Loyola Greyhound

Issue date: 4/8/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Jesse DeFlorio Dr. Franz was recognized as Distinguished Teacher of the Year.

The discovery of your true potential often begins with someone who believes in you, who expects more than what you aspire to be and leads you beyond your self-constructed plateaus. Dr. Michael Franz, in a more-than-genuine manner, has demonstrated such interest in his students for over 20 years here at Loyola College. Recently bestowed the Harry W. Rodgers, III, Distinguished Teacher of the Year Award at the College's Maryland Day Convocation, the professor of political philosophy continues to be an intellectual presence in the political science department and a source of encouragement in the classroom.

"He truly wants his students to succeed," says Dr. Kevin Hula, chair of the political science department. "He doesn't want them to settle for what they can just get by with but rather produce first rate material. His reputation with students is amazing and it is no surprise to me that he is teacher of the year."

Though his passion for his work seems inborn, Dr. Franz modestly admits that he was shaped into the teacher he is because of the profound influence of those who took interest in him during his college years along with his parents Margaret and George. Growing up just outside Chicago, a city always bustling in politics, Dr. Franz confesses that though he did have an interest in politics when he was fairly young, he was not a particularly ambitious student in high school. While he never formally applied to a university, he sent his SAT and ACT results to a couple of schools and was accepted to Illinois State on the strength of his scores. It was then that a few professors took a sincere interest in Dr. Franz because of the drive and potential they saw in him.

"It was really the impact of a few extraordinary teachers when I was a university student that took me from not particularly caring about going to college at all, to spending my life teaching college students," says Franz. "Had it not been for their strong interest in me and my capability, I suppose I wouldn't have known I had any capability. Meanwhile, my parents always encouraged me to pursue what I really wanted to do rather than aim for something practical."

Fortunately for Loyola, teachers at Illinois like John Gueguen, a professor of political philosophy, and Roger Eason, a literature professor, recognized the abilities of the "late-bloomer" and continued to take it upon themselves to advise Franz of his abilities. While these teachers continued to challenge his intellect, Franz began to read rather intensively, discovering the sheer breadth of his field. An extra push from another teacher also inspired him to expand his political philosophies by going abroad.

Continued...

Page 1 of 3 next >

Article Tools