PROFESSOR PROFILE: DR. CHRISTIAN WILKENS

By Imani Coaxum

Dr. Christian Wilkens is the chairperson of the education department and a professor here at The College at Brockport. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Cornell University and his master’s degree from The University of Mississippi. He then went on to earn his master and Doctor of Education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

“I became a teaching assistant in a college biology class, and really really liked it,” says Dr. Wilkens.

Dr. Wilkens did not start off with his eyes set on working in the education field. He previously went to school for biology in hopes to become a veterinarian. After an internship at a vet clinic, he realized it was not something he wanted to do. Instead, he enjoyed teaching science rather than practicing science.

“There is nothing quite like working with someone on a thing you find fascinating, you don’t even have to have it mastered, but it's just something that’s interesting to you. And seeing that engagement and sharing it with someone...” Dr. Wilkens added.

He is truly passionate about the work he does with other students. He specifically works with student teachers who are going out into the field and teaching at schools.

“The number one thing we talk about is classroom management, […] and when you really get down to well what’s going on, what are the kids doing, what are you trying to do, what’s the problem, a lot of it comes down to S/EL challenges” says Dr. Wilkens.

Most people would not think a student not paying attention in class is a social or emotional learning challenge. Traditionally, educators are trained to get their lesson finished and assess how they understood it and if a child was to check out in class, to punish or scold them.

With social/ emotional learning educators are encouraged to assess why that child is not paying attention and possibly meeting their needs to help them learn, “so, part of what we do in class is help our Brockport student teachers figure out how to have good relationships with their kids out in schools, how to learn more about them, how to plan around that.”

He thinks of the social/emotional learning approach as the only way we should teach students. It is the only effective way to teach young minds. It not only encourages students to have a better idea and relationship with education and learning, but it also helps the student to become a better person.

Social/ emotional learning encourages children to make ethical decisions, handle interpersonal relationships effectively, recognize and manage their emotions, set and achieve goals, and demonstrate concern for others. This may change depending on the student’s age, but the goal is still the same.

“It's exciting to have college students engaged in this, it's like yes! Future teachers, you’re gonna go out and change the world, why, because we have to.” says Dr. Wilkens.