Testimonials about Sammy Basu

Caty Buckley '98, Willamette politics graduate

Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) supervisor

“Professor Basu was omnipresent in my college experience, and it is difficult to separate what Willamette provided me as a university from what professor Basu provided to me as a mentor and touchstone.

“He pushed me to do better, to be better, to create better, to research better, to question better. What I remember most is that professor Basu was just there.”

Tobias Reed '97, Willamette politics graduate

Majority Whip and Oregon State Representative, D-Beaverton

“I’ll confess a certain bias when it comes to Sammy. Each Willamette undergraduate is assigned a faculty mentor on his arrival, and I was lucky enough to be matched with him.

“Unlike many of my other faculty, Sammy has remained in touch. Even now, 15 years after I graduated, I am in regular contact with Sammy, and I know I am not the only one.”

Stephen E. Thorsett

Willamette University president

“He is an innovator, who has successfully introduced a wide range of graphic, digital and interactive approaches into humanities-based learning.

“He is a trailblazer, who early on championed service-learning beyond the classroom and taught students to use their intellectual passions in service to the community.

“He is a collaborator, who has served on the steering committee of the Mellon Liberal Arts Research Collaborative and as the director of the College Colloquium, Willamette’s freshman seminar.

“It is clear to me that Sammy Basu exemplifies the kind of teaching we all aspire to at Willamette University.”

Jonneke Koomen

Willamette assistant professor of politics

“For Sammy, his work as a teacher and advisor are thoroughly connected. While other professors have “office hours” he has a line out the door every day. Despite his very large student advising caseload, Sammy is always available to meet with students.

“I could not be more grateful to have such a generous and inspiring senior colleague who is thoroughly dedicated to students’ learning and well being.”

Richard Ellis

Willamette politics professor and the 2008 Oregon Professor of the Year

“Although he is one of the most popular teachers on campus, he is not a charismatic showman. He teaches without gimmicks or any hint of pandering. In short, Sammy teaches by modeling imaginative, serious, sustained intellectual inquiry. Nobody does that better.”