By Tori Lohmann

Gillian Parrish, an Assistant Professor of Writing at Lindenwood, recently published her article “Boosting Student Motivation Through Connected Reflection” in an online publication called Faculty Focus. This publication publishes work from professors and educators all over the U.S., and this is Professor Parrish’s fourth time being published on their website.

Professor Parrish’s article focuses on student motivation and how professors can affect it with their connections to their students. Her article reflects on “how [professors] help students see the value in what they are learning,” and mentions how this is relevant now more than ever during the pandemic, as students have begun to depend more and more on their professors because of virtual learning. Professor Parrish values “the essential life and career skills and abilities students [gain] through their coursework” and lists “resilience, persistence, creativity, goal-setting, [and] time-management" as some of those essential skills. By reading her article, it is clear Professor Parrish genuinely cares about her students, their mental health, and the connections she makes with them in her classes.

Professor Parrish believes that “publication [is] most satisfying when writers are publishing for a community that they care about.” Faculty Focus is a publication she truly enjoys being a part of, as they publish work by and for faculty and staff. It is a community of people who care about their profession and about helping others in the same field. By helping teachers become better teachers, Faculty Focus is also helping students who will benefit from their teachers’ growth.

When asked about how Lindenwood’s academic environment inspired her article, Professor Parrish mentioned that her fellowship with the Lindenwood Learning Academy taught her a lot about Lindenwood’s “culture of learning,” and this fellowship reminded her that “good teachers are learners” that are constantly learning from their colleagues and students. Being a part of such a productive university where teachers are consistently focused on becoming the best educators they can be inspired Professor Parrish’s article. She originally wrote it for the Lindenwood Learning Academy’s monthly digest, during her fellowship, when she was given the time to reflect on the values of Lindenwood’s faculty and staff and what it means to be a mindful teacher.

“Lindenwood is home to so many dedicated teachers who care deeply about student growth and success in our classrooms and beyond,” including Professor Parrish. Her passion for student connections and student motivation is evident in her article and getting it published for teachers everywhere to see is a profound accomplishment. Lindenwood is lucky to have educators who care so deeply about their students that they write articles about it – and get those articles published.

Thank you for your hard work, Professor Parrish, and congratulations on your publication!