Posted April 28, 2011
Kolodny strives to create a more informed citizenry
Robin Kolodny’s success as an educator is rooted in her deep desire to provide the building blocks of an effective democratic society.
“I am not trying to produce more political scientists. I am trying to produce more engaged citizens,” she says.
By all accounts, she is succeeding.
Kolodny, an associate professor of political science, teaches a full range of courses — large introductory level, moderate size upper level, and undergraduate and graduate seminars — in the area of American politics.
She says that the teaching of American government and civil society is largely absent from secondary education today. But instead of bemoaning the lack of knowledge with which some undergraduate students enter her classes, Kolodny views it as an opportunity.
“I love teaching introductory level and GenEd courses, because it’s a chance to turn people on to a topic they don’t know,” she said.
“I tell them, ‘You are citizens. Citizens have duties and citizens have rights.’”
The appreciation her students have for her approach is reflected in her classroom evaluations, on which she regularly receives the highest rating for quality of instruction. Her students’ written comments show why. “She is the best professor at this university,” observed one student. “I loved this course,” wrote another, using all capital letters for emphasis.
For her excellence and enthusiasm in teaching and her dedication to her students, Kolodny has been awarded a 2011 Lindback Award for Distinguished Teaching.
For Kolodny, teaching is not something that takes place only during lectures. “The classroom is just the first place teaching happens, but it’s not the only place. Sometimes the best teaching moments occur before and after class, in hallways or during office hours,” she said.
Which might account for why so many of her students keep in touch with her, even years later, and why so many former students not only attribute their success while at Temple to “Dr. K,” but also credit her for their achievements beyond Temple.
“Without Dr. Kolodny, I would not be where or who I am today,” wrote one student.
In addition to her inspirational teaching, she is known for spearheading a range of curricular improvements. Among her many accomplishments, Kolodny developed an award-winning model for an experiential learning course, in which students undertake an internship in conjunction with a seminar on a variety of political science topics. She piloted the first course on campaigns and elections and has taught this course every election year. For many students, it is a springboard to their first paid job in the field.
Kolodny’s distinction in teaching does not come at the expense of research and scholarship. She is a highly regarded expert on electoral campaigns and campaign financing. For 2008-09, she was chosen as a Fulbright Distinguished Scholar to the United Kingdom.
Kolodny received her bachelor’s degree from Florida International University and her master’s and doctoral degrees from Johns Hopkins University.