Faculty Focus
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Dr. Jason Wicke
Rebecca Stephens
Assistant professor, health & human performance professor
Clinical instructor, psychology and special education
For Jason Wicke, teaching is about more than disseminating information. It’s about imparting life skills to his students. “The most satisfying thing about teaching is knowing you’ve made a difference in someone’s life,” he said. Wicke is thankful to the Texas A&M University System for establishing the Teaching Excellence Awards, and he is humbled by the student response. “It’s one thing for another faculty or staff member to give you an award, but it’s really amazing to receive an award that’s student driven.” While this award celebrates Wicke’s commitment to excellence, he knows there’s still room for improvement. “You can always build upon your success, and student feedback is big part of that,” he said. “I want to be recognized as a professor who impacted students, and as a role model they want to emulate.”
When Rebecca Stephens transitioned from being a high school counselor to a clinical instructor, she brought with her invaluable experience. “I know what it’s like to be on the frontlines, so I can help students understand what they’ll do with their degrees,” she said. “I’m very flattered to receive the award. As a clinical instructor, there are a limited number of awards that I can win, so this was a humbling experience. This is the most meaningful award of my career.” Stevens takes her role as a leader in the classroom seriously. “Every teacher has an opportunity for transformational leadership,” she said. “Students come to college motivated to develop their skills. It’s my job to be a guide for them, teaching and empowering them to see themselves as teachers.”
“The most satisfying thing about teaching is knowaing you’ve made a difference in someone’s life.”
“Students come to college motivated to develop their skills. It’s my job to be a guide for them...”
Texas A&M University–Commerce ~ Pride Magazine