Why I Teach
Muhammad Shafiq, Ph.D.
Professor of Religious Studies and Executive Director in the Hickey Center for Interfaith Studies and Dialogue
I have taught at many colleges, but the environment at Nazareth College is different. The emphasis is on teacher-student relationships. I applaud Nazareth’s limit of 35 students in a classroom.
College is a formative period of a student’s life, and a strong teacher-student relationship is essential. Teachers not only enlighten students with course materials; they also serve as spiritual guides. They play an important role in a student’s quest for knowledge, but they also look after a student’s general welfare. I had an ideal teacher in my life, and I believe every student’s life is touched by someone at school during the course of his/her study.
