Runcie Chidebe, Oncology Researcher at Miami University, shared on LinkedIn:
“For the past two years, I have been teaching a gerontology course at Miami University. Honestly, it has been one of the most rewarding parts of my time at Miami.
I came to Miami to learn and receive mentorship; however, the opportunity to teach and mentor others was truly rewarding. Based on my course evaluation, my students learned a great deal from me; in my estimation, I learned more from them.
My course evaluations were consistently high, exceeding the departmental and university averages, at an institution with a strong reputation for undergraduate teaching. In fact, Miami University (MU) is recognized for excellence in undergraduate teaching; it ranked No. 2 nationally among U.S. public universities for undergraduate teaching (U.S. News and World Report, 2025).
Every semester, I receive students’ emails, comments and feedback that inspire me to do more. A few that stayed with me:
‘The strengths of the course were that the professor was very enthusiastic and did his best to keep the class involved. The material was very thorough and went very in depth’ – Student, 2026.
‘Strengths – Dr. Chidebe is very energetic and excited about everything related to gerontology, and instills such enthusiasm within each student that takes the course. Additionally, the concepts are explained well and provides students with a well-rounded education on the topics.’ – Student, 2024.
While I enjoyed teaching, I especially enjoyed connecting with my students and guiding them. I am so excited that my recommendation letters helped some of my students secure competitive scholarships and admission to medical school and MSc programs.
On my last day in class, my students took these photos of me. When I announced my departure, it was an emotional moment for them; however, I asked them all to please make me proud by excelling academically.
In my estimation, an excellent teacher is known not by the number of courses taught or years of teaching experience, but by the number of students they mentored to excellence.
Thanks to all my teaching mentors: Prof. Saruna Ghimire, Prof. Suzanne Kunkel, Prof. Ryan Steel and Prof. Jennifer Bulanda. Your feedback propelled my confidence across the semesters. Special thanks to Miami University for this unforgettable opportunity.
Runcie C.W. Chidebe, PhD.”
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