After Bob Borrelli's remarks, you may be saying to yourself, “Gee, I don't have a director, a secretarial staff, and all the wonderful resources Bob has at Harvey Mudd. I guess I can't do anything at all.” False. You and I have the power to decide how we want to teach our courses. I teach classes in mathematical modeling, in computer systems analysis, and one summer in web development using a strong class project. When I walk into the classroom, I can teach my class any way I want. That's one of the wonderful things about this occupation. I can't think of any other job that has the autonomy of a college professor. When I shut the classroom door, whatever happens between my students and me is my business. If I want to run my class in a certain way, I have the power and the authority to do it. If I screw up, the university should hold me accountable, but no one looks over my shoulder.

Over time, I have developed some skills in dealing with groups of students and clients. You may not be able to tell from the color of my hair (blond) that I have some gray hairs, but I do, and it helps to have some war stories to tell. Where do the war stories come from? They come from the projects I do and the students I visit.