Linda Rodd
Associate Professor, Psychology
The Heart of Human Behavior
Dr. Linda Rodd, who has spent her career analyzing the whys and wherefores of human behavior, teaches her psychology students to be good observers and critical thinkers and helps them develop the conceptual tools they need for analyzing human interaction, themselves and the way people work.
HOW DID YOU BECOME A TEACHER? WHY?
I like thinking. I like reading and talking to people about what I read. It strikes me as quite wonderful that I can get paid to do that.
WHY PSYCHOLOGY?
Thinking like a psychologist came readily to me—it’s the way I like to approach the world. The why of human behavior seems to be at the heart of everything. Psychology is a vehicle for self-exploration, and no matter what your students are interested in or what their major is, they want to know about themselves. That’s the hook by which you can catch any student’s attention: you can understand yourself better by studying psychology. When I came to Champlain the Psychology program was relatively new; enrollment has doubled since I came here in 2006.
WHAT WAS THE MOST SURPRISING THING ABOUT WORKING AT CHAMPLAIN?
I think I expected everyone here to be my stereotype of a businessperson—competitive, with an eye only for the bottom line--because I thought of Champlain as a highly practical business college. What has delighted me is how Champlain combines that practical, career-oriented flavor with a strong commitment to community service and social activism, and how warm and supportive a community this is.
WHAT’S THE MOST REWARDING PART OF YOUR JOB OR WHAT EXCITES YOU ABOUT YOUR JOB?
Having a student say, “Everybody should have to take this course!” Or say: “This course has really changed the way I look at the world…”
WHAT WOULD A STUDENT, NEW TO ONE OF YOUR CLASSES, FIND SURPRISING ABOUT IT?
One is how much the quality of the writing matters. I care how they write. Also, I think that when they see me, they expect me to be very dignified and are surprised to discover that I have a sense of humor, that I have heard swear words before, that I’m not offended by them, and that people had sex 40 years ago. They are surprised that I can bridge the gap. The students tend to expect me to be uncomfortable when topics like sex, addictions, family violence and recreational drug use come up in Psychology classes—and they may be surprised to find that they are more uncomfortable talking about them than I.
WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU THINK PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS SHOULD KNOW ABOUT YOUR DIVISION/YOUR MAJOR?
If you have an idea where you’d like to go in your career, Champlain gives you structure and guidance to get you there successfully. For example, the Psychology program has grown out of its original single-focus human-resource roots into a highly flexible degree that has room for individual creativity so you can create the direction you want to take—whether it’s criminal justice or pre-clinical or another area of specialization. You can graduate with a degree in Psychology and put it to work right away in a variety of fields.
WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE STRENGTH OF THE WAY CHAMPLAIN TEACHES ITS STUDENTS?
Champlain gives its students practical experience early on and gives them teamwork experience and practice through projects and internships. There’s a focus on skills that will be usable in the workplace and that employers look for and value.
FINISH THIS SENTENCE: THE STUDENTS THAT ARE THE MOST SUCCESSFUL AT CHAMPLAIN ARE THOSE WHO…
Who jump in and try. Who ask for help and work and try to give what help they can to others. Part of the culture of Champlain is the accessibility of the faculty; the most successful students seek out faculty members and ask for help. By getting more involved with faculty, the students learn that the classroom is only a part—and perhaps even a smallish part—of the educational experience and opportunity here.
Student work created by Professional Writing student Ali Wisch