UNI faculty members build connections on the basketball court
UNI faculty members build connections on the basketball court
At the University of Northern Iowa, the gap between an economics lecture and a pickup basketball game is smaller than you might think.
David Surdam, an economics professor at the Wilson College of Business, has spent more than two decades organizing weekly games on campus. While the roster has changed over the years, the invitation to play at the Wellness and Recreation Center remains open to faculty and students alike.
On the court, titles can disappear. To the students who join him, Surdam isn’t just a professor. He’s a pass-first veteran with a few tricks up his sleeve.
"I thought he was just some older guy showing up to play in the gym," said student Keaton Reimer with a laugh. "But he’s very good for his age."
After playing several times during his freshman year, Reimer joined Surdam’s email list to coordinate weekly games. It wasn’t until his second semester that he realized his teammate was actually his professor. That discovery changed Reimer’s perspective on his education.
It’s cool seeing that your teachers are regular people, too. If I see them in the dining hall now, I’ll go up and talk to them. If I was just their student, I probably wouldn’t have."=
This accessibility is a point of pride at the Wilson College of Business. For faculty like Robin Chen, who teaches macroeconomics and forecasting, basketball serves as the ultimate icebreaker. Chen has only been playing with the group for about two years, but he has already seen how the rapport makes the classroom feel less intimidating.
In my class, students I’ve played with will ask, ‘Do you still go to play basketball? It makes them comfortable asking questions. It’s a great warm-up topic.
The court also provides Chen with a unique window into his students' lives. By using basketball to better connect with student-athletes, he gained a deeper appreciation for their grueling schedules. He has since used those insights to customize his teaching methods and formulate learning strategies that better support their success.
The connections Surdam has built are equally impactful, even if students are occasionally "dubious" of his skills at first. Basketball has led to genuine, long-term friendships. One student Surdam played with for years even invited him to his wedding this coming summer.
I don’t necessarily look like a basketball player, but it’s a good way to relax. And it’s really nice to have those relationships.
The impact is also tangible for students and their academic paths. Reimer enrolled in an economics elective with Surdam specifically because he knew the instructor as a person.
"I knew that if I needed help with something, I could go to his office hours," Reimer said. "I knew he was a good guy."
Today, Surdam maintains an email list of nearly 20 regulars, but he and Chen are always looking for new faces to join the rotation. For them, the game is about community.
"It’s a time for inclusion and a chance to meet people from different backgrounds," Chen said. "That outreach is so valuable to me."
