Associate Professor of Practice / LAR Coordinator
As a future college student, I knew I wanted to teach, play basketball, and eventually coach. The moment I stepped foot on Doane’s Crete campus, I was at home. I had a great visit, and the welcoming nature made it the right fit. I made great friends and created lasting bonds with faculty members, particularly Drs. Jim Johnson and Alec Engebretson amongst others.
After graduating from Doane, I taught high school math and coached basketball for five years before my wife, Amy Sack Vertin ‘95, took a job in Crete. It was then that I reached out to Jim, as he was my mentor. It turned out Doane had a need for someone to teach math, but only had a 3/4 position available. Jim spoke with Alec, who needed someone to teach an introductory computer programming class (which I had a minor in, thanks to Alec’s urging some 8 years prior). Soon enough, Doane had an opening for a 3/4 math and 1/4 computer science instructor, and the head basketball coach also wanted me to be his lead assistant.
My role has evolved over the years and although I’m still in the math department, I am also one of the co-directors for the Center for Excellence in Teaching & Learning (CETL), where we do faculty development programming.
Things that have stayed the same are the bonds faculty and staff naturally form with the students. I know it doesn’t happen like that everywhere. Having a faculty that emphasizes top-notch teaching is also consistent.
Things that are different: The facilities. We have the Chab Weyers Education & Hixson Lied Art Building, the Hansen Leadership Hall, and the Lied Science and Mathematics Building. I’m starting my 24th year, but the Lied building is still strikingly nice compared to the classes I took in Butler! Doane also recently built C. Donald Brodie Hall in place of the infamous “quads,” which were surely outdated. This summer we also renovated the dining hall. We’re confident new buildings will join our campus in the coming years.
Doane has also implemented Tiger Takeoff as an option for new students to campus which means a lot to me and has helped our students with preparedness and retention.
I wouldn’t trade my lasting connection with Doane University for anything.