Walk into room D-3 in the Penick Academic Complex (PAC), and you’ll know you’re not in a typical gen-ed class. The room itself feels like a theater, rows cascading downward toward a large screen framed by dark wood, lights dimmed low and the soft hum of anticipation from students waiting for class to begin. Then, suddenly, the doors swing open, inviting in Steve Halla’s energized gait as if he’s about to direct a performance rather than deliver a lecture.
For Halla, teaching arts and western civilization is about more than just giving lectures. His classroom is a place for storytelling. He brings excitement into the room and creates an environment where students aren’t only learning; they’re part of the experience.
“I think the only way I can ever get up in front of people and talk is if I’m just myself,” Halla said. “Whatever you see in class is exactly who I am outside of class. There’s no difference.”
This authenticity is at the heart of Halla’s teaching style. He doesn’t look at class rosters ahead of time or worry about enrollment numbers. On the first day, he simply walks in, ready to share something he genuinely loves.
But Halla wasn’t always comfortable speaking in front of people. A painful childhood experience initially held him back.
“I was in the second grade, and we were learning vocabulary words in class,” Halla said. “I got the word ‘laugh,’ and I couldn’t pronounce it correctly. My teacher tried to help by having all the other kids laugh at me, and the more that I couldn’t answer, they kept laughing. After that, I just froze whenever I had to talk in front of people.”
It took many years for Halla to overcome this fear. Teaching Sunday school at church was his first step toward gaining confidence in his public speaking abilities. Later, attending seminary pushed him out of his comfort zone even further. Eventually, Halla realized that being himself was the key to overcoming his fear. Through this realization, he discovered the power of passion in teaching.
“I had two professors in college who really loved their subjects,” Halla said. “One professor told us, ‘If you’re not passionate about what you’re teaching, you shouldn’t be teaching it.’ That always stuck with me. I try to bring that passion to every single class.”
Students certainly take notice. Many race to enroll in Halla’s classes because of recommendations from their peers. Will Breece, a current freshman business administration major, described the energy Halla brings to the classroom:
“Dr. Halla is hands-down the most enthusiastic and optimistic professor I’ve ever had,” Breece said. “The energy he brings to every lecture is contagious. It just makes it almost impossible not to be engaged.”
Breece also appreciated how Halla genuinely cares about his students and subject matter.
“He really loves what he’s teaching, and it’s very apparent,” Breece said. “He keeps things simple, breaks them down, and gives us free range to study in our own way. We even have a creative project where we can do basically whatever we want, as long as it involves art, music or something similar.”
Part of what makes Halla’s class unique is the room itself. The auditorium style naturally directs students’ attention toward the large screen. The wooden panels give the room an old-world charm, perfect for lessons about art and history. Halla intentionally dims the lights and uses multimedia to enhance the experience.
“If I had to teach in a regular classroom, I’d probably bring my own lamp,” Halla said with a smile. “The environment plays such a big role. It really affects how students respond to the material.”
Gen-Ed courses like Arts and Western Civilization are interesting because students have to take them but can choose their professors. This can create competition between some sections, yet Halla doesn’t see it that way.
“I don’t even look at who’s teaching other sections,” Halla said. “It’s not because I don’t care. I just don’t want to change how I teach by copying someone else. If I start comparing myself, I’ll lose what makes my class special.”
Still, Halla admits it wasn’t until 2019, when he won the Faculty of the Year award, that he fully realized how much students appreciated his passionate approach to his craft.
“That’s when it hit me,” Halla said. “Students talked about it way more than I realized.”
Ultimately, Dr. Halla’s class isn’t about memorizing facts and passing tests. It’s about creating an environment students truly enjoy. It’s about passion, authenticity and offering an experience students will remember long after the semester ends.
Photo by Kristi Mcmurry Woody.
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