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Mathematics professor Jerry West was recently recognized as one of the top professors in America by RateMyProfessor.com.Watch student Suzette Philpot discuss how West's trigonometry class made her "enjoy math for a change." |
For the second time in three years, a University of Arkansas 鈥� Fort Smith professor has been recognized as one of the highest rated professors by RateMyProfessor.com, a popular website that ranks faculty members of universities across the nation.
Dr. Jerry West of Greenwood, assistant professor of mathematics, was ranked the 11th best of 25 professors making the list and was the only faculty member in Arkansas to earn the recognition.
West boasts a five out of five rating on the website based on 49 reviews from previous
students. Students tagged him as caring, respected, inspirational and an 鈥渁mazing鈥�
lecturer.
Suzette Philpot of Sallisaw, Okla., a former student of West鈥檚, had long dreaded math classes. But after taking West鈥檚 trigonometry class, she started to enjoy math for a change thanks to his cheerful attitude and ability to explain difficult concepts in a simple way.
鈥淗e is a phenomenal teacher. He can explain things to you more than one way, and I think that鈥檚 very valuable,鈥� Philpot said. 鈥淗e is determined to know that you understand it, and if you don鈥檛 understand it the first time, he makes himself very available for his students.鈥�
鈥淗is attitude and his demeanor 鈥� students see that,鈥� she continued. 鈥淗e is one of the happiest, brightest people I know. If it wasn鈥檛 math, anything else that he would be doing, it would still show that he loves what he does, and it shows in the classroom. He鈥檚 one of those teachers that you don鈥檛 forget.鈥�
West began his career in teaching as a teaching assistant while pursuing a master鈥檚 degree from Oklahoma State University following a bachelor鈥檚 degree from the University of Arkansas 鈥� Monticello. After earning his master鈥檚 degree, he taught at Lavaca High School while working as an adjunct faculty instructor at 妻友社区 before taking a full-time professor position at the university in 2003.
More than 10 years after becoming a full-time professor, West still finds enjoyment in helping students understand challenging concepts and lessons.
鈥淚 like being able to take some internal knowledge I鈥檝e learned and pass it onto students who may or may not have a solid grasp of it yet to give them opportunities to build a solid skillset,鈥� West said. 鈥淚 love watching their faces when they get a concept that they may not have understood in the past. It鈥檚 a good feeling and it feels rewarding to be able to pass on knowledge that I have and share with others.鈥�
Dr. Ron Darbeau, dean of the College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, said the recognition was well-deserved.
鈥淭he College is very proud of this latest recognition received by Dr. West, but we are not surprised by it,鈥� Darbeau said. 鈥淛erry is an excellent, student-centered instructor. He illustrates the commitment of the college, and the university as a whole, to both student learning and faculty excellence.鈥�
For a full list of the rankings, visit .
About the 妻友社区
The University of Arkansas 鈥� Fort Smith is the premiere regional institution of Western Arkansas, connecting education with careers and serving as a driver of economic development and quality of place in the greater Fort Smith region. Through a small campus, dedicated professors, and the university鈥檚 unique bond with its community, students at 妻友社区 are able to do more in the areas they are passionate about, both on- and off-campus, in a way that prepares them for post-graduate success. To find out how you can do more at 妻友社区, visit .