Dr. Jim Young

Dr. Jim Young likes being in constant communication with students. He freely hands out his cell phone number and makes sure, even when vacationing in Tuscany, he is never far from a high-speed Internet connection. Once, while on an Alaskan cruise, the promised on-board Internet connection wasn’t available. “Every time we pulled into port, I made a mad dash for the local internet café.”

“I have always enjoyed my contact with students, but the enjoyment is heightened with online classes. The ability to reach out to students, wherever they are, and on their schedule, is a wonderful thing.”

While Dr. Young could certainly stand behind a lectern and talk nonstop about his own experiences, he chooses not to. “I might share an anecdote but then use it as a jumping off point for a discussion, asking for students’ opinions along the way. I’m not so much interested in what they think as in why they think it.”

“I remember when I was an undergrad at Ohio State and was scared to death to talk to a professor. The only times you ever did it was when you were in deep, deep trouble. Communication with professors at AIU Online is much more open. I’ve found that online, people are willing to share much more of themselves.”

Years ago, two of Dr. Young’s students shared enough of themselves in class—including trading pictures back and forth—they were inspired to meet in person. Eventually they married. “Online classrooms force social interaction. People that might normally be timid in a regular classroom are smoked out and eventually realize communicating isn’t as hard as they thought it was. It can actually be fun.”

While it takes most people years and several careers to find their true calling, Jim Young knew in high school. His guidance counselor gave him a personality test used to help students find careers they might be suitable for. The answer for Young was “college professor.”

Dr. Young estimates he has taught close to 10,000 students at a variety of different online and brick-and-mortar institutions during his 35-year career. “Between all the students I’ve taught and my own years spent as a student, I think I’ve seen most everything there is to see in a classroom, and I’ve loved every minute of it.”

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