Dr. Samiksha Raut's Nomination Essay

It is a privilege to write a letter in support of Dr. Samiksha Raut’s nomination for the Faculty Student Success Award. Dr. Raut was my instructor for Introductory Biology I during the Spring 2016 and Introductory Biology II during Fall 2016. During my time as her student, I have gained much respect and admiration for the work she does for her students, and she continues to be a strong positive influence in my life today.

As one of the first college science courses I have taken, Dr. Raut’s Introductory Biology I class set a standard for my expectation of science courses at UAB. Her classes are rigorous and challenging, but she made the effort to make that course accessible and feasible. One way she makes the class accessible was by making sure she knows everyone’s name. Being a freshman in a class of over 200 people, it is easy to be lost in a sea of people and feel like the professor will never connect to their students. Dr. Raut, however, made the effort to know everyone’s name and face. This ability of hers is not something one would particularly experience in other large science courses. For me, this displays her devotion to her students and a willingness to engage with them. When she sees one of her students

Raut. Throughout her classes, she would provide inspirational speeches and anecdotes to push students to excel in her class and see the importance of pursing an education in science. One of the personal anecdotes she shared about her past teaching experiences reminded me of my mother and her pursuit for a scientific education. Dr. Raut constantly displays the characteristics of the great professors who helped my mother further her education by taking an active interest in her students and tries to provide guidance and mentorship by emailing various campus opportunities, providing resources for academic support and being accessible to talk with students about their