Faculty Tribute: Elizabeth Sturley

I walked into my first Ethics class wishing I already had completed the course. Like many, I selected Ethics not because I had an interest in it, but because I needed to fulfill my Religion and Philosophy requirement. Settling into my seat, I expected some standard icebreakers and introductions. Instead, Ms. Sturley, who warmly welcomed us, gave us slips of paper and began with a Prisoner's Dilemma-style scenario. Without discussing, each of us students needed to choose one out of four options. Our choice in the scenario, along with the choice of someone we were randomly paired up with, would determine our fictional “grade.” A lively discussion ensued from Ms. Sturley’s intriguing prompts. I immediately knew Ethics was not going to be the class I had expected. 

 Ms. Sturley has transformed most of her students’ assumptions about Ethics. Whether thinking through mind-boggling ethical dilemmas together, asking thought-provoking questions, or telling us personal stories, Ms. Sturley has truly opened up another world to us. Her relevant stories, examples, and applications not only allowed us to fully understand the nuances of each ethical philosophy, but also how a combination of these frameworks are relevant and applicable to our lives. Ms. Sturley, who has studied and continues to study international human rights law, utilizes her experience to create “applied ethics” lessons, using real-world examples and issues to explain often mind-bending, abstract concepts. Through this style, many of her students have come out of her course understanding that ethics is a necessity in all fields. 

 Walking into C-Period Ethics, I know Ms. Sturley will never fail to put a smile on our faces. I have really grown to appreciate the time she takes to get to know each one of us as people, both in and outside the classroom. Whether coming to watch a play or sports game in order to see her students, Ms. Sturley nurtures these connections and makes each of her students feel welcome. Outside of Pop 245, Ms. Sturley, a McPherson House Duty Affiliate and Stephens House Handball coach, is very active in house life in order to get to know her senior advisees and others around campus, from playing in the Faculty-Student Softball Game to swapping ideas and stories after class. Thank you, Ms. Sturley, for your dedication to forming close bonds with us; you have touched many here at Lawrenceville. Best of luck at Columbia Law School. We hope you come visit!