Cris Beam is a passionate, personable, unorthodox professor who's is also on-target with her readings and writing exercises. My afternoons were always brightened by her humor, and she always allows a break during class. Though she is unusually empathetic to students' needs, she isn't unconditionally supportive--she will provide constructive criticism and admit her own biases and weaknesses in her points of view. She does offer her own experiences as a writer, which I think are helpful, rather than annoying, as the previous review suggests.
She is a progressive thinker who offers perspectives that are refreshingly different from the often stuffy Columbia atmosphere—giving voice to queer, gender, "the other."
Professor Beam is also totally energetic and works hard to keep up class morale. She will use diagrams, systems, tricks to help approach the writing process strategically—right brain+left brain. My only issues with the class is her kindness allows for long, labyrinthine elaborations from hyped-up students; I'd rather hear more of her comments and feedback, especially more line edits in the papers.
All in all, a professor who is an example of what professors of the future can be.