Professor Ellen Brooks Builds Connections Through Storytelling
By Jade Carney
“Why are you doing what you’re doing?” a student asks from across the room, stopping Professor Ellen Brooks mid-class. Instead of ignoring the question, she pauses to think. Moments like this, where questions lead the discussion, are what make her classroom special.
Brooks has spent decades in education, teaching students at multiple levels before coming to Purchase in 2014. With a background in special education and a love for the arts, she inspires students to speak their minds and connect with one another.
After years of teaching in public schools, Brooks did not plan to become a college professor. The opportunity came to her when she moved from Philadelphia to New York, where she got her first job as a professor at Manhattanville University.
“It wasn’t what I was initially looking to do, but I loved it,” Brooks said. She added that her past mentors and love of school inspired her to pursue a career in higher education.
In Brooks’s classroom, discussion and collaboration often replace traditional lectures. Students are encouraged to share their own ideas and respond to the ideas of their classmates. “We’re all in it together. We’re all learning about ourselves and each other,” she says.
That approach is shown in how her colleagues describe her teaching style. Aviva Taubenfeld, director of Humanities and the person who hired Brooks at Purchase, says that Brooks is always open to student feedback and willing to learn along with her students.
“She is constantly evolving in relation to what her students need and want, and to me, that's a sign of a really committed educator. I’ve never seen a professor or teacher do that before,” she says.
Emily Sausen, director of college writing, praised Brooks’s creativity and her ability to find new ways to reach and inspire students. “Professor Brooks creates a kind, inclusive and enriching environment for her students,” says Sausen. “She emphasizes the importance of showing up for yourself and your classmates and being present and engaged with the writing process.”
Brooks says she hopes everyone she shares class time with develops their own curiosities and ideas about what they want to learn individually. To her, that means giving students the space to explore their own thoughts and realize that their effort and engagement have an important role in their learning.
Brooks also incorporates her passion for the arts into her coursework. “I feel like the arts have informed me so much and have made such a big difference in my own life,” she says. “I hope that all of the students I work with will end up sharing that passion.” She added that while she has enjoyed every school, she has had the chance to teach at, Purchase offers a unique opportunity for students and faculty to immerse themselves in the arts.
Sophomore arts management major Abby Henning spoke about just how passionate Brooks is as a professor. “She cares deeply about what she is teaching to her class,” Henning said. “Her approach made the learning process feel more hands-on and personal.” Henning added that Brooks’s class felt like it was more than a requirement; it was meant to help students improve as writers.
“Professor Brooks is very thoughtful. Not all professors are like that,” said playwriting and screenwriting major Layla O’Neill.
That passion goes beyond the classroom. During the semester, Brooks takes her students to visit the Neuberger Museum of Art, where they have the opportunity to engage with different pieces as part of the writing process. “I like the artwork she chooses for us to look at; that is pretty cool,” says O’Neill.
Jonah Suren, a psychology major, says, “It stands out that she takes us to the Neuberger Museum. It's really different because most professors don’t take students out of the classroom. It’s a positive thing that I really like.”
Brooks continues to build on the idea of connection through the story exchange, an activity where students are invited to step into a new perspective by sharing and retelling each other’s personal stories.
During the story exchange, participants are partnered up and share a personal experience with each other. When back in the large group, each participant shares their partner's story in the first person, as if it were their experience.
“Sharing stories is how we connect with each other, and you never know when someone is going to share something that you have a connection to,” Brooks says. Lizz Elvira is the assistant director of the Multicultural Center where story exchanges that take place outside of Brooks’s classes are held. Elvira works with Brooks to host the activity at the beginning of every semester. “Story exchanges really bring people together. They create connection and empathy. It's a really fantastic program.” Elvira says.
She added a memory she shared with Brooks, “Before we did our first story exchange together, she brought us salads, and we just sat outside and chatted about it. She’s so warm and so giving.”
The story exchange is an environment where all are welcomed, including Broadview residents who have participated along with students. “The story exchange was a nice way to talk to someone of an older generation and talk about their life story,” says Henning. “Everyone was very nice and supportive and actually interested in what others had to say.”
Brooks recalled a moment when a student was struggling to find the right words to retell their partner’s story. When the student became overwhelmed, their partner stepped in to help, and the pair concluded the story together. “When there's a mistake or a glitch, that's a beautiful thing,” Brooks said.
With Brooks, writing becomes so much more than just an assignment. It's a way to build connections, make self-discoveries and tell stories. Brooks wants students to find their voices and to understand that when they’re connected with one another, it can really make a difference in their experiences.
When asked about her motivation to keep teaching, Brooks says, “That’s an easy one, because I get to learn from all of you.”
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