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Educator assists others in realizing potential
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by Marina Fleming
Public Relations
Jennie
Ariail, Ph.D., believes life is not about enriching herself, but rather
the lives of everyone around her. Ariail, professor and executive
director for the Center for Academic Excellence said the most important
goal in her life is to have the words ‘she loved’ written on her
tombstone.
 Dr. Jennie Ariail
Since her start at MUSC in 1997, Ariail has been influential in the
success of the Writing Center as well as the Center for Academic
Excellence. She said that coming to MUSC to teach writing and help set
up the Center for Academic Excellence was one of the greatest
opportunities she could ever have had. “I felt as if I had won a prize,
and it is still a prize,” Ariail said. “In this economic climate, I am
afraid to admit that I love my work so much I would do it for free, if
I could.”
Ariail is one of eight women at MUSC being honored throughout March as
part of the National Women’s History Project. The university solicits
nominations for women to be featured during the month of March who
exemplify leadership qualities and who make significant contributions
in their fields.
Ariail’s day-to-day responsibilities include developing strategies to
assess students’ learning styles and helping them adapt their
individual styles to become more effective and efficient learners and
successful test-takers. She teaches writing skills to students
one-on-one and in workshops, and works with faculty to improve test
writing skills and enhance students’ critical thinking skills.
Ariail attributes most of her achievements to influential people in her
life. While attending University of South Carolina, where she earned a
doctorate in composition and rhetoric, she was surrounded by
outstanding women professors who continue to encourage her. Since she’s
been at MUSC, Ariail says she’s been influenced by the powerful,
intelligent women with whom she works and interacts. “I strive to
emulate these women.” Ariail said. “I gain strength and courage from
listening to their wisdom, hearing their insights, and observing the
way they handle themselves.”
While she has been influenced by so many, she too positively impacts
the lives of MUSC students and receives satisfaction from those
experiences. “I feel most empowered when I see ‘ah ha!’ moments on
students’ faces and know that they ‘get it’ and are regaining
confidence in themselves as students, writers or test-takers,” Ariail
said. “Or when I get a phone call or email that says, ‘I did it!’ from
someone who has been defeated in some area of his or her academic life.”
Ariail says that the most rewarding part of her job is seeing
discouraged students move from sadness and tears to hopeful smiles and
sighs of relief when they discover strategies to help them achieve
their goals. It’s an area she enjoys expanding her knowledge.
“I don’t know as much about the brain as I wish I did,” Ariail said. “I
know much about the ways that we learn, but when those strategies don’t
work for every student, I long to know more.” Another aspect that
challenges her is to build strong relationships with each student that
she knows. “I want to know how each student thinks and what he or she
needs to be successful,” Ariail said. “For everyone - student, faculty,
or staff - the challenge is the same: time. We all need more time.”
Of all of Ariail’s accomplishments, she is most proud of her work as a
teacher, she said. “I am most proud of helping students become
biomedical scientists and health care providers by believing in them
even when they lose belief in themselves and collaborating with them to
find ways to ensure their academic success.”
Friday, March 26, 2010
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