Whether they discuss it or not, all professors have personal lives outside of the classroom. As the semester system only allows students mere months to get to know their professor, it’s easy for a student to complete a class without really knowing whom they were taught by.
While large schools like the University are often known for aspects of student life, the way professors spend their free time is less advertised.
James Dubuisson, an instructor of UA Business LEAD, occasionally enjoys exploring the vast campus.
“If I have free time between classes, I’ll walk around the Quad,” Dubuisson said. “It’s a good little walk.”
Additionally, Dubuisson likes to see the construction of new buildings near the residential halls, adding how great it is to see the progress being made on that side of campus.
Outside of the University, Dubuisson enjoys running, spending time with his dog and serving at his church. Dubuisson manages to also pursue goals of his own while he continues to teach his students, as in addition to being an instructor, he is a Ph.D. student in the College of Communication & Information Sciences.
James Marler, an instructor in the School of Music, also uses his free time for scholarly purposes.
“Typically I’m either writing music, which is almost related to class, or studying music composition in some way,” Marler said. “I am primarily a composer, so I do spend a lot of time writing and arranging music, and these past couple of years especially, I’ve tried to focus a lot of my downtime on writing as much music as possible.”
Part of how professors choose to spend their free time revolves around where they choose to go. Dubuisson mentioned that the UA Arboretum is “absolutely beautiful” and just 10 minutes away from the University. In contrast, one of Marler’s prime places is on campus.
“One of my favorite spots to just sit and kind of take things in is the courtyard of the School of Music,” Marler said. “There’s something very peaceful about that spot.”
Chase Wrenn, a professor in the philosophy department, noted that Lake Lurleen is a beautiful place to visit that’s not too far from campus.
“It’s got hills and valleys, so you’ve got variation in the landscape,” Wrenn said. “It’s nice to look at a natural setting.”
Outside of the UA world, Wrenn likes to spend time with his wife, run and cook. Inside the UA world, however, Wrenn enjoys attending performances from the theater department, regarding it as one of his favorite kinds of UA events.
In addition, he greatly enjoys the philosophy department’s own Philosophy Today speaker series.
“We have several lectures every year, and they’re always fantastic,” Wrenn said. “Those are the events on campus that I always make sure I will not miss.”
The hobbies of these professors act as reminders that they are not only educators, but professionals dedicated to their craft. While they may have their own interests, the satisfaction they get from the success of their students doesn’t disappear when class is dismissed.
“I work with freshmen and sophomores, and being able to see their growth from August to December or January to May is really, really encouraging,” Dubuisson said.
Not only do professors work to educate their students, but they have a deep passion for what they do.
“Cheering for the University is great, but cheering for my students to do well is always a lot of fun,” Dubuisson said.