” Professor Harms is the only professor so far here during my time here at JHU that made an effort not only to get to know me, but also all her students. She would come everyday to class with a positive attitude and will engage with the content and the students. And on days that she could tell a student wasn’t or didn’t seem like they were doing good, she would check up on them. During oZice hours she made sure to give me her undivided attention towards my questions and my writing. This is one of the few classes I didn’t feel invisible when I took my seat and that was because of professor Harms.
Biannual Enrolled Student Survey 2025
“Besides being a phenomenal, engaging, and passionate instructor. All the courses she teaches, leaves you engaged in the materials or the class room discussions. Apart from her teaching at the university, it is always amazing to see her work outside on the community. Her presence gives you positive energy as she is kind, strong and a leader but also a person full of interesting stories and experiences that you can always listen to.
Biannual Enrolled Student Survey 2025
“Fantastic professor, advisor, and friend”
“They have made my undergraduate experience, without their guidance, mentorship and friendship I would not be where I am today.”
“Dr. Harms cares about her students more than any other professor I had during my time at Hopkins. She inspires creativity and collaboration while maintaining a safe and welcoming environment for all.”
“Amazing professor and even better person. She cares about the success of each student in each of her classes, and is really good at what she does.”
Biannual Enrolled Student Survey 2025
” Professor Harms is an amazing example of a professor who values her students’ well-being over her own ego. Everyone who has had her as a professor can attest to the fact that she genuinely cares about her students and their successes. She has personally told me that she would “walk through fire” for me if I needed help, which is a rare amount of dedication from a professor to a student, but I am confident she would extend the same offer to many many of her students. Hopkins is lucky to have her.”
Anonymous, enrolled student survey, spring 2023
“Dr. Harms is one of if not the only professors I’ve had who I can tell actually cares about the success of her students. She manages engaging discussions and constantly challenges us to consider difficult questions. Her classes are the only ones I’ve ever remotely looked forward to attending. She gives the impression that she at least equates the importance of her teaching duties with her other duties (research, writing, engaging with the international community, etc), which at max one or two other non-foreign language professors have done in my 4 semesters here.”
Anonymous, enrolled student survey, spring 2023
Professor Harms is probably the most loved professor in the History Department (or just at Hopkins). I have no empirical data backing this up, but I’m certain if I were to conduct a study, this conclusion would be reached. She is clearly committed to her students, and she taught me so much. I love Germany, so I was always going to take the class on Germany regardless of who taught it – but I had no idea that Prof. Harms was going to be the best lecturer I’ve ever had. The most important thing was how she tied in documents and group discussions. Almost every class I’ve had, group discussions are boring. But in Prof. Harms’ classes, even over Zoom, they were actually interesting. Lively debates were had (I remember a specific one about Metternich and 1848), and memories were made. The only thing that I’m left puzzled by is how Prof. Harms got Kinder chocolate, which I always thought was banned from importation into the US.
R.P., Dean’s Survey, “Special Mention” 2023Her genuine care for her students’ success and wellbeing made her courses also a place not only for academic progress, but also for personal growth. When experiencing trouble, we could always rely on reaching out to her and having a safe space to share our concerns. While her courses were always intellectually engaging and informative, we learned many other practical, academic, and soft skills ranging from research, writing, life design etc. She gives wonderful advice on things academic, career, and personal and is, undoubtedly, one of the best instructors I have ever worked with.
A-A., Dean’s Survey, “Special Mention” 2021
Dr. Harms had a different philosophy than every other professor at Hopkins. She wanted to ensure students in college enjoyed their experience and not to stress about homework every night. I was struggling with my mental health during the semester I took one of her classes, and she was extremely understanding and supportive. She is compassionate and I am inspired by how dedicated she is in bonding with each one of her students semester after semester.
A.C. 2021, Dean’s Survey, “Special Mention” 2021
Dr. Harms makes any topic super engaging… I don’t know how she does it. She can talk about the history of a ladder for a full hour and I’ll be listening to her with sparkling eyes. I also appreciate her ability to fully relate to gen Z students; she’s one of the very few faculty members I’ve met who seem to really know us and the particular issues we go through.
A.K., Dean’s Survey, “Special Mention” 2021
Europe since 1945, Lecture course, spring 2020
Best teacher I’ve had at Hopkins. Not only does she teach very effectively, but she also is frequently positive/happy in class, makes the class very enjoyable. She also offers many opportunities for students to seek help in class, and she takes a personal interest in her students doing well that is rare at Hopkins.
Anonymous, Dean’s Survey “Special Mention” 2021
The Cold War as Sports History, seminar, Spring 2020
VICTORIA HARMS 