Elizabeth Norell, a 1995 Mountain Home High School graduate, is sharing her insights on the power of mindfulness and authenticity in education with the release of her new book, The Present Professor: Authenticity and Transformational Teaching.
Norell, the daughter of longtime Mountain Home residents Paul and Marshella Norell, serves as associate director of instructional support at the University of Mississippi’s Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning. Her book, released December 3 by the University of Oklahoma Press, is part of the Teaching, Engaging, and Thriving in Higher Ed series.
Drawing from over two decades of teaching experience and more than 500 hours as a yoga instructor, Norell combines mindfulness practices with pedagogical strategies to help educators foster authentic relationships and create meaningful learning environments. She provides actionable tools, such as meditation, to help educators manage stress and enhance their presence in the classroom.
The book focuses on bridging the gap between educators’ personal and professional lives, encouraging them to shed insecurities and connect more deeply with students. Norell argues that authentic relationships are the “engines of education,” driving both student engagement and effective learning.
The Present Professor offers a research-based guide to help educators combat burnout, improve mental clarity, and build trust with students, ultimately energizing the teaching process. Norell’s work emphasizes the importance of presence and empathy, helping educators transform classrooms into spaces of mutual growth and understanding.
Norell will be holding a book signing event December 24 at Treat Yo Shelf Books, located at 809 S. Main Street, from 1 until 3:30.
WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady® NSI