 "Photo: Photo by: Will Trentman")
If you think writing papers, doing research, and reading the required text for your courses is complicated, try being graded on how well you remember each of your classmates’ names.
“It is social networking,” said Professor Dr. Kelly Callahan, a public speaking professor on the Dale Mabry campus.
Born in Traverse City, Mich., Callahan holds a master's in communications from USF and a doctorate in educational leadership from the University of Seattle.
Having worked at the University of Redlands in Southern California and Seattle University in Washington, Callahan has had her fair share of teaching and traveling.
“I think you meet terrific people everywhere you go, especially at universities because they are so international and global, I think that’s the excitement,” said Callahan.
Callahan is not just well traveled in the United States. She has also traversed the globe,
visiting countries like the United Kingdom, Ireland, London, Morocco, South America, Costa Rica, and China.
“I firmly believe that we’re global citizens increasingly, and that travel abroad is one of the best things that you can do,” said Callahan.
Tired of being a tourist, Callahan decided to settle over seas when she was offered a teaching position at an American university in Thailand. After selling most of her things and giving the rest to Goodwill, her dream of teaching abroad collapsed when her mom was diagnosed with cancer. Callahan decided to stay in Tampa to be a full-time caregiver and began teaching at HCC.
“Teaching was great because I could teach in the classroom and I could go and do my grading and do my lesson planning while I was in the hospital with her,” said Callahan.
Soon after, Callahan got offered a job at UT and now teaches communication, speech for business professionals, and is the university’s study abroad program assistant. In addition she still teaches public speaking as an adjunct at HCC.
"I like how she has everyone working together and that her activities are very hands on. It makes me not want to miss a single class," said Tiffany Creter, 19.
Callahan bases her teaching style on her experience in leadership development, and her background in student affairs and counseling. She uses team-building exercises such as creating commercials, fairy-tales, and imitation games in order to break down barriers to bring people closer.
“I feel the more people are invested in a learning community the more likely they are to come(to class),” said Callahan.
She also uses positive energy and inspirational sayings to reach her students.
“Everybody has a wisdom, and I want my students to know themselves and their power. I learn too, every day especially when I teach, so that is really cool,” said Callahan.
Believing that each of her students is unique no matter where they are from or how much money they have, Callahan begins each new class addressing her students as “scholars.”
“Scholar is a term of respect," she said. "I know it is silly but you are not just students going to HCC, you are scholars."
Ten years from now she still sees herself where she is today, but with bigger dreams.
“I am a lifelong learner so I would love to be a full-time professor,” said Callahan. “I love Dale Mabry and my students here at HCC, and also I would like to start my own nonprofit organization.”
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