Dr. Rachel Beecham
Professor of Biology,ÌýDepartment of Natural Sciences
What inspired you to teach?Ìý
I'm really a nerd at heart.Ìý I love people, and I love knowledge.Ìý This is the best job ever! I get to spend every day inspiring
young people and helping them learn new things about the world around them (i.e. science).ÌýÌý
What do you love about teaching at MVSU?Ìý
I love my job at MVSU.Ìý I love the people I work with and my students. I still communicate with students I taught that graduated way back in 2005. So many of my students are my extra kids.Ìý I really enjoy watching how successful they each become as they move through the various stages of their lives.ÌýÌý
Beyond your subject-area or discipline, what do you hope students gain from being in your classroom?Ìý
I hope my students learn how to think critically and manage their time. Human Anatomy and Physiology requires a lot of time management as there is a bunch of memorization. However, I really want them to learn how to sort through all that information and think critically about what is important and how it relates to their bodies and the world around them. Ìý
Tell us a fun or interesting fact about yourself!Ìý
ÌýI am a swimmer.Ìý I swim on the Masters swim team at 5:30 in the morning.ÌýÌý
If you could have dinner with one person, alive or not, who would it be and why?Ìý
Eugenie Clark —a famous female shark biologist and a pioneer in marine conservation and shark behavior. I actually got to go and listen to her speak once when I was an undergraduate in college. I was in awe of her.ÌýÌý
What is your favorite book and why?
Greg Isles, 24 Hours.ÌýÌýI was hooked from the first page and could not put it down. Great story & great characters.ÌýHis stories happen in Mississippi cities which makes the stories even more fun!
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