Award-winning NDSU associate professor Amy Stichman teaches criminology, applied research methods, corrections and women and minorities in criminal justice.
Amy Stichman keeps students engaged in the classroom with small group work and a well-rounded view of criminal justice. She wants her students to know that there are no easy answers to complicated questions and coming up with solutions takes time, effort and critical thinking.
Stichman teaches criminology, applied research methods, corrections and women and minorities in criminal justice. She was awarded NDSU’s prestigious Odney Excellence in Teaching Award in 2018. The award annually recognizes outstanding faculty teaching. The winner is selected from nominations submitted by students.
“Students need to be able to trust their teachers in order to learn. Also, we want our students to learn – we want our students to succeed,” Stichman said. “There is a great feeling of satisfaction and accomplishment when our students do well and knowing that we contributed even a tiny part to that success.”
Stichman uses an interactive approach in her classroom, which creates a successful learning environment. The students are excited to learn, which helps Stichman become a better teacher and more thoughtful communicator.
“For me, teaching is very interactive. What that means is that it’s not just about teaching, it’s also about learning,” she said. “Ideally, my students learn from me, but they also challenge me to be a better teacher and to learn more myself.”
Stichman encourages students to get involved on campus to get the most out of their NDSU experience.
“One of my favorite things about being a professor is when I have former students from years past who contact me out of the blue to let me know how their lives are going,” Stichman said. “In the past year, I’ve had a handful of students from over 10 years ago email me and tell me about their lives and that what they learned from my classes helped them in choosing careers and in their jobs.”
Stichman joined the NDSU faculty in 2007. She earned her bachelor’s degree in criminal justice at New Mexico State University and master’s and doctoral degrees in criminal justice at the University of Cincinnati.