There are many professors that Notre Dame Students find tolerable, and many professors that students enjoy class with, but no professor at the University is more beloved than Professor James McKenna of the Anthropology and Tap Dancing departments. Many students are first introduced to Professor McKenna their freshmen year when he teaches very large Intro to Anthropology classes. Some students are later introduced to the man through Intro to Human Ethology courses that they take only because he is the professor of them.
However, Professor McKenna is most famous for his Introduction to Tap Dancing course that many seniors take on their way out. The students take the tap dancing class just to have fun, but most would not be in the class if it wasn’t for their love of Professor McKenna. Many of the students previously had the professor in a course, and those who hadn’t have heard about his awesomeness from their friends. Even if they have no interest in actually learning how to tap dance, some students will take the course just so they are able to take a class with Professor McKenna.
Professor McKenna is the rare man that can make the idea of mothers sleeping with a baby during infancy interesting to a group of 19-22 year old men. He is the rare man that can get most college students interested in learning the Baby Jig and the Soft Shoe, he is the rare man that will perfectly dance to Single Ladies, and he is the rare man who calls his students his friends. Professor McKenna is one of the rare professors that Notre Dame Students would love to have a drink with, and he is the rare professor that every student has heard of and every student loves.
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So true! McKenna is the best!
ReplyDeleteABSOLUTELY TRUE! I'm a '07 grad that found myself in McKenna's Intro class freshman year! I knew I'd found a gold mine when half the football team, basketball team, baseball team, etc...was in my class and the simplicity of the class upheld its stereotype as an "athlete class"! BUT the bigger gold mine was having class with Professor McKenna...like a true Domer, I would take ANY class taught by McKenna! BEST professor @ Notre Dame; you'll learn something even if you're not paying attention and even if you don't want to!
ReplyDeletewhat about Coach O'Sullivan and all his Beautiful Students?
ReplyDeleteI think Prof. Ackermann should be mentioned in a similar light. He gets a ton of business students passing through his classes, remembers everyone's name (which usually tops 500 or 600 students per semester), establishes a relationship with many, continues that relationship through graduation, not to mention he's hilarious. I've never known a teacher in all my education to put such incredible effort forth towards his students.
ReplyDeleteAckermann is the new McKenna. Guy is too great..1st day of class about 5 years ago, when he thought people were falling asleep, he dumps an entire pail of water over his head, suit and all.
ReplyDelete