Baker Proud Spring 2015 - (Page 4)
School Spirit
S
ome of them pursued other career opportunities
before returning to academia. Others realized as
undergraduates or in graduate school that they had
a calling to teach.
Eight faculty members on the Baldwin City campus -
Molly (Hunt) Anderson, BS '99; Michael Barbush, BS
'78; Jake Bucher, BA '02; Martha (West) Harris, BS '79;
Gary Irick, BS '79; Scott Kimball, BA '99; Robyn Long,
BS '00; and Darcy Russell, BS '80 - studied at Baker
and teach at their alma mater. A few of them, upon their
return, taught in the same building with professors they
learned from when they were undergraduates. Others
stepped in and filled positions vacated by their mentors
who retired.
A consistent theme: all of them enjoyed their Baker
student experience and wanted to make a difference in the
lives of their students like the faculty before them.
As one of the professors described, "I like investing in
students and the connections I make."
photo by earl richardson
Faculty make a difference teaching at alma mater
Molly (Hunt) Anderson, '99
Molly Anderson fell in love with Baker the moment she
and a high school classmate visited the campus.
"My experience was idyllic," says Anderson, who majored in chemistry and biology with a minor in German.
"I met great people here, including my husband, Josh, BS
'98, and had wonderful professors. It was a perfect fit for
me."
Anderson, an assistant professor of laboratory instruction, is in her fourth year teaching chemistry and biology
courses at the Ivan L. Boyd Center for Collaborative Science Education. The facility includes Mulvane Hall, where
she devoted countless hours under the guidance of chemistry professors Gary Giachino and Michael Barbush.
"I spent more time in chemistry than in biology
because it wasn't as easy for me," she says. "I had to
work harder at that. The experiences in that department
defined my career in graduate school at Johns Hopkins. I
never would have done as well as I did without those two
professors."
Roger Boyd, BS '69, and Cal Cink were her primary
biology professors.
"They gave me different opportunities for learning and
a different way to organize content," she remembers.
Now a colleague, Darcy Russell joined the science faculty toward the end of Anderson's undergraduate years.
"Up until her arrival, there were no female teachers in
Front Row: (L to R) Gary Irick, Robyn Long and Scott Kimball.
Back Row:
my majors - no role models in that respect," Anderson
recalls. "Her class really forced me to be better at going
beyond the text, another important one for grad school."
Anderson connected with her professors as a student.
She hopes, as a professor, she is able to do the same.
"I love working with students," she says. "For me, this
age group is my favorite. It is when logic is tested the most,
and I think that process is really important. I love being a
part of it and the fact that I get an opportunity to do this as
a job still blows my mind."
Michael Barbush, '78
A professor of chemistry, Barbush has taught at Baker for 30 years, the longest active tenure among faculty
alumni. He majored in biology and minored in chemistry
before earning a master's degree and doctoral degree from
Washington University in St. Louis.
Because of the subject matter, chemistry professors Barbara Schowen and R. Milford White had the most impact
on his time at Baker. Barbush is the chemistry department
chair, which is named in White's honor.
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Baker Proud Spring 2015
Campus News
Alumni Faculty
Thirst for Knowledge
Mungano Momentum
Alumni Notes
Finding His Calling
Let Thy Praises Ring
Vietnam Documentary
Alumni Weekend
Prison Fellowship
Anatomy of a Student
100th Doctoral Graduate
Sports Highlights
Event Calendar
Baker Proud Spring 2015
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/bakp/Summer2019
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/bakp/Summer2018
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/bakp/Fall2017
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/bakp/Spring2017
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/bakp/fall2016
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/bakp/spring2016
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/bakp/fall2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/bakp/spring2015
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com