By Carol Logan, communications intern

Within moments of meeting Linda Moore, professor of social work at TCU since 1977, one easily understands why she received the Dean’s Teaching Award for the third time during her career at TCU. The award, presented during December commencement, is given for demonstration of significant achievement in teaching during the preceding academic year.

Nominees for the Dean’s Teaching Award are selected by the faculty of a particular college. A teacher wins on the college level, and then may be selected as one of three winners on the university level. A teacher cannot win more than once in seven years.

“It is incredibly awesome; I’m very proud,” Moore said about her achievement. “You can’t get a teaching award without really cool students. The students make me want to teach. They are the ones who keep me excited, pumped and wanting to go to class every day.”

Moore incorporates real world skills into her teaching techniques. She instills in her students the knowledge of how to find and evaluate information. “You don’t have to know it all if you [have] those tools.” Moore’s favorite part of teaching is the “Aha!” moment, where information just clicks with a student.

Moore attributes her academic recognition to enthusiasm, love and passion. She said, “People respond to someone who really likes what they do. I love my subject area. I teach about policy and values, diversity and social justice – topics that are really important to me personally. I am able to debate them and force them to defend their views and interact with each other. That’s what we should be doing; helping people connect with each other. We don’t realize that there are people different from us who are very much like us.”

When Moore was 8 years old, she lived down the road from TCU and wanted to go here for the football program. Although she did not attend TCU, she said, “This is the best place to be. It’s like family. That sounds silly, but it’s true.”

Moore believes part of what makes TCU special is the people. “From physical plant employees to the Chancellor, people know each another. When I walk down the sidewalk I may speak to somebody who is cleaning a building, somebody who is a student, somebody who is running a program or the Chancellor – and we all know each other.”

It is more than just being acquainted with one another; it is about the support. Moore reflected on some of her memories with people from all over the TCU campus. “I have been through several different experiences at TCU; my husband died, my mom died, [and I experienced] a lot of issues dealing with loss.” People at TCU rallied around her, provided support, food and even helped plan a ceremony.

Moore said, “Those kinds of things happen all over this campus. It is incredible to me that we get that kind of support from all over. It isn’t just in one college. That is the specialness of what TCU is about. People are supportive, helpful, and fun. There have been days I have laughed so hard I’ve cried, and if you can’t laugh, it’s just not worth it.”