I enjoy teaching- particularly primatology with conservation and welfare implications, and biological anthropology with relevance to social justice and human equality. Additionally, I aim to inspire students to be the best humans they can, and instill critical thinking and practical life-skills in my teaching.
FAQs for students
Can I have a letter of reccomendation?
Possibly. As a rule of thumb, I generally require that you receive a high grade in two of my courses and have visited me in my office, in order to provide a letter reference.
Can I make an announcement in your class?
Probably not. I do not allow announcements in class, even for very good causes or academic interests. This is because students in my classes are there to learn the content of the classes and have not agreed to have have class time used for any sort of advertisement purposes.
How should I address You and other professors?
You can call me Marni. Also Dr. Marni, Professor Marni, Dr. LaFleur, or Professor LaFleur are fine but not neccesary.
For other professors, if they do instruct you how to address them:
Then use that!
For other professors, if they don’t instruct you how to address them:
As either Professor <Last Name> or Dr. <Last Name>. Nearly all of your professors will be Ph.D. holders. This means you should address them with a title (either Professor or Doctor) and their last name. Including their last name shows that you have taken the time to learn and pronounce their name, and is generally respectful.
How you shouldn’t address your professors:
By their first name, unless they say this is ok.
As “Mrs.”, unless this is their express desire. Women in academia have to work harder achieve comparable status. Often times they are referred to as “Mrs.” by default, but this can be somewhat insulting, as it implies that they are 1) someone’s wife (when they very well may not be!), and 2) not a doctor or professor (roles that they have dedicated years-decades to achieving).
For other professors, if they do instruct you how to address them:
Then use that!
For other professors, if they don’t instruct you how to address them:
As either Professor <Last Name> or Dr. <Last Name>. Nearly all of your professors will be Ph.D. holders. This means you should address them with a title (either Professor or Doctor) and their last name. Including their last name shows that you have taken the time to learn and pronounce their name, and is generally respectful.
How you shouldn’t address your professors:
By their first name, unless they say this is ok.
As “Mrs.”, unless this is their express desire. Women in academia have to work harder achieve comparable status. Often times they are referred to as “Mrs.” by default, but this can be somewhat insulting, as it implies that they are 1) someone’s wife (when they very well may not be!), and 2) not a doctor or professor (roles that they have dedicated years-decades to achieving).
How should I compose a appropriate email to my professor?
Start with “Dear Professor <last name>” or “Dear Dr. <last name>”. If your professor has instructed you to address them another way, then address them as instructed, but do keep the “Dear” or another appropriate salutation.
Draft full sentences with full words which outlines your question, comment, or request.
Finish with a salutation thanking them for their time, your first and last name, and specific class you are enrolled in.
How should I not compose an email to my professor?
No greeting- this starts out suggesting that you aren’t willing to put in even very minimal work to be polite and sets the wrong tone when you are requesting help or information, or providing feedback.
Incomplete sentences and words- again, it may come across as lazy or not serious if you don’t write full sentences. Also, your professors are likely older than you and may not understand shorthand that you may commonly use elsewhere- just use full words to avoid confusion or create extra work for your professors (many of whom are overworked and/or underpaid to begin with!).
No closing- remember that professors often have hundreds of students each term and may not know who you are or which class you are enrolled in. Including your first and last name and the relevant course you are enrolled in makes their lives easier.
Draft full sentences with full words which outlines your question, comment, or request.
Finish with a salutation thanking them for their time, your first and last name, and specific class you are enrolled in.
How should I not compose an email to my professor?
No greeting- this starts out suggesting that you aren’t willing to put in even very minimal work to be polite and sets the wrong tone when you are requesting help or information, or providing feedback.
Incomplete sentences and words- again, it may come across as lazy or not serious if you don’t write full sentences. Also, your professors are likely older than you and may not understand shorthand that you may commonly use elsewhere- just use full words to avoid confusion or create extra work for your professors (many of whom are overworked and/or underpaid to begin with!).
No closing- remember that professors often have hundreds of students each term and may not know who you are or which class you are enrolled in. Including your first and last name and the relevant course you are enrolled in makes their lives easier.
Should I like, friend, or follow my professor on social media?
The short answer is probably not, unless your professor invites you to follow their professional/laboratory/research account. I am -generally- happy to have former students as “friends”, after they have graduated and I am no longer responsible for evaluating them academically. This will vary though, depending on the professor.
What classes should I take?
Ultimately your education should be somewhat exploratory, yet practical, and inline with any constraints you may have.
In a perfect world you would take any and all course that interest you, over a luxuriously long period of time, in order to expand and grow you mind and satisfy your curiosities. Unfortunately, you may have parents or funders that have different ideas, or finances that simply don’t allow. Ask your self this- do I need to have a paying job 1) ever, 2) eventually, once I have sufficient education and/or experience, or 3) immediately upon graduation? The sooner you need a paying job, the more you should ensure that you gain employable skills during your education.
In a perfect world you would take any and all course that interest you, over a luxuriously long period of time, in order to expand and grow you mind and satisfy your curiosities. Unfortunately, you may have parents or funders that have different ideas, or finances that simply don’t allow. Ask your self this- do I need to have a paying job 1) ever, 2) eventually, once I have sufficient education and/or experience, or 3) immediately upon graduation? The sooner you need a paying job, the more you should ensure that you gain employable skills during your education.
What are “skills”?
Skills are things that you can actually do. Do you know how to excavate and archeological site? That is a skill. Do you know how to program in R? That is a skill. Do you know how collect behavioral data? That is a skill.
Some skills are highly desirable to employers, and if you need to be employed after graduation, you should focus on acquiring these skills.
What doesn’t count as a ‘skill’?
Having a bachelors degree.
Being able to write an essay, although you should be able to do this.
Bottom line: you need to be in control of your future job prospect by ensuring you have skills that make you employable after you finish school. If you don’t gain skills you may not gain employment- consider this carefully.
Some skills are highly desirable to employers, and if you need to be employed after graduation, you should focus on acquiring these skills.
What doesn’t count as a ‘skill’?
Having a bachelors degree.
Being able to write an essay, although you should be able to do this.
Bottom line: you need to be in control of your future job prospect by ensuring you have skills that make you employable after you finish school. If you don’t gain skills you may not gain employment- consider this carefully.
Should I submit course reviews in my classes?
While these are optional, they can be extremely important in shaping how professors improve their courses and teaching.
The impact these have varies according to a few factors, such as the weight the professor puts in the reviews, the weight the University puts in the reviews, the specific position the professor has (adjunct vs tenure track, and if tenure track, the stage the professor is at in their career). These can really matter to your professors, and I review mine very carefully in order to best address my students need.
What should never ever say in your course reviews?
Please never ever comment on a professor’s dress, body, appearance or aesthetic. This is insulting at best, as your professors job is to teach/advise/mentor you; not to look a certain way. Imagine if you got a graded midterm essay handed back from your professor and they included comments on your hair and general appearance- not appropriate, right? So please do not comment on your professors appearance in their reviews and be aware that female professors are much more likely to get these kinds of inappropriate comments.
The impact these have varies according to a few factors, such as the weight the professor puts in the reviews, the weight the University puts in the reviews, the specific position the professor has (adjunct vs tenure track, and if tenure track, the stage the professor is at in their career). These can really matter to your professors, and I review mine very carefully in order to best address my students need.
What should never ever say in your course reviews?
Please never ever comment on a professor’s dress, body, appearance or aesthetic. This is insulting at best, as your professors job is to teach/advise/mentor you; not to look a certain way. Imagine if you got a graded midterm essay handed back from your professor and they included comments on your hair and general appearance- not appropriate, right? So please do not comment on your professors appearance in their reviews and be aware that female professors are much more likely to get these kinds of inappropriate comments.
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