By
Rumor has it many students in the University of Louisville communication department would say that Professor William E. Thompson is the favorite among them.
The popular professor received his undergraduate degrees in journalism and English from the University of Missouri and his master’s in educational administration at U of L. But, when asked when he became interested in teaching, he said, “Did I ever actually become interested in teaching?”
Before teaching at U of L, Thompson was the assistant dean at the Conservatory of Music of the University of Missouri, and a syndicated newspaper columnist, while writing a humorous column, keeping him very busy.
Deciding it was time for a change, due mostly to his claims of getting easily bored with things and the fact there was a job opening at U of L, Thompson arrived and since, has “never become bored at teaching.”
Thompson’s way of teaching – his use of shock value and everyday communication during his lectures – is what keeps his students awake and interested.
Rusty Jameson, a senior communication major, said, “He makes his students pay attention by the way he acts. By the end of the semester he’ll know every student’s name and get you involved whether you like it or not.”
So despite his seemingly tough attitude, students seem to feel otherwise about him. Thompson claims he likes to look at the classroom from the opposite view, sitting in chairs with students.
It seems “terribly boring [and especially in] ugly classrooms,” said Thompson, while realizing students may be tired, or sick, as well as bored at times. He feels it is the professor’s responsibility to push energy into the room.
This may be why he participates in stretching before and during lectures, likening the classroom to an athletic field in which energy must be brought. Preventing the cliche “the classroom was dead today,” Thompson believes falls solely on the professor.
Thompson’s teaching style is an art in itself. He said he goes into a zone during lectures, even reaching states of unconsciousness.
“[I] don’t remember lots of things I say. A student told me one time that I sat down on her desk, opened up her purse and I took out everything one by one. I don’t recall doing that,” he said.
Though he gets loud at times, being quite animated and energetic during lectures, he maintains teaching can be terrifying. The classroom can be a really hard audience, with a bunch of fairly intelligent individuals staring at you, judging you on all these different levels at the same time. He said, “You have to be able to stand the possibility of humiliating yourself.”
In a way he likes this unknown aspect. “Maybe that’s the good part, it keeps you on your toes,” said Thompson.
While at U of L, Thompson has founded the Integrated Communication Club, which bridges the gap between professional and student organizations. One of the benefits of I-COMM is the alliance with the International Association of Business Administration and meeting local professionals.
If not teaching, Thompson insists he would be serving 20 years to life somewhere or in management consulting. As for the future, he has begun research for a novel, its topic not ready to be disclosed to the public. The “I love Professor Thompson” Web site on Facebook shows that many students feel he takes interest in them and how they do.
“I like the students that are here,” Thompson said. “I’m working with students that don’t yet know how great they are.”
