Wishing Kevin Gillen the best By Diona Eskew
It’s a new semester this fall, new classes, new faces, and new routines. However, someone will be missing from the Communication Studies department in the Ernestine M. Raclin School of the Arts. Senior Lecturer, Kevin Gillen retired over the summer. While he is leaving as a full-time faculty member, his legacy remains on campus. “In a recent faculty meeting, I looked around at eight of my colleagues,” Gillen said as he reflected on that day. “Perhaps it was coincidence that day, all lined up together, but across the conference table, I realized that the people in my view were all former students and advisees. Almost half of everyone at the meeting. I think I have never felt prouder.” Sitting at that conference table were Tami Martinez, assistant dean in the School of the Arts, senior lecturer in communication arts; Cory Iwaszewski, media and community outreach manager for the School of the Arts; Ryan Lohman and Diona Eskew, visiting lecturers for communication studies. “He hired me!” Tami expressed her gratitude for Kevin’s role in her being at IU South Bend. “It’s because of him that I’m at IUSB. I’ll always be thankful for that.”
Public Speaking has been the main course Gillen has taught over the years and his ability to put students at ease has made the course not just tolerable but enjoyable. “When I was first hired, I taught Public Speaking 100% of the time,” Gillen said. The first semester he taught 200 students. “I have since calculated and realized that I have watched and graded over 15,000 speeches.” Amazingly, Kevin has taught more than 4,000 students since beginning at IU South Bend, according to his math calculations. He has taught not only Public Speaking but also Interpersonal Communication, Business and Professional Communication, Introduction to Speech Communication, and has facilitated Internships. However, Kevin’s favorite course to teach has been Cross-Cultural Communication. “About two years into teaching, the assistant dean at the time made the decision to give me a chance to teach it, since it desperately needed a ‘reboot’ at the time,” Kevin explained. “I had long made my identity known as a minority rights advocate, but I also always had great interest in other cultures and how every aspect of communication is affected by it. So, it happened, and so it was meant to be. I taught the course continuously from that moment, until retirement.”
“He inspired me to find my path, which led me to teaching,” Eskew said. “From my undergrad studies to side-by-side offices I’ve always enjoyed learning and working with Kevin.” Kevin’s teaching has touched the lives of many students over the years both professionally and personally. His charisma puts students at ease in public speaking classes, his unique teaching style inspires and motivates students. “Kevin has always been student-focused,” said Tamea Rector, Coordinator of Student Services for the Arts. “He has put many a nervous freshman at ease about the prospect of public speaking and set them up for success in their academic careers as well as for future employment.” Ashley Cox, senior communication studies student, said, “Having him in class was a blast. I have never enjoyed a Public Speaking class as much as I did in his class. He always knew how to have a good time and to make you feel comfortable when it came to speaking in front of people.”
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