#i2amru (I, Too, Am Reinhardt) Volume 1 Number 1 | Page 60

can attest to this. “We never
talked about anything personal
in class, but I still felt a connection with her. It was like she was
a motherly figure to me.”

Left: In the snow, age 3. Hamilton,
Ontario, Canada

Cameron is currently in her first
semester here at Reinhardt, and
this past fall, her first college
class just happened to be English with Dr. Irvine.

Irvine with her husband, Rob; grandson, Zach, granddaughter Sophia,
and grandson, Luc.

good point. There is not
merely ONE way to think.
The diversity we have at RU
only aids in the process of
challenging young minds to
think in ways that they never
thought possible before.

Dr. Irvine meets
every challenge
with a positive
attitude and
works well with
students.

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When I asked Dr. Emanuel
what she thought about Irvine’s values as not only a professional, but as an individual,
she was quick to respond.
“Irvine is extremely smart, but
I think what sets her apart is

“I thought, Oh my goodness!
Everyone thinks I have wet my
pants,” Irvine laughed as she
recalled her childhood embarrassment.

“She has a way of making you
feel comfortable. Dr. Irvine
cares if you have a problem, and
she genuinely wants to help.”

Another fun snow story from
Irvine’s childhood brought
back memories from my own.
When Ontario would see a big
snow, plows would go through
and push it off of the roads and
into massive piles in the back
of parking lots. The homeowners would shovel the snow
from the sidewalks so that
pedestrians could walk from
place to place.

“Irvine is extremely smart, but
I could relate to Cameron and
I think what sets her apart is
the way she felt about Dr. Irhow compassionate and kind
vine, because it was very similar
she is.”
to my own experience. I was a
nervous dual enrolled student,
Professor and Mentor
walking into a college classroom
for the first time not knowing
Have you ever wondered what
quite what to expect, and then I
it would be like to have the
met Dr. Irvine.
best of both worlds? Well, it
is not a typical reality, but it
She truly makes an effort to
definitely sounds good. That
connect with her students on a
is what Dr. Irvine gives her
level that is understanding and
students at Reinhardt. She’s
kind. This can be partially crednot someone who pushes a
ited to her recent experience
student to be better by being
as a student working towards
harsh. Instead, Irvine conher Ph.D. while mentoring her
nects with her students. She
students. However, I think we
makes a difference in their
owe a lot of thanks to Irvine’s
writing while also making a
upbringing. Whether it’s snow
lasting mark on their college
or a student struggling with
experience.
a paper, Irvine has the best at
heart for all of us, and I think
Students feel close to Dr.
a little more kindness goes an
Irvine. Her former English
exceptionally long way.
student, Cameron Hawkins,

Growing Up in Canada
When I asked Dr. Irvine about
growing up in Canada, every
story she told me seemed to
correlate with Canadian winters and lots of snow. Once, on
her way to grammar school,
Irvine needed something for
show and tell that day. She just
happened to spot the most
beautiful piece of ice, and she
thought, “That would be perfect.”
Later, when Irvine was sitting
at her desk listening to her
teacher, she noticed everyone
looking at her, and her teacher
had made her way to Irvine’s
side. She looked down at the
puddle of water covering the
floor around where her backpack was sitting.

However, no one seemed to
take care of that little piece
(normally grassy area) between
the sidewalk and the road. The
snow would pile up in high but
narrow little strips alongside
the sidewalks. This is where
Irvine enjoyed trying to walk.
Let’s face it, kids never walk
where they are “supposed to,”
because where is the fun in
that?
No matter the story or the topic I discussed with Dr. Irvine,
it was very much like speaking
with a past mentor and friend.

She’s a Canadian
sweetheart who
is also a driven
educator, a loving
mother, a
supportive wife-and wh V