Assistant Professor, English Department
Dr. Cathie English has utilized the public affairs mission as an instrument for teaching, service on campus, and impact within area communities.
Stemming from her passion for writing, she became interested in working with Rare Breed after attending a graduate student’s field trip. Rare Breed provides assistance to homeless, runaway and at-risk youth ages 13-24. Cathie says, “I wanted to enact some kind of service learning that would have an impact on addressing equity in the classroom.” Working alongside at-risk youth and understanding their particular personal challenges has had a vital impact upon learning for her MSU students, and for student success outcomes in city and rural classrooms.
As a faculty member, Cathie believes that action research has the greatest rewards in student learning. She states, “students can and do learn inside the four walls of a classroom, however, it cannot compare to the engaged learning that happens with experiential learning in the field.” Her utilization of new, creative and imaginative approaches in teaching and research have made clear and positive impacts in and beyond the region, and have expanded the public’s understanding of specific problems facing society.
Public Affairs is pleased to recognize Dr. Cathie English as November’s Faculty Public Affairs Spotlight!