any student can perform at their best. He is also one of the most generous and kind hearted humans I have come across in this life, and I will miss my time with him greatly.

Charles Wuertzer (Biology), Receiving 2 Nominations:

Professor Wuertzer has been my professor for both BIO 144 and BIO 145. He is always so thorough with his lectures and makes them interactive and interesting. My favorite part about having Professor Wuertzer is that he really cares about his students and how they do in his class. He is very understanding and flexible with making up exams or homework assignments. It is such a great environment and we have a lot of fun while learning, which makes the curriculum stick better. I will really miss having him as my professor after this semester.
I want to thank Doctor Wuertzer for his continued support in A/P 2, this class was challenge for me. I am firm believer if you want anything in life you must remain steadfast. I want to thank him for his positive attributes in class, he is an awesome professor and very knowledge, he is always there for the students, and is always encouraging, he has many insights in how to handle certain questions and answers to succeed in his class. I am not sure if I will make it out untouched but if so, I will see you again next year. Thank you.

Hanan Gahi (TRIO, SSS), Receiving 2 Nominations:

If encouraging and supportive were a person I’d pick Hanan Gahi. She presents not only herself but me and Muslim women she is a beautiful role model and reflections that despite cultural differences and religious beliefs. Life only stops when you quit believing in yourself.
Ms. Hanan Gahi Program TRIO has helped me and many students like me at MCC, They offer help those who are having a hard time at MCC, who are struggling financially, and those who have disabilities. They provide lots of different kinds of help, like advising with classes, motivation, and coaching, to make sure these students can do well in school and graduate on time. They also offer workshops and events to help students explore careers and connect with people who can help them. Plus, they help with things like filling out financial aid forms and understanding how to manage money. Overall, I believe that TRiO SSS is like a big support system that helps students succeed in college and I truly think other students at MCC who are already there and new students coming into MCC should know about this program; it will be a great benefit to them. Many students get overwhelmed by the amount of work that is given in colleges classes and many students sadly don't have the proper discipline to get their work done on time and learn the college skills they need like leadership, problem solving, and teamwork. I believe the two most important one are communication and time management. I hope more and more people know about this program so they can get the help they want from it. Everyone in TRIO is so accepting and kind; they will make you feel safe and help you when you are stressed.

Laila Squalli, (World Languages and Culture), Receiving 2 Nominations:

Mrs. Squalli is a marvelous teacher. She always has a smile on her face and she makes the 1 hour and 15-minute classes go by really quickly. She engages us with videos and different readings. She is one of the best professors I have ever had. I would love to have her again. :)
Professor Squalli is skilled at blending French vocabulary into lessons taught in English, even for students at the 101 level. She is very approachable and accommodating, and I'm impressed with how she teaches a class that has both beginner and advanced students. We all learned something new, no matter how much French we already spoke, including cultural information about French-speaking countries other than France. Learning about the diversity of la Francophonie was interesting and engaging, and I'd recommend French 101 to anyone who's curious about the language or needs a language course for graduation requirements.

Laura Bond, (Mathematics), Receiving 2 Nominations:

Professor Bond always makes her classes enjoyable and worthwhile. She teaches topics clearly and has guided notes for students.
Professor Bond is an incredible teacher! Statistics I was the first credit-bearing math course I took upon returning back to school after a long time away, and her online MTH160 course made it so easy for me to pick up concepts and get refamiliarized with working with that kind of material again. She provides endless amounts of resources for you to access to help in further understanding the topics we cover in class and is always available and accommodating if you need anything at all. She really truly cares about teaching and helping students to understand the value in learning mathematics and the many applications it brings. Her passion shines through in all of her lectures and when lecturing over Zoom recordings it can be hard to determine that you’re getting the lesson across in an engaging way but she definitely does all the while making it so easy to follow along and understand what she’s talking about. I’ve learned a lot, gained confidence in my math skills, and I am very grateful to have had her has a teacher.

Lauren Blew, (Business Administration), Receiving 2 Nominations:

Mrs. Blew is a fantastic professor. She was recommended to me by another accounting professor last semester and I honestly do not regret my decision of taking classes with her. Even though accounting is not my favorite subject, you can really tell that she loves what she does.
Professor Blew is a remarkably supportive professor. While her course challenges you to gain knowledge and skill, it is also formatted in a way that guides you to succeed. Professor Blew encountered a disheartening obstacle in her personal life this semester yet she remained reliable and available to her students during that difficult time. She even maintained focus on her students and wore a smile throughout navigating the struggle. She is inspiring to me.

Lydia Tien, (Geology and Chemistry), Receiving 2 Nominations:

I have genuinely enjoyed having Lydia as my chemistry professor this spring semester. Not only is she so sweet, but she is very attentive, which you don’t always come by as a college student. We will submit an assignment on Brightspace, and within the same day, we receive an email from Lydia with positive feedback and pointers/hints on missed questions that we are able to go back and correct. Lectures are also made more fun, as she teaches while allowing us to collaborate with peers as well. If I had the chance to take a different class with Lydia as my professor, I would absolutely take it!
Lydia pushes her students to meet high academic expectations and encourages them every step of the way. I have never had a professor so genuinely invested in their student's success like Lydia is. She is an amazing lecturer and a kind person. I have endless good things to say about her.

Mark Ricci (VAPA), Receiving 2 Nominations:

This professor changed the way I looked at communication. I desperately needed help to be able to communicate better when conflict arose, and he was able not only to teach me all of the techniques but how to apply it in my life. I am so grateful for his dedication. He really cares about student success, and how we can become better communicators in our life. Thank you professor Ricci!!!
He was very helpful and always made sure the instructions were clear. Even if we weren’t on time he would still let students speak and let them say what they had to say, long or short!

Matthew Williams (Mathematics), Receiving 2 Nominations:

This Professor goes above and beyond and truly cares for his students. He will take the time out to meet with you and help you understand and break it down in terms that help you better understand.
Professor Williams is fantastic at teaching statistics and he is very funny. I tried to learn statistics fully online by myself and it did not work. Professor Williams has helped me not only learn but excel in class. I am so grateful for Professor Williams.

Michael Rhoda (Mathematics), Receiving 2 Nominations:

Michael Rhoda has to be one of the absolute best math teachers I have had the pleasure to learn from in all of my math learning days. He is patient and teaches in a way that, whether you're a math pro, or a complete newbie, you can keep with the class pace. He actively engages with the class, through interactive lessons that both challenge us and foster improvement. He is always reassuring us that he is available to support and makes sure to remind students of office hours. I think he is a gift to the MCC community, and I hope the work he does and impact he has on students is recognized and never forgotten.
An absolutely amazing professor who empathizes with his students and knows exactly how to make learning our material fun. By far the best professor and class I have ever been in.

Michele Finn (Biology), Receiving 2 Nominations:

Professor Finn is a knowledgeable individual who consistently goes above and beyond to educate her students. She is highly organized, dividing each chapter into 3 or 4 papers providing additional study guides, along with utilizing PowerPoint presentations to ensure students can easily grasp the material. Moreover, she is always available to assist her students. One thing that stands out is her evident happiness in her work.
Dr. Finn takes the time to make every student as successful as possible. I am dietetics major and she would always take the time to talk about articles or topics that I was interested in exploring. She goes above and beyond every day for her students. I was lucky to call her my professor.

Natasha Chen (AHPS), Receiving 2 Nominations:

I can confidently say that in the short time that I’ve known Professor Chen, she has made an enormous positive impact on my life. It’s evident that she cares greatly for her students, as she always makes herself available for us to talk about anything, regardless of its relevance to school. I feel extremely safe and confident in my abilities under her instruction. She is one of the best professors at MCC.
I would like to nominate Natasha Chen because she always stands up for what is right. She is very easy to talk to and she understands how life works for students and as a teacher. I love the way she views our society, she helped me to understand our society through a wider lens. She is not a pushover and she demands the respect that is rightfully due to her. She has made learning Sociology easy and has a passion to teach her students what she has learned and experienced as a teacher in Sociology, and it shows through her lectures and assignments. I am very pleased to have her this semester and I hope I can attend another session with her in the near future. She is a teacher that we need to have for our future sociologists to empower us through the thought process as sociologists. It has been a pleasure to have met her this semester.

Richard Stevens, (Biology), Receiving 2 Nominations:

Professor Stevens’ is extremely passionate about anything and everything science related. He makes lectures and labs something to look forward to each week. You won’t be able to find a professor better than him!
Professor Steven’s is a gift to this world. His passion and love for biology really help me be more interested and focused while learning. I retain a lot of information in his class. He has a great sense of humor as well. He is all around a good guy and a great professor!

Ryan Clemens, (Geology and Chemistry), Receiving 2 Nominations:

He is very understanding, caring and knowledgeable. He makes every person feel welcome and excited for whatever he is teaching. I never feel bad for getting an answer wrong or saying the wrong term because, I know he will correct me kindly and take the time to explain to me where I went wrong. He is the quintessential professor every student wants!
Actually made me like chemistry ! I was super nervous about this class and he made it fun! Very grateful for when I had a difficult time he took the time to help. I can tell that his main goal is for us to achieve and doesn’t want us to fail. Super vocal even on the weekends I was able to reach out for questions regarding our quizzes. Super funny and made the class actually fun! Great teacher and will always remember Dr. Clemens

Steven Kilner, (Mathematics), Receiving 2 Nominations:

Professor Kilner is extremely helpful and helps every student succeed. He's super friendly and goes out of his way to make sure you understand everything. Whether it's during office hours or right after class, he's there to help, no question is too small. With him, learning feels easy and fun. He's the secret ingredient to everyone's success in the class!
Mr. Kilner is great, he teaches statistics very well, and makes it look easy. He is always prepared to answer questions and he always gives us notice of stuff with a head of time. He is a wonderful professor. I would love to have him again. :)

Melis Kural
Teaching & Creativity Center
05/21/2024