Listen Here
By Erin Moran
morane@findlay.edu
Cindy Bormuth, administrative assistant for the departments of Media and Communication and Visual and Performing Arts, immediately thought of Professor Alexander “A.D.” Davis when she thought about kindness on campus.
“I guess because he’s just the nicest person in the world. I mean, he’s always positive. He’s always happy. He always asked me how I am, if I need anything done, and I see him do that with students, too. He just goes out of his way to be kind,” Bormuth said.
Bormuth says his kindness isn’t selective, but consistent no matter the situation.
“It doesn’t matter who you are, he is always cheerful and asking how you are doing and if he can help all the time,” said Bormuth. “He is just an all-around good human being, and you just don’t see that genuine kindness very often nowadays.”
Shea Berger, a student who had Davis for her first-year experience class, was impacted by how Davis shared his kindness with students who were new to the university.
“He remembered all of our names within the first week and made sure to ask us how each of us were each morning,” said Berger.
“AD is someone who will make sure that you are always getting the help you need, and he will do everything in his power to help. He is very kind and makes sure everyone is involved,” said Berger. “He will stay after class, and his office hours are always open. He is a great professor, but also someone you can rely on.”
Berger emphasized that Davis’s teaching methods are fueled by his care for the students.
“He was always making sure everybody had a chance to speak and voice their own opinion, even if it was about a touchy subject,” said Berger. “Even if you didn’t know the answer to something or how to do an assignment, he was very kind about it and would sit there with you until you understood.”
Diana Montague, professor of media and communication, attested to Davis’ character and how it extended beyond the classroom.
“He is a delight to work with and have around,” said Montague. “It’s also not just one or two people, it’s everybody.”
In a busy campus setting, small acts of kindness such as remembering the names of students and asking how someone is doing each day make an impact. Alexander Davis is an example of how impactful kindness can be. Through his encouragement and compassion, he serves as a reminder that being kind is a practice.
