Instructor of Humanities Michael DeHaven joins students in celebrating a victory in the Council for Economic Education Economics Challenge.
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Position: Instructor of Humanities. DeHaven teaches a number of economics courses and several college-level English and history courses.
How long at NCSSM: 7 years
Home: Originally from the North Shore area of Chicago, Illinois, DeHaven now calls Durham home.
What he does outside of work: After work, DeHaven enjoys sampling foods at the rich variety of restaurants in Durham, the town named “the South’s tastiest” by Southern Living. “Juju, down the street,” is his favorite restaurant in the area, though he also recommends that foodies stop at Bar Virgile, in downtown Durham, and at M Sushi, on Holland Street. DeHaven notes that The Accordion Club, in walking distance of his home, also serves great hot chili and hotdogs.
DeHaven also enjoys designing and playing war games, noting that board games offer “a more intense experience” than games centered around virtual experiences. He counts games based on the events of the Napoleonic period among his favorites, and he invites students to play games against him during each Innovation Week. He also plays chess and Go.
After work, DeHaven also ensures that he makes time for his pets. “I love playing catch with my dogs,” he explains. “I have three dogs and they love playing catch every day.”
What coworkers may not know: “I also love baseball, and since I am too old to play anymore, I love to go to the Durham Bulls park and watch them,” says DeHaven. He played second base through high school and college.
Best part of his job: “The students,” notes DeHaven, are invariably “smart people who are also kind. There’s no doubt about it.” He enjoys “interacting in the classroom with them,” and appreciates that “a lot of people come back and visit. It’s fun to see how they grow into adults.”
Favorite perk of working at NCSSM: “Being in North Carolina – it’s a beautiful state and the Triangle area has so many opportunities for varied cultural experiences.”
One thing about working here that he would do differently: “Have classes start later in the morning – say, around 9.”
– Interview and profile by Avra Janz ’17