Professor Stephen Lucas
Department: Communication Arts
Maybe Stephen Lucas is not really running for president, but he talks about presidential campaigns in such an interesting way that his students think he is fit for the job.
Beyond the achievement of earning his flattering Facebook club, Lucas has won at least three teaching awards. Allison Westfall, a UW-Madison junior and Lucas Facebook club (Professor Lucas for President\) member also values his teaching merits.
""He's probably one of the best professors I have ever had,"" she said.
Westfall, who said Lucas usually teaches in front of a packed house, emphasized his ability to make a lecture into more of a discussion. He does this by asking the students about their opinions on the subject matter.
""People actually volunteered to talk,"" she said.
Lucas' more discussion-based lectures might be explained by his interest in college students. He said that college students are at an interesting point in their lives, where their future holds few limits.
""There's a real sense of energy and excitement,"" Lucas said of college campuses.
Westfall demonstrated this sense of enthusiasm as she professed Lucas' ability to make any subject matter out of the ordinary.
""Everything was so interesting,"" she said.
According to Lucas, making a class interesting and valuable for students takes many different considerations, including interest in the subject matter, enthusiasm, pace and presenting things in a different manner.
""One has to have something to say and has to say it well,"" he said.
It makes sense that a man who has a passion for studying speeches and communication has mastered the art himself. Who knows? Come next presidential election, maybe his Facebook club will be on to something.
\
