CAS professors Heitz, Burkett and McNeal bring GenEd teaching to new levels of excellence

Friday, August 22, 2025

Media Contact: Elizabeth Gosney | CAS Marketing and Communications Manager | 405-744-7497 | egosney@okstate.edu

As the largest source of general education courses at Oklahoma State University, the College of Arts and Sciences welcomes students from all colleges and disciplines into its classrooms. 

For CAS instructors, this presents a unique opportunity to engage majors and non-majors alike while equipping them with skills that carry into future classes and careers. 

These efforts are regularly recognized, from positive student feedback to university and national- level awards. Drs. Haridas Heitz, Ashley Burkett and Reanae McNeal are three of the many CAS professors who engage students in notable ways, helping shape successive cohorts of OSU Ideal Graduates. 

Each offered their perspective to CONNECT magazine on not just how they teach, but why. 

Haridas Heitz - Philosophy 

Recipient of the 2024 CAS Award for Excellence in General Education Teaching, Dr. Haridas Heitz traces his teaching methods back to a formative moment at age 12 — an experience that sparked a passion for living beyond mere existence. 

“I remember I was bored in shop class,” Heitz said. “As I watched the sunlight shining through the sawdust in the air, I was struck by the realization that I am! That everything is but might not have been. It was an intense feeling of the wonder of Being. That feeling lingered for several weeks and set me on a path of spiritual exploration.” 

Heitz explained that that experience bolstered his natural curiosity and love for science, especially astronomy, leading him toward experiential wisdom and the world of philosophy. It was also the catalyst for his soon-to-be-published book, “Heart of Wonder”, and directly informs how he works with students. 

“My style of teaching is about guiding students toward a sense of wonder,” Heitz said. “Using a Socratic approach, I aim to ‘sting’ and ‘poke’ students into questioning what they know — or think they know — in order to spark deeper investigation.” 

In his course “Who Do You Think You Are?” Heitz uses various teaching techniques, including the “Game of Life.” The purpose is to encourage students to find contentment in the present moment instead of only focusing on future goals. 

“I want my students to be curious about their own lives, to be more of an explorer of what life is about, by being present here and being aware,” he said. 

For Heitz, an OSU Ideal Graduate isn’t just someone equipped to make a living, but one who possesses the wisdom to live well. It’s about finding joy in the present rather than being consumed by worry about the future. 

“What keeps me motivated is my own sense of wonder and the opportunity to share that with students,” Heitz said. “They teach me too; I discover more through them and by helping them discover themselves. 

Ashley Burkett - Geology 

Dr. Ashley Burkett, whose course on dinosaurs has an outstanding reputation across campus, centers her teaching on making science accessible by connecting it to students’ lives. 

“A lot of students make it up in their minds that they’re not good at math or biology because of the tower of knowledge they feel they can’t access,” said Burkett, winner of the CAS Award for Excellence in General Education Teaching in 2021. “What I try to do is break it down to the basics and show them they can access it simply by making observations before accumulating knowledge.” 

In her introductory geology courses, Burkett tailors lessons for students with little prior knowledge or interest. 

“I ask open-ended questions based on the content I deliver,” Burkett said. “It’s something I’ve had to grow into — leaving space for students’ creativity. They always exceed my expectations in how they explore the material on their own. I try to equip them with the tools and confidence to dive in and make their own interpretations. And they do.” 

Burkett believes empowering students to take ownership of their learning is essential to shaping an Ideal Graduate. 

“What keeps me motivated is witnessing the excitement in students,” Burkett said. “Continuously guiding them through the experience of making the scientific method engaging and relevant and seeing how their understanding of dinosaurs evolves from the 
beginning to the end of the semester is incredibly rewarding.” 

Reanae McNeal - Africana Studies 

During her time at OSU, Dr. Reanae McNeal has cultivated community-oriented classrooms that encourage building collective wisdom. 

Her approach draws on experiential learning and integrates competencies from OSU’s Ideal Graduate initiative. 

“In this way, I invite students to a multiplicity of worldviews, perspectives and lived experiences to understand the differences, commonalities and complexity of human experience,” said McNeal, who also teaches Gender, Women’s and Sexuality Studies courses. “My hope always is that these methods enhance students’ learning, understanding, critical thinking, relational dynamics and application of ethical leadership.” 

As an instructor, McNeal allows students to learn teamwork through group activities that encourage respectful communication and a commitment to continual learning. 

“I invite students to critically think about their role as an engaged citizen,” said McNeal, who was recognized in 2022 with the CAS Award for Excellence in General Education Teaching. “As a result, I advance students’ learning by practicing deep listening to different perspectives while developing respectful interactions. My courses underscore community-engaged learning that assists students in understanding the lifeways, cultures and values of communities.” 

McNeal gets continual enjoyment from assisting students on their learning journeys. She finds joy in helping students apply what they learn. 

“I remain invested in students contemplating and working to solve real-world problems grounded in rigorous research,” McNeal said. “Each year brings new chances to engage students in research and imagining innovative strategies that can contribute to the wellness of communities.” 

Story By: Adeola Favour | Photos By: Jason Wallace and Provided | casnews@okstate.edu