Congratulations to Dr. Daniel Collins, who has been given the inaugural “ASC Student Wellbeing Advocate” by the ASC Committee on Student Mental Health and Wellbeing.

Prof. Christa Teston, who wrote for the committee, commended Dan in this way:

I want to personally thank you for the behind-the-scenes labor you do to help fill the (many) gaps that exist in our college as it concerns student wellbeing. Your advocacy work is vital and, as you know, too often goes unacknowledged. We hope this small gesture conveys our deep appreciation and affirms that we see you—and we see the many ways you support our students.

While he is away on sabbatical, Dan Collins’s colleagues, current, and former students continue to talk about his teaching and scholarship.

One of Dan’s early Vampire students recently got in touch for what she said was a truly belated recognition of his skills in the classroom, writing:

While prepping for class today—we’re immersed in fairy tales at the moment in Children’s Literature—I pulled out my old binder of notes from your course to revisit a few pages on Limited Good societies and some key selections on vampires and the concept of evil. […]

Paging through those materials brought back such fond memories of your class. I was a quiet but curious student at the time, and your course was truly one of my favorites. Looking again at the structure of my binder and your guided notes, I was also reminded how much that course shaped the way I learned to take notes (and, really, learned to learn). It was one of the first times I was shown how to organize lecture notes in tandem with reading annotations.  

I now direct a faculty development program here at UNF, and one of the points we emphasize is that many students have never actually been taught how to take effective notes, particularly discipline-specific notes. I often think back to your course when I discuss this with colleagues--it was so formative in helping me develop organized habits (all the while learning engaging content).

Congratulations again to Dr. Collins on his award and the long reach of his reputation.