Many Wells students are interested in majoring in the sciences, not only because excellence in these fields is a college tradition, but also because science has become such an important force in our lives.

Associate Professor of Biology Candace Whitmer Collmer says, "Our classes are rich with hands-on, investigative learning opportunities. A unique aspect of our learning experience is that every one of our science majors is required to do independent research in collaboration with a faculty member.”

In biology and chemistry, that research extends over three to four semesters and culminates in both a written research paper and a public, oral presentation in the colleges science colloquium series. “Students working on their project get a lot of one on one attention from their faculty mentors and typically use equipment unavailable to undergraduates at many institutions," says Candace.

Tukumbi Lumumba-Kasongo
Professor of Political Science

Approximately 30% of Wells students study abroad through affiliated programs across the globe. They return with a fresh perspective on their own culture and lifestyles.

The college's emphasis on global studies is one reason why Tukumbi Lumumba-Kasongo has chosen to teach at Wells. An internationally known scholar who frequently writes and lectures on the subject of contemporary African politics, he teaches Politics of Developing Countries, Old and New Paradigms in World Politics, and Approaches to International Relations. In every class, he brings international awareness into the liberal arts curriculum.

His book, The Political Remappping of Africa: Transnational Ideology and the Redefinition of Africa in World Politics, was published by the University Press of America; and he is a co-editor of the International Journal of Comparative Sociology (IJCS), which is published in Leiden, Netherlands. Tukumbi earned his B.A. from the Universite Libre du Congo, his M.A. from Harvard University, and a second master’s degree and Ph.D. from the University of Chicago.

Victoria Muñoz
Associate Professor of Psychology 

Courses taught by Victoria Muñoz include The Psychology of Women, Human Sexuality, and Development in Adolescence. She is the author of the book Where Something Catches: Work, Love, and Identity in Youth. Victoria is the recipient of the college’s Excellence in Teaching Medal as well as the Excellence in Academic Advising Award.

“I find I have this passionate desire to know how people know themselves,” she says. “That varies by age group, ethnicity, class, and gender. I’m interested in who’s in my classroom. You can’t teach everybody the same way. You have to be a really good listener and know how to ask better questions. With my Wells students, I ask questions that are just beyond their reach, then give them the tools to find the answers. In that gap, the best learning occurs.”

Victoria earned her B.A. and M.Ed. from the University of Massachusetts and her C.A.S. and Ed.D. from Harvard University.

Bruce Bennett
Professor of English and Director of Creative Writing

Bruce is a nationally recognized poet, editor, and reviewer. In addition to teaching, he directs the college’s creative writing program and coordinates the highly acclaimed Visiting Writers Series.

He is the author of 18 chapbooks and 7 full-length collections. His new and selected poems, Navigating the Distances, was named by Booklist a top ten poetry book of 1999. Bruce has reviewed contemporary poetry for the New York Times Book Review, The Nation, and Harvard Review. The journal PAINTBRUSH recently devoted an entire issue to his work. 

Bruce says, “For me, what’s really special about Wells is the relationship that comes to exist between faculty and students. I think it’s unique, or at least, can only occur in this kind of intimate community. Faculty members expect to get to know each student as a whole person, not simply as a mind enrolled in a course, and students in turn recognize faculty’s intense involvement in their education as central to their experience.”

He earned his A,B., A.M., and Ph.D. from Harvard University and is a recipient of the college’s Excellence in Teaching Medal.
 

Catherine Burroughs
Associate Professor of English 

All new students take a course called WLLS 101, which gives them a shared intellectual experience that serves as a foundation for further studies and helps establish friendships and community. WLLS 101 is taught in a discussion and workshop format that allows students to participate fully in class and receive individualized attention.

According to Catherine Burroughs, who for several years was director of the first year program, “While students of modern dance, child psychology, 16th-century British poetry, and molecular biology analyze different objects, the work they do calls for similar intellectual skills, such as observing, comparing, and interpreting. You will choose a major and become familiar with its theories and methods later in your studies at Wells College. WLLS 101 will help you see the connections between the major you will choose and other disciplines.”

In addition to her work with WLLS 101, Catherine teaches drama courses, British literature, and Introduction to Women's Studies and is a recipient of the college's Excellence in Teaching Medal. She earned her B.A. from Wake Forest University, her M.A. from Connecticut College, and her Ph.D. from Emory University.