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KOKOMO, Indiana — Minda Douglas was a longtime faculty member at Indiana University Kokomo’s commencement ceremonies.
She will be one of the graduates this May.
Associate Professor of Fine Arts Douglas will pursue a Bachelor of Science in Biophysical Sciences with minors in Biology and Earth and Environmental Sciences. While her degree may seem like an unusual choice for a new media, arts, and technology faculty member, it was a natural choice for her.
“I’ve always been interested in science and nature, especially ecology,” she said. “It inspires my work. Over the years, I often do side research projects to inform my work, and then I go on hikes, trips to national parks, etc. There was a lot of research involved, and I decided to start taking classes to learn more about science.
“Then it evolved into a science degree.”
Douglas previously earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts and Master of Fine Arts degrees, but he also took science classes as a graduate student.
“For me, it was always second love,” she said. “I want to look for opportunities to immerse myself in nature.”
Douglas started taking one class per semester in 2019 and took additional classes during the summer session.
“When you go back to school after so many years, you feel very vulnerable,” she said, adding that for the first few semesters she was sometimes classmates with students from the classes she taught.
“It was weird at first, but it allowed me to change my mind and put on a different hat, so to speak,” she said. “It felt more natural to step into a different kind of environment.”
Experiencing being a student and faculty member at the same time, especially during COVID-19, has given her a new perspective on teaching and learning.
“It was helpful to see the challenges of COVID-19 from both sides,” she said. “Being a student has given me a new perspective on what it’s like to be a student, in terms of how the material is taught and the different things you have to balance.”
Ms. Douglas also participated in the Kokomo Experience and You (KEY) program as both a faculty member and a student. She is preparing to lead a spring break trip to Italy for art and communication students, and her classes will include trips to Indiana Dunes National Park, a hummingbird festival, and an in-state herpetology trip. I am.
Participating in the class gave her a new appreciation for her faculty colleagues and their work.
Her favorite class was a summer herpetology class with physiology professor Michael Finkler, which led her to work with him on eastern sea turtles.
“It’s a different kind of interaction than I’ve had with other faculty,” she said. “His research was very interesting to me, and I was able to work with him all summer. It was a great experience.”
After earning her degree, Douglas plans to continue taking classes and possibly enroll in the IU master’s program in park management.
“I don’t know if I’m going to follow through with it, continue taking science classes with the faculty here, or both,” she said.
Douglas hopes other faculty will consider taking the class and learning from the experts available on campus.
“It may be something that everyone thinks they don’t have time for, but if you incorporate it into your schedule, your classes will be more fulfilling. It will enrich your perception of the university and make you more aware of what you are teaching. This will further enhance your understanding and empathy for your students.
“It was one of the most meaningful things I did in my student life.”
At Indiana University Kokomo, education is key.
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