Faculty: Simon Ruchti, Ph.D.

Home Departments: Philosophy and Women's and Gender Studies

Time at WCU: 18 years

Time Teaching FYE: Fall 2018 to Present

Favorite Thing About Teaching FYE: "I like helping students get the most out of college for their money." Simon likes answering the difficult questions such as, "Why do general education courses matter? and How you I make general education courses work for my major and future career?"

Best Piece of Advice for Future FYE Students: Just do the work! You will get so much out of the course if you do the work and pay attention to the advice for succeeding in college. 

Faculty: Michelle Blake, MA., BA.

Home Department: English

Time at WCU: 19 years

Time Teaching FYE: Fall 2019 to Present

Favorite Thing About Teaching FYE: "I love helping first-year students make the transition from high school to college, a transition that more or less means that they're learning to advocate for themselves and participate fully in their own educations. I also love team teaching with colleagues from across the university, seeing how many ways there are to teach, and working together to figure out how best to serve our particular students each term."

Best Piece of Advice for Future FYE Students:  Get comfortable with being uncomfortable, because stepping out of your comfort zone--academically, socially, personally—will lead to fruitful outcomes that you probably couldn't even have imagined!

Faculty: Adam M. Rainear, Ph.D.

Home Department: Communication & Media

Time at WCU: 6 years

Time Teaching FYE: since fall 2021

Favorite Thing About Teaching FYE: "I really enjoy being able to impact the experience of so many first-year students. We have a great opportunity to sell the strengths of WCU and help students get off on the right foot."

Best Piece of Advice for Future FYE Students: Don’t be afraid to talk and meet your professors. FYE professors want their students to succeed!