Silver Circles: Robert Bruhl

Since 1966, the Silver Circle Award has been presented to some of UIC’s best teachers. Winners, who are honored at their college commencements, receive $500 and their names join a long list of distinguished colleagues. But what makes the award especially meaningful is its selection committee: the graduating seniors.

Robert Bruhl
Clinical associate professor of political science
Silver Circles: 1
Years at UIC: 18

What does it mean to win this award from graduating seniors?   
It’s very gratifying because it makes me believe that I’ve been a positive influence on these students’ lives.

What do you teach?  
I teach American Government, research methods and statistics.

How do you engage students in your courses?  
I have my students design and execute small research projects in which they collect primary data — that is, real live observations of human behavior — and that seems to make the courses more real to them.

What is your advice to graduating students?  
Use your intellectual skills in every endeavor in which you are engaged.