A Devoted Professor
Andrew Bramsen attends event for one-time student.
Andrew Bramsen, Associate Professor of Political Science, sat alone in the front row on a couch fit for three in the Bethel University library. Bramsen, donning a plaid blue button-down shirt, nodded along and smiled throughout Alaina Turnquist’s hour-long presentation about her semester in Cuba.
“He’s the professor I would least expect to be at something like that,” Turnquist said, following the presentation.
Alaina Turnquist took Bransen’s Intro to Comparative Politics class during the fall semester of 2017. One semester before she departed Bethel University to spend the semester at the University of Havana. It is the only class Turnquist has taken with Professor Bramsen.
Bramsen knew Alaina was going to Cuba following that semester, but he did not have any hesitations about her going.
“I trust Bethel. As an institution, they would only send students to places that are safe,” Bramsen said.
Bramsen has been to a few of the library’s Fireside Chats, but he is not super faithful about going to them. He only attends if the topic is interesting or if he knows the speaker.
“I’ve found that the student speakers are really good because they’re typically top students. The cream of the crop,” Bramsen said.
Bramsen attended this week’s chat because it met all of his criteria.
“I won’t go next week,” Bramsen said with a laugh, referring to next week’s fireside chat on deep neural networks for new physics searches.
On Thursday morning at 11:15 a.m., Bramsen looked on as Alaina Turnquist grasped the wooden podium in the library lounge. She stood straight, wearing a black tank top and gray cardigan, and peered at the crowd of fourteen. The audience sat in an L-shaped formation, with twenty-five seats empty. Turnquist held a black clicker in her right hand to keep her presentation flowing.
Before it was time for her to speak, Turnquist had expressed worry about the time.
“I feel like I’m gonna say too much. I have to narrow it down and share the most important,” Turnquist said.
After going over time and the slim audience becoming slimmer, Turnquist finished at 12:10 p.m. Bramsen earned the first talking minute with Bramsen after she finished speaking. It was a short walk from the front row.
Andrew Bramsen sat in his office later in the day and reflected on the fireside chat.
“I thought she did a great job and represented studying abroad well. She’s smart,” Bramsen said about his Intro to Comparative Politics student.
