Dr. Adnan Rasool is an associate professor of political science, but his work on campus extends much further.
He is the director of the new Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) on UT Martin’s campus, oversees the rural development program, and writes grants for the College of Humanities and Fine Arts.
However, teaching remains Rasool’s biggest passion, so he was excited to have the opportunity to collaborate with colleagues on pedagogy and teaching as part of his CTL duties.
“Everybody teaches slightly differently. So, in my position, I am lucky enough to see all of that and then collaborate with colleagues to strengthen our pedagogy further,” he said.
Rasool studied at Georgia State University, where he worked at one of the nation’s first Centers for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL), which is why he was so adamant to throw his hat into the ring when the CTL position was announced at UTM.
“I was in the first cohort of innovation fellows at Georgia State University’s CETL,” he said. “GSU’s CETL was the first created in this country, and it is truly a center of excellence. I was one of the first GSU students to learn about pedagogical sciences, and I worked at the CETL there for three years while getting my Ph.D.”
Another project that is close to Rasool’s heart is the rural development program that he developed. It is the first of its kind at UT Martin, and many of his students are working with him on everything from rural government to needs assessment surveys.
Rasool’s favorite part of working at UTM is the students he gets to mentor.
“UTM has a special kind of student,” he said. “Most of them are at UTM because it is the university from their region. They live nearby, they like the area, they want to stay here.
“The difference is that our students want to do things even though they may not have the same number of resources. My students have potential; they are fantastic, and I want to see them shine. A lot of times, all they need is mentorship, and that is what we really focus on at UTM. I am here to help them utilize their talents and grow.”
