Spotlights
Dr. Carrie Buist receives the Pew FTLC's Teaching Excellence Award
Dr. Carrie Buist, associate professor in the GVSU School of Criminal Justice, is the recipient of the Pew Faculty Teaching & Learning Center at Grand Valley State University Teaching Excellence Award! She will be recognized during the virtual Faculty Awards Convocation in February 2021.
She specializes in queer criminology and LBGTQ issues within the criminal justice system. In 2016, with co-author Emily Lenning, she wrote the groundbreaking Queer Criminology (Routledge). Dr. Buist carries this expertise with her into the classroom, offering her students exposure to new and challenging theoretical concepts.
Dr. Buist is guided by a clear sense of student learning outcomes from which emanate instructional and assessment strategies that engage diverse learners. She believes education “is a collaborative process, that provides the opportunity for students to achieve freedom. However, I am also aware of how, for some, education is an opportunity for positive growth, there are aspects to education that can cause pain and punishment to our marginalized students. This is way I assign non-traditional readings in most of my classes.”
Alyssa McCord, a student in the Criminal Justice graduate program, says her “favorite part about taking Dr. Buist's classes is the emphasis she places on class discussion. The way she facilitates discussion gets every student involved, and honestly helps us all get to know each other and feel comfortable speaking in class. The environment in Dr. Buist's classes are so inclusive and welcoming. Her friendly demeanor, amusing personality, and satirical humor get everyone excited to come to class and fosters an atmosphere of comfort and enjoyment. By the end of each semester, students all know each other by name, enjoy talking with one another before and after class, and everyone is at least a little sad about the ending of such a great class.”
Interest Area(s)
Criminal Justice, Women and Gender Studies
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