A Home on the Hill
by:International professors find student hospitality and willingness to learn
“Utopia.” That’s the word Dr. Zhijun Zhang articulated in describing Hampden-Sydney College. Indeed, many view our institution in that regard—and certainly they all have the right to. Professor Zhang might have an actual argument for his premise, too, but I will not incline to brand H-SC as such a place.
For one: a place of such characterization holds no room for improvement, and we, the H-SC family, pride ourselves each day of getting better and better yet. Second: There truly is no absolute utopia. Members of the H-SC community will concur with Professor Zhang, nonetheless, that H-SC provides some of the best professors in the world and produces a number of stunningly brilliant brothers. H-SC, because of its dedication to afford an education to its sons, like no other school, acquires motivated and willing professors.
Drs. Moloko Ramashala-Gantsho and Monwabishi Gantsho are professors who aspire to epitomize the devotion of H-SC professors to their students—and there is no doubt they will. There is none, because both professors already are being accepted “warmly.” Self-described as very good friends of Dr. Christopher Howard, the college’s 24th president, Dr. Ramashala-Gantsho and Dr. Gantsho are encouraged to using their vast amount of competence to impart as much knowledge to the students here.
They both have combined years of expertise in the public and private sectors of the South Africa Medical fraternity, in which their clinical skills have prepared them not only to teach, but also to listen to the students. Then, they advanced themselves into the field of professorship.
During these progressions in their lives, they met Dr. Howard at a Joint Fellowship of Leadership Program between University of Capetown Graduate School of Business and Duke University. The three friendships have matured so much since then, that when Dr. Howard extended an invitation to the professors to lending their skills to H-SC, they “gladly accepted.”
Moreover, both professors thought that their being here could add to the trending diversity of this college and, simultaneously, accomplish their pursuit to “teaching in a different culture.” Drs. Ramashala-Gantsho and Gantsho are so excited to having the “keen” students of H-SC, so that their classes are sitting on the verge of overload—but the doctors encourage students to continue adding the classes, because of their “readiness to receiving more education on public health and global health economy.”
I know that now I might be repetitive and sounding clichéd. But—not some, I mean everyone—has always defined H-SC as comfortable and stunningly beautiful. I think it’s finally soaking in me, as each day an addition to these pronouncements is uttered. “The campus is very beautiful and big for the number of students” who attend here, shared Dr. Lizardo Herrera. For a moment, I was thinking to myself, “Again, this campus? Yes, it’s truly beautiful.”
If it were not the case, then everyone would not have been depicting the scenery as so fascinating. This refined campus is not the only aspect of H-SC that captivated Dr. Lizardo, a native of Ecuador, however. H-SC is great at giving lasting first impressions. “Very good environment in interview,” smiled Dr. Lizardo, referring to the treatment he received from the committee members who interviewed him. Dr. Lizardo could not have been happier anywhere else, as he expressed.
“I am happy here. Professors are in touch with students, and there’s a wide scale of personal and close relationship.” Again, it seems, the Hampden-Sydney community has succeeded in provided those sought-after intangibles that so many other colleges fail to acquire.
Our faculty in particular has also gained one of our kind—purposeful and enthusiastic—in Professor Zhang. So far, Professor Zhang’s exaltation of H-SC is overwhelming. Professor Zhang is a Fulbright Scholar from China, and speaks highly of the “kind nature and hospitability” of the people here. Described as a small but resourceful school, H-SC has “excellent students,” who are willing to work. But Professor laments the “short time” he has here, since he already has fallen in love with the school and the people.
Yet, Professor Zhang promises to utilize the time he is privileged to have in learning about the culture of America and “sharing the culture of China.” Professor Zhang’s sole motivation is rooted in his strong desire to insuring that he leaves on impact on the college.
Beyond the obvious tools that these professors have brought this college, they will also be great assets otherwise to the college. Our “strong foundation” will ensure that these professors will not leave empty-handed. Surely, the professors will leave with the intention to spreading the good news of the entrenched college.
I know that their contribution to the diversity of the faculty is widely applauded, if only to allow students to obtain knowledge from people of different point of views and background. The professors all enjoy the joyous atmosphere that envelops H-SC, and are delighted to fostering binding relationships–especially with the students.
Related posts:
Loading ...