By Dr. Lydia Reeves Timmins, University of Delaware

Coasting through summer is not a bad thing to do, it turns out! I must admit to feeling a bit guilty. On the other hand, my house has never been cleaner.

I moved into my office about a week ago. I have my own space, two windows, my name on the door...and MY OWN office supplies. I don’t even have to label the stapler and tape dispenser because no one else can get to them! It’s an embarrassment of riches.

The main concentration for the summer is developing the syllabuses and figuring out just what and how I am going to teach. As broadcasters, we pride ourselves in the ability to shoot from the hip—show up at a scene and go live in minutes. No need for extensive preps, just get there and get on the air. The classroom though, not so much.  I need a plan, a rundown that will take me through 16 weeks. I have to prepare all the reading and class activities now, before I even meet the students and determine how much they already know. This carefully crafted plan may fall to pieces, depending on what they do and don’t know—and how motivated they are to learn.

On the other hand, what kind of a producer am I if I can’t run with the changes?

I’m finding the atmosphere in my department is so refreshingly pleasant. Many faculty members have emailed me or come to my office to say hello and welcome me. And they all seem so impressed with the “expertise” I bring. Gee, I hadn’t really thought of myself as an expert, but I guess I am! It’s a really nice place to work—even the staff fridge is clean (wow).
Classes start the last day of August. Between now and then I will delve even deeper into the life of the mind. And I may be starting some research that all of you readers can help me complete! Stay tuned…