Listen Here
By Lauren Rex
rexl@findlay.edu
The University of Findlay has professors with extensive, diverse, and impressive backgrounds. There are 211 full time faculty on staff at UF and they come from a variety of backgrounds.
Some professors had jobs in their chosen field before teaching at the University, and others came straight from college. They all bring knowledge to the table, all the while keeping their students’ best interests and top-level education in mind. All of those elements appeal to students at UF like sophomore Riley Torkelson.
“The professors take their relationships with the students very personally, as well as they truly enjoy teaching,” Torkelson said. “That’s why I came here, so I could have a closer relationship with my professors and be able to speak to them freely about my grades, the class, and my overall mental health. I find this extremely beneficial, and I am very thankful for the professors here at the University of Findlay.”
Some professors have been at the University for most of their careers and bring a wealth of institutional knowledge to the table. Robin Koehler, the Assistant Professor of Equine Science, was hired for having her master’s in animal science, as well as having a true passion for animals, especially horses.
“I’ve only taught here,” Koehler said. “This is my 34th year here.”
There are 11 faculty members with 30 or more years of service at UF.
Koehler teaches a wide range of animal science classes, from Equine Science to Advanced Equine Nutrition. She received her undergrad from Montana State and her master’s degree at the University of Kentucky.
Koehler came straight from graduate school to teach at UF. Besides summer jobs growing up, Koehler said that this is her “first big girl job.”
Other professors are new, coming from other universities to teach at Findlay. UF welcomed 21 new full-time faculty members this year. Benjamin David Aronson, the Associate Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences, has only been a professor at the University of Findlay for two and a half months.
Aronson started college in Minnesota at St. Cloud University where he completed his pre-pharmacy years and got an associate of arts. After that, he went to the University of Minnesota, Duluth campus, to get his Pharm.D. at the college of pharmacy.
“Right after pharmacy school I continued on at the University of Minnesota college of pharmacy to get my Ph.D. in social and administrative pharmacy,” Aronson said. “I was a double doctor then, and thought maybe I should go for another one,” Aronson jokes. “But I decided two was enough.”
“Previous to coming here, I taught at Ohio Northern University in the pharmacy program for six years,” Aronson said. “Prior to that I had teaching experience during my Ph.D. program.”
Aronson obtained this experience as a graduate teaching assistant throughout his doctorate studies.
The teaching in academia rotation during pharmacy school helped him understand things in relation to teaching. When he was a graduate teaching assistant he was exposed to being in front of a class, grading, and teaching, which he feels helped him shift into becoming a professor.
“I’ve gone through professional development, like teaching workshops,” Aronson said. “I’ve done that at West Virginia University, as well as the American Association of the Colleges of Pharmacy, and those definitely help you get an idea for what some of the best practices are.”
While professor Aronson was in grad school, he was a pharmacist at St. Luke’s hospital. During pharmacy school he was an intern for Walgreens. Before figuring out he wanted to go to college and study pharmacy, Aronson worked as a cook for Perkins.
“I wish I could say I was like, a professional trumpet player, or something,” Aronson said while talking about his job at Perkins before college.
UF sophomore Samantha Mayer sees the passion her professors have for what they do.
“I love how engaging my professors are and how much they care that their students are actually learning the material,” Mayer said.
