- Faculty; On Location
Students taking a course with instructor Deborah Shaw at SNHU’s Nashua Location generally don’t miss class. Whether the subject is organizational leadership or public speaking, Shaw creates the kind of educational environment that draws students in.
“I don’t believe in memorizing or learning theory just for theory’s sake,” Shaw explains. “I encourage my students to bring in real situations and use those as live cases. What the textbooks say is all well and good, but if you can’t apply it the next day, it’s not going to stay there.”
Making connections among students is vital to Shaw.
“It’s virtually mandatory that my students get to know each other,” she says. “They need to be talking to each other and developing a sense of trust. If we’re not having a discussion, there’s a problem.”
Class members often develop such strong bonds that they organize study sessions outside of class and go out together after classes. Classmates often become fast friends, staying in close touch long after courses have ended. “One couple even got married!” says Shaw.
Teaching, says Shaw, is where her passion is.
“As a teacher, I can see people growing, gaining a level of understanding they didn’t have before. Every day, I have a direct impact on someone’s life. There’s nothing better than that.”
