By Juliana Schmidt ('25)
The results are in for the Naughty or Nice Professor Poll!
Professor Kevin Dibble of the Music department, Professor Don Wilcox of the Biology department, and Professor Hannah Kim of the Psychology department tied in third place for the Nicest professors.
Freshman Kareena Ulfig comments on how kind Professor Kim is to her students. “She’s so sweet and thinks everyone’s ideas are worth mentioning.”
Junior Olivia Carr adds, “She understands and asks about you daily and always incorporates our lives in class.”
Professor Poythress took the poll (wait, was that allowed?) and wrote of Professor Wilcox: “Prof Wilcox is the sweetest, kindest, and most eager guy to help!”
In second place for the Nicest professor is Professor Craig Whitmore, who is the Assistant Professor of Education.
Freshman Elizabeth Borchers comments, “[he’s e]nergetic, always willing to help and hands out minimal homework!”
In first place for the nicest professor is, unsurprisingly, Dr. Douglas Gaerte! He is a Professor of Communications at Houghton.
Senior Cody Johnson says, “Dr. Garte answers my emails faster than Santa.”
“He is always the first to ask how you are doing, and he notices if you look upset.” Freshman Madeline Bailey states.
Sophomore Warren Torraca says the reason he voted for Dr. Garte was because of his, “Demeanor and care for his students. He will just listen for hours or teach for hours or just talk for hours.”
With the Nicest out of the way, time to find out who’s on the Naughty List this year!
In second place for the Naughtiest professors is Professor Kevin Dibble, making him the only professor on both the Naughty and Nice list.
Torraca says, “Oh he’s great. He just goes off on tangents and occasionally makes unhinged comments.”
Tied for first place are professors Benjamin Wheaton and Sarah Massey, although no one was brave enough to say why.
While he ultimately did not make the list, one of the funniest comments received from the poll is about Professor Jonathan Case.
Junior Faith Coolbeth states that Dr. Case deserves to be on the Naughty list because “He tried to show an episode of South Park!”
Maybe next year Dr. Case.
Thank you to everyone who participated in the Poll, and a big thanks to all of the Professors. Whether Naughty or Nice, we appreciate all the work you do for Houghton. Thanks for taking part in this light-hearted competition. ★