The course description for statistics may seem dry or unappealing, but in the hands of a lighthearted teacher, it can be fun and accessible.
Psychology and statistics may not seem like they mesh, but professor Angela Belden seeks to prove otherwise. Belden has taught both psychology and statistics classes at Pierce College for five years.
Belden is an assistant professor of psychology and statistics who began her collegiate journey at a community college.
“I wanted to come to a community college because I started in a community college,” Belden said. “Community college students are awesome. I get to focus on my teaching. I don’t have to do a lot of research, and I don’t have to apply for grants that would take away from my teaching.”
Belden loves to teach and said she always treated it as “a priority.”.
She started out in community college but later transferred to University of Arkansas at Little Rock, where she received a B.A. and M.A. in psychology before going to Oklahoma State University to get her Ph.D. in lifespan development.
Before coming to Pierce, Belden taught at Woodbury University and Eckerd College for three years.
Belden is also known for her comedic sense and uses that humor in her classes.
“I think if I am funny the students might pay attention to me more. They would laugh at the joke which would solidify some of the material a bit more,” Belden said.
One of Belden’s statistics students, Spencer Fuller, said Belden is both funny and helpful.
“She is very funny but constructive,” Fuller said. “She has so much passion for her students.”
In addition to Belden’s humor she’s also very demonstrative and brings a lot of energy to her students in the classroom.
Chadwick Snow, chair of the psychology department, lauded Belden for her commitment to students.
“She is outstanding,” Snow said. “She is always working with her students. I know one course in particular that she teaches that I see students coming in all the time looking for that extra assistance is statistics.”
Belden’s incorporation of comedy into her classroom is key to her reaching the standard she sets for herself as an instructor.
“She has a great sense of humor,” Snow said. “It gets people energized and charged. Whenever students keep coming back, that means they are coming back because they are getting good help.”