Hari Vishwanadha

Professor

“If one of my students is struggling, it doesn’t bother me, so long as he or she is willing to ask for help.”

“I think my students would be surprised to know that I was mediocre, at best, during my undergrad time in college,” says Hari Vishwanadha, who was born in Southern India. “But I stuck with it and eventually came to love the process of learning. And I hope that love comes through in the classes I teach.”

Hari’s studies began in engineering where he excelled and was awarded full scholarships. “But in English I did poorly,” he recalls. “I did so poorly on one exam that I felt ashamed in front of my teacher. So to improve myself, I started my own program of reading and writing and I began to see the beauty of literature.” His self-imposed discipline opened a new world of discovery for Hari and he devoted himself to the study of English.

“I do understand the struggles of my students,” says Hari. “And I try to let them know that I will help them in whatever way I can to improve their skills and reach their goals. The students who drop out concern me deeply,” he continues. “So frequently, when that happens, they are lost.”

Hari refers to teaching as “a license to continue being a student. I always feel that I learn as much from my students as I hope they learn from me.” He adds that he is now also busily studying his three-year-old son, “whose very definite job it is to ensure that I don’t get to be lazy for long.”

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