By Leslie C. Prieto
Pulse Staff Reporter

Ellen Shull's positive attitude shines through her smile, laughter, friendliness and her natural creativity. Because of this, it's hard to believe one of Palo Alto's best English professors was once a “little trouble-maker.”

Ellen Shull, formerly, Ellen Murphy, was known for being disruptive at the local Catholic school she attended in Peoria, Illinois. To keep the fourth grader out of trouble, the nuns assigned Shull to tutor a student who was “slow.”

This first teaching experience gave her the direction she needed. Shull graduated valedictorian of her high school class, but college graduation was delayed because she fell in love. Her husband, John, was in the military, which required them to travel across the globe while raising four children.

They lived in Japan, Oklahoma, Wyoming, and Texas. Shull went back to school after her children were grown.

At the age of 62, Shull's enthusiasm still shoots through the roof. “Her passion and energy are her cornerstone,” said Stacey Johnson, Chair of the English, Communications, Foreign Languages, and ESL Department.

This passion and energy has earned Shull numerous awards, including the 1998 Outstanding College/University Language Arts Educator Award of Teachers of English. She was also nominated for the 1999 Piper Professor Award, which is presented each spring by the Minnie Stevens Piper Foundation.

“What I learned in her class has helped me personally and academically,” said former student Eulalio Gonzalez, now a Kinesiology major at Southwest Texas University. Gonzalez was one of the many who recommended Shull for the Piper Professor award.

Another former student, Jose Leite said, “She made a great impact on me.” He explained that Shull's teaching techniques drove him to do his work and have a passion to learn. “I have developed an enjoyment for writing,” said Leite, who also recommended Shull for the 1999 Piper Professor award. He is now a Public Relations major at UTSA.

Shull is very humble, often wondering, “How in the heck did they pick me?” She explained that professors equally as talented surround her here on campus.

Shull said her greatest reward cannot be framed. “My real awards are former students who reach success.”

It is no mystery that she is famous for making a lasting impact on so many of her students, but what are the ingredients of her success?

“Her style of teaching is talking with you, not at you,” said Monica Rodriguez, a sophomore Psychology major. “She wants us to figure it out ourselves.” Because of Shull, Rodriguez finds learning fun again.

Roger Garcia, a sophomore Criminal Justice major, explained that it's Shull's openness to the literature of different cultures that helps students appreciate literature.

“She's fair, not biased,” said Garcia, who is currently in Shull's Mexican-American Literature class. “She honors student's opinions and lets us be critical of what we read.”

“She's very innovative, creative, thoughtful, and intelligent,” said Bob Richmond, co-editor with Shull of the “Palo Alto Review: A Journal of Ideas,” the only community college academic journal in the nation. He finds her optimism builds a positive environment.

“God has blessed me. Really, really blessed me,” said Shull. “I have an extremely high level of energy and I don't know why.” Shull said she needed this energy to raise three sons and one daughter. “I look at my sons, and oh, Lordy, Lordy, Lordy...”

Besides teaching students and co-editing a journal of ideas, she gives numerous workshops throughout the year on subjects ranging from editing prose to teaching elementary students how to write poetry.

“You learn by reading and listening, but you learn even more by doing,” Shull said.

Sitting through two of Shull's classes, it was evident that she brings out the joy of learning, because she has experienced the joy of learning and knowing.

All through the class, not a student was silent. The students were all smiles and laughter, just like Shull.

Shull carries the positive spirit of her grandmother, whose motto was “You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.” That “honey” is the active ingredient that captures the hearts of many.

Years ago, Ellen Shull made a lasting impact on the nuns during her childhood years. Now, “the little trouble-maker” has made the same impact on her students.