ACADEMICS - Faculty
Maryann Syers
Assistant Professor
syers@augsburg.edu
"I
conceive of learning as a collaborative endeavor. Both parties, the
teacher and the student, are involved in the learning process and
each have their own responsibilities." Syers firmly believes
in a focus on the integration of theory in practice. "I teach
in the area of clinical practice."
This is where she feels students learn to integrate what is learned
in the classroom with real-world situations. "There must be the
connection between knowledge and action.
"Augsburg is made up of faculty committed to student learning. We help students to engage in the learning process and to use and apply what they learn in an experiential way." Syers views the social work program at Augsburg as a rigorous one, where the student "can't come and get lost and pass their way through," however the faculty are devoted to helping the students succeed by providing lots of contact time, mentorship relationships and incorporating different methods into their teaching to accommodate a wide variety of learning styles.
Syers also maintains a small clinical practice outside of work and
is a board member on the MN Society for Clinical Social Work as a
co-chair for the education committee.
