By
Angela Orlando
Arizona Daily Wildcat
English prof Greg Jackson wins teaching award, inspires challenging learning environment
The youthful Greg Jackson only recently became a professor, but his vibrant and challenging teaching style resonates strongly with students in search of an extraordinary education.
Though Jackson has taught at the University of Arizona for only two years, he is the recent recipient of the Dean's Excellency in Teaching award for the College of Humanities.
His area of specialty is early-American literature, with which he integrates philosophy and history up to 1920. This interest stemmed from his college studies in Latin and British Puritanism.
In addition to teaching, Jackson serves on a curriculum development studies committee, which contributes to the prestigious Heath Anthology of American Literature.
He said he enjoys participating on this committee because he "can help to explain and canonize underrated authors," he said.
As an example of underrated literature, he cited the romantic novels of Harriet Beecher Stowe, which he says public schools ignore in favor of her "Uncle Tom's Cabin."
Jackson attributes his freedom to employ innovative curriculums to departmental support.
"The College of Humanities encourages its professors to teach around our own intellectual interests and lets us drive our curriculums."
To understand why Jackson received the award, one only needs to ask his students.
English literature senior Sarah Crawford said she appreciates Jackson's provocative curriculum.
"It's incredibly challenging," she said. "He combines fictional literature and texts with relevant, contextual non-fiction such as histories and philosophies."
English education senior Mel Blumenthal said Jackson's teaching style has been inspirational to her.
"His academia, scholarship and dedication to his students is absolutely unrivaled in any other professor I've ever encountered," Blumenthal said. "His genius resonates through everything he does, especially in his syllabuses. The way his courses are constructed is just brilliant."
Crawford also finds Jackson educationally inspirational.
"The high standards he sets for himself to continue learning and understand literature has inspired me to continue studies of the same type," she said.
Jackson makes traditionally dry subjects such as the philosophy of John Locke or Puritan literature become relevant to students.
"In an institution with few teachers and a great number of researchers, Professor Jackson stands out as the ultimate educator," said Ken Goto, an English and creative writing senior. "He makes the good student great, but also helps the average student, like myself, to discover their full potential. He values and respects the ideas of his students and therefore creates a unique learning environment."
Within his classroom, Jackson creates a community of learners who willingly get together outside of classes to discuss material.
"It's really weird," said English junior Meghan Connealy. "I've never had a class in college where everyone shows up 15 minutes early."
Connealy said Jackson inspires these learning communities by initiating discussion.
Media arts senior Alan Brownstein said he appreciates Jackson's "combination of committment to knowledge, love of education and dedication to students."
"He's never not been there for me. I've been fortunate to have had lots of excellent teachers in my time, and Dr. J. is the best that I've ever had," Brownstein said. "Plus, that guy cracks me up."
