Teaching Where Her Heart Is MAGGIE COMMINS WINS 2020 HUNTER-HAMILTON AWARD
“It’s incredibly humbling because the people who win this award are people I’ve admired forever, and they’re amazing teachers and wonderful colleagues,” said Commins. “It’s very gratifying because you put your heart and soul into something, and to be recognized for it, there’s no greater joy than that.” Commins’
research focuses on immigration, and she’s currently working with Jay
Wills, a sociologist and Queens’ interim dean of
the College of Arts and Sciences, on researching immigration policy at the state level.
“I think Maggie, in a very
In 2019, Maggie Commins, Ph.D., second from right, co-led a border emersion trip with Rev. Joey Haynes ’11 that traveled to El Paso, Texas, to study border relations between the United States and Mexico. Commins said the group was in the epicenter of everything.
Growing up in the Washington, D.C., area, Maggie Commins, Ph.D., attended a large public high school. When it came time for college, she found the small liberal arts experience she wanted at Gettysburg College in Pennsylvania. “I loved my undergraduate education,” said Te Dorothy M. Shelton Professor of Political Science.” I grew as a person, as an intellectual. I was challenged. I just thought it was the best thing I’d ever done.” From then on she knew that she wanted to teach at a small college or university. “Tat’s where my heart is,” said Commins, who began teaching part time at Queens in 2001. “I just really believe in the building of community and integrity, and seeing it as a common purpose among faculty, students and staff.” Ten years ago, Commins began teaching full time
at Queens, and this past summer she won the Hunter- Hamilton Love of Teaching Award, Queens University of Charlotte’s most prestigious teaching honor. Te winner of this award is selected by a committee of peers, based on nominations by faculty, students and alumni.
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positive way, pushes everyone she works with,” said Wills. “She is always asking the smart questions. She’s available. She just makes everyone better when they work with her.”
Political science major Alyssa Pacheco ’20 knows
that all too well, as Commins was her advisor when she was a Civic Engagement Fellow during her junior year. “Just talking to her, you just instantly feel smarter, but she never talks down to you,” explained Pacheco, who is a Porter B. Byrum Scholar and a Robert and Sadie Anderson Scholar. “She’s always very interested in hearing what you have to say and engaging.” As for Commins, she enjoys teaching undergraduates and hopefully giving them the magical experience she had. “Tere’s something about that age group, the traditional undergrad and even people going back to college,” she said. “I love to work in more of mentoring type of role and exchange ideas.” Added Wills, “What stands out to me is how students just flock to her. I think she’s available and supportive, but it’s also the case that they sense that by being connected with Maggie, they are going to get just wonderful opportunities. You don’t see that with every professor.”
—Lori K. Tate
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