A Conversation with Dr. Heather Kuruvilla

In this episode, Rob and Jared have a conversation with Dr. Heather Kuruvilla, senior professor of biology at Cedarville University. “Dr. K,” as she is known by her students, earned her Ph.D. in Biological Sciences from State University of New York at Buffalo. She has a passion for developing curiosity and motivation in her students and also takes strides to make her content more accessible and interactive for students. Contact us at [email protected] with any questions. You can also visit our blog at cedarville.edu/focusblog for additional resources.

Dr. K came to Cedarville to build the undergraduate research program because she sees teaching students as an opportunity for discipleship. Teaching research means that she is closely working with her students through every semester, and she encourages students to ask questions and find solutions. She stresses that she is on students’ side and wants to help them in whatever way she can.  

Dr. K recently introduced an online textbook as a way of helping lower costs for her students. This “Inclusive Access” pricing lowers the cost for students, but Dr. K also sees significant benefit beyond the cost. Because of the interactive features of the textbook, she has found that students are more engaged with the textbook and therefore more engaged with the content. She also implements Open Education Resources (OERs) to address content areas that the textbook is lacking in and help make content more accessible for both faculty and students.  

The love a faculty member has for their subject matter is contagious, and Dr. K encourages new faculty to pass that love on to their students and never give up on them.   

Resources 

- What is OER? 

- Inclusive Access Pricing Through OhioLink