FAC U LT Y S P O T L I G H T
Dr. Shane Combs answers a student’s question during class.
Helping Students Find Their Voice Combs’ Classes Are Not Short On Fun By GRACE STUMBAUGH
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f you ever find yourself on the fourth Combs wasn’t always set on becoming an floor of T-Berry Smith Hall on a English professor. He actually had a bitter Tuesday or Thursday afternoon, you’ll attitude towards writing until he took an probably hear laughter English course at his local and lively discussion community college. trickling from one of the The English professor classrooms. Inside is Dr. there encouraged him to David “Shane” Combs and use his unique “voice” his Imagination, Joy, and while writing, which Harry Potter class. It’s his was something Combs favorite to teach. had never heard from an “I feel like a lot of the English teacher before. All students are responding of a sudden, writing became and getting something out something that Combs was of the class for themselves,” passionate about, and it all Combs said. changed from there. Before starting at Now, he works to help Central Methodist CMU students discover University in 2019, Combs Dr. David “Shane” Combs their voice in the same was getting his PhD in manner that his English English studies at Illinois State University. professor helped him. He believes that CMU He excelled there, earning numerous is the perfect environment to do so. awards like the Writing Program “[My classroom] is a place where you Appreciation Award and the Outstanding just try things on,” he said. “You try on all Teaching Award in the Graduate Student the ‘outfits’—and you might put it aside Teaching category. when the semester is over and never pick
it up. Or, you might find something that fits you better idea-wise than anything you’ve seen—but just try things on and see how it fits you inside the class and outside the class.” Combs is currently taking positive psychology classes with a colleague. They know that many students at CMU are first generation and might not have confidence in their writing, so Combs is trying to help build a composition program where students learn about their strengths and values. “I really like the concept of teaching students to think critically, to understand the world and themselves, and to be creative—but also that they can use any content to get there,” he said. Combs’ favorite thing about working at CMU is the wide variety of classes he’s been able to teach. Other universities limit English professors to only teaching classes specifically pertaining to their PhDs, but Combs is grateful for the opportunity to branch out at CMU. “Here, I’ve taught composition, literature, and creative writing,” he said. “We’re not territorial with our classes.” In his free time, Combs records a sports podcast with his friend and enjoys writing whenever he can. He also loves to spend time outdoors.
Spring 2021 | The Talon 19
