What Do We Call Our Professors?

William Shakespeare prompts the question, “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell just as sweet,” in Romeo and Juliet. For the average St. Lawrence University student, they refer to their professors by their first name rather than their formal titles.  

Few professors require their students to use formal titles. Many introduce themselves by their first name. Jeff Maynes, associate professor and chair of the Philosophy Department, aims for equality and to allow students to challenge him by introducing himself as ‘Jeff.’ “It really started as I am trying to signal to the students a lessening of hierarchy between my role as professor and their role as students that is intended to encourage more autonomy in the classroom,” Maynes said.  

Students form closer relationships with professors who use their first names. Lexi Lee ’25 has had both types of professors —those who go by their first name and those who insist on formal titles. The professors on a first name basis “seem more willing to form a relationship outside of the classroom in comparison to the professors who prefer more formal titles. However, there are other additional factors that go into the intimacy of the relationship with your professor,” Lee said. 

Ashley Rife, visiting assistant professor of Performance and Communication Arts, leaves it up to students to address her by her first name or her title. “There is some evidence that going by your first name makes it easier for students to connect with you, but you do lose a little bit of the authority that comes with going by ‘doctor’ or ‘professor’,” Rife said. As a young woman, Rife has found that using her title can sometimes be helpful in certain settings.  

“Professors are people too, and they have to develop and get comfortable with where they are and what they’re doing,” said Paul Graham ’99, Craig Professor of English. While known to most of his students as ‘PG,’ Graham expressed that when he finished graduate school and started teaching, it was more important for him to be called Professor Graham. “What professors want to be called is somewhat related to the tone of the classroom,” he said. For Graham, who leads a lot of writing workshops in class, it is important that he fosters an environment where students feel comfortable sharing their work.  

Forming a comfortable relationship is greatly beneficial for students for asking their professors questions in class or in office hours. Ellie Dann ’26 says, “when I can call a professor by their first name rather than their last name, it creates a more fundamental relationship between us where I am more easily able to confront them about questions.” 

However, it is also important to acknowledge the work that professors have done to get to the positions they hold today. Graham mentioned that you never know what a specific title means to professors personally. “Titles like ‘professor’ and ‘doctor’ are important for some people,” said Graham.  

The transition from high school, where students typically refer to teachers only by their titles, to college and having a first name basis is important. “I want to think about a student as a scholar in the making, doing independent work,” Maynes said. Sarah Churchill ’25 says, “as a senior I am more comfortable calling them by their first name as I have been in college for longer, but I remember as a freshman feeling weird about it.” Being able to refer to professors by their first names can be helpful for fostering student to professor relationships, but it is always good to be mindful and respectful of what your professor wants to be called.