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Christine Blaine wins Distinguished Teaching Award

June 28, 2010

Chemistry Professor Christine Blaine, right, works with high school students from St. Joseph's Catholic School in Spring 2010. The AP Chemistry students were at the Carthage chemistry lab to use the College's equipment for an experiment.


Chris Blaine, associate professor of chemistry, says she has one regret about receiving the College's Distinguished Teacher Award for 2009-10.

"My dad passed away three years ago, and wasn't able to celebrate with me," Prof. Blaine says. "He always told me to give 110 percent. That's what teaching is."

Prof. Blaine recalls that "my dad had an amazing work ethic," and eventually owned a printing firm in Little Falls, Minn., after starting as a janitor at a newspaper. She tries to match his level of dedication.

"Students know I work really hard," she says. "If I work hard to give them the best education, they'll work hard in the classroom and the laboratory."

Prof. Blaine, who also serves as chemistry department chair, came to Carthage in 1995. She says the opportunity to "be part of a changing chemistry program" was attractive. "We've certainly gotten bigger," she says. "When I got here, we had four chemistry majors. The following year I think we had two. Now we fluctuate between 12 and 15 majors per year."

The department chair believes that chemistry at Carthage has grown in stature, too.

"We're attracting excellent students in science. We have excellent faculty, multiple undergraduate research experiences, and opportunities for students to present their research off-campus. We have a strong, tight-knit community in the department."

"We're attracting excellent students in science," she declares. "We have excellent faculty, multiple undergraduate research experiences, and opportunities for students to present their research off-campus. We have a strong, tight-knit community in the department. Older chemistry students will help mentor younger majors."

That spirit, Prof. Blaine adds, has allowed the department to maintain its momentum despite some changes in its ranks.

Prof. Blaine has firm opinions about the need to train a new crop of scientists to replace the generation trained in the 1960s, when the Cold War and space race spurred major investments in research. "One of our strengths in the United States is our scientists," she declares. "It's a hard road, but we need to reach out to children and convince them science is a fascinating, fulfilling career."

She is equally outspoken about what should come first for a professor.

"Some faculty are just in it for their own intellectual curiosity," she remarks. "Teaching is about translating that knowledge, curiosity and enthusiasm into students learning. We want them to learn so they can be happy, successful citizens and scientists."

Prof. Blaine says she enjoys teaching both chemistry majors and students who take only required science courses.

"I love all my students, but I especially like teaching freshmen," she admits. "They actually listen to what you say. Once you connect with your students and lay the foundation for a positive learning environment, they know you're invested in them as persons, and they'll invest in the course."

For Prof. Blaine, "teaching is not a job, it's a vocation. If we were just interested in a job, we'd go into industry and make more money. I like my colleagues, I like interacting with students, I learn cool new stuff every day and share it with my students and colleagues."

Prof. Blaine, who has two sons, calls her award "probably the most humbling experience of my life, other than childbirth. I work with wonderful teachers, amazing, committed people. To be recognized as an outstanding teacher is humbling. I just try to do the best I can every day."

— Bill Kurtz, Carthage College