The Present Professor - (Teaching, Engaging, and Thriving in Higher Ed) by Elizabeth A Norell

About the Book

At a time of crisis in higher education, as teachers struggle to find new ways to relate to, think about, and instruct students, this book holds a key. Implementing more inclusive pedagogies, Norell suggests, requires sorting out our own identities. In short, if we want to create spaces where students have the confidence, comfort, and psychological safety to learn and grow, we have to create spaces where we do, too. The Present Professor is dedicated to that proposition, and to helping educators build that transformational space.

Book Synopsis

It's hard to learn when you're under stress, and a lot harder when your teacher is struggling with stress, too. In a world where stress is unavoidable--where political turmoil, pandemic fallout, and personal challenges touch everyone--this timely book offers much-needed guidance for cutting through the emotional static that can hold teachers back. A specialist in pedagogical strategies with extensive classroom experience, Elizabeth A. Norell explains how an educator's presence, or authenticity, can be critical to creating transformational spaces for students. And presence, she argues, means uncovering and understanding one's own internal struggles and buried insecurities--stresses often left unconfronted in an academic culture that values knowing over feeling. Presenting the research on how and why such inner work unlocks transformational learning, The Present Professor equips educators with the tools for crafting a more authentic presence in their teaching work.

At a time of crisis in higher education, as teachers struggle to find new ways to relate to, think about, and instruct students, this book holds a key. Implementing more inclusive pedagogies, Norell suggests, requires sorting out our own identities. In short, if we want to create spaces where students have the confidence, comfort, and psychological safety to learn and grow, we have to create spaces where we do, too. The Present Professor is dedicated to that proposition, and to helping educators build that transformational space.

Review Quotes

"The Present Professor asks us to recognize the importance of bringing our imperfect, growing, caring whole selves to the classroom. Through stories, critical reflection, and a set of challenging prompts, this book offers a map to meaning and fulfillment in a faculty career."--Susan Hrach, author of Minding Bodies: How Physical Space, Sensation, and Movement Affect Learning


"So much competes for our attention in teaching and learning spaces that we might forget to take care of a precious resource--ourselves. Liz Norell shares supportive actions educators can take to embrace their authenticity and reclaim their joy. This book is a breath of fresh air."--Tracie Marcella Addy, coauthor of What Inclusive Instructors Do: Principles and Practices for Excellence in College Teaching