by Michael A. Smith, Professor of Political Science, Emporia State University

Higher education is changing.  Professors at teaching-centered universities are expected by administrators and students alike to put more emphasis on teaching.  Furthermore, student gaps in K-12 education, their taking their time about growing up, and the explosion of diagnoses (ADHD, OCD, autism spectrum, etc.)  lead to higher expectations that professors respond to each student individually, rather than simply demonstrating our expertise in the classroom as many of us were taught to do in graduate school. In this MPSA video blog entry, Michael Smith labels this new approach the “cool teacher” and suggests that, after a period of adjustment, this different approach to teaching can make for a fulfilling career, create good student mentoring, and even leave some time for research.


About the Author

Michael A. Smith is a Professor of Political Science at Emporia State University.  He has authored or co-authored five books, the most recent of which is Reform and Reaction: The Arc of Modern Kansas Politics (co-edited with H. Edward Flentje, Kansas 2024).  He has other academic publications as well, and also writes newspaper columns carried throughout Kansas as part of the Insight Kansas group and blogs for the MPSA. Michael appears occasionally on television and radio in Kansas and western Missouri to discuss state and national politics.  He was an expert witness for the plantiff in the Bednasek v Kobach case, decided together with Fish v Kobach by the federal district court for Kansas in 2018.  Michael teaches courses in American politics, state and local government, and political philosophy. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Missouri in 2000. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter). 

 

 

The views and opinions expressed in this blog are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the MPSA (Midwest Political Science Association). Any content provided is for informational purposes only and should not be taken as official statements or endorsements by MPSA.