Meet Honors Professor Dr. Tyler Cornelius

If you’ve ever had the pleasure of sitting in Professor Tyler Cornelius’s classroom, you know that in his short time with us in the Honors College so far, he has already made an impact on many students here, including me. Quick to smile and always brimming with enthusiasm for whatever you bring to his attention, Professor Cornelius (though he doesn’t mind if you call him Tyler) fits right into the Honors community built on passion for knowledge, critical thinking, and collaboration.

Originally from Ridgefield, Washington, Professor Cornelius studied History and Political Science at Western Washington University and went on to become an environmental historian as he pursued his MA and PhD in American Culture at the University of Michigan. He spent two years in Italy with his wife and then went into teaching as he felt “called to serve,” a calling that becomes very clear when you see him in the classroom. Not only has he worked with young students, but he even spoke about his time teaching college writing courses in a prison where he felt it was a powerful experience to see the confidence that grew in those students accessing another world of opportunity and identity through education.

Professor Cornelius has been part of the Honors College for an eventful and busy year, but speaks excitedly about what his experience has been like. He has a few roles here; he teaches interdisciplinary food studies courses like “Food for Thought” and “Food Fight,” interdisciplinary environmental studies courses like “Living in the Anthropocene,” and he works with thesis students in the Prospectus and Continuation courses. He prioritizes discussion and active engagement between students as he believes “we learn best when we know each other, when we can trust one another and take risks, and when we have enough time to focus on the task at hand.” His warm energy and zeal for discussion brings this strategy to life in the classroom.

Working with thesis students has been its own kind of adventure which has brought some satisfying challenges as students often have varied and multiple needs which are unique to their individual academic niches. During what can be an overwhelming and stressful time, Professor Cornelius sees himself as a coach or cheerleader who can provide some accountability and connections to resources as thesis students begin navigating the writing and researching process. Providing this support is rewarding to him as he enjoys watching students fall into their theses. “I love seeing how they care about their own ideas, and I especially love seeing satisfaction as they encounter challenges and overcome them. I also learn so much from them,” he says. For his thesis students, he advises them not to get too caught up in the stress-inducing minutiae of the process. He encourages them to remember that this project is a unique opportunity to ask a question that matters to them, because “in the long term, you are the most important audience for your work.”

One conversation with him is enough to understand just how much he loves his work– the people, the learning, and the discussions. Professor Cornelius says, “I love teaching people who are hungry to learn, and who are open to connecting with the world around them. PSU is a particularly good fit, because I believe in public education and I feel satisfaction in helping young people gain the skills and confidence necessary to find a career that makes them happy, be good citizens, and to use their power/privilege to improve the lives of others. So many PSU Honors students are doing just that!” With so much care for the work that he’s doing, Professor Cornelius is settling nicely into his second year in the Honors College, and we are all the better for it.