Today marks the conclusion of my professorship at the University of Florida. Odysseus’s journey from the Ilion Wars (Trojan Wars) back to Ithaca was an odyssey that defined much of his lifetime. Though separated from his love, it was the journey that made his love meaningful.
Approximately eight and a half years ago, I began as a professor and also created a photographic memoir to document my journey at the University of Florida, titled Academic Odyssey. The memoir was short-lived; however, my tenure was not. Over this period, I earned tenure by working six to seven days a week for six consecutive years.
I had the privilege of working with some of the best students from around the world. I taught thousands of undergraduate students, guided and graduated several Ph.D. students, and collaborated with them to publish journal articles and conference papers. Through these efforts, I helped them develop their research and professional skills, guided by the theme of Technical Excellence originally taught to me by Dr. Charlie Harris of NASA Langley.
Collectively, I delivered approximately 500 lectures, seminars, and classes. These experiences deepened my appreciation for the written word, the English language, and the art of delivering an excellent lecture.
When I began as an assistant professor on the tenure track in 2016, I believed I understood what a professor, student, teacher, leader, university, and scholar were. Over time, I learned at length what it means to produce high-quality research. I engaged with department chairs, deans of leading international universities, colleagues at the University of Florida and abroad, undergraduate students, and distinguished emeritus professors. I also made lifelong friends.
More importantly, I learned who I am. I found my core values as a person. I witnessed others falter when put to moral and ethical tests.
Now, I find myself returning to foundational questions, which I did not understand before: What is a university? What is a student? What is a professor? What is a scholar?