Deborah Oesch-Minor, a teaching professor in the department of English at IU Indianapolis, sees the classroom not as a destination, but as a launchpad. With over 15 years of experience teaching at five universities, she designs courses that challenge students to take ownership of their education through real-world projects that blend theory with practice.
Her classes blend disciplinary rigor with real-world applications, giving students tangible experiences that help them see their academic work as a launchpad for future success. “Students thrive when they take ownership of their education,” she adds. “They realize their professional lives don’t begin after graduation. They start now.”
At the heart of Oesch-Minor’s teaching philosophy is the belief that belonging grows when students are treated as serious academic thinkers. Her course, W231 Professional Writing Skills, immerses students in team-based consulting work with real clients like the Pacers, Eskenazi Health, and local nonprofits. The course is structured to reflect real-world dynamics.
“How do these real-world projects play out in my courses?” she says. “One great example is the team project in W231. Students land clients, pitch projects, and present their work as they compete for five team-leader spots. Project selection is democratic—the class votes. Teams from around the chosen clients and begin the real work.” That includes in-depth research, local studies, and a formal recommendation report presented to both the class and the client. “There’s no busy work. Every assignment stacks into the final deliverable.”
But Oesch-Minor is quick to emphasize that this isn’t just happening in her classroom.
Across campus, faculty embed real-world projects into curriculum every day. “Our biology students log hours of hands-on experience in the gross-anatomy lab, which gives them an edge as they apply to medical school,” she notes. “Our anthropology students get their hands dirty, literally, as they assist with site excavations. Our kinesiology students build and supervise unique training programs for campus partners.” It’s all part of IU Indianapolis’ commitment to experiential learning. “All of this happens in the class,” she says. “Not as an add-on, but as the core of how we teach.”
This approach doesn’t just build resumes, it builds confidence, academic identity, and a sense of belonging. “College isn’t about jumping through hoops,” she explains. “It’s where students find their voice, curate their worldview, and start shaping their future today.”
Through her work with the Institute for Engaged Learning, Oesch-Minor champions the academic identity of every student, especially those who may feel like outsiders. She invites students to explore their interests deeply, take intellectual risks, and apply their knowledge beyond the classroom, whether it’s through research on cancer-sniffing machines, pharmaceutical breakthroughs, or predictive math models. “I learn the most from our students,” she says.
