I have always been very interested in teaching at the college level and conducting applied and basic research. A faculty member's involvement in teaching and research may sometimes be necessary to succeed at both. Whenever appropriate, nothing is more fulfilling than bringing pertinent research findings and experiences to the classroom and sharing those with the students. The curious minds of many students can often lead to exciting discussions (both in the classroom and one-on-one), which could ultimately lead to sustaining and/or strengthening existing research programs and providing the impetus for pursuing new research ideas. As human beings, we all have an innate need to discover and acquire knowledge that may be accomplished through research.
As a teacher, I often find myself loving the interaction with students in various educational settings, the satisfaction of educating the next generation of leaders, and the rewards of positively impacting students' lives. One challenge, however, is for the instructor to tailor their instruction to the learning styles of different students and to utilize a combination of approaches to capture the students' interests while focusing on the expected outcomes from each course. I find myself most effective as an instructor when I relate to the students' previous educational experiences and skill levels. Of course, success in education can, in part, be achieved through the application of technology. This is especially true since technology plays a vital role in our lives. Also, graduates from many disciplines need to embrace technology to succeed in the workplace. As such, I rely heavily on using computer technology in the classroom to solve real-life complex problems so that students may understand the concepts without being constantly bogged down with the nitty-gritty details. I also advocate applying various geospatial technologies (such as GIS and GPS) to solving problems in agriculture and natural resources.
On the research front, my philosophy is that any research program undertaken should be meaningful and of value to society. This will be the primary driving force behind any research program I embark on. I realize that research funding is somewhat limited and more competitive than ever. To succeed, one must work very hard to put together a good research proposal with well-defined objectives in a timely manner to succeed. In addition, I believe that having a multi-disciplinary research proposal involving a team of scientists will improve its chances of being funded. Many of my research experiences were in partnership with individuals from different specializations within a general area. Other times, I collaborated with individuals from various disciplines. These interactions have broadened my areas of interest in research and teaching and enabled me to work and contribute to the research of others outside my specialization area.
On a personal note, I believe my dedication and enjoyment of teaching and research will always be an asset. I know I am a highly motivated and responsive individual who is enthusiastic about my work. I have strong organizational skills. I value interacting with people, and I am given the impression that I am easy to get along with. My enthusiasm, motivation, and positive approach to life are assets. I am also willing to devote my time and energy to complete the job well and meet deadlines.