For Barbara Kellum, Professor of Art, teaching at Smith College was “love at first sight.” She began teaching at Smith in the mid-1980s following the completion of her Ph.D. at Harvard University. Moving to Cambridge for graduate school was her first experience on the East Coast as a California native, but she hasn’t looked back since, calling it a “revelation” to be here. This year, Kellum has been honored with the Sherrerd Prize for Distinguished Teaching.
Kellum’s work as a professor and as a pillar in the Art Department has reshaped the Art History major in recent years. Some of the changes include dropping the major course requirements down to ten courses from twelve to accommodate for double majors.
In the Art Department, “The number of students who we have that are double majors is quite high,” said Kellum.
She said the department “wants to respond to student interests to study different cultures and times. We are in a much better place now and have broadened the entryways into the major.”
There is now a methods class to begin the major and a capstone course to complete the major, allowing for more flexibility in which courses students may take to fulfill their requirements. She believes these changes help students take classes that are more suited to their own interests as opposed to enforced requirements.
“I really love the idea that students can find topics that stretch across time,” Kellum continued. “There’s little moments of epiphany and it’s thrilling to see students put things together — they are my constant source of inspiration.”
Kellum said she values communication and learning from her students to improve her teaching methods and inspire her research outside of the classroom. She said, “When a student comes to me with an idea I’ve never heard about in my own field, it’s these moments of discovery that are my proudest as a professor.”
When asked about her favorite class to teach, she laughed and said, “It’s like having to choose between your children.”
Pompeii is a “persistent interest” of hers, with her specialty in ancient Greco-Roman history. She loves her “Great Cities: Pompeii” class, but said, “I love all sizes and formats of classes from lectures to colloquiums, and seminars too.”
Professor Kellum said winning the Sherrerd Teaching Prize meant the world to her. The Kathleen Compton Sherrerd ’54 and John J. F. Sherrerd Prizes for Distinguished Teaching were established to highlight professors’ outstanding work, whether they are far into their career or a younger faculty member already having a profound impact on the Smith Community. The nominees are selected by students and staff themselves, so Kellum was “both humbled and honored” to be chosen as a representative of innovative teaching practices.
She said, “I don’t quite believe it, I’m so happy. It means the world to me because all these students feel like family to me. What could be more meaningful in life?”
Kellum said she is excited for future possibilities to continue teaching and learning. She mentioned having “various publication projects at different stages,” and that she would love to go to Pompeii again after a trip this past summer.
Kellum is a dedicated educator who is grateful to be a part of the Smith community for such a long period of time. On learning, she said, “It’s a good day when I learn something new.”
The Sherrerd Prizes for Distinguished Teaching award ceremony took place on Thursday, Oct. 12 to commemorate Kellum, who was joined by Jay L. Garfield, Doris Silbert Professor in the Humanities and Professor of Philosophy; and Erin Pineda, Phyllis Cohen Rappaport ’68 New Century Term Professor of Government.
