Sarah Magin Named College of DuPage Outstanding Adjunct Faculty Member
Glen Ellyn, IL
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June 02, 2022 08:00 AM Central Daylight Time
College of DuPage English instructor Sarah Magin is the College-Wide Outstanding Adjunct Faculty Member for the 2021-2022 academic year.
Magin is a COD alumna who found her way back home when she became an adjunct faculty member in 2012. Most recently she teaches English Composition 1101 and 1102.
Representing the Liberal Arts Division, Magin will receive a $500 award from the College of DuPage Foundation, which annually recognizes outstanding teaching achievement.
Magin studied English Literature at COD, then she graduated Knox College with a bachelor’s degree in English Literature, and Gender and Women’s Studies.
Magin went on to earn a master’s degree in English Literature from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. While she was working as a teaching assistant, she decided to pursue a career in teaching.
“Once I started actually doing it in graduate school, I very quickly realized that I really liked teaching English composition,” said Magin. “I like interacting with students and supporting student success, development and progress.”
Magin embraces her role as a facilitator, and her definition of success is for her students to further develop themselves as readers, writers and critical thinkers, in all its forms.
“As a learner-centered teacher, my ultimate goal is to create a safe, inclusive classroom community, where students are active agents of their own progress,” she said. “It’s a process of mutual cooperation and respect, working together.”
The students who nominated Magin for the outstanding teaching award said she stands out because of how hard she works to make her students feel heard and comfortable in her classroom. Magin says a safe and inclusive learning community is key to helping students gain confidence.
“I want to help students realize their input is a valuable contribution to the success of the entire classroom,” Magin said. “To succeed, you need to rely on those around you for support, knowledge and inspiration, and that goes both ways, as a teacher and a student.”
Magin also serves on the editorial board of COD’s student anthology publication, ESSAI, which features some of COD’s students’ best academic writing of all majors and studies. Magin says the work is very rewarding, and it includes writing projects of all types, from business plans to cover letters to lab reports.
“No matter what job you have, you need to be able to clearly present ideas, and as needed, support them with research,” said Magin. “Critical thinking is a very important, powerful skill that you use all the time no matter what you do.”
Students said Magin strives to prepare her students for their future in both academia and beyond, and Magin says she believes it’s important to support students even after they’ve left the classroom.
“I look forward to interacting with my students and supporting them,” she said. “In a classroom community, the students are active agents of their own progress, and it’s essential to prioritize each student’s distinct path for success.”
Learn more about the English programs at College of DuPage.
Contact Details
Jennifer Duda
+1 773-490-4077
