Excellence in Teaching
Excellence in Teaching
Lucia Harrison
Associate Professor of Foreign Languages
Head of the Department of Foreign Languages and Literature
A native of Verona, Italy, Lucia Harrison teaches in the Department of Foreign Languages and Literature, which she has headed since 2003. In the classroom, she has taught some 35 different classes in Italian, Spanish, Latin, English, and mythology.
She is known for being willing to spend whatever time is necessary to help students
outside the classroom and for her ability to make students feel energized about language
and learning. She has also helped to expand the university’s study abroad programs,
giving Southeastern students a valuable opportunity to spend several weeks learning
in a foreign country.
Harrison, an associate professor, holds doctorate degrees from the University of Verona
and the University of Kentucky, where she was recognized with the Chancellor’s Award
for Outstanding Teaching.
Harrison, said a colleague, “has shown not only that she can reach her students, but
also that she can stimulate them to perform at their best.” What more can you ask
of a teacher? She says the main ingredients for a teacher are open mindedness and
patience.
"I think that's the reason for my success,” she said. “My door is always open. Students
can always come and talk to me. I try to keep an open mind and listen to their suggestions,
and I'm open to their ideas."
