Professor of Government Alan Draper says he found his “artistic métier” by writing introductory textbooks. The challenge, he says, is making them sophisticated enough for professors to use, but not so difficult that they intimidate the students. “You have to put the 'rigor' in and leave out the 'mortis,’” he says. This challenges him to think strategically about his audience, by trying to “sell the material to students without being condescending.” But, he adds, it also requires humility. “I once asked a student what textbook she was using and she replied, ‘The blue one,’” he recalls.

Like writing textbooks, Draper finds teaching fun and challenging because of the need to think strategically about how to convey ideas.  “By that I mean one tries to be direct without being simple, critical without being cynical, and engaging without being flippant,” he says.  

Draper says he feels lucky to be teaching at SLU because he has “been blessed with some very smart people in my department who have been wonderful colleagues.  They have helped me raise the level of my game, creating a culture of productivity and excellence in the department to live up to.” 

Draper’s personal topics of interest include “Southern labor history; the civil rights movement; and social democracy--the only left that is left.”  In his spare time, Draper enjoys handicapping thoroughbred races, describing himself as an “avid horseplayer.”                                   

--Kristen Bednar ’09