Only six and half hours after teaching her American Political Thought class, Visiting Assistant Professor of Politics Alyssa Cortes welcomed baby Francis into the world.

“I was due March 29, so I had no idea that I was going to have the baby,” Cortes said. “It was a very big surprise.”

Francis was born at 10:30 p.m. on March 3, four weeks before his due date. His early arrival did not cause Cortes to miss her March 3 classes, however. Nor did it stop her from continuing to teach as soon as possible. Determined to finish teaching her Constitution and American Political Thought classes this semester, she returned to the classroom only two weeks after giving birth. 

Freshman Sophie Pfaff babysits the newborn along with his older brother, Henry. 

“It definitely came as a shock when she texted me that she had Francis,” Pfaff said. “I admire Dr. Cortes so much for being able to balance her time as an incredible mother while also teaching at a school such as Hillsdale.”

In a world where work is often valued above family, Cortes said she encourages young working mothers to seek order and balance in their lives. 

“To sum it up, my advice is: don’t sacrifice children and marriage at the altar of having a career,” she said.   

Though being the working mother of a newborn is challenging, Cortes said continuing to teach is manageable as she only is away from Francis and Henry two afternoons a week. 

“I really enjoy talking about what we study in class,” Cortes said. “I love having conversations with students about the things that we talk about, so that’s very important for me to continue.”

The biggest challenges are getting enough sleep and finding time to grade, Cortes said. 

“Newborns sleep a lot, but they are constantly waking up, so you can never really get into any kind of rhythm with work,” she said.

Cortes said she is grateful to have “relaxed children and flexible students.” She is enjoying watching Henry become an older brother. 

“And, of course, I enjoy the newborn snuggles,” she said. 

Pfaff said Francis is a perfect baby.

“Francis is a very low-maintenance baby as far as babies go,” she said. “He slept for the majority of my time babysitting today, but when he woke up, he downed a bottle and soon fell asleep in my arms. I spent the hour that Henry naps holding a sleeping Francis and reading Dante.”

Pfaff said Henry is the ideal older brother to Francis.

“In the four short hours that I babysat Henry and Francis on Tuesday, Henry kissed Francis on the head about eight times,” Pfaff said. “Henry thinks his baby brother is very cute. He told me himself several times.”

Pfaff said babysitting Henry, and now Francis, is the highlight of her week. 

“I have three nieces and nephews around the same ages as Henry and Francis who live in Virginia, so I don’t get to see them that often,” she said. “Babysitting Henry has been the greatest blessing this semester because Henry is the sweetest little boy, and it’s so fun to see what he’s like at his age so I can imagine what my niece, who is about the same age as him, is like. Henry is such a sweet, polite, and fun-loving kid that it’s easy to see that Dr. Cortes is an amazing mother.” 

Freshman Hannah Arends, a student in Cortes’ American Political Thought class, said she is inspired by Cortes.

“When I got the email that Dr. Cortes had a baby Thursday evening after class, I was so shocked,” Arends said. “I think it shows how amazing women are that she was able to go casually from a day of teaching to having a child a few hours later and now is back teaching. 

Sophomore Victoria Wagner agreed.

“As someone who wants to be a mother one day, watching professor Cortes teach throughout the duration of her pregnancy and being back two weeks after delivery is inspiring,” she said. “She acts as an example to women here that you can pursue what you love and still be a great mom — personal dreams and motherhood aren’t mutually exclusive.”  

“She is a total girlboss,” Arends said.