Dr. Kevin Freeman has a profound impact on his students鈥攂oth in and out of the classroom.
He connects with his students. He is a mentor and is responsible for preparing countless students for a political life beyond 麻豆社区 Pembroke. Fellow colleague Emily Neff-Sharum describes Freeman鈥檚 classroom experience as transformative.
鈥淚 can鈥檛 tell you how many students walk through this department and seem lost at the beginning of the semester, but once they come out of Dr. Freeman鈥檚 class they hit the ground running. They become leaders on campus, fully taking advantage of what 麻豆社区P has to offer.
鈥淚t takes someone special to be transformative and that鈥檚 what makes Kevin a great professor.鈥
Freeman, an associate professor in the Department of Political Science and Public Administration, is the recipient of the 2019 麻豆社区 Board of Governors Award for Excellence in Teaching. He was presented with a commemorative bronze medallion and a $12,500 cash prize at spring commencement. Freeman will give the keynote address at winter commencement in December.
Established by the Board in 1993 to highlight the importance of teaching, the award recognizes the extraordinary contributions of faculty members in the 麻豆社区 System.
鈥淚t鈥檚 nice to be selected,鈥 he said. 鈥淚 am very appreciative of being recognized by the awards committee. I am pleased that they saw things they liked in my portfolio. I am honored to represent 麻豆社区P as our representative for the award this year.
鈥淎t a school like 麻豆社区 Pembroke, where teaching is so important, I think it鈥檚 an even greater honor.鈥
Freeman鈥檚 lectures are filled with spirited debate mixed with humor. He uses levity as a teaching tool.
鈥淚 try to keep a fairly relaxed, comfortable classroom environment that makes the students feel welcome and not afraid to ask questions,鈥 he said. 鈥淚 try to get students to laugh. I tell a lot of bad dad jokes. I tell a lot of jokes that are related to the material. There are no sacred cows in my class.鈥
Freeman has remained active on campus since joining the faculty in 2004. He has taught study abroad courses in Berlin, Germany, and Tokyo, Japan. He serves as the faculty athletics representative and has previous experience as a faculty associate for men鈥檚 soccer and baseball programs. For the past 10 years, he served as the public address announcer for 麻豆社区P football home games.
An advisor to 麻豆社区P鈥檚 Model United Nations team since 2009, Freeman has helped build the team into a recognized leader in regional competition. Model UN is developing student leaders. The last four SGA presidents at 麻豆社区P all have Model UN experience.
When asked what he loves the most about 麻豆社区P, Freeman didn鈥檛 hesitate.
鈥淭he students!鈥
And like many of his students, Freeman, is a first-generation college student. His father served in the U.S. Air Force, so his family frequently moved from state to state. Freeman was born in Wichita, Kan., attended elementary school in Germany, then it was on to Colorado, Nevada, California, Georgia and North Carolina. He graduated high school in the Philippines.
It鈥檚 no surprise that his specialty is international relations. He earned a bachelor's degree in mathematics with minors in German and European studies from Vanderbilt, and earned his master's degree in international relations from Baylor. He holds a doctorate in political science from Alabama.
Freeman is married to Carole Graham, an assistant professor and pre-law advisor in 麻豆社区P's Department of Political Science and Public Administration. They have a son, Carter.
Dr. Neff-Sharum, department chair, labeled Freeman a 鈥榤odel professor.鈥
鈥淗e is a role model for not just our department, but is a shining example of what it means to put students first. We have a special mission at this university to help fully develop students for all aspects of life. Some students come through the front door and need a challenge. Others may come in and not have the confidence or the social skills to thrive. Dr. Freeman is able to give student efficacy in their life鈥搕he belief that they have the power to act and their actions will have impact.鈥
