And now, a word from our professors...

Kettering University

“Kettering students are driven, innovative and engaged. There is a lot that distinguishes them from students at other universities. They know what being an engineer is all about because of the cooperative education experience. . .they require and expect the faculty to be up on their topics.”

Dr. Patrick AtkinsonProfessor of Mechanical Engineering

Teaching — an amazing gift.

You should view your interaction with your professors as a great opportunity to grow in many ways both academically and professionally. Doing so will pay off greatly over the course of your career.

“Kettering students are experienced and able to get the job done, which

is what distinguishes them from students at other universities.”

Dr. Kenneth KaiserProfessor of Electrical Engineering

During your years on campus, you will spend more time with your professors than any other employee group at Kettering. Therefore, professors play a very large role in shaping your education and your careers.

The Role of Your Professors.

“The pleasure of teaching is bearing witness to the ‘aha’ moment when a student first understands a difficult concept they were convinced they would never understand.”

Dr. John GeskeDepartment Head and Professor of Computer Science

Transition from teachers to professors.

As you transition from your high school years to your college years, it pays to learn about who your professors are and how they are vastly different from “teachers” you’ve had in the past.

Your professor will help you develop into a professional.

Your professors are, of course, here to teach you, and are also here to develop you as a professional. Over the next few years your professors will play a big role in helping you grow from a student to a distinguished professional in the field you choose to pursue.

“Kettering students mature quickly due to the cooperative education experience where they learn to develop real-world solutions by utilizing concepts

learned in the classroom.”

Dr. Terri Lynch-CarisAssociate Professor of Industrial Engineering, and

Director of CETL

Outstanding in their field.

Professors at Kettering include some of the top engineers, scientists, and academicians in the world. Most of your professors have earned Ph.D. degrees - that’s the highest academic rank there is - after years of study at some of the top universities worldwide. Their work goes far beyond what you see in the classroom.

“Kettering is a place where you will be known by your name and not by a number.”

Dr. Jennifer AurandtAssociate Professor of Chemistry

Many of Kettering’s professors are leading research efforts in some of the top priority technical and social issues facing the world today. These areas include alternate energy generation, medicine and health care, business development and entrepreneurialism, advanced mathematics and physical sciences, just to name a few.

Leading the way in research.

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“Teaching at Kettering is rewarding because our students are so driven and astute, and in the lab they begin to understand

complex theories through hands-on discovery.”

Dr. Janet Brelin-FornariProfessor of Mechanical Engineering and

Director of the Crash Safety Center

“I chose to join Kettering and leave my career in industry because of the abilities and motivation I saw in

Kettering students. The Kettering culture is one where innovation thrives and theory is applied to

practice, which is the best way to educate engineers and scientists who will be charged

with solving the world’s problems.”

Dr. Mary GilliamAssistant Professor of Chemical Engineering

There are quite a few things you should know to help you get the most out of your interaction with your professors. The more you work on developing a professional relationship with your professors, the more you will be help-ing yourself to be the best that you can be in your career. Here are some tips:

Develop a professional relationship.

“While Kettering University’s mission is to prepare future leaders for a global society, we also believe that students need a broad education that enriches their personal lives and provides a foundation for socially responsible citizenship.”

Dr. Michael D. CallahanProfessor of History

Make the effort.

Always attend class ... don’t skip classes! By far the most impor-tant thing you can do to make sure you do well in a class is to be there. Professors are much more likely to work with you if you are having trouble with the material if he or she knows you have been coming to class and making an effort to learn.

“What I appreciate most about Kettering students is their time management skills. I love the interaction with the ‘smart, assertive thinkers’ at Kettering.”

Dr. Beverly JonesAssociate Professor of Management

Learn for the future.

Become a “professional learner. ” Come to class with an attitude of “I want to learn this material for my future,” versus “just showing up. ” And don’t fall into the trap of thinking, “Why am I taking this class? I’ll never use this stuff in the future!” That is a huge mistake!! Take it from just about anybody who has ever graduated college. You have no idea what your future really holds and the material you’re being taught will prepare you for whatever will come your way many years from now.

“Through a Kettering education, students are transformed from “diamonds in the rough” to “Hope Diamonds”: well polished, intellectually brilliant, with a clear vision for the future.”

Dr. Bahram Roughani,Department Head and Professor of Physics

Interact with your professors. Let them know you care. Professors want to help you to become distinguished professionals over the course of your career. As one professor puts it, “Our legacy to our students goes far beyond what we cover in the material of the classroom.” Make sure your professor knows that you want to achieve that goal too! Thus, you should view coursework such as projects and homework as an opportunity for you to demonstrate your professional approach, and to show your professor that you understand the material and its importance.

Interact.

Your professors want to get to know you.As another way of interacting with

your professors, make sure to talk to them if you are having trouble with the material in a course or if you received a bad grade on a test or quiz. Your professors want to get to know you - and this is another great way to show them you care and you want to do well. Go during office hours, or make appointments to come and talk to them. Keep in mind their schedules can be pretty hectic most of the time, so don’t wait until the last minute (like just before a test or a quiz) to talk to them. As you will learn, professors want to help you succeed and spending one-on-one time to help you master course material can be very rewarding!

“My joy is in the students: in particular, what happens to students when they go

through this program. Students learn so much about their discipline through their

classwork and their work experiences that they mature incredibly fast. It is a joy to walk into a classroom of juniors and seniors and

for them to share the examples from their workplaces and life experiences. “

Dr. Jim Huggins, Associate Professor of Computer Science

Ask about life outside the classroom.

Ask your professors about their work outside of the classroom. You will discover a fascinating world of research and development work that may very much pique your interest in a career path for yourself! Plus, it’s no secret that professors love to talk about their research!

“A wise mentor once told me ‘practice doesn’t make perfect, only perfect practice makes perfect.’ Kettering embraces that philosophy, which is why I chose to come here for my undergraduate degree and why I later returned to Kettering as a faculty member. It’s why so many of our classes have laboratories, why we use faculty to teach them, and why we keep the sizes small to give individual attention. You will get ‘perfect practice’ here.”

Dr. David Foster Assistant Professor of Computer Engineering

Along this line, remember, too, that in the future you may seek support from your professors (such as getting letters of recommendation) for graduate school, scholarships, or landing that perfect job! The more your professor knows about you, the more he or she will be able to convey your excellence as an engineer and professional, and why you should be given the fullest consideration for whatever it is you seek in your professional development.

Get to know your professors.

“Kettering students mature earlier than other students because they are immediately afforded the opportunity to work with varied types of individuals

through cooperative education, which cannot be taught in any academic setting. Kettering students

have the theory and also they know how to apply it.”

Dr. Petros “Pete” GheresusProfessor of Industrial Engineering

The payoff is knowledge and inspiration.

Altogether, your relationship with your professors at Kettering University should never be limited to “coming to class and getting a grade.” There is much more to be gained.

“One of the most enjoyable aspects of teaching at Kettering is the chance to work with students in labs, since this provides the best

opportunity to get to know my students better.”

Dr. Stacy SeeleyDepartment Head and Professor of Chemistry/Biochemistry

and Chemical Engineering

The Kettering Advantage

We have the professors, the labs, and the experiences that bring knowledge and practice together better than any place else.

“The Kettering Advantage is the ability to forge a link between what you learn in the classroom and real world, hands-on experience. It’s a focus on the learning experience of the individual student. It’s graduating with the knowledge you need to be globally competitive as well as the soft skills you need to be truly successful.

At Kettering, students learn more, experience more, and achieve more - as a result graduates live truly extraordinary lives. That’s the Kettering Advantage! If you are ready to make a difference in your world, become a Kettering student - you will see first hand what makes Kettering stand out from the rest. Be extraordinary and start your journey at Kettering University.”

Dr. Robert McMahan, President and Professor of Physics

kettering.eduKettering University

1700 University AvenueFlint, Michigan 48504-6217

Narrative authored by:Dr. Jeffrey Hargrove, Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering

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