Dr. Dusty Crocker Q&A

Teaching in the MLA since:				2019
Specialty/Area of Research:				Creativity and Design Thinking
MLA Courses Taught:				History of Advertising Creativity, Imagination, & Innovation

 

 

 

 

How many years have you been teaching in the MLA program and what class or classes have you taught?

Since the Fall 2019, I’ve taught the “History of Advertising” three times and just developed “Creativity, Imagination, & Innovation” which I am teaching this semester.

Tell us a little bit about your specialty or area of research?

Creativity and Design Thinking

 

How does your background inform your teaching and scholarship?

Before joining TCU, I was the President and Creative Director of an advertising, marketing, and public relations firm in DFW and worked as an artist and designer for about 25 years. (See my bio here) I have always been interested in the creative process and how it is at the core of both personal and professional development. I have worked with large and small creative teams in various industries. I bring my experience to the classroom to help not only with the refinement of creative projects but also the elevation of the student as a creator.

How do you try to make the material in your class engaging considering most students complete their MLA degree 100% online?

Every student is a unique moving target while the content of an online course is static. But the interaction between a student and instructor can be fluid and individualized. Each assignment is designed to prompt the student to share their unique insight and personal experience. As an instructor, my goal is to use the student’s experience to shape my feedback individually. While we may never meet face-to-face, a rich, virtual relationship between instructor and student can be established.

 

 

What advantages do you think there are to getting a Master’s Degree in the Liberal Arts? How can it be helpful in the “real world”?

Too often, education is measured by its direct relevance to a specific career. However, we often find that inspiration and solutions arise from a passage in a novel, a historical moment, the observation of the stars, or even a piece of music. All knowledge is valuable and useful. The broader a person’s knowledge base, the deeper the well that person may draw from to be creative. The Master’s Degree in Liberal Arts is a distinct opportunity to enrich one’s bank of knowledge. Whether it’s to explore one’s curiosity or to indulge in the simple pleasure of learning something new, its value cannot be overstated.

What do you hope students walk away from your class having learned or gained?

Many students don’t think they are creative because they don’t recognize that they are already solving day-to-day problems in unique and unusual ways. They are already using the tools I teach in my classes, they just haven’t realized it yet. Once they do, they can see their potential as a creative problem solver. My hope is that every student walks away from my class understanding that they are up to the challenge of solving problems, whether they are personal or professional, in their own unique way.