For many students, professors can feel distant. Figures who only exist within the boundaries of syllabi and lecture halls. This perception quickly faded during a conversation with Dr. Zahra Pournorouz.
Her mornings often start with coffee and a copy of The Stute, a way to settle in for the day. Like many, she enjoys doing the daily Wordle, a habit I can confirm is popular among students.
During the day, Dr. Pournorouz’s courses are varied, spanning from PRV 101 to Thermodynamics to Senior Design. Her classes span the whole of the student experience, from the freshmen settling in to the seniors finishing up. Across all of them, one common thread is a noticeable lack of student-professor interaction. Dr. Pournorouz hopes to change this, little by little.
A central focus of our conversation was this gap between faculty and students, and how to close it.
Dr. Pournorouz emphasized the importance of making faculty more approachable and breaking down the initial awkwardness of reaching out. In her own words, “There are no silly questions,” because odds are that a “silly” question is likely in the minds of at least three other students. Those questions are the “keystone” of her role as a professor. She wouldn’t be a professor if she didn’t enjoy teaching and seeing her students grow.
One idea she discussed was encouraging more interaction outside of class, including a past proposal where students and faculty could “shadow” each other, as a sort of exchange program. While the idea did not take off, the goal behind it remains important, fostering mutual understanding.
Part of this effort involves highlighting the lives of professors outside of the classroom and beyond their research. Seeing the person and not just the professor makes interactions more approachable and less daunting for students.
Dr. Pournorouz makes an effort to stay connected to both campus life and her own routines. Like many students, she described enjoying walks around campus, especially when students are around to breathe life into it. One of her hobbies is playing video games from The Witcher series and Assassin’s Creed, a fun fact which often surprises her students.
Ultimately, Dr. Pournorouz hopes to create an environment where students feel comfortable reaching out for help, whether that be during office hours or lecture. Asking questions and building connections with their professors should be an integral part of the college experience, not an afterthought. As she demonstrates both inside and outside the classroom, sometimes the best way to support students is simply to remind them: You’re not alone, and your professors are more human than you might think. They, too, are playing Wordle before class.
