Ratemyprofessors.com only gives students a gist of the best professors at Sacramento State.

Students will ultimately choose their favorite teachers after being in their classes. A standout professor helps their students understand the concepts while providing an exciting learning environment.

Here are some of Sac State students’ favorite professors:

Scott Farrand

Math professor Scott Farrand began teaching 31 years ago at Sac State.

Farrand said he emphasizes ‘intellectual engagement’ in his classes.

“I want my classroom to be a place of clear thought, respect for good ideas and respect for the thoughts of others,” Farrand said. “Cool mathematics is everywhere and it is my job to reveal that.”

Sophomore dance major Elli Papadopoulos was enrolled in Farrand’s precalculus course. She said Farrand’s patience with students while teaching is why he is her favorite professor.

“Even when Farrand spends a long period of time trying to get the objective across, he doesn’t give up,” Papadopoulos said. “He embodies how professors should act in and out of the classroom and more people should look to him as an example of an outstanding professor.”

Farrand said teaching at Sac State is special because of his students.

“I see many students who are availing themselves of an opportunity that their parents did not have,” Farrand said. “I love teaching at a school where students appreciate that their education is a genuine opportunity to shape their futures.”

Farrand’s ambitious calculus and abstract algebra students make them his favorite classes to teach this semester.

“My students are brilliant and love math,” Farrand said. “They are so forthright about their enthusiasm and willing to go where I want to take them.”

 

Andonia Cakouros

Theatre professor Andonia Cakouros came to Sac State in 1977 and has previously worked as an actress, director and choreographer.

Papadopoulos said she has applied what she learned while in Cakouros’s childrens theater class to being a dance instructor for children and teenagers ages 5 to 16.

“While in Professor Cakouros’s class, I learned a lot about kids and how they would act in different settings,” Papadopoulos said.

Not only has Papadopoulos used what she learned and applied it to her everyday life, she also was entertained while in Cakouros’s class.

“It was the most fun I’ve had in a class,” Papadopoulos said. “I don’t think I’ve laughed harder anywhere else.”

 

Jay (John) Kesler

 

Jay Kesler is a teaching associate of the Department of Mathematics and Statistics.

Junior geology major Tasha Bona has taken Kesler’s Math 9: Essential of Algebra and Trigonometry and Math 11: Algebra for College Students courses.

Bona said Kesler is her favorite professor since he teaches at a steady enough pace.

“(Kesler) makes sure everyone fully understands the material and opens the floor for questions before moving on,” Bona said.

Vadim Keyser

After teaching a lecture on the ethics of death in professional horror movie makeup, Prof. Keyser enjoys a cappuccino from the University Union.

Vadim Keyser is a graduate student at the University of California, Davis while also teaching philosophy at Sac State.

Junior pre-graphic design major Cynthia Le was enrolled in Keyser’s Philosophy 2: Ethics course, which was one of her favorite classes, in the fall.

“(Keyser) always tries to make class interesting,” Le said. “The subjects relate to our real-life situations. And since he’s young, he understands our generation compared to older professors.”

 

Wayne Davis

Journalism professor Wayne Davis has experience as a business editor at the Sacramento Bee

Davis said his favorite courses to teach, Journalism 130: News Reporting and Journalism 128: Copy Editing and Ethics, focus on the foundations of writing and asking questions.

“(The classes) teach students to write in a way people can easily understand,” Davis said. “Since you don’t have the reader for that long, you have to make an impact right away.”

Davis said the majority of his students also work part-time, something he admires.

“It’s really impressive to see them juggle school and work diligently,” Davis said. “I appreciate them which makes me try to work as hard as I can.”

Junior journalism major Michelle Phi has taken Journalism 130 and is currently enrolled in Davis’s Journalism 128 class. Davis is Phi’s favorite professor because he “cares about his students.”

“(Davis) makes an effort to get to know his students,” Phi said. “A lot of professors that I’ve had over the years don’t have that quality about them.”

Jordan Riturban can be reached at [email protected]