By Colt Langley/managing editor
Coming from an educated family, Lori Fowler knew early on that education would be the path her life would take.
“My mom was a hypnotherapist, and my grandmother was a school teacher in a one-room school,” she said. “I’ve always been around education and always knew I wanted to teach.”
In August, the TR sociology professor was awarded the Chancellor’s Award for her commitment to students and community.
Not only was her family an influence on her life, but faith was also a driving force.
“I like to walk as Jesus would,” she said. “I like to help the helpless and like to spend time with the overlooked.”
Fowler said she began studying psychology at Fullerton College in California but then was turned on to sociology by a professor.
“I was a psych major and put off all my labs until the end. So I took a sociology class,” she said. “When my teacher came in with just socks on [his feet] and slid across the floor saying, ‘carpe diem,’ he then asked the class their name, major and what they wanted to do. And I said, ‘I want your job.’”
That day, he put Fowler to work as his teaching assistant.
“I worked with him for four years on and off. He was the life-changing moment, the little sock dude screaming ‘carpe diem,’” she said.
When in the classroom, Fowler encourages her students to embrace and utilize what they have learned.
“My favorite part of teaching is recognizing in a student’s face when they get something the first time and they apply it into the real world,” she said. “My whole style is application in the real world.”
One of her students, Emily Miller, said Fowler’s approach to teaching makes all the difference as well as going out into the real world for class projects.
“I love her. She doesn’t just lecture,” Miller said. “We got to go to the jail and the Salvation Army [homeless shelter]. She applies what she talks about to stuff around us. She’s very knowledgeable. It’s not like she had to learn the stuff to teach us. She already knows it. [In class,] she spurs up conversation. It’s not like we have to sit there and be quiet. We can put our own input in.”
Student Laura Trejo said her views about the homeless are different after visiting the shelter.
“The thing that changed me was knowing about the homeless problems. Not all of them are jobless because they want to be even though there are some that do,” Trejo said. “So when I see one of them on the streets, I think more and don’t think they’re looking for crack money.”
NE Spanish instructor James Palmer said if anyone was to receive such an award, it would be Fowler.
“She’s an excellent instructor and has always gone the extra mile for her students and for student participation in the community,” he said, “such as our recycling program here on NE Campus. She’s the one that got it going.”
During the nomination process, Fowler had to compile her career accomplishments for a nomination notebook.
“I’m happy about the award because it’s a peer nomination and one of the highest recognitions,” she said. “But more than any of that, it’s a really introspective journey, just preparing the nomination notebook because you have to collect so much memorabilia.”
