Having a teacher that genuinely enjoys what they do and relates that to their students can make all the difference in a student’s learning experience. Indiana University Northwest professor, Jonathyne Briggs, is one such teacher, spreading his interest in history in new and interesting ways. As a former student myself, I can attest to the engaging atmosphere he creates.
However, he didn’t always know he would end up in the field of teaching on the college level and found his career through more of a natural journey.
“It kind of naturally evolved over the years. I was in a more traditional corporate business job for six or seven years and it wasn’t very fulfilling. I decided late in life to go back and finish my undergraduate degree,” explained Briggs.
Now, Briggs has been teaching for over 15 years at the college level, but initially when he adjusted his career course, it was with an eye for teaching high school. One of his own college professors, however, urged him to teach at the university level.
“I really enjoyed my history classes in high school and had some great teachers that got me interested so I thought I would be a high school teacher. When my professor said I would be more suited teaching at the university level, I applied to grad school and got into a good teaching program,” said Briggs.
Briggs became a teacher at the age of 35, proving that it is never too late to work for your dreams.
“It’s never too late is what I always tell people. It is never too late,” said Briggs.
Having accomplished the goal he set his sights on, Briggs found a great amount of latitude to make his classes his own.
“I had the freedom to teach the topics I was more interested in. And it’s fulfilling to bring in research that I’m doing into the classroom and encourage people to think of subjects from different perspectives. Teaching in different ways is meaningful as well. I can give a lecture, and it is a good skill to have which I don’t want to diminish, but I like to be interactive with my students and get them talking. Getting them to learn in a different way, see different perspectives, and have fun,” explained Briggs.
One of the areas Briggs is most interested in is French History, which is why he has taken a new and engaging route for teaching a new course on the French Revolution.
“We’re doing a kind of role-playing game where students play different revolutionaries and act out a particular part of the revolution that has been a lot of fun.”
Briggs has also been teaching a course on disabilities, which he is also currently working on a book for. As part of his effort to get students more engaged in the material, he has also recently had students make posters and present them to the community on the subject of America’s involvement in World War I for the 100th anniversary.
“Getting to the philosophy of why things happen at different times and in different spaces is more rewarding to me because it gets people past seeing history as just memorization,” stated Briggs.
Briggs, who is originally from Virginia, did some moving around due to his father’s position in the Navy and would end up in Florida before moving to Georgia for grad school before moving out to Northwest Indiana. He now lives in Chicago, but loves the community of Northwest Indiana as a whole.
“I had two jobs to choose from, one was in Scranton and the other was in Gary, and I chose Gary,” said Briggs. “Part of what made the decision was the people I met here on campus. There was a much more communal aspect on campus and the community, I felt, was very strong. The Region is very friendly. Times have been tough here, but people are still willing to look out for each other.”
Now, Briggs is Associate Dean of Arts and Sciences, which keeps him busy, but in his off-time, Briggs enjoys watching bad movies, going to museums in Chicago, whether history, art, or science, and likes his fair share of local basketball. As a professor he also has a natural interest in reading and travelling.
As a teacher though, he feels most accomplished when he can make an impact.
“Being remembered is a nice thing. When people reach out to me years later about something they learned or that made them look at things differently, that’s rewarding,” said Briggs.