Executive Council
A/P Kenneth Paul Tan (Chair)
A/P Johan Geertsema (Vice Chair)
A/P Alice Christudason
Prof Farooq Shamsuzzaman
A/P Victor Tan
A/P Erle Lim Chuen Hian
Prof Bernard Tan Cheng Yian
A/P Laksh Samavedham

Fellows
Prof A Kumaralingam
A/P Phil Chan Aik Hui
A/P Chan Wai Meng
Mr Cheah Kok Ming
A/P Teofilo C Daquila
A/P Goh Say Song
Prof Matthew Gwee Choon Eng
A/P Hooi Shing Chuan
Prof Andy Hor Tzi Sum
Prof Alex Ip Yuen Kwong
A/P K Rajendran
A/P Ashwin M Khambadkone
Prof Koh Khee Meng
Dr Adrian Michael Lee
Dr Lee Kooi Cheng
A/P Joel Lee Tye Beng
A/P Cecilia Lim
A/P Lim Lum Peng
Dr Lo Mun Hou
A/P Narayanan Ganapathy
A/P Joseph Ooi Thian Leong
Prof Seah Kar Heng
Dr Soo Yuen Jien
A/P Sow Chorng Haur
Prof Jochen Wirtz
A/P Yap Von Bing
Prof Zhou Weibiao

Associate Professor Johan Geertsema

Vice Chair

Teaching Aspirations

I see myself as a facilitator of learning, and my aim is to enable students to think for themselves. Thus, rather than inculcating a false sense of confidence, my starting point is instead to encourage intellectual humility. I try to get students to understand that in order to generate original knowledge, it is necessary first to pay close attention to ongoing scholarly conversations. Only by carefully considering others’ views can one proceed to question them rigorously, which is to say respectfully, and thereby formulate one’s own position.

Biodata

My work at NUS has been mainly in the University Scholars Programme, where I have since 2001 designed and taught courses in Writing and Critical Thinking as well as Literary Studies. I have also taught, and guest lectured, in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. In the USP I have served as a member of the Faculty Teaching Excellence Committee (2007-9) and as the editor of folio, a journal that is meant to disseminate some of the best writing our students produce (2004-present). My research currently focuses on the work of J. M. Coetzee. Over the years I have found the intellectual atmosphere in the USP, with its diverse and talented student population, both a challenge and a joy. I’ve had the privilege of visiting institutions such as Stanford (2007) and Harvard (2001) in order to sharpen my teaching, and this has opened the way towards exciting collaborative teaching and learning experiences.

Teaching Awards / Accolades

NUS Annual Teaching Excellence Award, 2008/9
University Scholars Programme Teaching Excellence Award, 2008/9
NUS Annual Teaching Excellence Award, 2006/7
University Scholars Programme Teaching Excellence Award, 2006/7
NUS Annual Teaching Excellence Award, 2001/2