Russ Colson—Superstar Professor
“My students and I do science together.”
If you came across Russ Colson on the Minnesota State University Moorhead campus, you wouldn’t realize you were in the presence of a superstar. He’s an unassuming fellow who doesn’t look for the spotlight. Of course, first impressions can be deceiving, because Colson is a superstar professor. He’s number one in the nation.
It was a first for Minnesota, when, during a November 18th ceremony in Washington, D.C., Colson was recognized by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching as the 2010 Outstanding U.S. Master’s Universities and Colleges Professor. Colson is the ninth professor at MSU Moorhead to be recognized by the Carnegie Foundation* and the first professor of a four-year university in Minnesota selected for the national honor. (In another first for the state and the system, Eugenia Paulus, professor of chemistry at North Hennepin Community College, was named the 2008 Outstanding U.S. Community Colleges Professor of the Year.)
Colson joined the anthropology and earth science department when he was hired in 1993 and soon after he started MSUM’s geology program. Three-quarters of his courses include field experiences. To date, more than 1,400 students have studied geology in the field from him, nearly half of them on multi-day trips.
His collaborative approach with students is rewarded by their achievements. “To me (science) was just some old boring book on the shelf. That is, until I met Dr. Colson,” a student wrote in support of his selection, “I was awarded a University Fellowship into Brown University’s Department of Geological Sciences Ph.D. program beginning fall 2010. I have Dr. Russ Colson to thank.”
In a nomination letter for the award, another of Colson’s students wrote, “Critical thinking is possibly the most essential skill for an individual to possess in the 21st century and I know no one better at helping students master it.”
“I love the sense of companionship that comes from working together with students excited to learn.” He adds, “I love the light in their eyes when understanding dawns. And yes, I even love to coach students frustrated and discouraged when the material seems too hard. Each opportunity presents a chance to become better than we were, to learn something new, and to do it together.”
We often talk of life-long learning and Colson walks the talk. He studies his students and fine-tunes his lessons to motivate them to think critically and creatively. He used to describe himself as a science coach.
“A coach encourages, instructs, and pushes to excellence. Like a teacher,” he says. “As my teaching matured, I realized that coaching was not enough. In some ways, I had to be that senior player who demonstrates good play and sound technique, guiding my students by example through the reasoning, approaches, and puzzle-solving techniques of science.
“To summarize my teaching and my joy in it: My students and I do science together.”
Colson works with several other honored professors. He is the fourth faculty member in MSUM’s College of Social and Natural Sciences to be recognized by the Carnegie Foundation.
The website for the annual awards describes them like this: “The U.S. Professors of the Year program salutes the most outstanding undergraduate instructors in the country—those who excel in teaching and positively influence the lives and careers of students. Sponsored by CASE and The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, it is the only national program to recognize excellence in undergraduate teaching and mentoring.
* MSU Moorhead professors have been recognized with more Carnegie Professors of the year designations than any college or university, public or private, in Minnesota, the Dakotas, Iowa, or Wisconsin. MSUM’s Minnesota Professors of the Year (in bold are current MSUM professors): Martin Grindeland, 2008, mass communications; Ellen Brisch, 2007, biosciences; Mark Wallert, 2005, biosciences; Jim Bartruff, 2001, theatre arts; Andrew Conteh, 1999, political science; David Mason, 1994, English; Evelyn C. Lynch, 1992, education; and Delmar J. Hansen (deceased), 1987, theatre arts.