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Carine Feyten
66 Plays23 days ago
This week, join Alasdair as he sits down with world traveler and chancellor of Texas Woman's University Carine Feyten. They discuss the importance of language, teaching the whole student and what seeing the world through other peoples perspectives can teach us.
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Transcript
Podcast Introduction
00:00:02
Speaker
Hello and welcome to the Outdoorsy Educator podcast, where learning gets a breath of fresh air. I'm your host Alistair, and each week I talk with people from all walks of life to explore how education, the outdoors, and real-world experiences shape who we are.
00:00:19
Speaker
From classrooms to campfires, trails to town halls, we dig into the lessons that move us, challenge us, stick with us, and can make the world a better place.
Guest Introduction: Corrine Faiton
00:00:35
Speaker
And on this week's episode of the Outdoorsy Educator podcast, we have Corrine Faiton. Corrine, how are you today? I'm fantastic. How about you, Esther? Thank you for having me, by the way.
00:00:46
Speaker
Doing very well. I thought instead of my usual introduction, I would attempt something. So my apologies in advance for saying, again, with apologies, thank for being here. villain dank dasci er sind gragraciius port esar aki and again with apologies thank you for being here I'm impressed.
00:01:07
Speaker
It's worth a shot. That's excellent.
Corrine's Background and Role at TWU
00:01:10
Speaker
Yeah, so for those of you who obviously won't know, Korea, I believe, speaks five languages, which, if nothing else, is incredibly impressive.
00:01:18
Speaker
but Thank you. Absolutely. well Would we you mind starting off telling our listeners a little bit about who you are? Sure. So as you said, I'm Corinne Feit and I'm the chancellor and president here at Texas Women's University. This is my 12th year. it's kind of hard to believe.
00:01:33
Speaker
But um yeah, so it's it's it's an amazing experience. And my accent is from Belgium. So I usually get that out of the way right up front so people don't spend their time wondering. But I've been in this country, you know, close to 40 some years now. So a long time.
00:01:51
Speaker
yes absolutely. Absolutely. Yes, I do love the fact that coincidentally, I started at Texas Women's University as a student finishing my bachelor's degree in 2014. Oh, really? Yes, it was quite nice that it's ah a full circle moment and we've had the same same length of time at the university.
Holistic Education Beyond Academics
00:02:09
Speaker
Well, yes, I'd love to talk to you today um a little bit about education. seeing the world travel and how those worlds sort of blend together. um So if you wouldn't mind me starting off, I'd love to ask you about what you think the purpose of higher education is today beyond the academic credentials that people achieve at the university.
00:02:30
Speaker
Well, I'm actually glad you framing it that way, because to me, um higher education and education in general should go beyond the mind. You know, I mean, obviously it's important. and Obviously, if you go to higher education, you want to obtain a degree clearly. um But to me, it's really the importance and the focus should be on educating the whole person, right? Mind, body, soul, the whole enchilada, so to speak. Yes. um And I think that's really, really important. And one of the ways I think we do this here at Texas Women's is...
00:03:04
Speaker
ah really looking at how well the whole health and well-being experience for example and an initiative that we have going on it's really thinking about how can we really best prepare our students for the world and so that they could be productive citizens in every possible way and yes academically and and and the the intellectual aspect of that is important but how do you how can you be a good citizen how your work ethic your own mental health, your physical well-being, all of those things are equally important,
Multiple Perspectives in Education
00:03:36
Speaker
I think. And and we know this from research and some of the surveys that i have done by Gallup really pointed out clearly if you question people,
00:03:45
Speaker
you know after they've graduated many years and you say well was your education worth it right and usually the kinds of things that come up is how it helped them connect to society build communities um learn how to work with other people respect understanding people understanding different perspectives by the way that's another really important point to me and education is that we make sure to present students with multiple perspectives and and and we all need to do this we should challenge each or all of us uh with that task it's not easy to look at the world from you know different angles and and i'll talk more about that when you ask me about languages because to me there's a real connection there
00:04:25
Speaker
Yes, that's certainly on my list. And one of the reasons i keep coming back to Texas Women's University, both as a student and now as an employee of the university, is, i mean, every everywhere I look, there's different groups, there's different clubs. There's something for everybody. yes And it feels like you know a safe space for people to try things, which is one of the main reasons you can't get rid of me. oh yeah I couldn't agree more and that's intentional.
00:04:57
Speaker
Yes, it's very, you can tell it's a deliberate act on the part of the university to foster that culture but then also assist putting it into practice I find. right? And really take allowing students to take risks in a safe place, right? We all want to develop that muscle of being willing to take risks in a safe place, fail, and and and and move on and and learn from it and grow.
Empowering Women at TWU
00:05:21
Speaker
And and that's definite and especially, I think, for ah women, that's really important. Oftentimes, women are a little more resistant to taking risks, maybe, to be more. and And so I think learning this, if you want to step in leadership roles, you have to be willing to
00:05:36
Speaker
grow and and and find your own voice that way and feeling comfortable. That's, it's very interesting. Again, you bring that up. I mean, most people listening will know by the name Texas Women's University. um We naturally have, is it about 90% give or say women?
00:05:52
Speaker
And it's, it's funny because I thought about asking you about that aspect, but then I felt, well, it's a little unfair to compartmentalize. Uh-huh. the the importance of empowering women into just a simple question. So I'm hoping that that will be sprinkled in amongst this conversation. Absolutely. Because some of the clubs and the organizations I see might be things that naively people might assume are more male orientated and i love that the the doors are open um for women of course they're not anything i will attend or go to and that doesn't matter one bit i love the fact that they are there i've got daughters and i think of them a lot you know what would they want if they came here how could they best be served and it's it's just it's around the entire campus and it's it's it's something that as as an employee and a student i'm very proud of to say that i work at texas women's university
00:06:47
Speaker
You know, you meant you just said something that really triggered something for me when the you said there's got to be something for everyone.
Inclusive Culture at TWU
00:06:54
Speaker
and It sort of reminds me. So, you know, I'm tall. I am six foot two. And so I always say, you know, as a six foot two woman, I know that one size never fits all.
00:07:03
Speaker
and so I love that. And so having different experiences for different people at different stages of your life. I mean, we all if even and as ah as an employee,
00:07:14
Speaker
we go through stages in our career, in our lives. And so different things matter more at different stages. And sometimes it's, I mean, that's not an easy thing for an institution to adjust to, but but it's important to keep that in mind, I think.
00:07:26
Speaker
I couldn't agree more. I mean, in my classes, yes, predominantly it's women aged 18 to 24, something like that. But every class that I teach, every class that I attend, here comes a 20-year army veteran.
00:07:40
Speaker
Here comes a father, a grandfather, a woman who is coming back to school having raised her children. And to me, that's it It just brings so many so much colour to every classroom. yeah Different opinions, different experiences, and it just enriches it for everybody in that classroom, including me.
00:07:58
Speaker
I couldn't agree more. Yes, I love it. But an angle that I'd love to talk to you about is is
Impact of Global Travel on Leadership
00:08:04
Speaker
travel. I had the pleasure two years ago now of visiting your hometown of Mechlin. I love it. so ah every other I'll tell you the quick backstory. Every other year, I go back home to Scotland for a month. And in the middle of that, my wife and I try and take ah a weekend break into Europe somewhere. And we Amsterdam and Utrecht and various other places but we went to Mecklen partly because I thought well I just have to go if you're from there and you've always spoken so highly of it I climbed to the top of I believe it is it some St Rambald's? Yes St Rambald's Tower. Rambald's Tower which was you did that's amazing isn't exhausting but amazing I assume you've been up there at some point. Yes and the the carillon did you get to play the carillon up there?
00:08:49
Speaker
ah No, I didn't. I don't believe. Actually, it's one of the few it's one of the most famous and biggest carillon schools. Because it has a huge carillon on the top of the tower there. And so there's a big carillon school, actually, in Mechelen, world-renowned.
00:09:06
Speaker
Right, that's fine. I'll have to visit next time. um We spent a lot of time on, a believe, the pronunciation, I'm sure I'll get wrong, but the Brule, the main, the main, and had some of the best pasta I've ever had in my life. That sticks with me, is how good that was.
00:09:21
Speaker
But we just, we absolutely loved it. And since then, of course, we we have met. And I'd like to ask you about a travel experience that has maybe fundamentally changed how you think or how you lead at the university. What did it teach you?
00:09:37
Speaker
That's a good question. And picking one out is tough. So can I use two? Use as many as you like. Yes. um So, you know, I and anticipating this particular conversation with you, I've been thinking about this and I have always been fascinated since little, since I was a tiny little kid. i was always fascinated with people from other cultures and other places. And, um you know, my mom always joked that if there was one foreign kid in the school, there was going to be my friend. And it's true. I was always seeking out people who were different, who thought differently. It was always a fascination for me.
00:10:16
Speaker
So travel sort of comes, languages travel, all of that is tied to that, right? But so when i I ended up living in Mexico for a while, sort of by accident, and it it was just a an amazing experience. I felt like a fish in what in the water, you know, it's ah adopting a whole. And almost I became also almost Mexican, so to speak. Really...
00:10:42
Speaker
ah became like a sponge, absorbing the culture, the way of thinking, the behavior, the the values. It was just wonderful. And it was a ah great experience. And um so well I'm going to give you two more. Something that really changed my perspective on life and was transformational for me was also um moving to the U.S., believe me.
00:11:08
Speaker
um And for a variety of reasons. and But I'll tell you a couple of little examples. um So anytime you move somewhere or you go to a place, well, if you go on vacation, it's one thing. But when you actually move permanently, you look at things very differently.
00:11:21
Speaker
Right. Absolutely. And so when I moved to I moved to Tampa, Florida. And at in the beginning, i really i had a hard time. And. and Everything was so different. Now, imagine I spoke the language. I had traveled quite a bit. You know, I mean, Europe and the United States are not that different. And yet there were so many different cultural expectations. And um and so it was hard to navigate. And um So what I really learned in that experience, so as I came to the West because I follow the man, you know, like many women do. Yes, right.
00:11:55
Speaker
Yes. ah but um But then um that relationship ended and I had to make a decision. Okay, do I stay here or do I go back? And when I made the decision to stay is when everything changed, because what I really learned there, there is no perfect world ah place in the world. And every place has its advantages and disadvantages, pros and cons.
00:12:19
Speaker
But the only thing you can really control is your attitude towards it. And so, you know, once I made myself the decision of staying in in in Florida at the time, I started looking at everything in a very different way. I started appreciating it for what it had to offer, the beautiful palm trees, the sunshine, the beaches, you know, all those things that definitely we don't have in Belgium. Right.
00:12:43
Speaker
and And it changed completely my perspective. And then when I moved to Ohio, I had a similar experience, very different again. And a friend of mine you know was challenged by some of the things that were happening. And a friend of mine told me, well, look outside your window.
00:12:57
Speaker
He says, you see that oak tree? says, no matter how much you want that oak tree to be a palm tree, it will never be a palm tree. And the only thing you can change is really how you feel about it, your attitude towards it. And I would say that but traveling and and being in different places and being with different people, that is sort of what I took away is really embrace what each place has to offer for what and and for what the people have to offer in that moment. Don't compare. Don't judge. It never be the same. It's never going to be better, worse, whatever different aspects and and and really embrace it fully. And also it's your attitude towards where you are that will make a difference that whether you whether you feel happy about it or not. But you can't really change your outside world.
00:13:46
Speaker
I couldn't agree more throughout my time in Texas. I've had many people at different stations of life say, oh, I'd love to move to Scotland. It'd be wonderful there. It's beautiful. Like everywhere else, it's got wonderful aspects and then, you know, pros and cons. Right. But i've I'll often say, you know, you do need to step back and look at the wonderful things here too.
00:14:06
Speaker
Right. um I'm not saying moving is not for you or for you. That's not my place. But I mean, I certainly find that now with Scotland when I go back, I see it in a different light. Exactly. So do I. Yeah, I'm sure you I was going to ask you, when you go back to Belgium now to visit, I know you, like myself, you go back frequently. I'm assuming you maybe see it in ah it through a slightly different lens now.
00:14:28
Speaker
Absolutely. You're absolutely right. And so when I lived in Belgium, you know, we have a tendency of criticizing what we, you know, what's one, you don't pay attention to the beautiful things because they're there every day. So you don't even see them.
00:14:41
Speaker
Right. But you do focus on the bad weather, the rain, the overcast, whatever, whatever. Right. So, yes. um But and so going back, I now appreciate it in a different way. And I love, well, first of all, I noticed the beautiful things a lot more. um And and appreciate them. And and and so and the weather has become part of it. Right. So, for example, you know, the little town of Bruges in Belgium, many people in the US visit there and it's a beautiful medieval town. um And, you know, the weather when it's when it's foggy or rainy, it has a very special feel to it. And very different than when the the sun shines and it's very mystical almost. And lots of artists actually have painted and done work there exactly for that reason. So you start appreciating a place for what it has and, you know, ah embrace what it has to offer. And um yeah, and it's the same with people.
00:15:36
Speaker
Absolutely. And weve we've had very similar experiences. I'm going to assume i have people back home in Scotland say, oh, the weather in Texas, lovely, lovely. You have all the sunshine. Now, I'm not one for the heat, so I don't always love it.
00:15:50
Speaker
But when I go back to Scotland and people are complaining about the weather, the cold, it's dark, I find it enchanting almost. exactly Perhaps because I don't live there anymore. Right. and enjoy But it's part of the fabric that makes this tapestry. Exactly. Exactly. And so I think I encourage people to embrace it because it does bring out a beauty in the country. I agree.
00:16:13
Speaker
Very, very similar. Well, talking about world traveling, I'd love to hear your thoughts on how global experiences travel can serve as a bridge between academic learning and going out into the real world.
Travel as a Bridge to Real-World Learning
00:16:25
Speaker
who Well, yeah just this idea that travel is another way of experiencing travel. Again, these different cultures, different people, different ways of thinking, that's what education is all about, right? It's exploring all of that. So this is another avenue of doing that. It's not the only one, but it complements nicely, which is why sometimes I think it's important to give opportunities for our students that wouldn't normally be able to travel and explore different places to give them those opportunities. It changes the way you look at the world. um
00:16:57
Speaker
When you realize that some of the issues we struggle with, well, A lot of people around the world are struggling with the same thing. You feel a sense of community when those people then, you know. um The other thing is I i always um I mean, travel is sort of like ah like learning languages. i I'll often compare that to learning a language is sort of like looking through different windows in your house. So. The world out there is the same world.
00:17:25
Speaker
But if I look out of the world, the the window from my kitchen, and then I look at the world outside of my living room, I see completely different things. it ah It looks like a completely different world, but it really is the same world. It's just a different window, a different perspective on the world. And to me, languages are that way. When you speak a language, you learn a language, really, you you sort of learn how to think like the people who always speak that language and and you understand that culture and it gives you a different window on the world a different understanding of different parts of the world and that's the whole human experience should be about understanding better of the world and connecting with the rest of the people around the world
00:18:07
Speaker
I love that. It makes me think of a ah bucket list item that I have, and we'll see if it ever happens or not. I would love to take a ah few weeks and fly to every continent to visit an elementary school. Because I truly feel, yes, of course, there's going to be cultural differences, languages, all sorts. But there's also going to be a lot of similarities. Absolutely. And I would love to... have The things that sometimes keep me up at two o'clock in the morning, I think, wouldn't that be an amazing documentary to make if I just knew filmmaker? Yes, it would. just knew somebody. So I've got that list and it just just, I will now always carry that with me. but It's one house, one world, and we just look at different windows. Yes, exactly. your Mothers want the best for their children. Things like, they're universal truths.
00:18:54
Speaker
That's right. Might just look a little different. And sometimes we forget, you know, when we in our little world, we think, well, this is the truth. This is what it looks like. But, you know, this is, yes, it is a truth, but it is one, and it's one aspect of the truth. You know, the world is is is much faster than our little perspectives. That's why I'm looking through those different perspectives and embracing and learning from them.
00:19:17
Speaker
It's so important to get a better understanding who we are as human beings. Absolutely. And like me, I'm sure that your grand moments have had an impact on you, but also what might appear to be minuscule moments, small conversations,
00:19:31
Speaker
Must have had an impact on you too, I'm sure. I'll give you another example. Can I give you another example? Please do. Yes. Yes.
Biking Honeymoon in Vietnam
00:19:38
Speaker
So my husband and I, um for our honeymoon, we biked bicycles from north to south Vietnam.
00:19:47
Speaker
I mean, we took a little in the middle, a little hiatus. We flew a little section, but most of it we did by bicycle. And when you see a country at 13 miles an hour, 15 miles an hour, whatever, it's very different. And plus you go to different places. You're in the countryside, you go to the rice paddies.
00:20:03
Speaker
What was amazing to me in Vietnam is then the friendliness of everyone. I mean, and it's a very young country. Obviously, a lot of people, you know, during the war and whatnot. So it's a very young country and they've suffered a lot through all these different wars. And yet...
00:20:20
Speaker
You know, everywhere we went in the country, like tiny little villages, rural places, they would step out when we would bike, bicycle by them, they would step our our house and say, hello, hello. They don't speak in English, but they all can say hello. hello Big smiles, welcoming everywhere.
00:20:33
Speaker
And I really had to reflect on that. And I asked, we had it we had a guided group. We had 18 people in the cycling group and a guide. And so I asked that question about, you know, this friendliness and this embracing us. And, you know, this was a group of Americans. And um his answer was that people are taking the long view. And it was a very interesting answer, actually. He said, you know, the French, the Chinese were here for a thousand years, the French for a hundred years.
00:21:00
Speaker
I mean, Americans were only here for like 10 years, you know, so it's all wrong. things But, you know, it's just this whole, it's not something I was expecting. And really, it was yeah it was also transformational for me.
00:21:15
Speaker
i find that I love that you brought this up because on my little notes that I make before speaking to somebody, I've written down your trip to Vietnam because when I was at your home for the new employees yes gathering, you but you brought that up. And I thought, that's that's a story I want to hear about. yeah And I love the fact that you've you've brought this up because something I've done since I've started working at Texas Women's University is I'm very fortunate and I live about three and a half miles from the campus. So I now cycle to work. And so I cycle through my neighborhood and I've lived here for seven years in in this home, in this neighborhood.
00:21:52
Speaker
And it's amazing, as you said, the perspective shifts completely. i I'm noticing people's architecture, their decorations, all of these things. I've driven by these houses hundreds of times. Absolutely. And thankfully, I'm focusing on the road. So I never noticed these things. But now going at the the pace of a bicycle, it's it's an enriching experience. Yes, it's good for my health and it's good for this.
00:22:17
Speaker
But it's actually my mental health is changing because I'm learning to appreciate all these wonderful little things right around me. Yes, you you are so right. And it's another way of getting a different perspective. You don't necessarily to move to another country, you know, but just taking a bike ride instead of a bicycle, mean, instead of a car and you see the world differently. Yeah, my my father will listen to this podcast. he's He's looking forward to hearing more from you. And so I don't want to get this kind this ah conversation or this statement wrong, but he even talks about sitting just upstairs on the bus. If it's a double-decker bus, it's just... 10 feet 12 feet ah of difference but you see buildings differently you can see in windows you couldn't see in before and i remember thinking just that tiny shift yes can truly enrich our lives by changing our perspective on things that we think that's really a good point that your dad made and i i feel that way same way about my office you know my office is on the 15th floor of the administration building and
00:23:14
Speaker
um You know, the first time when I came to campus, I thought, oh, my God, that's, you know, it's so far up. I wish I was more down on the ground where I can connect with people. But then, you know, when I saw the view and it just changes your whole perspective. And now when I have folks coming to visit the campus,
00:23:30
Speaker
I always give them the view from the top so you can see the whole environment and the scenery and you can see where places are located and how it all fits in a whole. And then you go down and you walk around the campus and you see the specifics.
00:23:44
Speaker
But you know, you see it's completely different when you're down in the situation, you go to the little chapel or or whatever. You're very much involved in that particular space. And then when you go up,
00:23:55
Speaker
Then you see the whole big overview and it's constantly in that, in your mind. I think in everything that we do, we should constantly do that. You know, the big view, the big perspective, and then down in your everyday work and the specifics that you're doing, they should be correlated and in harmony.
00:24:10
Speaker
I couldn't agree more. I think it's wonderful to shift our perspective like that. um Tremendous.
Sabbatical Journey Through South America
00:24:16
Speaker
now There's one other trip, and I may have the details wrong here, but I followed you on social media for many years now.
00:24:23
Speaker
we've We've talked about traveling internationally and around the world, but I believe you went to a dude ranch. Am I right in saying that you've you've, or maybe ridden horses in Texas, like you went somewhere in Texas. It could have been somebody else. Ah. I have not been riding horses in Texas, but I did ride horses.
00:24:41
Speaker
i i um During my sabbatical, um i had I took a big trip in South America. so i started That might have been it that might tell me what I was thinking. I started at the bottom of Chile and worked my way all the way up to...
00:24:57
Speaker
to Peru and Bolivia and all of that and um all with local transportation. One region in Chile, we did allt everything by horseback riding. And so with different, you know, with horseback riding, it was the bus, you know, all kinds of different transportation modes to travel through Latin America, South America specifically. And that was a three-month trip with a backpack and it was amazing, just absolutely i mean I feel like you could probably write a book about that trip alone. Yes. Yes, because there's something that's been on my mind recently is, you know I do like to travel as far and to many different places as I can.
00:25:37
Speaker
But i I need to remember, like, I've not really been to West Texas. I've been out there once to climb this. Oh, I know what you saw. What did I see? We did a camping trip at Caprock Canyon.
00:25:50
Speaker
and that It looks like Caprock Canyon, yes. Yes, and then we we did ride horses in the canyon. That's right, you're right. That must be it. Yes, I've been to Caprock Canyon, seen the buffalo that live out there. It looks very similar. Yes. um yeah And it's been on my mind a lot. I've been to West Texas, there's the highest peak in Texas, and I've found that...
00:26:12
Speaker
But there's so much even close to home. Caprock Canyon is what, don't know, four, four and a half hour drive. So it's, you know, that's far, but it's not too far for most.
00:26:22
Speaker
And yet it's a completely different culture, landscape. Yes. And again, just as you were talking about, it shifts my perspective a little bit. Yes. um I've walked small sections of the Appalachian Trail, things like that. And it's amazing how just shaking things up.
00:26:38
Speaker
I makes me better educator and a human being, I find. Yes. And you know, you're right. You don't have to go really far. And especially here in Texas, we have some amazing state parks. Yes. And they're really, they're they're amazing. They're big, beautiful. And so we love to go camping, even in parks like 20 minutes from here, Ray Roberts. Oh, I'm up there all the time. yeah All the time. you If you go there for a week and you go camp, you feel like you're a whole different world. you're in the middle of nature. And it's so rejuvenating to be and in in the woods. And, you know, it's it's it's really...
00:27:11
Speaker
Yes, we're up at Ray Roberts frequently. And in fact, on the 1st of January this year, they do first day hikes. So they have three because there's the Greenbelt Trail and then there's two entrances to Ray Roberts. So I did all three. And that's an annual tradition for me. It's starting the year right, going for a hike, meeting new people. And it really does set me for success. Oh, that. I love that.
00:27:35
Speaker
Yeah, lots. It's just wonderful. So to bring this kind of round to the home stretch, I'd love to ask you, what gives you the most hope about the future of
Optimism for Education's Future
00:27:44
Speaker
education? What do you see at TWU, perhaps specifically, that really makes you think education is in good hands?
00:27:51
Speaker
You know, that's that's really great. So every year, i so, well, let me back up. We give, the the biggest scholarship that we that we give up, which is a free ride, is through the Chancellor's Endowed Scholars. So we pick a a rising high school senior.
00:28:09
Speaker
and our folks the Honors College help with that selection. And these are top students who have applied to TWU and they come from all over Texas. And then I go to the high school and give up. It's usually a surprise to the students with the family and whatever. I love it. It's one of my favorite things to do. It must be, yes. So once they're on campus, every year, once or twice a year actually per semester,
00:28:35
Speaker
ah have dinner with all the various chancellors endowed scholar recipients. Right. And so um and and so i go to dinner with them somewhere in town. And every time I leave, I come home and I will tell Chad, my husband, I'll say, you know what?
00:28:52
Speaker
We're in good hands. The future is in good hands. These women are smart. They're engaged. They read, they're involved in the world. They want to make a difference. They're going to, it's so smart. They're going to make amazing contributions and we're going to be in good shape. These are the future leaders. And it makes me, it gives me peace. It gives me hope. And, and I leave feeling, you know, it's fine. No matter what all the worries and, you know, the fears that we have, when you have really good people with good hearts wanting to do the right things, you know, then, you know, you're going to be in in good shape.
00:29:27
Speaker
I love that. And it's something I feel very strongly about. um i try to always have the perspective that any any education i I have, anything I learn, it's just passing through me. It doesn't do anyone any good if it stops with me and we don't share that passion. And i I've always loved teaching and I love it more today at 44 years old ah than I ever have but that doesn't do me any good if it stops with me I've got to try and light that fire in other people and I see that all over the campus yes it's not just people telling you why being a teacher is a good thing in the school of education it's lighting this fire and saying you know this is ah wonderful career and beyond that it will positively impact your life and sharing that with people and so I love that you see that too
00:30:16
Speaker
Well, and you're absolutely right. And I think i think the faculty at this university are particularly sensitive to that and connecting with the students and having a a real care. They really care for the mission of the university and they committed to it and they really committed to doing the best with the students. And so that passion and that energy from the heart really transfers over to the students. They pick up on that. And that sometimes is more important than what you actually say.
00:30:43
Speaker
And actually, me let me, um I'm going to use this opportunity to talk about something that I feel very strongly about. And that's part of my research. So my, Research was focused on obviously language acquisition, but also listening, the listening ability, listening skills.
00:31:01
Speaker
And um one of the things that we don't realize is that when we communicate with people, only 7% of our communication is communicated through words. 7%. That means 93% is everything else. Your intonation, your body language, Your choice of words, your the energy you exude, the eye contact, all of those things are more important than the 7%. And the reason I bring that up is exactly for what you just mentioned. So your passion and your belief in what you do and the importance of what you do.
00:31:40
Speaker
That communicates to students much more powerfully than any words you could possibly use. And when you combine the two, when your words are in sync with who you are and your beliefs and your values, then you have what's what's called authenticity.
00:31:56
Speaker
And that's what people pick up on. That's what your students pick up on. You're authentic. And then you really transmit that. And it makes it's a huge difference it makes a huge difference on the students and on everybody around you.
00:32:06
Speaker
When your words are matching up with everything else about you, that is an authentic communication. And that's much more than just words. Absolutely. It reminds me of the old saying, if you don't always remember what teachers teach you, but you always remember how they made you feel. Exactly. And if again I could name the teachers from 25 years ago who made me feel excited or passionate or inquisitive. Yes. Even if I don't remember exactly what they taught me when they planted seeds. And I think that's so crucial to what we do.
00:32:39
Speaker
And I think that's what's so special about the profession of being an educator. And I'm a little biased, but I think the profession of being a teacher or an educator, it's the same thing kind of as nurses, actually. I mean, if you hear people, you know, when they've been in the hospital and they recovered, the one thing they will talk about is the the nurses that tended them to them and how kind they were, cetera. And the same thing with teachers. ah sometimes you don't even know the impact you have on people, but I've had many, and I'm sure you have too, you know, 25, 35 years later, I get a comment from somebody. I barely remember them.
00:33:11
Speaker
They said, you changed my life. You said X, Y, Z. I mean, I honestly don't remember, but you know, you, you have planted those seeds and they have, been transformational and that the profession of teaching that is something that is so amazing I think and and and it's not you know it's not the salary it's not the it's all it's all the intangibles but they're so amazing and and it's what gives you joy in your heart when you get those comments you're like that's amazing you know Absolutely. I've got a very good friend of mine who is a teacher back in the UK, and he's very specific about using the word rich, because if you're talking about he he now specifically uses the term money rich ah to clarify those different types. Yes. Because as an educator,
00:33:57
Speaker
the odds of him becoming incredibly wealthy, right perhaps unlikely, but he always talks about the richness in his life. Exactly. And there's very much a a difference between being rich and money rich. Right. And I think about that a lot and I sit back and I think, i'm I'm rich in so many ways. Yes. And imagine the impact you have on the world. And really, if you think about it, at the end of your life, you know, one, you're not going to take your material goods with you.
00:34:22
Speaker
Right. And hey you're not going to feel like, oh, if I had made $20 more, but... you know the impact you've had on people and that joy uh that is more important than anything else absolutely it's we get up in the morning isn't it truly is that as we've we we finish up here i've got three questions for you um you can look through a personal or professional lens or a little of both whatever suits you but i'd like to know how your definition of success has changed over the years if indeed it has Well, I think it's tied to what you just what we were just talking about, is the impact on people.
Defining Personal Success
00:35:00
Speaker
you know How have you improved the world that we're in? how you know How have you improved the lives of the people around us? And that's really what it's all about. That's what life is all about.
00:35:11
Speaker
couldn't agree more. We do the best job we can. Indeed. Has there been a particular book, piece of art, or piece of music that has been particularly impactful on your life?
00:35:24
Speaker
Oh my goodness. God, it's always hard when you have one book. One book. Yes. I think it it doesn't have to be your favourite. It's just maybe something that comes to mind.
00:35:36
Speaker
Oh God. Yes. Sorry, I put you on the spot. I know. I'm always challenged with on the spot. What's your favourite colour? Well, maroon. Yes. Maroon it is. Yes.
00:35:51
Speaker
Oh gosh, I don't know. um Okay, Al, from a professional, and this is going to feel very superficial, but... No, that's fine. That's fine. Yes. ah You know, there is this one book. it's It's a very simple read. You can read it in a couple of hours, but it really, i have thought about it many times, and it's called Made to Stick, and it's written by two brothers. And um it really, it it talks about communication, actually, and when we, it's sort of tied to some of the things were talking about earlier. When you com communicate, whether you're teaching or whether you're selling something or whatever, you want your idea to stick in the other person's mind.
00:36:31
Speaker
Yes. Right? And so the little book is just about what makes your idea stick and what prevents ideas to stick. And as an educator, ah to me, was an important read because One of the things the phrases i always remember in there is that experts are often encumbered with knowledge. If you think about that, meaning, you know, so much, you want to share so much, you will share all the details. And then the person receiving it is just swimming in information and doesn't retain anything. It's not sticking.
00:37:02
Speaker
And can apply this to advertising. You can apply this to anything, anything, basically. um It's a very simple little thing, but I don't know why it popped in my head. But but it really, ah I found it to be, i think about it a lot.
00:37:17
Speaker
Well, I think that speaks, you said it may be superficial. I think that's impactful because that would transcend almost every occupation can think of. That's exactly right. It transcends parenthood. It transcends everything. Yes. yeah So it's wonderful.
00:37:31
Speaker
If you go to a doctor's office and... and They give you all the technical, all the, you know, you're you're overwhelmed, right? and And that person is probably encumbered with knowledge. And so you have to think about, okay, how do unencomber myself? And really, what is the main message? What do you mainly want to communicate to this other human being?
00:37:53
Speaker
Absolutely. and yeah And you want it to stick. It's yes a good book. have them thinking Have them thinking about it weeks later. Absolutely.
Inspirational Figures: Mexico's First Woman President
00:38:02
Speaker
Well, my final question for you is, I'm going to ask you to put your chancellor hat on for this one, is if you could bring in one person, this could be somebody from your personal life, somebody who is alive, somebody from history, to come and speak to the university student body to share their knowledge. It could be anybody at all that's ever existed. Who would you like to bring in?
00:38:25
Speaker
And again, I'm sure there's many people you could think of, but you're only a live one. Yeah, so different stages of my life, I would have picked different people. Actually, you know, somebody asked me that question couple months ago on a panel, and I actually picked the woman president of Mexico right now.
00:38:44
Speaker
And the reason I had picked her, um I mean, if you ask me tomorrow, i probably think of somebody else. But the reason is, One, she's the first woman president in Mexico. Two, she's an engineer.
00:38:58
Speaker
Sure, she's really smart, right? Right. but but she's and And so she stepped into politics for making a difference. but she I mean, there's so many characteristics about her that I thought were really powerful.
00:39:10
Speaker
and And I thought, you know, that's ah that's someone as a role model for for for students and, you know, women that, you know, how can you step up and still having...
00:39:23
Speaker
An amazing life and and and as a person and and also contributing and I just I know there's so many things about her that I thought were really interesting. But, you know, i can think of several other of people. But anyway, that's the one that popped in my head right now.
00:39:39
Speaker
Well, when we're walking around campus, if next time I bump into you here at Texas Women's University, I'll ask you again. We'll take a see who's on your mind. There'll probably be somebody different. And that's perfect. Well, Chancellor Fetan, you're a very busy person. I cannot thank you enough for your time today.
00:39:56
Speaker
Thank you. Thank you very much for having me on us there. Thank you.
Closing Remarks and Listener Call-to-Action
00:40:00
Speaker
Thank you again to this week's guest and I hope today's episode was as enjoyable for you as it was for me and perhaps even inspired your next adventure. If you did enjoy the show, please be sure to subscribe, leave a review or follow us wherever you get your podcasts. You can find more information at theoutdoorsyeducator.com or follow us on Instagram, TikTok or Facebook. Until next time, thank you so much for listening to
00:40:28
Speaker
The Outdoorsy Educator Podcast.