A great professor can bring a dry academic subject to life while educating and inspiring students.
But if you add a level of fame to that mix, students will really pay attention.
From former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright to Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Junot Diaz, we found the most famous professors teaching college courses right now.
Madeleine Albright teaches international relations at Georgetown.
School: Georgetown University
Title: Mortara Distinguished Professor of Diplomacy in the Walsh School of Foreign Service
Former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright teaches international relations at Georgetown University. This semester, she's teaching a course called America's National Security Toolbox once a week to undergraduate students. In the fall, she'll teach the same course to grad students.
She has gotten rave reviews on RateMyProfessors.com. One student wrote that "She expects a lot and the role-play is challenging, but she is an amazing professor teaching an incredible class."
Maya Angelou hosts lectures at Wake Forest University.
School: Wake Forest University
Title: Reynolds Professor of American Studies in the Humanities Program
Dr. Maya Angelou has been teaching at Wake Forest for the past 30 years. The 84-year-old writer has been an Inaugural Poet, civil rights activist, dancer, film producer, playwright, director, and actress, but she is best known for her renowned book "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings."
Dr. Angelou is not teaching a full time course this semester, but she offers occasional lectures and talks on campus.
A reviewer on RateMyProfessors.com said that "She was amazing! She is truly a Renaissance woman. Professor Angelou often began class by speaking in Latin, French, or Arabic. She often shared fascinating stories with the class about her experiences. Her point was simple -- education can come from more than just a college or textbook. I highly recommend this professor."
David Brooks teaches a class on humility at Yale.
School: Yale University
Title: Senior Fellow at the Jackson Institute for Global Affairs at Yale
David Brooks is a columnist for the New York Times and a political and cultural commentator. He has written several books, including the renowned "Bobos in Paradise."
This semester, Brooks is teaching a course called "Humility,"which teaches the concept of humility in works by Homer, Montaigne, and Martine Luther King, Jr.
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