Robert Chase

Headshot of Robert Chase

Meet Robert

Pronouns: He/Him

History Faculty

Hometown: Waukegan, IL

What is your favorite memory or experience working with students at SSU?

I love working with students in my Australian History course. I get to introduce them to a fascinating part of the world that's often not taught about in US universities. We get to examine the nation's unique history, but also explore intriguing historical comparisons to California. They always develop amazing research projects and leave the class with a greater understanding of the connections that tie nations around the Pacific together.

What made you choose SSU?

Our students. We have amazing students, and I enjoy getting to work with them every day, be it in a history survey course, teaching in our SYE program, or even just helping the History Society put together an event.

What has been the most challenging part of your experience and what did you learn from it?

Teaching through COVID has been the most challenging part of my teaching career at SSU. The initial switch to online learning during Spring 2020 was a rough transition for everyone, but after that semester I spent the summer learning better online teaching practices and restructured my courses to meet the needs of students also facing challenges from the pandemic. I found that flexibility was a key to success. And now that we are back in the classroom, I find myself still using many of those practices and techniques because they were efficient and created better ways of engaging students with course material.

Please share anything else about your experience at SSU?

My experience with SSU started in the Fall of 1997 when I arrived as a freshman. I found a home in our history department, got to work with amazing professors, and earned B.A. and M.A. degrees before heading to UC Irvine for its PhD program. When the opportunity arose to come teach at SSU, I jumped at the chance. I strive to make students feel as welcome as I did as a student, and to serve as a role model for those who are interested in teaching careers.