His students call him “Mr. H.” At Randolph-Macon College, we call him a success story.
Bryan Hannum ’10, who majored in
history and minored in
education, teaches World History at James River High School in Midlothian, Virginia.
One of the requirements for R-MC’s education minor is student teaching. Hannum was placed at James River High School, where he taught Government to 12th-graders.
“I was extremely nervous,” he says of those first days of student teaching. “The students initially thought I was a student—I was clean-shaven, so I looked like I was 14!” It didn’t take long, though, for Hannum to win over his charges, and after just one month, the school offered him a full-time job.
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Bryan Hannum '10 |
At R-MC, Hannum played
baseball, was a member of
Kappa Alpha fraternity, and co-founded the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He also conducted
research.
“My research involved explaining the main reasons for Westward Expansion in the United States,” he says. “I focused on researching why early Americans migrated to the West. I covered many elements—including religion, infrastructure, and the railway—and their relation to Westward Expansion.”
Hannum lauds R-MC History Professors Thomas Porter and Mathias Bergmann for their dedication and mentorship.
“If I had questions or problems, they were always there to help me,” he says. “One time, when I was struggling to create a lesson plan, Professor Bergmann came to the rescue by helping me find important resources. He was so quick to respond that I was able to create a lesson plan that night.”
Education Professors Brenda Davis and Leslie Roberson also helped guide Hannum through his four years at R-MC.
“They saw my potential,” he says. “They pushed and challenged me with the intention of making me a better teacher.” In addition,
Communication Studies Professor John Mingus was an integral part of Hannum’s educational experience.
“My favorite classes were the two Communication Studies courses I took with Professor Mingus,” says Hannum. “He made public speaking easy and fun—and as a teacher I use those skills every day.”
Hannum’s advice to current students reflects his upbeat attitude.
“Enjoy every moment you have,” he says. “It’s as simple as that. The community feeling at R-MC is unlike any other. Don’t take a single moment of college life for granted.”
Read more Alumni Success stories.