2013 Outstanding University Graduate Student Teaching Award Winner- Masters I

Maura Cherney, B.A.

B.A. in Communication from St. Norbert College (2011)
Graduate Teaching Assistant, School of Communication

Teaching philosophy

Begin with the end in mind.

Most rewarding aspect of teaching

Working with first-year students. The first two semesters in college are exciting, stressful, mysterious, and a blast! I love sharing that with my students.

I want to improve my teaching by

Continuing my education in the field of communication. A deep understanding of the field will help in my ability to share extended examples and work outside the scope of basic communication courses. I would also like to experience teaching in different environments, such as in a large lecture or in an online setting.

Best moment in my teaching career

The best moment in my teaching career was my first day teaching. Although GTA training prepared me well, I was experiencing a lot of nervous energy. From it I learned that even if I’m nervous, I have the knowledge and talent to actually teach new material to students. If I could get through the first day, I could handle any lesson.

My students would say

My energy in the classroom is what makes me an effective teacher.

Proudest teaching accomplishment

A student wrote me a thank-you note on the back of his final exam, outlining his favorite things about me as a teacher. That scribbled personalized note means more to me than any teaching evaluation.

Photo of Maura Cherney, B.A. — “If you asked my students what makes me an effective teacher, I would hope that they would say my clarity, high expectations, and ability to motivate, but I think they would actually say my energy in the classroom.”