Faculty Profiles
March 27, 2013
SBS Names Outstanding Teachers for 2013
By Taylor Gilmore ‘15
This year’s Social and Behavioral Sciences Outstanding Teaching Award goes to BJ Roche ’78, senior lecturer, advisor and internship coordinator in Journalism, and David Cort, assistant professor of Sociology.
These inspirational teachers have been heralded for their innovative pedagogical approaches, exceptional performance, and written comments, including rousing endorsements by students and colleagues. Both have made a positive impact on the academic growth of students, as well as on their sense of living in the world.
Roche, who earned a BA in political science with a minor in journalistic studies, has taught at UMass for 18 years. Prior to that, she worked for the Boston Globe, the Cape Cod Times, and many other publications. Still an active freelance journalist, Roche is author of the blogs Journalism Launchpad and FiftyShift.
Her work ethic and successful career in journalism make her a valuable asset to undergraduates. Last year alone, Roche managed over 80 internships, successfully helping majors receive placements and thrive in their work. Current students and many others seek her advice during her generous office hours, and past students make a point to stay in contact because her expertise is helpful even after graduation.
Many graduates feel they owe their success to Roche’s encouragement and guidance. Her dedication and energy, as well as her personal success, has earned her respect from students and faculty alike. Her journalism teaching methodology, which includes multimedia to meet the demands of current professional practice, and her pedagogy has and will continue to help students in future courses, internships and careers.
Contributions by Roche to the growth of Journalism have been tremendous. Through her Journalism Success seminar she acclimates first-year and transfer students to the major; she has developed two new courses, Entrepreneurial Journalism and Introduction to Multimedia Reporting, for the curriculum; she is engaged in assimilating new teachers; she creates syllabi used across many sections of Newswriting and Reporting, Magazine Writing and Intro to Multimedia; she conducts numerous workshops for other instructors.
Roche is known to be one of the toughest teachers in Journalism because she has such high standards for her own journalistic work. She successfully demonstrates and communicates these standards to her students, and believes they can-and should-live up to them. Leading by example through her own uses of technology, she displays the importance of multimedia in Journalism with blogs, social media, and entrepreneurial journalism. Roche has always utilized a “tough love” approach that truly prepares undergraduates for the real world of journalism. Despite her challenging classes, majors find them to be extremely helpful and inspiring. One student says, “Completing a course with BJ is like finishing a marathon, but the fulfillment you feel is just as monumental.”
This is not Roche’s first time being recognized as an outstanding teacher. She has been nominated several times for the University’s Teaching Award and the Outstanding Advisor Award. The letters of recommendation from students have been a tribute to her commitment to helping her students in any way that she can.
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Sociologist David Cort is an exemplary teacher and mentor, who has developed quantitative methods training for students in the department and beyond. Graduate and undergraduate students alike tend to dread and worry about statistics, as it is not easy. Yet after Cort came to UMass in 2007, right after earning his PhD from UCLA, he took the department by storm, introducing new methodologies for teaching the course and raising standards. The resulting improvements in the program’s quality are due to his dedication, hard work, and exceptional teaching skills.
In his youth, Cort faced adversity because educators did not believe in his abilities. This has shaped him into becoming an influential instructor. He says, “Effective teaching is built on the foundational goal of creating scholars and citizens. To accomplish this I strive to model social equity, academic enthusiasm, and caring. I view my students as people and citizens. Rather than dispense knowledge, I must motivate students to discover knowledge. The most valuable contribution I can make to tomorrow’s citizens is to teach them to be thinkers and not just mere reflectors of other men’s thoughts.”
In their assessments, many students have touched upon Cort’s philosophy. One undergraduate says, “The way Professor Cort was able to relay complex and difficult material into manageable and understandable concepts is unparalleled. He was able to teach stats in a more conceptual way and helped [me] as a sociologist.” Another adds, “He ensures that students leave class with a newfound understanding of statistics and confidence in their own skills. [Cort has the] uncanny ability to identify with students who are struggling and to adjust his lectures so that no one falls behind.”
Those who had little interest in statistics say Cort sparked an interest-and helped them understand the subject in practical and useful ways, allowing them to excel. By inspiring and motivating students to engage in the materials, he helped them develop critical thinking skills and use social research to make more informed decisions in their everyday lives.
Cort also collaborates closely with graduate students on various research projects to assist the development of their academic careers. Says one, “He helps his mentees, many of whom are first generation and/or minority college students, to navigate the academic system and work out personal issues.” Because of his own life and academic experience, Cort brings a unique lens to the Sociology Department, allowing him to see the potential in all students. Without a doubt, he is an amazing teacher, mentor, role model and valuable member of the UMass community.
Taylor Gilmore, who is majoring in communication and journalism, is an intern in the SBS Dean's Office.
