Joanna Orban

Copy Editor 

Idaho State University history professor, Justin Stover, a doctorate in history was recently honored by the Idaho State Board of Education. Stover was named the 2020 Innovative Educator for Social and Behavioral Ways of Knowing. According to a press release by ISU, “Starting in 2019, each year Idaho’s General Education Committee acknowledges educators who are dedicated to general education in Idaho and pursue meaningful innovations in their teaching.”

The 2020 award was presented virtually to Stover amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I’m honored,” said Stover. “To be recognized by students, peers and the State Board validates the efforts I’ve taken to create dynamic lectures, alter delivery methods to meet various student needs and revise course content to include the latest research and interpretations.”

Stover, who has taught at ISU since 2012, completed his doctorate at Trinity College Dublin in Ireland. He specializes in modern European history and Irish history. The class for which he was nominated for the Innovative Educator Award, was History 1106 Modern European History. “Modern Europe has evolved since I first taught it in 2012. The base goals remain the same-to teach the course of modern European history-but the focus, materials, assessments, projects and delivery methods have changed to meet the needs of students,” said Stover.

According to Stover, his education in Europe has also influenced his teaching style.

“My own education in Ireland, research and conference presentations throughout Europe, and general exposure to history through travel is truly communicated in the classroom.”

As a professor, Stover makes an effort to keep his classes interesting and applicable. His method for teaching history involves structuring the class as a big question in history while using each lecture to support smaller bits of evidence.

“I’m giving 110 percent,” said Stover. Stover also seeks to keep his classes more conversational to increase student interaction.

According to Zackery Heern, the chair of ISU’s history department, “I nominated Dr. Stover for this award because of his commitment to students. He brings history to life, and he cares deeply about student success.”

Like Heern, ISU History student Moriah Gillespie also finds Stover incredibly deserving of this award, “I was a Health Administration student who was ‘required’ to take a history course and happened upon one of Dr. Stover’s courses. What I didn’t know is his teaching would not only influence me to change majors but seek a master’s in history as well. The classroom comes alive with Dr. Stover, his teaching methods are beyond reproach, his wisdom-exciting, his interaction with students-impeccable. There is no one more deserving,” said Gillespie.

Many ISU students, like Gillespie, might view history classes simply as a “required” class that they have to take on their way to get whatever degree they are seeking. Regardless of the students’ majors, Stover encourages students to take a history class.

“STEM classes address the question of ‘how?’ but humanities and social sciences pursue the ‘why?’ history classes, in particular, examine human beings, who are on the whole passionate, emotional and brash creatures. This unpredictability is fascinating.”

As with many professors all across the world, Stover’s usual method of teaching was thrown for a loop when the COVID-19 pandemic hit. “My adjustment is not being able to see students face-to-face,” said Stover. As the pandemic has yet to be resolved, Stover will continue to teach his classes in the hybrid method with some students being in person and others tuning in via Zoom for the 2021 Spring Semester.

However, before next semester begins Stover would like to remind students to, “Be kind to yourselves. Be patient with yourselves. Enjoy a well-deserved autumn break and winter holiday.”

Stover is teaching three classes next semester including Modern European History (HIST 1106), World War I (HIST 4466) and HIST 6620, which is a research/writing seminar for graduate students.

His Modern European History class, for which he received the award covers Objective Six of the general education curriculum required at ISU. After taking Stover’s course students will, “Understand and appreciate similarities and differences among and between individuals, cultures, or societies across space and time.”

Although Stover received this award, he has no plans to become complacent in his teaching. Going forward, he has several goals he would like to achieve. They include refining the courses he already teaches by implementing the most up to date resources as well as taking up the help on other classes that currently aren’t offered by the history department, including a history of modern Britain.

“Each class is an opportunity for the human story to unfold, and I can feel a rise in the energy of the class when we’re developing an important point. I love lecturing and interacting with students as they develop an understanding of the subject, and it’s exciting to see students make connections between the past and its influence on the development of our current world,” said Stover.