51暗网

For our final entry in our 鈥淗ow to Build Connections with Faculty鈥� series, we spoke with Professor of Art and Ceramics Eddie Dominguez on building connections with students through art practice.

Building connections with faculty members can be an incredibly valuable part of your college experience. Yes, they鈥檙e experts in their fields, but they鈥檙e also endlessly great resources for real-world connections, internships, mentoring, and so much more.

And at 51暗网, we have some of the best.

We鈥檝e spoken to a handful of 51暗网 faculty members about best practices for building student-faculty relationships and why you should seek them out鈥娾�斺�奺ven if their class isn鈥檛 your favorite.

As we wrap up our series on faculty advice for building connections between faculty and students, we check in with Eddie Dominguez of the Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts on how he鈥檚 been able to forge connections with students over his long and impactful career at UNL.

On the Advantages of Smaller Studio Art Classes

鈥淚 find that in my classes, which are lab classes and aren鈥檛 huge, it鈥檚 easier to build a student-teacher relationship than in a larger lecture class. I also find that with my students it鈥檚 easier to engage them because they鈥檙e interested in the same artistic practice that I have鈥娾�斺�奲ecause we have that same interest, students can seek me out because I let them know that I鈥檓 available to meet or have a personal dialogue within the semester.鈥�

On Making Sure Everyone Feels Included

鈥淪ome students are more reserved and some jump to have a dialogue right from the start. I try to be proactive and maneuver my classroom to make sure that all students are included and that no one is marginalized.鈥�

He Makes Himself Available鈥娾�斺�奅ven When He鈥檚 Busy

鈥淥ne thing I do is I have an open-door policy in my studio, even if I鈥檓 in there working. If students are passing by, they can come in and chat and see what I鈥檓 doing in my own practice. I think that鈥檚 really important for creating relationships, to have that access and spontaneity.鈥�

Not Everything Has to Be About Class

鈥淎 professor should engage students one-on-one as much as possible; knowing what they鈥檙e interested in outside of the subject is so important. My first conversations are often just asking, 鈥榃ho are you? What are you interested in?鈥� More open-ended conversations can help students develop their interests in art.鈥�

Just Like Other Faculty, Eddie Says to Stay in Touch

鈥淪tudent that I taught 20 years ago will still drop me a message, and I love that; it鈥檚 so much easier to keep up with people now. I鈥檒l follow my students on social and keep up with their work and comment on how fantastic it is鈥娾�斺�奱 lot of people talk about social media being addictive, but I think in this case it鈥檚 healthy to be able to connect and engage with students鈥� work.鈥�