Susan M. Wayman

Teaching Philosophy Goals

We learn so that we can be better: improve, grow, and change. Therefore teaching should target academic competency and personal development.

Teaching in the humanities allows me to narrowly focus on one of my first loves: people. As professionals, as social beings, as family members, as colleagues and as friends, we have opportunities to be better people. So, whatever I teach, I try to help my students see themselves in broader contexts and with higher purposes. Good writing, effective speaking, and sound thinking are means to an end: engaging meaningfully in all our "communities". My goal is to encourage students to want to be contributors, equipped to participate skillfully in those communities through mature thinking, through efficient reading and writing, and through effective communicating.

Relying on international work experience and my own learning derived from advanced degrees in International Studies and in Linguistics, I strive to share what "others" teach us about ourselves. I work closely with Nichols international students as their academic advisor and culture coach. I am the faculty advisor for our International Student Association.

My interests include travel and language learning; British classic literature; writing poetry; sketching; hiking; and anything that involves an old fashioned map and a compass.

My most satisfying interest is parenting two young adults who amaze me every day.

Critical Thinking

Cultural Anthropology

Current Issues Symposium

Effective Speaking

Expository Writing

Professional Development Seminar