It’s late evening. Associate professor of communication Nicola Corbin receives an email from a former student, asking for advice on how to improve a job acceptance letter. Instead of waiting to address the email the next morning, Corbin happily responds, suggesting revisions that, ultimately, help the student negotiate a higher salary. “At 10 p.m. her time!” the student emphasized in a letter nominating Corbin for a 2019 Crystal Crest Master Teacher award.
Corbin’s authenticity, passion, enthusiasm and genuine concern for the success of each student guide all of her interactions, inside and outside the classroom. These qualities led to her winning the Master Teacher award at the Crystal Crest ceremony on April 13.
As a teacher, Corbin engages students in enriching experiences and discussions. As an adviser for Ogden Peak Communications, WSU’s student-run public relations firm, Corbin builds connections between students and the community. Within the context of learning, Corbin says she listens to students. She allows for questions, particularly the politically incorrect ones, and is honest in her responses.
“My students learn from me, and I continue to learn from my students,” Corbin said. “It is truly a symbiotic relationship, and it is why I absolutely adore my career. By motivating and supporting my students, I reap the same benefits they do — widening of perspective, the challenge of always engaging in critical thinking and of seeing each person as an individual with different needs.”
