The first thing you notice, besides the British accent, is the warm smile on his face. He reminds you of your high school teacher.
But that's because he used to be one.
Professor Andrew Garrod, chair of the education department, taught 16 years in high school before becoming a college professor.
He has been at Dartmouth for the last 13 years, but he taught at University of Manitoba in Canada before he arrived in Hanover. He said he came here because the position the College offered him looked very attractive.
"They let me teach what I wanted -- adolescent and moral development," Garrod said.
Born in northern India and later educated at Oxford University, Garrod crossed the Atlantic Ocean to Canada in 1962.
He taught at several high schools in New Brunswick, Canada, then later earned his Masters and Doctorate degrees in Education at Harvard University.
Garrod said teaching high school students has helped him significantly at the College, noting that his experience has added to his understanding about school systems and adolescent development.
Garrod said the education department plays a very important role at the College.
"It's a small department with no major, but we send teachers to public schools," Garrod said. "And I think it's some kind of social mission for the College," Garrod said.
Garrod added that the department plays a major role even for the students who do not eventually become teachers.
"Our courses make students understand critical issues in education in the United States," Garrod said. "These students will become tax payers and parents in the future."
Garrod is the co-editor of two books to be published this summer. Both books include articles authored by Dartmouth students.
The first is titled "Crossing Customs: International Students Write on U.S. College Life and Culture." In this book, foreign students from China, Nigeria, Bulgaria, Norway and other countries comment on their experience at American colleges. The second book is titled "Portraits of Black Adolescents."
In 1991, his students honored him with the Distinguished Teaching Award.
"It's lovely to be evaluated well by the students," Garrod said. "To be chosen by students is much more rigorous, fair and valid, than to be selected by faculty members."
As one of the more popular professors on campus, Garrod was selected as class speaker twice in the last six years, which he described as "an honor." Class speakers are selected by the graduating class to speak on Class Day, the day before graduation.
"It shows acknowledgment by the students and the fact that the education department is playing an important role on this campus," Garrod said.
Aside from his busy schedule, Garrod enjoys classical music and playing with his dog, Rani, which means "princess" or "empress" in Hindi. Garrod said he plans to return to India in December for a research project.
