Mike Kassel - American Culture (MLS)
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Back in 1984, I never expected to continue college. I had a 1.7 GPA and while I was, at heart, a good student, I was a little too young to appreciate the value of a college degree. After returning to UM-Flint in 1987, I ended up, with the help of the encouragement and guidance of several of my UM-Flint Professors, graduating with honors in 1989.
Determined to become an educator, I went on to get my Master of Liberal Studies Program in American Culture (May 1991). In addition to learning a great deal, my Master’s thesis was published by Bowling Green State University Popular Press in 1993. Two years before that, I began working as the Coordinator of Tutorial Services at UM-Flint, a job that I still hold today. Working in tutorial services is great as it allows me to help students who face challenges and hurdles along their own academic path. In 1994 I began pursuing my Ph D in history, which I got from Michigan State in May 2004.
Since 1999, I have been working as an adjunct lecturer in the UM-Flint History Department; I also teach a course in U.S. Popular Culture in the MLS program. I can’t tell you how great it feels to be colleagues with the same professors who have given me so much over the years. Indeed, I have been connected with UM-Flint since 1979, either as a student, staff or faculty member, and I am grateful for all the school has offered me and my family. The professors not only helped me learn the value of an education but inspired me to be someone who instills that value in others. For the past 28 years, UM-Flint has been a valuable part of my life. The professors taught me how to learn and they taught me how to teach. In many ways, I guess I really am UM-Flint.
Determined to become an educator, I went on to get my Master of Liberal Studies Program in American Culture (May 1991). In addition to learning a great deal, my Master’s thesis was published by Bowling Green State University Popular Press in 1993. Two years before that, I began working as the Coordinator of Tutorial Services at UM-Flint, a job that I still hold today. Working in tutorial services is great as it allows me to help students who face challenges and hurdles along their own academic path. In 1994 I began pursuing my Ph D in history, which I got from Michigan State in May 2004.
Since 1999, I have been working as an adjunct lecturer in the UM-Flint History Department; I also teach a course in U.S. Popular Culture in the MLS program. I can’t tell you how great it feels to be colleagues with the same professors who have given me so much over the years. Indeed, I have been connected with UM-Flint since 1979, either as a student, staff or faculty member, and I am grateful for all the school has offered me and my family. The professors not only helped me learn the value of an education but inspired me to be someone who instills that value in others. For the past 28 years, UM-Flint has been a valuable part of my life. The professors taught me how to learn and they taught me how to teach. In many ways, I guess I really am UM-Flint.