Although having fewer students on campus seems like the perfect time for Dartmouth professors to leave teaching in the hands of visiting professors, there are fewer visiting professors teaching in the summer than in other terms this year, according to Assistant Dean of the Faculty Sheila Culbert.
"Visitors are used to cover for faculty leaves such as a sabbatical or a medical emergency," Culbert said. "They are used to replace professors but also to bring in prestigious professors from other institutions," she said.
Andrea Hill '97, who had a visiting professor for her economics class, did not even realize that she was not being taught by a Dartmouth professor until the end of the term.
But Jen Guy '97, who had a visiting professor teach her chemistry and Spanish classes said, "I don't really understand the philosophy behind having visiting professors."
This term the government department will host Georgetown University Government Professor Chris Joyner. He will be teaching Government 7: International Politics and Government 59: International Law, the same two classes he taught when he visited two years ago.
"The students like him and International Law is a hot topic right now," said Mary Beth Flynn, administrative assistant in the government department.
Economics Professor Carl Campbell will be teaching Economics 22: Macroeconomics this summer and Economics 26: Money, Banking and the Financial System in the fall.
Campbell is visiting Dartmouth in between teaching jobs at Colgate University and the University of Virginia.
Campbell said he called Dartmouth's economics department to ask if any positions were available because he wanted to spend some time in Hanover.
"My parents had a summer cabin nearby and I love the area. I've been coming here since I was a little kid," he said.
"I could have started at Virginia in the fall but I thought I'd like to spend six months here," he said.
The film studies department will welcome back Mark Decker, a filmmaker from Los Angeles, to teach two courses this summer.
He has been teaching at Dartmouth every summer for the last six years, according to Film Professor Al LaValley.
