Professor Hill

If you are anything like me, the title Professor Hill immediately brings to mind the opening scene of the Music Man where the salesmen on the train are bopping up and down and discussing/chanting about the sneaky Professor Harold Hill.  This post is about something way cooler than that.  This professor is not a music man at all, but a biology man...Professor Jonathon Hill.

Okay, technically Jonathon is not yet a professor, but yesterday was his first step on the way to becoming one.  A few months ago, he interviewed for and was accepted to teach a Summer Biology course for minority students (at Columbia University, no less).  This is a real job, people. He designed the course completely, has his own classroom, his own TA's, and even receives a "small" salary.  Yesterday was his first day.  I think I was far more excited than he was.  He did call me afterward though to tell me that everything went smoothly and he felt good about it.

The class is very interesting.  It is an enrichment biology course that teaches biological principles by following a specific disease.  Since Jonathon's specialty is diabetes, that was an easy choice.  In his lectures he will talk about everything from homeostasis, to the nervous system to current research strategies using diabetes as a backdrop.  Since the course is specific to the teacher, he has had to come up with each and every lecture, activity, and assignment by himself.  It was a lot of  work, but is such a great opportunity to learn what it will be like when he has a permanent job.  Teaching at Columbia for his first job does set the bar awfully high, but I have complete confidence in his abilities.  Congratulations Jonathon!