Alison Hobbie
CHEMISTRY
A chemist who sparks “Aha!” moments whenever she can.
B.A. Wellesley College; M.S. University of Virginia. Appointed 2001.
Why she loves her job: For Hobbie, the fun factor is imperative. “I get really excited when the little kid in the student comes out—seeing the kind of learning that comes from an ‘Aha!’ moment. I can spend a lot of time helping my students find the kid in them that may have been lost.”
On Harkness teaching: “The more I teach with the Harkness philosophy, the more creative I become.” The very first time she sat down at a table, her mindset shifted. “Harkness really transforms the way you think, and it makes it so much easier to make students take responsibility for what they’re learning.”
Her theory on theories: “I have students draw theories from questions and observations and not the other way around. I’ll tell them to go the lab and mix this with that and see what happens, and then we go to the table and immediately talk about it.”
On her science colleagues: “They’re just great folks. They love to teach, but they also have a real love of science. Everyone here is a scientist with advanced degrees in the science. They’re very devoted and incredibly supportive—it’s really inspiring.”
Advice for new students: “Look up from your studies, listen, watch what happens, involve yourself in the people around you. Now is the time to be proactive in your education—in and out of the classroom. What are you interested in? Take the time to make some decisions about who you are and what you want to do.”
Advice for new chemistry students: “Allow your curiosity to guide you. Let yourself be surprised when something bubbles, changes color, catches on fire."
Outside the classroom: She loves to ski and hike. She also plays the flute, often with her daughter who plays the violin. She has helped coach the JV girls volleyball team.
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