Sippl Honored As Outstanding Grad Student Teaching Fellow
Dean Sapiro Announces Outstanding Teaching Fellows
Dean Sapiro recently announced the 25 Outstanding Teaching Fellows for the 2011/12 academic year. These graduate student/teachers have contributed to the high quality of a BU education while also developing their skills as teachers and mentors.
The Political Science honoree is Kristin Sippl:
Kristin has served three times as a TF for Michael Corgan for IR/PO 271: Introduction to International Relations and writes the following: “From the first I knew she was exceptional. Kristin stepped into her teaching assignment with no need for coaching or mentoring. Unsolicited student comments in her first few weeks showed that she was a gifted instructor…she was able to explain new concepts to students in a way that helped them integrate the wide range of material covered in an introduction to an interdisciplinary field… In fifteen years I have taught this course 26 times with the assistance of nearly 50 TFs. None has been better than Kristin Sippl and few come close to her suite of capabilities… Indeed I consider her now as a junior colleague.” Professor Ivan Arreguin-Toft’s recommendation of Ms. Sippl mirrors many of the sentiments expressed by Professor Corgan. He states: “It has been my very good fortune to work with Kristin not once, but twice, in her capacity as teaching fellow; and both times her work for me (and her students and colleagues) was brilliant. She exemplifies a rare combination of gravitas and grace that attracts her students to whatever material she’s engaging, and inspires them to challenge themselves… In short, while I have worked with a number of TFs in my short time here at Boston University, Kristin remains my top pick as TF.”