Hometown: Reno, Nevada
Degrees earned: B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and Ph.D. in Theoretical & Applied Mechanics from Cornell University, Ithaca, New York
Arrived at NIU: 2003
Classes taught: Engineering Mechanics, Control Systems, Engineering Computation
What is your mission in academia?
My mission is to create compelling learning environments that push students to think deeply, creatively and critically.
What is your job description?
Teaching, research, service. The description is simple. The freedom to choose how to meet all these criteria is what makes the job so attractive to me.
How did you become interested in your subject area?
I study nonlinear dynamics because I’ve always been fascinated with the way things move: the way traffic forms patterns; the way flames dance; the way buoyant plumes of smoke swirl; and curl. I study the way that seemingly simple physical laws of motion produce often complex and fascinating behavior.
Why do you study engineering education?
We educators need to actively engage our students more. We should spend less time lecturing at them, and more time designing learning environments in which they actively create, discover, and question the subject matter. I don’t claim to know how to best do this, but I’m having a blast trying to figure it out.
What makes your classes interesting and exciting?
I teach a computational methods course in which students must learn how to write computer programs to perform complex engineering calculations. All the assignments in this class are embedded in a video game that students must play and create. I also advise a group of students who are building a race car from scratch – which is truly a remarkable thing.
What is your favorite aspect of your job?
The subjects that I teach are ones I think are genuinely fun and genuinely beautiful. I try to convey this to students by getting them actively involved with the subject.
What’s a good book you recently read?
"1984," by George Orwell.
What pleases you about society today?
With each generation, this society becomes more tolerant, accepting and welcoming of people with different races, ethnicities, and sexual orientation.
What concerns you about society today?
So many decisions, of tremendous societal importance, are made based on ideology rather than facts, evidence, and sound reasoning.
What’s your best advice to students who want to succeed?
Find something that fascinates you. Succeed at it. Use it as a springboard to broaden yourself.
photos by Don Butler, NIU Media Services