College of Liberal Arts & Sciences

College of Liberal Arts & Sciences

• Helping hand

  Teaching award given to long-time professor Eugenia Farrar.
  
  

• "I try to treat students as individuals and with respect."
  
  According to several former students, Eugenia Farrar, associate professor of ecology, evolution and organismal biology, has also inspired them.
  
  Eboniece Cason wrote that Farrar served as her mentor at a time Cason doubted her ability to become a scientist.
  
  "As my mentor and friend, Dr. Farrar showed me that she believed in my ability to be a biologist and a researcher even when I did not believe in myself," the current graduate student at the University of Iowa wrote." She really helped me understand that I in fact did have the ability to do anything I put my mind to. I went from a mediocre student to a student on the dean's list."
  
  In his initial visit as a student to Farrar's Science II office as an undergraduate, Aranthan Steve Jones, II, remembers Farrar telling him, "Steven, everything you need to be successful is already inside you. My job is to hone your skills so that the rest of the world will conclude what I already know.'"
  
  Jones now is the senior health policy advisor to the Congressional Black Caucus in Washington, D.C.
  
  Farrar's dedication to all her students has led Iowa State to honor her this year with its Louis Thompson Distinguished Undergraduate Teaching Award for outstanding achievement in teaching.
  
  The award comes as Farrar winds down her career at Iowa State. She plans to retire at the conclusion of the spring semester.
  
  "It's like I'm going out at the top of my game," she said.
  
  During her 30-year Iowa State career, Farrar has taught 14 different courses, using a variety of formats for learning. She has taught large lecture classes and courses that depend upon small group discussions.
  
  She has taught courses in general and comparative endocrinology, women in science and engineering (a course she helped develop) and human reproduction.
  
  "I'm sure some students don't want to learn about biology of sex from an old lady," she said. "Some may find it comforting while others may want a more hip version.
  
  "I tell them on the first day that if they want a course on human sexuality they're in the wrong class, that we're learning about the biology of sex."
  
  In each of her courses, she consistently has received the very highest scores on student course evaluations of any department faculty member including introductory, advanced undergraduate and graduate-level courses.
  
  "I try to create a nonthreatening atmosphere in my classroom," she said. "I let them know I like them as a person."
  
  That nonthreatening atmosphere allows Farrar to show that she's a self-described "goofy" person to her students.
  
  "I don't come off as goofy the first day of class. I try to relax and be myself in the classroom," she said. "I encourage the students to do the same."
  
  Early in her career, Farrar learned the value of being prepared and staying current with her subject.
  
  "I found I have to be organized and know the content. And in order for the students to get the full extent of learning, you have to get the students involved," she said.
  
  " I work hard to stay on top of the subjects I teach."
  

Eugenia Farrar

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October 3-16, 2005

Ames, Iowa 50011, (515) 294-4111. Published by: University Relations, online@iastate.edu. Copyright © 1995-2004, Iowa State University of Science and Technology. All rights reserved.

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