PERSONALITIES: Professor got an early education in sociology

Jun. 18—GLASTONBURY — Nicolas Simon started studying sociology before he even knew he was doing it, going back to his childhood in France.

Now, the sociology professor at Eastern Connecticut State University has received recognition for his work at the university, winning the Board of Regents of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities System 2022 Excellence in Teaching Award.

"It really recognized all the time I spent with my students trying to create a learning experience," Simon, of Glastonbury, said.

"I'm very happy to be recognized for this award. The thing is, it's not just me. I am in a department in which I receive all the support of my colleagues. Every time I suggest a different idea or crazy pedagogical idea, my colleagues say, 'Hey, just try.'

NICHOLAS SIMON

Occupation: Sociology professor at Eastern Connecticut State University since 2006.

Award: 2022 Excellence in Teaching Award from the Board of Regents of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities System.

Background: Bachelor's degree in sociology from the University of Caen, France; doctorate in sociology in 2017 from the University of Connecticut.

Hometown: Glastonbury. Born in Normandy, France, moved to Herouville-Saint-Clair.

"I will never be able to create all these learning opportunities for my students without the support of my department, without the support of the dean, or without the support of the institution, without the support of the Center for Community Engagement, which helped me a lot in my career, without some of my colleagues in other institutions, because I am also involved with open educational resources."

He also said he couldn't have received this recognition without his students.

"I'm only an educator because I have students," he said. "Without my students, I'm nothing. It's a relationship."

Simon has been teaching sociology at Eastern Connecticut State University in Willimantic since 2006, starting as an adjunct, he said.

Born in Normandy, France, Simon moved to Herouville-Saint-Clair as a child and got his bachelor's degree in sociology at the University of Caen in Caen, France.

The town of Herouville-Saint-Clair, he said, had only 6,000 inhabitants, but was rich in diversity with people from Senegal, Tunisia, Morocco, Nigeria, and the Caribbean living there.

"It was extremely interesting to talk with people who had lots of different experience and different life," he said. "That was fantastic, to be able to meet lots of different people."

It wasn't the ethnically rich community, though, that got him interested in sociology, he said, but two high school teachers who inspired him.

"I had this tiny little teacher," Simon said. "She was wonderful, and she shared her passion for sociology. I had another teacher who was doing his PhD in sociology at University of Caen, where I went. He also shared his passion for sociology, for research."

After finishing his master's degree in sociology at the University of Caen, Simon moved to the United States in 2005 to pursue a career in teaching.

He said he started as a substitute teacher, traveling around the state filling in for various classes until Middlesex Community College contacted him to teach introduction to human geography.

In the 2006 fall semester, he said, he also started teaching two courses at ECSU.

As his tenure as a college professor became established, he started work on his doctorate in sociology at the University of Connecticut, which he finished in 2017.

"It was a dream to work in education," Simon said. "When I was in high school, I wanted to become a history and geography teacher."

Currently, he said, he teaches introduction to sociology, introduction to the sociology major, sociological theory, and community, an urban sociology class focusing on the Windham/Willimantic community.

"This class, 'The Community,' is a great way for me to connect my passion of service learning, engagement and direction of the community, and the teaching aspect," he said.

One of the important aspects of learning sociology, Simon said, is how it helps people learn about and adapt themselves in new cultures.

"When I came to the United States, I arrived in a very different culture," he said. "We have a different language with a different way of life. Being a sociologist helped me to observe a different society. I adjusted to my new way of life. That's something I mentioned to my students, because sociology will change your life. Sociology will help you to observe the environment in which you are.

"For my 100-level class I told them, 'Yesterday, you were in high school, you knew exactly what to do. You knew how to do it. You were comfortable with your environment. You knew the culture of your high school. Now, you arrive in a new environment and the first thing you have to do is to observe and discover the culture of this new environment,'" he said.

"That's why sociology is so important," he said. "It helps students to be ready for the workforce. But, they can use exactly the same strategy when they join a new community, join a new neighborhood, when they join a new organization, when they join a new church, when their children join a new school.

"Life is a social construction," he continued, "meaning that we think that everything is natural. In fact, the social organization is constructed by the present generation, constructed by the past generation. We are not happy with it because we are in a democracy, because we are active and engaged political beings or active and engaged citizens in democratic systems that have the power to act, and to transform the situation.

"It's when you have observed society, understanding the society, which is fundamental, and the single aspect of sociology, which is to find different strategies to participate in a social movement which represent you or your perspective."

ECSU sociology professors Kimberly Dugan and Cara Bergstrom-Lynch, who nominated Simon, said in their statement that Simon "is innovative and effective and works hard to create collaborations to provide our students with the best opportunities for success.

"He is a highly effective, innovative and enthusiastic educator with a student- and community-centered approach. His commitment to student learning, research and engagement are far beyond the common instructor."

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