Hot professor of the week: Marisa Ferger
‘I know that it was put on there as a joke’
As rated by the Rate My Professor chili pepper – that’s right – another professor who hopefully will distract you enough so you don’t realize how much you hate your life during class.
Marisa Ferger is an instructor for the Meteorology department and helps with teaching Weather Communications classes. She has been here for 13 years now.
The biggest part of her job, she said, is producing a TV show for her department. It’s a 15-minute daily weather show called Weather World, and has been around for 32 years on public TV.
She said there are only about 50-60 students in her department. Her office is where students all hangout – so she gets to see and hear everything.
Her response to me reaching out: “As exciting as the chili pepper sounds, I know that it was put on there as a joke by one of my coworkers over 10 years ago (along with one of the comments).”
Maybe one of the ones claiming she is “eye candy,” or “soft on the eyes.”
But she isn’t 100 percent correct – I heard it straight from the student population she fits this category.
First and foremost, are you single?
I am married with two kids.
So, when I emailed you, you said you think your colleague was the one who gave you the chili pepper?
Yeah, it was about 10 years ago. Maybe when I was 30 I was a chili pepper…
It was at the time RMP was becoming popular and we were all looking at it and seeing who was on it. Then, mysteriously, I had one and there was a comment too.
You used to see what comment chili peppers came with. When I asked the guy in office he broke into laugher – I knew it was him.
So how do you feel about being honored in the hot professor category?
OH jeez…I guess it’s nice. I think the words that are written are more important, but yeah, I guess it’s a nice bonus.
Do you read your reviews on Rate My Professor?
To be honest, I didn’t know people looked at it anymore…
But I think every review should be read. Feedback is good, but sometimes you have to take with grain of salt. Especially online… because they’re either really happy or really mad and tend to write with emotion.
Have you ever been hit on by students before?
No, and If I was being hit on I probably wouldn’t even know it.
Do you think or have you heard of some students taking a class based on the hotness of a professor?
I’ve never heard of it but then again our department is small. I wouldn’t be surprised in a large gen ed. But, I would hope it’s mostly based on if they’re learning, not by just something to look at.
Would you have taken a class based on if the teacher was more of an eye candy?
It’s always nice to have something to look at, but if content isn’t good it defeats the purpose. I had a couple good looking TAs in college and it was always nice to go to those classes.
How do you think your college experience differs from the Penn State experience?
I went to University of Oklahoma so it was big, like Penn State. I think in many ways it was similar, but as far as my major, I feel like the departments were different and the students in my major here are a lot closer and work more together. It’s more of a family type feel at Penn State, but things could have changed.
What is your ideal Penn State date?
First, doing anything outdoors, maybe walk through the Arboretum or hiking nearby. Then, a ride on Vamos! Lion Chariot followed by dinner at the Tavern.
So if you could choose anyone to be your hot professor, who would it be?
Probably Zac Efron, because I’d love for him to teach me how to sing and dance. Plus I’d love to know what he did to get those abs!
You and me both, girl.