Bronco Spotlight: Suzanne Ehst
Ph.D., English Education, 2017
Associate Professor of Education at Goshen College
I teach secondary education and first-year writing courses, supervise student teachers, oversee secondary education programming, and oversee our department's accreditation process.
What is the most rewarding and the most challenging part of your job?
Most rewarding: We have excellent students who are eager to think critically about how to integrate social justice with the teaching profession. The most challenging part of my job is that at a small college, professors have many different responsibilities.
What activities, resources, or people helped you prepare for your career?
I came into the Ph.D. program with a desire to teach at the liberal arts college where I had been adjuncting. I knew that to be a competitive candidate for the position, I had to demonstrate teaching excellence, administrative skills, and a strong research agenda. At WMU, I identified the area in which I was the weakest--my research agenda--and used my faculty mentors as well as campus opportunities to actively build my c.v. in that area.
What advice do you have for others pursuing a career similar to yours?
Seize the opportunities at WMU to publish, present, and attend conferences. These are all important for establishing yourself as a scholar in your field, and for building professional networks.