I thrive on getting to see my students experience the ‘ah-ha’ moments in class. Watching a student grow from struggling with a concept to being able to explain it to their peers is magical.
George Swindell Instructor and Program Liaison
- Alum
- Faculty
George Swindell is a dedicated educator with extensive experience in both mathematics and psychology. Holding dual Master of Science degrees in Mathematics and Psychology from East Texas A&M University, George has honed his skills in teaching, curriculum development, and instructional design. His innovative course, “Exploring the Wizarding World of Harry Potter,” engaged freshmen by connecting literature to real-world lessons. George’s commitment to student growth and his passion for education are evident in his dynamic teaching style and his continuous efforts to enhance course materials.
A Conversation With George
What do you like most about your career?
There are several things I enjoy about what I do. Starting with teaching, the thing I enjoy the most is working with students. Being able to teach subjects that are fun while being challenging and getting to see the student's growth fuels my passion for teaching. I can not count the number of times students have come into my math classes with a disdain for the subject. However, I also can not count the number of times I have received emails after class expressing how much they learned and can apply to the real world.
Outside of teaching, I enjoy working on course development and improvements. Working with subject matter experts on the best strategies to scaffold and align their courses to the needs of the students is always a fun task. This part of my career has really influenced how I style my own teaching and my approach to education in general.
What would you tell a student who is thinking about attending East Texas A&M?
From personal experience, East Texas A&M has been a blessing and I enjoy being a part of the Lion pride. The classes are small enough that students can get individual educational experience to help them grow. If research is your passion, there are a multitude of professors who are always active in their respective fields. The faculty have a passion to see students succeed in the classroom and in their future goals. Outside the classroom, the campus also offers a welcoming environment for everyone. East Texas A&M has a plethora of student-led organizations, intramural sports, guest speaker events and so much more.
What makes you passionate about your discipline?
I think my passion is multi-dimensional and revolves around teaching. When I am in a psychology class, I enjoy challenging students to ask questions rather than take the information at face value. I have a personal motto: one cannot know if one does not ask. Similarly, when I am in a mathematics setting, I thrive on getting to see my students experience the ‘ah-ha’ moments in class. Watching a student grow from struggling with a concept to being able to explain it to their peers is magical. When I hear success stories from previous students, I get a reminder of why I chose to go into education.
What is your favorite class or subject to teach? What do you find most rewarding about teaching this subject?
This is a tough question. I teach in both math and psychology, and both have their own separate places in my heart. Starting with psychology, I really enjoy all of the real-world applications and demonstrations that can be done in this subject. When discussing learning and mental processing, there are a lot of abstract theories that, once you put them into live demonstrations, become fun and exciting. However, math also has a lot of real-world applications that students typically do not realize at first. Thus, being able to open up a new section and discussing how the math that is about to be learned applies to various areas of our lives that go unnoticed is typically an eye-opener for some students.
Overall, I would have to say the most rewarding thing about both subjects is getting to show students how the information they learn can be applied in their own lives. Even if they choose not to take another math class, they will hopefully appreciate the math in their lives.
If you weren't a professor, what would you be doing?
If I were no longer teaching, there are so many cool things that I would like to be doing. However, I think my ultimate, non-teaching passion is video games. I would probably try to get into game testing or streaming new games and demos. Games have always played a big role in my life, and that passion will probably never go away.
Educational Background
- M.S., Psychology, East Texas A&M University (Formerly Texas A&M University-Commerce), 2016
- M.S., Mathematics, East Texas A&M University (Formerly Texas A&M University-Commerce), 2014
- B.S., Psychology, East Texas A&M University (Formerly Texas A&M University-Commerce), 2011
Academic Positions
- Instructor and Program Liaison, East Texas A&M University, 2015–Present
- Adjunct, East Texas A&M University, 2015-Present
Awards and Honors
- University Service Award, Faculty Senate at East Texas A&M University (Formerly Texas A&M University-Commerce), 2023
- Excellence in Service to Students Award, The National Society of Leadership and Success, 2012
Professional Organizations
- The National Society of Leadership and Success
- Psychology-Counseling Graduate Student Association
- Mathematical Association of America