2011 Teaching Initiative Award Winner

Cynthia Edmonds-Cady, Ph.D.

Ph.D. in Social Work from Michigan State University (2006)
Assistant Professor, School of Social Work

Teaching philosophy

I believe in providing the opportunity and supportive structure for students to become empowered to get out in the community and promote social justice and the tools to become intellectually engaged as lifelong learners.

Most rewarding aspect of teaching

When a student tells me that they never thought they could understand or tackle a particular topic, but, after taking my class, they feel empowered to undertake much more difficult and complex subjects. It is the feeling of courage they develop that truly inspires me as a teacher!

Best compliment from a student

I influenced them to engage further with the materials or concepts we had been learning. It is very rewarding when a student says that they decided to learn more or educate others on the topics we have been learning. The best outcome I hope for in my teaching is for students to gain a ‘fire’ or ‘passion’ for learning and to feel that they have the ability to change the world around them for the better.

An important method in my teaching

I conduct ongoing process evaluations in all my classes in order to find points of learning that need to be furthered or slowed down at times.

A strategy I would recommend to colleagues

Provide students with opportunities to set individual learning goals and then work towards the achievement of those goals. When they feel invested in the learning process, they can accomplish so much more than if they feel that the locus of control is outside of them.

photo of Cynthia Edmonds-Cady, Ph. D. — “My motivation to become a college professor comes from wanting to inspire others to learn to think critically about the world around them—to motivate them to initiative positive social change in the local and global context.”