Brian Hendrickson has a presence in the classroom.
Earlier this week, hands flew into the air as anxious students waited to contribute to the larger discussion he led as part of his English 101 class. What might have otherwise been a mundane exercise on rhetorical analysis was a lively discussion, thanks to the enthusiasm Hendrickson creates.
“I really enjoy coaching students in clearing their own intellectual hurdles,” he said. “Nothing is more satisfying than a teaching moment, witnessing a student’s facial expression change from ‘Huh?’ to ‘Aha!’”
A first-year Ph.D. student and TA in the English department, Hendrickson said teaching helps pay the bills, is personally rewarding and also important for his own professional development.
“I returned to school for the very training I am now receiving as a TA,” he said. “In my field, one can’t possibly succeed in such a competitive job market without the valuable experience a teaching assistantship provides.”
Hendrickson just moved to Albuquerque from North Carolina and said it has been a bit unnerving to hear about looming budget cuts. Although he’s been told his position in core writing should be safe, he’s worried about how the cuts will affect other TAs who need their positions for financial and professional reasons.
“I’m definitely concerned about my fellow graduate student employees slated to lose their assistantships and how this will affect their ability to succeed at UNM,” he said. “Ultimately, though, I’m most concerned with how this will affect UNM as an institution — not just its reputation — but its ability to fulfill its core mission, which is more important than any one person.”
Editor’s Note: Underexposed is a photo column by Ph.D. student Jakob Schiller. It’s meant to highlight the important contributions of those at UNM whose work might otherwise go unnoticed.
