Northwestern College | Classic magazine - Winter 2004-05 - Vol. 76 ...

FacultyprofileNorthwestern ClassicPiet KoeneAsí es su Vida(A Way of Life)by Amy ScheerSpanish instructor Piet Koene, the 2004 Iowa Professor of the Year, is described by students as challenging and caring,thorough and patient.▼Koene’s parents senttheir shy son toHonduras for a year.He returned to Canadaa changed man.▲With sleeves cuffed atthe elbow, jeans crisp, PietKoene moves two long tablesto the center of a classroomin Ramaker Library. Studentsarrive, laughing and chattingin Spanish; one scatters ahandful of bite-sized Snickersonto the table as she settlesinto a spot in the now intimateseating arrangement.Oral Spanish Interpretationclass begins, and onlySpanish is spoken.After an hour, Koenedraws me in, the reporter inthe back of the room. “Talkabout anything, but beginslowly, and slowly increaseyour speed,” he says. WithPiet Koene began as aSpanish professor atNorthwestern five yearsago, when a faculty memberfell ill mid-year.Nine semesters later, hewas named recipient of the2003 Northwestern TeachingExcellence Award. This fall,he received another, moreprestigious award when hewas chosen as Iowa’sProfessor of the Year for2004 by the CarnegieFoundation for theAdvancement of Teaching.Administered by theCouncil for Advancementand Support of Education,the awards program honorsfour national winners andone from each state, recognizingtheir excellence inteaching and positive influenceon students. On Nov.18 Koene attended celebratoryevents in Washington,D.C., including an eveningreception on Capitol Hill.“This award speaks volumesabout Northwestern,”says Koene. “I excel as a professor,and in many ways asan individual, because ofNorthwestern, whatNorthwestern invests in itsfaculty.”14 ▲ Winter 2004-05