April 25, 2016
Kyle Guthrie
[email protected]
Students voted Sabine Allenspach as professor of the year for the second time this March.
The first time the biology professor received the award was also the first year she taught. After her second nomination this year, she said she recalled being told the news by one of her students, and recounts
thanking the students for supporting her with their nominations and votes.
“To me, it means the world because, again, this is coming from the students, it isn’t something self-nominated. After the nomination I thanked the students for believing in me,” said Allenspach.
Students who take Allenspach’s class said they enjoy her enthusiasm and availability during and after lecture.
“She goes above and beyond for her students in the lecture and outside of lecture. She is always available for office hours, over email. She doesn’t care about just the teaching of the class, she cares about you as a person overall,” said sophomore biomedical science major Alyssa Stuck.
Allenspach shows enthusiasm for her subjects, which is encouraging to students, according to senior biomedical science major Molly Spalding.
“She is one of the most wonderful, passionate teachers I have had. She loves her subject, loves her students, and is probably the reason why I have stuck with my major,” said Spalding.
Born and raised in Switzerland, Allenspach received her Bachelor of Arts at 21 years old before moving to the U.S.
While she initially thought of pursuing a career in anesthesiology, she said she realized that her true passion was teaching.
“Even to this day, every time I walk into the classroom I still get butterflies, because I get so excited. I look forward to being in class with my students. I have a feeling that if I ever lose those butterflies about teaching, then I won’t be teaching anymore,” said Allenspach.
Allenspach said she believes personal passion for both students and subject is important.
“My priority is my students, and I think students appreciate that when you, as an instructor, walk into a classroom and tell them that their concerns are my concerns.”